I know you’ve probably constantly heard this phrase, “too much of a thing is bad, even if it is a good one”, yeah? Have you ever tried having honey, whether fresh from the farm or the processed form, you can’t have more than is needed despite it numerous benefits, you can only take so much at a time otherwise be ready to settle with a stomachache or even vomit.

Let me do a little run down of what excesses can cause. Eating too much can lead to obesity and other dietary problems, too much sleep can make you end up waking more tired than when you slept with even muscle cramps, the body contains some amount of fats and adipose tissue but consumption of too much fat can lead to high cholesterol levels and even block your blood vessels. One shocking discovery I also bumped into was that too much water is also not good for your system as it can cause oedema, cellulitis and affects the functioning of some organs, that’s why the recommended amount is 1.5l to 2l per day. Our bodies work under regulation so anything that exceeds the normal limits is bound to cause harm even if it was to deliver great benefits at the initial stage.

The excessiveness of an essential component in the body is the drive behind this post as we join the world in celebrating World Alzheimer’s day and creating awareness. Alzheimer’s is a condition that commonly affects the elderly and results from the buildup of two particular proteins in the brain. Proteins help in building muscle, repair of tissue after an injury, helps in maintaining healthy weight and helps keep hunger under control but like any other good thing, if too much can be bad. Now in the case of Alzheimer’s, two particular types of proteins are responsible and once they rise beyond normal levels have a potential of leading to the condition.

Most people that experience dementia, that is memory loss are most likely to have Alzheimer’s. The disease causes a shrinkage in brain mass and eventually killing the cells, the extremes can even be the destruction of the messengers in the brain that help carry information to and fro the body. This could actually mean such a person can lose coordination and the whole body is left without command as the brain can’t take or retain any information. Other signs and symptoms are inability to think and process information, change in behavior and personality, diminished social skills and inability to make decisions.

Now before you jump and pass and probably tell yourself it’s not a condition common in Africa, shockingly, various studies have shown that its rate is about 7.2% in Africa and has a potential of doubling each year. The complications of Alzheimer’s can eventually lead to death as it causes dehydration of cells, malnutrition and infection. The world is changing, even the ozone layer has been reducing in its capacity and many diseases we hardly heard of some centuries ago are surfacing so it’s important to stay well informed about even the conditions that seem afar off.

This article isn’t intended to make you stop eating proteins but to encourage the culture of moderation, so don’t go and get rid of all the eggs, chicken, beans and milk in your house, but if you feel like doing so, please call me ooo, I wouldn’t mind helping you do the environmental sanitation, lol. Daily recommended amounts of protein our bodies need on average for men is 55 grams and 45 grams for women. Measurements can be tricky, but one way is to use your fist size to portion food, if its bigger than your fist then probably know you’ve over crossed the limits.

Let’s look out for one another and especially our aged population (senior citizens) and do know that not only Alzheimer’s has the potential of causing dementia, but it could be a sign of other conditions. Having a problem in remembering things? Do you often forget events, people or conversations? Have you found yourself getting lost in places you were once familiar with? These are signs of dementia, and you may need to take a trip to see your doctor.

Having a problem identifying your symptoms or the changes in your body? Then HCI Healthcare has got you, we have seasoned specialist that can be of help, and you can further get medical assistance when you subscribe to our packages. You don’t have die in silence when you have a seasoned HMO like HCI Healthcare where your health is our priority.

Reach out today.

Written By:
Rebecca Adeleke-Adesanmi, BSc. Nur., MA, Healthcare Mgt.
Health & Wellness Advocate,
HCI Healthcare HMO

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