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What my Dad's car crash can tell you about your health
21st July 2006
You may remember a story I told you a while back about my Dad forgetting where he parked his car…
He found it hilarious, and to tell you the truth, we all did.
It was one of those funny little things that happen to all of us from time to time (like me 'forgetting' where I put the key to the garage, thus foiling my plan to give it a good clear out).
But just recently, things have taken a turn for the worse…
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The 12 hour shopping trip
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Last weekend, my Dad picked up his car keys and announced he was off to get some shopping at the local supermarket.
It's only a 5 minute drive away, so the whole trip should have taken an hour at most.
Maybe two, if he stopped off for a coffee, a read of the paper and a little peace and quiet (because us men ALL have our own personal garages that need cleaning out)…
But he was gone for twelve hours.
My mum only rang me at around six in the evening to tell me (because she didn't want to worry me!), so after telling her off in a nice way, I went round there as fast as I could.
She'd already checked the hospitals and the police.
But there was no news of any crashes or accidents - so where was he?
Well, around nine o'clock the police came around and told us he'd driven through a tramline barrier, and had crashed his car on top of a bridge.
Someone had then seen him calmly check the doors and walk off, so he was alright. Physically at least. But that still didn't explain where he was or what he was up to.
Finally, at around midnight, he came home by taxi. And although he wasn't injured in any way, he was clearly rattled and upset.
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In fact for a minute or two, he didn't even think he was in his house - a house he's lived in for the past forty years.
This was the most upsetting part of it all from my point of view - the sight of my Dad being visibly distressed and out of sorts. The signs were fleeting - he was back to his old irritating, brilliant self within moments, but it was there nonetheless.
And it was enough to get my and my Mum ganging up and sending him to the doctors - something he's resisted all his life (he once walked around on a broken foot for 3 days until it turned blue and he couldn't get his shoe on).
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What the doctor did tell us - and didn't tell us…
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The doctor's verdict confirmed something that's been creeping up on us for a while now - my Dad is suffering from early dementia.
What he didn't offer us was that much hope. You see there's no known cure for this type of illness… and as per usual the doctor couldn't endorse remedies that had no scientific back-up.
Which is ridiculous when there's SO much anecdotal evidence that show natural remedies really can make a difference.
Starting with my own anecdote…
The weird thing was, once the dust had settled and my Dad's condition was diagnosed, we all found the car incident funny - my Dad included.
I know that sounds sort of wrong. Even when I read this back I think maybe I should delete it. But it's the honest truth - and it's helped us deal with the problem.
So my own personal tip is this…
- Enjoy the ups and downs of life! I know this is hard in some cases (in fact it might be damn near impossible), but if you can find the capacity to laugh at the absurdity of it all - and especially at the funny side-effects - then the upsetting side of the problem gets beaten into a dark corner - like a vampire scuttling away to a cellar when the sun rises.
A positive outlook, together with the power of laughter, is an extremely potent tonic - and in my mind there's no limit to what it can achieve. So try your hardest - and smile through it. You never know what the result will be.
That's something I can swear by, hand on heart, with or without any scientific back up.
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Here are some other tips and remedies that could help with dementia and Alzheimer's:
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How a paintbrush and some sea slime could help tame symptoms of dementia
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First off, I have to make one thing clear - Alzheimer's has NO known cure.
Anything that says otherwise should be ignored - or better still - reported.
But as always in The Good Life Letter, I want to give you all the information you need to make your own decisions. If there's a chance that one of the following might help, then you have the right to know about them:
- According to certain studies, people who eat an average of 180 mg or more a day of DHA, a fatty acid found in algae, have a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia than people who eat less DHA. And it makes sense, because DHA plays a significant role in the brain's development, especially during early childhood when the brain is growing.
- Goji berries - grown natively in Tibet, this is an excellent source of antioxidants, which protects cells (including brain cells) from damage.
- Ginkgo biloba has long been regarded as a powerful way to prevent and treat Alzheimer's and senile dementia, and help strengthen memory.
Clinical studies suggest it could help restore the efficiency of the circulatory system and improve blood flow to the brain - but ALWAYS see your doctor before trying this. Various websites warn about taking Ginkgo with prescription drugs.
- Art therapy. This technique allows you to express feelings, frustrations ands ideas through colours and shapes, and may improve coordination, concentration and general wellbeing
And finally, something I think is essential…
- Give your mind a workout. The brain is like any other part of your body - it needs to be exercised to keep it in tip-top condition and beef it up against the threat if dementia.
And I think this is a great (and easy) way to do it. I'm not going to tell you what this is up front, because you might write it off without even looking at it. Seriously… I did at first. But this bit of fun is a great way to stimulate the brain and keep all the connections active. Take a look…
Simply Bingo
I was going to tackle a few other subjects today, but I've rattled on long enough, so I'll leave them for another letter.
Besides, I've got to come up with another round of excuses explaining why I still haven't cleared out the garage!
And the best way to focus the mind is to pour a glass of wine and have a good, hard, think…
Until next time,
Yours as ever,
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter
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