Happy Thanksgiving!

Going to work while sick...

This morning I looked outside and it was sooo windy and the temperature was in the low 30's and I had a smile on my face and felt happy.  

No, I had not experienced a miracle cure and was suddenly pain free and and all better. 

I realized I was smiling because I was not out side struggling to get to work.

Winters were the worse for me when I went to work because I would need someone to help me in my coat,  my right arm would 'stick' to my side in the cold, my right knee and ankle would hurt more and I would sometimes 'burn up' indoors with my coat on because I was too embarrassed to ask someone to help me get it back on.  

At work I had to concentrate harder to get tasks done and interacting with staff and colleagues because of the pain.  I couldn't take anything heaver than Advil to cope during a typical day at work, so I had to dig really deep to make it through the day.

I would have to call in sick sometimes twice per week and I hated that.  In the end I had zero sick, vacation and personal time left. When I took off from work it would be without pay.

 I did work from home a lot but it wasn't enough in the end.  

I loved working and wish I were healthy enough to do so again. I was very good at my job and was able to increase my budget every single year even in a bad economy.  A challenge was always what I needed to get motivated to meet and surpass the goal! 
I guess that attitude is what has kept me going through these past years.

My friend Gilda who was in her 80's when I met her, always says "honey you have to fake it 'till you can make it"  

  

I am going to look for a volunteer job for a few hours per week.  I know it may be difficult to get one since it has to me close to my apartment (walking distance, since I do not want to depend on anyone to shuttle me back and forth)  and I may not be able to get to the volunteer job on the days I am sicker.

It goes to show that we have to be grateful for all our blessings ...large and small. My life is definitely not what I imagined, but I feel blessed because I am still here.

Lasers Could One Day Detect -- And Destroy -- Brain Disease

A new technology that uses only light could one day detect and annihilate disease-causing proteins in the brain, researchers say.

The method involves using lasers to distinguish between normal brain tissue and the abnormal tissue found in people with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (which is referred to as the human form of mad cow disease, although in most cases the two conditions are not related). The laser technique -- which has not yet been tested in animals -- might one day be able to treat people with these diseases, researchers report.

Research UPDATE: Preventing Hydrocephalus in Premature Infants

Very premature infants are at high risk of developing post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) as a complication to intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH).  Most often these infants will need permanent ventricular shunting to regulate the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow.  However, shunting has a high rate of complication that frequently requires multiple revisions resulting in a child having multiple brain surgeries.  For this reason, a therapeutic method to prevent PHH is crucial and highly desired. In a study published in Brain, researchers, investigate the potential of the molecule, decorin, in preventing PHH.  The results are exciting and show great promise in the work to develop a preventive therapy for the development of hydrocephalus. Dr. James P. (Pat) McAllister, member of the Hydrocephalus Association (HA) Medical Advisory Board and an HA Experienced Investigator grant recipient, was one of the primary researchers in the study.



Read more here:

http://www.hydroassoc.org/ha-updates/research-update-preventing-hydrocephalus-in-premature-infants/

Let's be grateful...

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." //
Marcel Proust via SoulPancake

Adult Hydrocephalus and the Development of a Research Network

Hydrocephalus affects a wide range of people, from infants and children to young, middle-aged and older adults as well as those children transitioning to adulthood. The symptoms and challenges faced by adults are vastly different from hydrocephalus diagnosed in infancy and early childhood.  When hydrocephalus is diagnosed in adults aged 60 and older, it is typically referred to as Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus or NPH. When it’s diagnosed in young and middle aged adults it is called Syndrome of Hydrocephalus in Young and Middle Aged adults or SHYMA.

Read more here:http://www.hydroassoc.org/ha-updates/adult-hydrocephalus-and-the-development-of-a-research-network/

The mind's eye...

Tuning the Brain...Deep-brain stimulation is allowing neurosurgeons to adjust the neural activity in specific brain regions to treat thousands of patients with myriad neurological disorders.

DEEP-BRAIN STIMULATION (DBS): Electrodes implanted into targeted brain regions deliver electrical stimulation to either excite or inhibit activity in a neural circuit of interest. DBS patients are also fitted with battery-powered implanted pulse generators, typically placed subcutaneously below the clavicle and connected to the electrodes via insulated wires. These pulse generators can deliver electrical stimulation from 20 to 200 times per second.




Read more here:
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/38047/title/Tuning-the-Brain/

Health Update

My Endocrinologist doc called me this morning pretty early and it turned out to be great news! The biopsy I had last week was negative...cancer free!!! I am on a "watch list" and have to see my doctor in 9 months but I am good right now!

Over the last few weeks when I was faced with the possibility of having thyroid cancer I had began to feel a little hopeless... asking the proverbial questions why me?? What have I done to deserve ALL this pain and suffering??   I have been kind and good to everyone ... so why me???  

But I knew I had a choice to keep feeling sorry for myself or to fight on..

I chose to fight on, and luckily I did because here I am doing "OK" again and I am happy with "OK" because it could be worse!  I will make the very best of "OK" and carry on.   

This is useful...

"I shut my eyes in order to see" Paul Gauguin (via SoulPancake)

This week is National Radiologic Technologist Week!

This week is National Radiologic Technologist Week. CELEBRATE our radiologic techs who provide ourselves and/or loved ones with the x-rays, CTs, and MRIs we/they need to manage #hydrocephalus, #chairi malformations, #syringomyelia and other health issues . Thank you!!

Opinion: Predicting Perfect Storms ... On embracing technology and collaboration to tackle brain disorders

Brain disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS) are “perfect storms.”
Trying to predict the course of MS—or any complex disease—based on a few kinds of disconnected data is like trying to track a hurricane by measuring air temperature and wind speed alone.
Can we come to predict them and their severity just as meteorologists are able to do for perfect storms like Hurricane Sandy? 
Check out this opinion piece featured in The Scientist on embracing technology and collaboration to tackle brain disorders -





Read more here:
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/38058/title/Opinion--Predicting-Perfect-Storms/

Keep Moving....

Health Update

Yesterday I had the biopsy on my thyroid.   I was scared to death but the meds my doctor prescribed helped a lot!  I had a numbing cream to spread on my neck 30 minutes prior to the procedure and a pill to keep me relaxed.

A needle was inserted to extract the sample about 4 times while the doctor's assistant used the sonogram to direct where to get the sample.  Then I had to wait for a while for them to make sure they had enough samples.  Of course they didn't and I had to have 3 more insertions. 

Afterwards I was groggy and my throat and neck were very sore.   But today I am feeling a lot better with less discomfort.

My brother took me to the doctor and my nephew came over to get my dinner prepared. My sister-in-law messaged and called to see if I needed anything.
I am truly blessed, even with ALL my health issues, because I have sooo many great people who love, support and care for me.

My biopsy result is next week...stay tuned 

USC researchers apply brainpower to understanding neural stem cell differentiation

One of the major processes of brain development is the differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons and glia. It's a tricky process, because the brain also needs to make sure the stem cells don't proliferate out of control. In a new study published in Cell Reports, researchers at the University of Southern California identified a protein called SMEK1 that promotes stem and progenitor cell differentiation. But the scientists found that SMEK1 also works with a second protein known as Protein Phosphatase 4 to suppress neurogenesis. Only when new neurons are no longer being born can neural stem cells differentiate into neurons and glial cells like astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Neural stem cell treatment has been proposed for several neurodegenerative diseases, and understanding stem cell differentiation could help scientists better harness their power.









Read more here:
http://keck.usc.edu/en/About/Administrative_Offices/Office_of_Public_Relations_and_Marketing/News/Detail/2013__eli_and_edythe_broad_stem_cell_center__fall__usc_researchers_apply_brainpower_to_understanding_neural_stem_cell_differentiation

7 Things You Need to Know to Deal With Major Life Changes by Lisabeth Saunders Medlock, Ph.D.Life coach, psychologist, and author

In a split second, in a freak accident, I lost much of my sight. The reaction and adaptation to the trauma and my new disability taught me some key lessons about going through a major life change. A set of life lessons that helped me to survive and thrive. And since most of us go through changes in our lives, some drastic, some minor, these lessons are applicable to you.

Read more here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisabeth-saunders-medlock-phd/seven-things-you-need-to-_b_4129918.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

Women's Health

Shorter Sleep Duration and Poorer Sleep Quality Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker

Poor sleep quality may impact Alzheimer’s disease onset and progression. This is according to a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who examined the association between sleep variables and a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease in older adults. The researchers found that reports of shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep quality were associated with a greater β-Amyloid burden, a hallmark of the disease. The results are featured online in the October issue of JAMA Neurology.

Read more here...
http://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-releases/2013/spira-sleep-alzheimer.html

Answering the Question: What Will Stem Cells Become?

Scientists at the University of Toronto say they have developed a technique that can rapidly screen human stem cells and better control what they will turn into. The technology could have potential use in regenerative medicine and drug development, according to the researchers, who published their findings (“High-throughput fingerprinting of human pluripotent stem cell fate responses and lineage bias”) in this week's issue of the journal Nature Methods

Read more here:
http://genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/answering-the-question-what-will-stem-cells-become/81249012/

FDA awards 15 grants to stimulate drug, device development for rare diseases

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced it has awarded 15 grants totaling more than $14 million to boost the development of products for patients with rare diseases.

 

The Orphan Drug Act was passed in 1983 to stimulate the development of products to treat rare diseases and conditions. For drugs, a disease or condition is considered rare if it affects less than 200,000 persons in the United States. For medical devices, a disease or condition is considered rare when it occurs so infrequently in the United States that there is no reasonable expectation that a medical device for such disease or condition will be developed without assistance. There are about 6,800 rare diseases and conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health. In total, nearly 30 million Americans suffer from at least one rare disease.

Read more here...

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm371503.htm

Health Update

Last weekend I went to visit my nephew in Cleveland.  He has a full scholarship in Engineering and is doing remarkably well there.  So proud of him!

My short trip helped to take my mind off my visit to the Endocrinologist yesterday.  

It turns out that I now have a second nodule on the left side of my thyroid and will have to do a biopsy next week on both sides of my thyroid.

It's soooo frustrating to have to deal with yet another health issue!  Just when I was settling in and coping with ALL my current problems ...bomb! another curve ball... when will it ever end???!!

Luckily I don't gripe all the time....I have such a great support system with my family and that is truly a blessing.   I have help to and from medical appointments, cooking, and just about everything.  

Next week I go for the biopsy, stay tuned...

Study Seeking Participants on the Clinical, Anatomic and Genetic features of Pediatric Hydrocephalus

Drs. William Dobyns and Hannah Tully at Seattle Children’s Hospital are studying the clinical, anatomic and genetic features of children withdevelopmental hydrocephalus (otherwise known as primary, congenital, or non-acquired hydrocephalus).  Their team is seeking to enroll additional patients in their research studies.

Get more information here...
http://www.hydroassoc.org/ha-updates/study-seeking-participants-on-the-clinical-anatomic-and-genetic-features-of-pediatric-hydrocephalus/

NIH Approves High Priority Research Within BRAIN Initiative

I am supremely excited that this Initiative is moving forward...

In April 2013, President Obama announced a new grand challenge in the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies(BRAIN) initiative, which aims to accelerate the development and application of technologies to increase our knowledge of brain circuits and systems.  President Obama called for a total of $110 million in the 2014 fiscal year budget to support the effort, of which $40 million is expected to be allocated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Continue reading here:
http://www.hydroassoc.org/ha-updates/nih-approves-high-priority-research-within-brain-initiative/

Affective Touch Boosts Sense Of Self, Study Suggests

A loving caress from mother to child or a soft touch between partners may be more than an indicator of love and affection -- a new study in the journal Frontiers of Psychology suggests that receiving this kind of touch could help increase sense of self.
Continue reading here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/13/affective-touch-sense-of-self-body-soft-slow-_n_4072662.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

5 Steps Toward Resilience

The opposite of depression is not happiness, according to Peter Kramer, author of "Against Depression" and "Listening to Prozac," it is resilience: the ability to cope with life’s frustrations without falling apart. Proper treatment doesn’t suppress emotions or dull a person’s ability to feel things deeply. It builds a protective layer -- an emotional resilience -- to safeguard a depressive from becoming overwhelmed and disabled by the difficulties of daily life. Here, then, are five steps toward resilience.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/11/how-to-be-resilient_n_4065246.html?ir=GPS+for+the+Soul&ref=topbar

Manage Your Expectations, Lower Your Stress

Your outlook is a product of your own relationship with expectation. What will or won't happen, no one knows. And how we deal with the stress of not knowing, whether to hope for the best or expect the worst, the idea that our expectations always directly affect an outcome is little more than magical thinking.

Read more here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mequilibrium/managing-expectations_b_4086393.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

My Medical Journey continues

Last March I had a Myelogram test to try to determine where some of my pain originated.  The test was very scary to me...

Myelography is a type of radiographic examination that uses a contrast medium to detect pathology of the spinal cord, including the location of a spinal cord injury, cysts, and tumors. The procedure often involves injection of contrast medium into the cervical or lumbar spine, followed by several X-ray projections. A myelogram may help to find the cause of pain not found by an MRI or CT.

The process involves lying face down on a table, with the lower extremities secured tightly with straps to the table. After the skin area has been numbed, the dye is injected into the spinal sac, then the table is slowly rotated in a circular motion, first down at the head end for approximately 4–6 minutes, then rotated up at the head end for the same duration. Several more minutes lying flat and the process is complete. This movement insures the contrast has sufficiently worked its way through the spinal cord, followed by x-rays, CT, or MRI scans.

It was from this procedure that a nodule was found on my thyroid.  I had a Sonogram last May and my then doctor told me the result was negative... whew! relief!

I had not done an annual physical in over 5 years because I was busy with the brain surgeries and recoveries.  This past Monday I had one and my new doctor asked me about the results for the biopsy. I asked her what biopsy she was referring to?   Apparently it was recommended that I go for a biopsy and my former doctor did not relay that to me.

On Tuesday I went for a sonogram of my thyroid and this morning my doctor called and told me that there were changes from the last one and that I should go see an Endocrinologist she is recommending.
I am trying to absorb this latest news without worrying.   I wont call today for an appointment until Monday.

Stay tuned....

5 Houseplants That Clean The Air

I’ve always loved displaying plants around my home for the fresh, natural feeling they bring inside. But there’s another reason to love houseplants: for their air-purifying benefits. There are various toxins that exist in our air without us even knowing it. Three to be especially careful of are benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde, due to their connections to allergies, asthma, and even cancer. Today I’m sharing 5 common plants you may already have in your home, and how they benefit the air inside.
Continue reading here:
Source: 5 Houseplants That Clean The Air | Free People Blog http://blog.freepeople.com/2013/10/5-houseplants-clean-air/#ixzz2hMGPDCoR

Research Update: Use of Limited Sequence CT Scans in Pediatric Hydrocephalus

Radiation Exposure from CT/CAT scans has always been a concern especially in the pediatric population, learn how a team of neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins Medicine devised a way to reduce exposure!
http://www.hydroassoc.org/ha-updates/use-of-limited-sequence-ct-scans-in-pediatric-hydrocephalus/

It's Simple, Easy And Free -- And It Will Improve Your Health

The human body is made to move, but in today's world, we don't do nearly enough of it: As many as 50 million Americans, according to one count, are living sedentary lives.

But the simple act of walking is great for your health; research has linked it to a host of benefits, from a healthier weight to reduced fatigue to relief from stress and mild depression symptoms.

At the same time, the link between inactivity and chronic health problems has been firmly established. A sedentary lifestyle has been associated with lower life expectancy, slower metabolism, and increased risk of heart attack.

Walking is simple, easy -- and free. And there are a few simple, er, steps that can supercharge your typical stroll. We combed the research and talked to Sue Parks, CEO of WalkStyles, Inc., and co-author of iCount: 10 Simple Steps To A Healthy Life, for some tips.

Follow the story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/08/the-art-of-the-perfect-wa_n_4017552.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

Sniffing out Alzheimer’s A peanut-butter smell test could help diagnose the neurodegenerative disease in its early stages.

In a small pilot study of patients displaying signs of cognitive decline, researchers at the McKnight Brain Institute Center for Smell and Taste and the University of Florida (UF) found that peanut butter can help identify those with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder often accompanied by a loss of smell.

Continue the story here:
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/37842/title/Sniffing-out-Alzheimer-s/

Walk Through Green Space Could Help Put Brain In State Of Meditation, Study Finds

Entering a more 'zen' mindset could be as easy as taking a walk in the park, according to a small new study.

New research from scientists at Heriot-Watt University in the U.K. conducted mobile brain electrical activity testing on volunteers to find that the brain enters a meditative state whengoing through green spaces.

The findings have "implications for promoting urban green space as a mood-enhancing environment for walking or for other forms of physical or reflective activity," they wrote in the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Story continues here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/green-space-meditation-brain-walk-park_n_2964199.html?utm_hp_ref=gps-mindfulness-research

5 Things a Caregiver Should Know

There is a lot of information out there about how to be a cancer patient. Drink this. Inject that. Have this surgery. Stay away from these.

There's no guidebook giving instructions on how to be a caregiver. There are no physician consultations to tell you what the next step is in how to provide moral, physical, and emotional support to the person you love that has just been diagnosed with a possibly fatal disease. There are no rules about caring for yourself.

Story continues here:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-sewell/caregiver-tips_b_3991691.html?utm_hp_ref=gps-for-the-soul&ir=GPS%20for%20the%20Soul

Organizing your medical info can save your life — literally!

If you have chronic illness(es) or are a caregiver, we believe this post is worth the read.  This is a true story, and while we hope no one ever experiences the same thing, we wish to help others prepare for any difficult situation that might arise.

http://organizemeny.com/organized-medical-information-can-lifesaver-literally/

Obamacare Is Now Live

Researchmatch ......A secure place for volunteers and researchers to get connected.

ResearchMatch has a simple goal – to bring together two groups of people who are looking for one another: (1) people who are trying to find research studies, and (2) researchers who are looking for people to participate in their studies. It is a free and secure registry that has been developed by major academic institutions across the country who want to involve you in the mission of helping today’s studies make a real difference for everyone’s health in the future.
https://www.researchmatch.org/

Obamacare Launches Today -- What Happens Now?

Obamacare is here.

Nearly 1,300 days after President Barack Obama signed his signature health care reform program into law, its most important feature finally takes effect. Americans are about to get their first hint of whether Obamacare will work for the 48 million people who lack health insurance and the millions more who buy coverage on their own.

Beginning on Tuesday and through March 31, consumers will be able to use a new system to buy health coverage: online insurance exchanges in each state, accessible via HealthCare.gov, that let people compare plans and learn whether they qualify for financial help.

Obamacare guarantees everyone access to coverage, whether they're sick, healthy, young or old. It establishes a baseline set of benefits and stronger consumer protections. And it offers low- and middle-income people help paying for coverage.

Continue reading here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/obamacare-launch_n_4013753.html

What Will You Pay For Obamacare? Depends On Where You Live.... Katy Hall khall@huffingtonpost.com, Jan Diehm jan.diehm@huffingtonpost.com Posted: 09/25/13 EDTse

The cost of enrollment in the health care exchanges that open Oct. 1 will depend on a person's age, family size, tobacco use, income — and geographic location, with significant variation among cities and states. The average nationwide price of basic coverage was $249 a month, not including tax credits that could reduce the cost for many Americans, according to a report the Obama administration released Wednesday.

Why is the cheapest "bronze" plan just $144 in Minnesota and $425 on average in Wyoming? Prices hinge on many factors, including how much health care services cost in the region. Premiums on the health insurance exchanges also depend in part on how many insurers are competing in the local market.

Story continues below map

Infographic by Jan Diehm for The Huffington Post.

“The more choices you have, the lower the premiums,” a senior administration official told ThinkProgress. “States with few insurance companies who didn’t get a lot of new competitors this coming year, still have higher premiums.”

These prices may not reflect what consumers will actually pay, as more than half of the uninsured will be eligible for federal subsidies that would reduce the cost of coverage to less than $100 per month.

Because most Americans already have coverage through their employers or government programs, only a small slice of the population is likely to enroll in the health care exchanges. 

Tomorrow...

Thanks I fucking love science for the image!

If you are Uninsured or Under Insured Relief is just 4 day Away! Hang in there!

My story in Sligo SDA Newsletter

This is my story as it appeared in Sligo SDA Newsletter...


http://sligochurch.org/dawns-testimony/?utm_source=September+26%2C+eWeekend&utm_campaign=New+e-Weekend&utm_medium=email

Dr. Carmen Harra, Author, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert ....The 7 Things You Must Do Today..... Posted: 09/25/2013 8:23 am Huffington Post

The majority of us have learned to see life as a routine -- we've stopped thinking about what we should do and instead only think about what we need to do. But living consciously is a choice and tiny deviations from our daily grind will help us make choices that we can be proud of. Several simple actions can shift our state of mind to cultivate a sense of tranquility about our life circumstances and an understanding about the world around us that goes beyond an everyday level.

Perform these seven deeds today to strengthen your energy, advance your wisdom and elevate your awareness:

Show patience. Our patience is tested in small ways each day. It may be morning traffic, a long line at checkout, or a particularly slow person walking in front of us. Pass your challenges of patience with a bit of compassion and a large calming breath. Remember that everything can wait but nothing is worth you taking a wrongful action that can never be taken back.

Thank yourself. We thank each other all the time -- for holding doors, minor favors and common services. But when is the last time you thanked yourself? Stand in front of a mirror and smile at your reflection. Express self-gratitude in a few simple words. Thank yourself for your lifetime of hard work, your generous nature and your drive to succeed. You of all people deserve the recognition.

Tell three people you love them. How good does it feel to hear the words "I love you?" We simply don't tell our dear ones that we love them often enough. Instead, we take our time with others for granted until we no longer have them in our lives. Call three people you care about today and tell them just how much you love them. Consider calling someone you don't speak to on a daily basis, too, and expressing to them your heartfelt affection. Spreading love is contagious, and the more you share it the more you will receive it.

Take time for serenity. Our hectic schedules don't allow for much "me" time. We run around taking care of business, chores and others so that we often forget to take care of ourselves. Take 30 minutes out of your day (today and every day) simply to bond with yourself in your favorite way. Bask in the beauty of your own company. Take a walk, write down your thoughts or meditate quietly. Do whatever helps you discover your deepest layers.

Put yourself in someone else's shoes. Rarely do we understand how others feel. Instead we are quick to judge, blame, and become angry in the heat of disagreement. We don't realize how easily we would resolve our issues with others if we simply put ourselves in their shoes for just a moment. The next time you don't see eye to eye with someone or a person irritates you, halt your emotions and ask yourself, "Do I know what this person has been through today?" Pleasantly surprise others by showing compassion instead of intolerance.

Detach from your past. Granted, detaching from negative experiences in our past is easier said than done. But it is something we must all learn to do in order to progress. The easiest way to detach is to forgive, both ourselves and others, for prior mistakes. When you find yourself thinking about a hurtful memory, remind yourself that it has passed and never needs to reoccur. Force the harmful thought out of your mind and imagine a positive opposite happening in the near future.

List your ambitions. Never underestimate the power of a list. Writing down a thought or intention is your first step towards bringing it to life; it has now become a tangible object on the paper. Creating a list of what you'd like to accomplish will not only spur momentum within you, it will prioritize your needs and desires within your mind. This will help you understand where you need to start, what you will need to do, and how to proceed towards your goal. Compile an agenda of the top ten things you'd like to achieve in the next year, being honest and realistic to your specific wishes. Fold your list and carry it with you wherever you go. When faced with a significant decision, glance over your list to ensure that your actions are in accordance with your ambitions.

Our choice of actions carries us through life day by day. But when we don't expand our actions to include conscious decisions, we limit our capacity and well-being. The true power and purpose of our potential becomes evident when we interrupt our routine and introduce small reminders of grace into everyday life.

To doing only great things,
Dr. Carmen Harra

Brain Myths Believed By Most In U.S., Poll Shows

By Rachael Rettner, Senior Writer 

Published: 09/25/2013 09:31 AM EDT on LiveScience

Nearly two-thirds of Americans mistakenly believe that humans use only 10 percent of their brains, according to a new poll on brain health.

The poll, which surveyed more than 2,000 Americans, found that 65 percent of respondents agreed with the statement "People only use 10 percent of their brains on a daily basis."

In reality, that statement is a myth. Brain imaging technology shows that people use their entire brains. Although not all parts of the brain are active at the same time (just like people don't use all their muscles at once), throughout the day, all the parts of the brain will be used.

Americans also have other misperceptions about the brain and brain diseases, according to the new poll, which was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds research on Parkinson's disease. [10 Things You Didn't Know About the Brain]

For instance, those surveyed said on average they thought 36 percent of Americans would develop a brain disease in their lifetimes, but the actual number is closer to 60 percent.

And 71 percent of those surveyed agreed with the statement "Men and women are at equal risk of developing brain disease." But studies show the risk of developing certain brain diseases varies by sex. For instance, men are slightly more likely to develop Parkinson's disease, while women are more likely to develop multiple sclerosis.

Only about half of survey participants knew that loss of the sense of smell is a sign of a brain disease. A loss of smell has been linked with all brain diseases, and more than 95 percent of patients with Parkinson's disease have lost some of their sense of smell by the time they are diagnosed, the Michael J. Fox Foundation says.

One of the goals the foundation had in conducting the survey was to gauge how involved Americans feel in the search for disease cures. Just 31 percent said they thought they could personally help to find a cure.

However, "there are many ways patients and their loved ones can help accelerate the search for cures," Deborah W. Brooks, co-founder and executive vice chairman of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, said in a statement.These include"participating in clinical (human) research studies, providing a one-off blood or saliva sample for genetic testing, or even just completing a survey," Brooks said.

The Gift of Listening...

Hydrocephalus, Symptoms and Diagnostic Tests, Treatment

Hydrocephalus (hī′drō-sef′ă-lŭs) is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within cavities of the brain called ventricles.

Diagnosis of Hydrocephalus

If you think that you or someone you care about may have hydrocephalus, we recommend you learn about the symptoms and diagnostic tests for this condition. We also encourage you to trust your instincts. If you notice changes or have an intuitive feeling that something is not right with the person you are concerned about, act on that feeling and seek medical attention.

Only a medical doctor can make a diagnosis of hydrocephalus. The information here is intended to help you understand and navigate through the process of seeking medical advice. In children, it is often a pediatrician who first suspects hydrocephalus. A pediatric neurosurgeon will typically make the final diagnosis. In adults, hydrocephalus is often diagnosed by a neurologist working with a neurosurgeon.

If you have already received a diagnosis, the information below will help you make sense of theclassifications and causes of hydrocephalus.

Symptoms and Diagnostic Tests

Symptoms of untreated hydrocephalus are variable. During pregnancy, routine ultrasound can detect enlarged ventricles (spaces) within the baby’s brain. In children the symptoms tend to be related to high pressure and may include nausea, vomiting, headache and vision problems. In young and middle aged adults symptoms run the gamut of those seen in children and in older adults and most often include dizziness and vision problems. In older adults with NPH the symptoms are more likely to be loss of function in three main areas: walking, thinking and bladder control.

Infants and Children	Young & Middle Aged Adults	Older Adults (NPH)
Abnormal Head Enlargement	Difficulty Walking	Difficulty Walking
Tense, Bulging Fontanel	Cognitive Challenges	Cognitive Challenges
Prominent Scalp Veins	Urinary Urgency or Incontinence	Urinary Urgency or Incontinence
Skull bones may feel separated	Chronic Headaches
Vomiting, Sleepiness, Irritability
Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Vision
Downward Deviation of Eyes

The most common initial diagnostic test to determine hydrocephalus at any age is an image of the brain (CT Scan or MRI) to identify the enlarged ventricles (spaces) within the brain that are typical of hydrocephalus. More tests are often performed in adults. The following links take you to detailed information about the signs, symptoms and diagnostic tests for hydrocephalus in various age groups.

Treatment of Hydrocephalus

While there is no known cure, there are two forms of surgical treatment currently used to manage hydrocephalus. In the last 50 years, there have been incremental advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus, however, long term health outcomes for individuals with hydrocephalus remain unpredictable. Often repeated neurosurgical operations are necessary to treat hydrocephalus. And it is important to recognize when treatment is failing and to stay current with doctors and developments even when things are going well. Learn more about treatment complications and what to be alert for.

Shunt Systems

The most common treatment for hydrocephalus—and the most common procedure performed by pediatric neurosurgeons in the United States—is surgical implantation of a device called a shunt. A flexible tube and valve system, a shunt drains cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to another part of the body.

Shunt Operation Statistics

• About 40,000 shunt-related operations are performed every year in the US for hydrocephalus—that averages out to one every 13 minutes and over 100 every day.
• Shunt operations for hydrocephalus cost over $1 billion a year in the US.
• 50% of shunted individuals require a revising operation within two years.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV)

A second treatment option is a surgical procedure called endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). An endoscope is used to puncture a membrane in the floor of the third ventricle creating a pathway for CSF flow within the cavities in the brain. ETV is an important alternative to shunting for obstructive hydrocephalus and may be useful in other cases as well.

Unlike many other operations in which the risks are highest during the surgical procedure, most problems associated with shunting occur weeks or even years afterward. Shunt obstruction and malfunction occur in approximately one third of children in the first year after a shunt-related operation and studies have shown that ETVs can close up after time. We cannot overstate the importance of learning the signs and symptoms of treatment failure. Staying in close contact with neurosurgeons if you have a shunt or an ETV is critical.