From the Mailbag: Hillary’s Health Scare and the Differences Between Alzheimer's and Dementia

By Natalie Moore Posted September 15, 2016

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

You’ve got questions…

We’ve got answers!

Today we are going to discuss Hillary Clinton’s most recent health scare and examine the similarities and differences of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Let’s dive in…

Hillary’s Health Scare

Hi Natalie,

I keep reading that Hillary Clinton’s recent fainting episode was due to pneumonia. Could this be true? Can pneumonia really make you pass out? Or is this just Hillary’s way of hiding a deeper health issue?

Thanks!

Bob G.

Bob, great question. Many readers have written in with questions about Mrs. Clinton’s recent health scare.

Pneumonia is a severe lung infection often caused by breathing germs into your lungs. Symptoms of pneumonia include cough, fever, difficulty breathing, chills, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, weakness, nausea and vomiting.

Given all of these symptoms, especially breathing difficulty, it seems that someone with pneumonia could experience fainting. Though, to be clear, it’s not considered a typical symptom.

But there could be another reason for Hillary’s stumbles and slumps last Sunday.

Syncope, the medical term for fainting, can be caused by many issues ranging from emotional reactions to dehydration to more serious heart conditions like strokes and blood pressure. So there is a chance that Hillary’s health scare might be indicative of a more serious condition, but there is no way to know that for sure.

And while the true state of Hillary’s heath is unknown, there is one thing that’s certain…

Back in 2014 Hillary Clinton gave a speech where she let four words slip that linked her to a health scandal that could cost her the White House.

Yet the media ignored it. In fact, they didn’t report it at all.

But these four words were so significant, they should no longer be ignored.

Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or independent — you must hear this story.

Click here to discover the four words Hillary will grow to regret.

Is Alzheimer’s the Same as Dementia?

Greetings Natalie,

You frequently mention Alzheimer’s and dementia in the same article. Is this because they are the same condition just going by two different names? If they are different, how so?

Thank you,

Mildred D.

Great question, Mildred!

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60–80 percent of all dementia cases. And this could be one of the reasons you frequently hear the terms used interchangeably. But there are a few notable differences in their definitions.

Dementia is a general term used to identify a group of symptoms including a major decline in reasoning, significant memory loss and hindered communication abilities and is caused by any type of damage to the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific condition caused by the accumulation of amyloid plaques on nerve cells and the twisting of the tau proteins within the cells.

If you think of dementia as an umbrella, Alzheimer’s would fit under it, along with several other disorders that can cause dementia symptoms, such as vitamin B12 deficiency, Parkinson’s disease and other conditions that alter the brain.

Source: alz.org

Put another way, Alzheimer’s is always a form of dementia. But dementia isn’t always a form of Alzheimer’s.

The other factor that sets these two apart is reversibility.

Some types of dementia can be reversed, especially those caused by thyroid problems, alcohol abuse, depression, infectious diseases and vitamin deficiencies.

Unfortunately, though, this isn’t true of Alzheimer’s. This disease causes dementia to progress and often hinder sufferers from performing daily tasks, communicating with loved ones and even walking.

The best way to avoid both of these conditions is to maintain a brain-healthy lifestyle by supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins like B12, eating a low-sugar diet and getting plenty of exercise.

Thanks for your questions! Keep them coming! Send all questions to nmoore@lfb.org

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Is it true you can “trick” your body young? Claim your FREE book here right now. Details here.

Sources

^[1] Doctor: Even With Pneumonia, Clinton’s Fainting Spell Looks Like A Routine Matter

^[2] Ask Well: Is Dementia the Same as Alzheimer’s Disease?

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

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