Archive for the ‘health tips’ Category

As the economic crisis continues, some seniors may believe it’s reasonable to skip their annual eye exam. But for the older population, it’s critically important to keep tabs on the silent stealers of sight – cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration. According to the National Eye Institute, by age 65, one-in-three Americans have some form of vision-impairing eye disease.

Often there are no warning signs, so most people don’t know it, or they assume that poor sight is a natural part of aging. It is not. By detecting and treating eye disease early through annual, comprehensive dilated exams, seniors can do so much to preserve their sight.

Let’s focus on just one of the sight-steeling diseases – age-related macular degeneration. The American Health Assistance Foundation tells us it is a common eye disease that causes deterioration of the macula, the central area of the retina, a paper-thin tissue at the back of the eye where light sensitive cells send visual signals to the brain. The macular processes sharp, clear, straight-ahead vision, color and fine detail, and damage to this area results in blind spots and blurred or distorted vision.

Age-related macular degeneration is a major cause of visual impairment in the United States. In fact, it is the leading cause of blindness among Caucasians over age 65. Almost 1.75 million Americans 40 years and older have advanced age-related macular degeneration, and another 7.3 million people with intermediate age-related macular degeneration are at substantial risk for vision loss. It is estimated that by 2020 there will be 2.95 million people with advanced age-related macular degeneration.

There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry and wet. Neither causes pain. The dry form of macular degeneration, in which the light sensitive cells of the macula slowly break down, is the most common type, accounting for 90 percent of diagnosed cases.

Wet macular degeneration accounts for approximately 10 percent of cases but results in 90 percent of legal blindness. It is considered advanced macular degeneration (there is no early or intermediate stage of wet macular degeneration). Wet macular degeneration is always preceded by the dry form of the disease.

To help diagnose macular degeneration, an ophthalmologist will perform a dilated eye exam, and it is imperative for older adults to visit their eye doctor at least once yearly.

Mayo Clinic lists the following risk factors for macular degeneration:

• Age – The number one risk factor is age.
• Smoking – Smoking increases an individual’s chances of developing age-related macular degeneration by two to five-fold.
• Family history of macular degeneration – An individual is more likely to be affected by age-related macular degeneration if someone in his or her immediate family has been affected.
• Gender – Females are more likely to be affected by age-related macular degeneration than males. This may be due to the fact that females live longer than males, and thus have more time to develop the disease.
• Race - Caucasians are more likely to be affected age-related macular degeneration than other races. This may be due to differences in genetic background or pigmentation.
• Prolonged sun exposure – Ultra-violet (UV) light damages retinal tissue directly and can also lead to the accumulation of products that are harmful to the retina.
• A high fat diet, and/or one that is low in nutrients and antioxidants – Individuals with diets high in fat, cholesterol and sugar, and low in antioxidants are more likely to be affected by age-related macular degeneration.
• Obesity - Overweight individuals are more likely to be affected by age-related macular degeneration.
• High blood pressure – High blood pressure, like smoking, leads to a constriction, or narrowing, of the blood vessels that nourish the retina, negatively affecting its health.
• Eye color – Individuals with light-colored eyes are more likely to be affected by dry age-related macular degeneration. This may be due to the fact that light-pigmented eyes offer less protection from damaging UV light.
• Inactivity – Individuals who do not follow a regular exercise routine are more likely to be affected by age-related macular degeneration.

Currently, there is no treatment or cure for advanced dry macular degeneration. However, ongoing research is hopeful. New treatment strategies are being investigated including retinal cell transplants, drugs to prevent or slow disease progress, radiation therapy, gene therapies, a computer chip implanted in the retina that may help simulate vision, and agents that will prevent new blood vessel growth under the macula.

Until an effective treatment is found, a healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration. The following are recommended by Mayo Clinic: eat foods containing antioxidants, take antioxidant and zinc supplements (check first with your doctor), eat fish, stop smoking, get regular eye exams, manage other diseases by taking prescribed medications, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight.

According to the National Pain Foundation, pain among older adults is too frequently left undiagnosed and untreated. Statistics show that as high as 65 percent of older adults living on their own or with family, and up to 80 percent of seniors in long-term care facilities, have pain. Conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease further complicate an older adult’s ability to seek and receive adequate care for his or her pain.

As the baby boomers age, this could become even more of an issue, so the problem of pain in older adults needs to be addressed.

There are many reasons why seniors may suffer pain, from chronic disease to infection to joint and bone conditions. Here at the 10 common reasons why seniors have pain:

1. Falls/trauma – Falling from lack of balance or weakness can end up a nightmare of pain. Safety proofing the environment is a must.
2. Arthritis – While there are more than 100 types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common affecting 80 percent of older adults. Other diseases and conditions that cause joint pain include rheumatoid arthritis, gout and fibromyalgia. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
3. Pain after surgery – While most people seem to bounce back after surgery once the worst of the pain is over, many times seniors don’t have that ability. This can result in long-lasting chronic pain.
4. Osteoporosis – Thinning of the bones causes fractures. The fractures may not be obvious like hip or arm breaks; they can be in the spine, causing chronic and severe back and neck pain.
5. Shingles – Shingles are an outbreak of rash or blisters on the skin that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. The pain associated with shingles can be intense and is often described as “unrelenting.” Approximately 20 percent of shingles patients develop post-herpetic neuralgia, a chronic pain condition that affects the nerve fibers and skin.
6.  Face pain – This condition may include severe headaches, jaw tenderness and aching, muscle spasms and strain, dry mouth and toothaches.
7. Back and neck pain – Back and neck pain can be caused by spinal stenosis, sprain or strain, past fractures, swollen or herniated disks, sciatica or arthritis.
8. Abdominal pain – Causes include gallstones, appendicitis, bowel obstruction, peptic ulcer disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, or gastroenteritis. Another reason may be constipation.
9. Circulatory problems – Symptoms include muscle cramps, fatigue and aching, chest pain, leg pain, itchy skin, vein pain or varicose veins, and sores that heal slowly or not at all. Circulation issues frequently affect those with diabetes, a condition that affects nearly one out of five Americans over the age of 60.
10. Cancer – Pain is one of the most common symptoms of all types of cancer. It is usually classified as one of two types: nociceptive pain, which is described as sharp, aching and throbbing and neuropathic pain, which is described as a burning or numb sensation.

According to About.com, It makes sense that older adults with chronic pain tend to have higher levels of depression and anxiety than those who don’t suffer from chronic pain.

Seniors may already feel a sense of loss, as they gradually lose the ability to function as they previously did. Decreased eyesight may keep them from driving. They may no longer be able to walk through the grocery store. They may resent having to use assistive devices such a walker or a cane. A perceived loss of independence can lead to feelings of depression and despair. These feelings are intensified by the presence of a chronic pain condition.

Chronic pain is not something anyone should go through alone. Seniors are more vulnerable to aches and pains than the average adult, and often these aches and pains do not go away with time. No one needs to suffer quietly.

It is vital to talk with the doctor, and complete honesty is a must. The doctor can help diagnose the reason for the pain and guide an individual toward a treatment that brings relief.

Many things change as people age. That’s a given. But how does nutrition change over a lifetime. Each year over age 40, a person’s metabolism slows down resulting in fewer burned calories. Add a reluctance to exercise, and it’s a recipe for weight gain and its complications.

On the other hand, scientists estimate that anywhere from 15 percent to 50 percent of American seniors over the age of 65 consume too few calories, proteins or essential vitamins and minerals for good health. According to Dr. Jeffrey B. Blumberg, associate director of the Human Nutrition Center on Aging at Tufts University, national and regional surveys over the last decade have found close to 50 percent of elderly Americans consuming insufficient levels of calories or of such micronutrients as calcium, iron, B vitamins or vitamin C.

In 1992, the United States Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services published the Food Guide Pyramid for healthy eating. Seven years later in 1992, scientists at the USDA’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston released the “Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults” which was specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of people over age seventy.

First, the modified pyramid is based on eight 8-oz. glasses of water or other nonalcoholic, caffeine-free beverages per day. Moving up, the next level of the pyramid suggests that a senior’s diet include six or more servings a day of fiber-rich bread, cereal, rice, or pasta.

Above that, there should be three or more servings of vegetables and two or more servings of fruit. The fruits and vegetables with the richest colors (dark green, orange, yellow, and red) have the greatest quantities of nutrients. Then comes the protein level which suggests three or more servings of milk, yogurt, and cheese, and two or more servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts. Dairy choices should be of the low-fat variety.

In the meat category, include fish, which may reduce cardiac risk, dried beans, which have lots of fiber, and lean meat and poultry. Protein is important in maintaining muscle mass, boosting immunity, and aiding in wound healing. And finally, the tiny tip of the pyramid recommends using fats, oils, and sweets sparingly.

Good nutrition should and can be part of every senior’s life in order to keep the immune system strong and to have energy and a positive outlook.

Some helpful tips include:

• Good carbs. Opt for whole grain nutrition (brown rice, whole wheat bread), not refined “white” products such as white bread, white rice, or products made with white flour.
• Raw veggies. Aim to eat at least one daily serving of your fruits and vegetables raw. This not only preserves their nutritional value, it’s an easy way to avoid constipation. Raw fruits and veggies are loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes to aid digestion. Plus, there’s no preparation involved. If you have difficulty biting or chewing, cut your apple or carrot into bite-sized pieces. Or try a green salad with grated zucchini.
• Steaming is the best way to cook vegetables; it preserves nutrients.
• Protein. Fish, poultry, eggs, beans, peas, nuts and tofu all count as protein. So does skinless turkey or chicken, or fish, baked, broiled, grilled, steamed or poached. Go easy on red meats which contain saturated fat and on salty meats such as bacon or ham.
• Calcium. All dairy products are not created equal. Milk, cheese and yogurt retain their calcium content; cream cheese, cream and butter do not. As part of a healthy senior diet, choose fat-free or low fat dairy products. If lactose-intolerance is an issue, there are lactose-free and lower-lactose products such as hard cheeses and yogurt. A calcium supplement might insure enough calcium. Ask the doctor. 
• Fats. Good fats come from olive oil and sunflower oil, avocados and avocado oil, nuts and seeds.
• H2O. Drink enough water each day and eat foods with a high water content such as melons, grapes, cucumbers, onions, apples, cabbage, and soup. Staying well hydrated flushes toxins from the body, relieves constipation, helps keep joints flexible. Don’t wait until thirst happens because some people don’t feel thirst, but their bodies need lots of water anyway.

Remember to choose foods that are simple to prepare, flavorful, and easy to chew, swallow and digest. Another good guide to check out is Healthy Eating: New Food Pyramids and Tips for a Healthy Diet.

Before any changes in diet are made, it is wise to consult a health care professional who can evaluate specific nutritional needs based on medical history.

Bon appétit!

Assisted living and retirement communities typically have long range planning in place. If executive directors see ahead as far as 25 years, they are bracing for a tremendous surge in residents with diabetes.

According to a new study from researchers at the University of Chicago, if the current trend continues, the number of diabetes cases will nearly double in the next 25 years, rising from the current 23.7 million to 44.1 million in 2034. The cost of treating this many people will triple, rising from $113 billion $336 billion.

If and when that happens, it’s a massive impact on senior care that will, in turn, have a bearing on an incalculable number of facilities, physicians, nurses, hospitals, etc. Medicare spending on diabetes will skyrocket from $45 billion to $171 billion. It’s the domino effect for sure.

The predicted surge is driven by aging Baby Boomers or those born between 1946 and 1964. Presently the oldest boomer is 64, a senior citizen perhaps for admission to the movies, but a good 10 or 15 years away from assisted living arrangements. But decades can pass very quickly.

Luckily, there are a few things that can prevent such appalling numbers.  A recent 10-year trial called the Diabetes Prevention Program showed that overweight people with elevated blood sugar levels who lost a modest amount of weight, lowered their risk of developing diabetes by at least a third. People age 60 and over saw even more dramatic results, cutting their risk of diabetes during the study period by about half.

If everyone would take three easy steps, the surge in diabetes might be better controlled:

• Lose weight
• Eat right (low fat, lower calories) most of the time
• Take a walk (or exercise) 30 minutes five days of the week.

Prevention is the first step. Soon-to-be seniors still have time to change these dire predictions. The Mayo Clinic has an excellent website about diabetes prevention.

A good belly laugh sure feels good, doesn’t it? Medical experts have known for a long time that laughter promotes well being and reduces stress for all ages. For seniors, it also generates positive thoughts and lifts sadness and loneliness. It’s just good therapy. It’s also free.

Laughter has been proven to reduce pain. From Laughter Remedy, Paul McGhee, PhD. writes, “A nurse once told me of a Methodist minister who had been in a serious accident and had to spend several weeks in the hospital. He had a lot of pain, and was given shots to reduce it. The procedure was always the same. When the pain got bad enough, he would ring a buzzer near his bed, and a nurse would soon come to give him the shot. One day, he rang for the nurse and then rolled over on his side (with his back to the door), pulled his hospital gown up over his exposed backside, and waited for the nurse to come in. When he heard the door open, he pointed to his right bare buttock and said, ‘Why don’t you give me the shot right here this time?’

After a few moments of silence, he looked up. It was a woman from his church! The minister, realizing what he had done, started laughing. He laughed so hard that tears were coming out of his eyes when the nurse arrived. When he tried to explain what had happened, he began laughing even harder. When he was finally able to tell the nurse the whole story, what do you think he noticed? His pain was gone! He didn’t need the shot, and didn’t ask for one for another 90 minutes.”

Medical experts tell us that besides reducing pain and stress, laughter can boost the immune system, relax muscles, lower blood pressure, and cleanse the lungs.

According to Dr. William Fry from Stanford University, one minute of laughter is equal to ten minutes on a rowing machine. Laughter stimulates heart and blood circulation like aerobic exercise. Laughter exercise is especially well suited for seniors, sedentary people and those who are confined to a bed or wheelchair.

In the field of senior care, we know that laughter clubs are popular in assisted living or retirement homes. And why not? Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict, and nothing works faster or more dependably to bring the mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens burdens, inspires hopes, connects one to others, and keeps a senior grounded, focused, and alert. With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for seniors to deal with their problems, enhance their relationships, and support both physical and emotional health.

Here are five great quotes about laughter as medicine.

“You cannot be mad at somebody who makes you laugh. It’s as simple as that.”
Jay Leno

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”
e.e.cummings

“Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can.”
Elsa Maxwell

“I was irrevocably betrothed to laughter, the sound of which has always seemed to me to be the most civilized music in the world.”
Peter Ustinov

“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.”
Michael Pritchard

Seasonal flu is especially dangerous for seniors over 65 and others with weak immune systems. The viral infection can exhaust the body making it easy for life-threatening complications such as bacterial pneumonia to take hold. It can also worsen the symptoms of conditions like heart disease, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

With seasonal flu, seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity.  Each year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, and the combination of flu and pneumonia is the cause of at least 36,000 deaths. Ninety percent of these deaths are people over age 65.

However, this flu season could be worse because of the virus 2009 H1N1. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) expects both 2009 H1N1 flu and seasonal flu to cause illness, hospital stays and deaths this season and is preparing for an early and possibly severe flu season. However, the 2009 H1N1 (earlier referred to as “swine flu”) is a new influenza virus first detected in people in the United States in April 2009.

Swine flu is a virus infection which can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Like seasonal flu, swine flu can vary from mild to severe. Severe disease with pneumonia, respiratory failure and even death is possible with swine flu infection.

Certain groups may be more likely to develop a severe illness from swine flu, such as pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions. Flu viruses generally spread when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and land on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Flu viruses can also spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands.

Everyone age 50 and older should get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible. Most seniors do not appear to be at high-risk for the H1N1 (Swine) flu, but they should get the H1N1 vaccine when it’s available to them. However, seniors who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications should get the H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible.

Three recommendations from the CDC:

• Get a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza. Ask your doctor if you should get a 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
• Take everyday preventive actions such as hand washing and covering the mouth during a cough or sneeze.
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing.

October. It seems there are pink ribbons everywhere not to mention walk/runs, fundraisers, Sing for the Cure, Walk for the Cure, Taste for the Cure, all in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These important events raise money for research, and it is working. Today, there are two and half million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

Over the past twenty years, great improvements have been made in the treatment of breast cancer. As a result, the number of breast cancer survivors continues to rise. The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates (2009) for breast cancer in the United States are:

• 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer
• 40,170 deaths from breast cancer

Unfortunately, the chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. Women 65 years or older comprise half of the new breast cancer patients annually.

There are many conflicting reports about treatment of elderly breast cancer patients. If a 90-year-old is diagnosed, are surgery and chemotherapy too debilitating to contemplate? In many cases, physicians have a hard time knowing what to advise. In juggling decisions about treatment, clinicians and their patients are hampered by lack of clinical trial data relating to older women. But age is just one factor. Also vital to treatment decisions are functional ability, frailty and tolerance.

For instance, a 70-year-old woman in poor general health has a 9-year life expectancy, whereas a 79-year-old woman in excellent health has a 14.6-year life expectancy. The 79-year-old in good health stands to gain more from aggressive treatment than the 70-year-old woman in poor health. But it is also true that the 70-year-old woman in poor health may choose to accept the risk of aggressive treatment if it would result in even a modest extension of her life.

As stated before, there is documented evidence that older women get less intensive treatment. If there were more research about the biology of breast cancer in the older woman, it would help with decisions about tolerance, effectiveness and personal preferences.

For all women, the American Cancer Society’s recommended guidelines for early detection in all women without symptoms include:

• Mammogram: Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.
• Clinical breast exam: After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health expert every year.
• Breast self-exam (BSE): BSE is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should report any changes in how their breasts look or feel to their health professional right away.