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Monday, June 10, 2013
Dental Health for Seniors
The Basics
Maintaining good oral health is important at any age. That means brushing teeth at least twice each day with a fluoride toothpaste and soft bristle brush; flossing daily; and visiting the dentist for regular cleanings and exams. If you have dentures, brush them daily with a soft toothbrush and denture cleaner. Keep dentures covered with water or a denture cleaning solution when you're not using them. And remember, even if you have dentures and no natural teeth, you still need to see your dentist regularly to maintain overall health.
A Window to Your Health
"Your mouth is a window into the health of your body," says Christina Robles, DDS, a Los Angeles Jewish Home clinic dentist. "It can signal you're not getting enough nutrition or an infection is present."
In addition to revealing your health status, notes Dr. Robles, oral health can also affect your overall health. Bacteria and inflammation caused by periodontitis (severe gum disease) may contribute to cardiovascular problems such as heart disease, blocked arteries, blood clots, and stroke. People with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as those who have healthy gums.
Also, condition such as diabetes and blood cell disorders can lower the body's resistance to infection, which make periodontal diseases more severe. People with diabetes are more likely to develop periodontitis and have more severe cases of it than those without diabetes. This, in turn, can make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar.
Potential Mouth Problems Associated with Aging
Gum Disease: When plaque —then thin film of bacteria that accumulates on teeth — builds up along and under the gum line, it can cause gingivitis (gum disease). Gingivitis often causes red, swollen gums. If gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, it can lead to infection that damages the bones, gums, and other tissues supporting the teeth. Nearly 23 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 have periodontitis.
Dry Mouth: About 30 percent of older adults experience dry mouth, a reduced flow of saliva. Prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines are often the culprits. Drinking plenty of water and chewing sugarless gum can help with dry mouth, while consuming caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can worsen it.
Oral Cancer: Cancer of the mouth can develop in any part of the mouth or throat, and occurs most often in people over 40 years of age. See your dentist immediately if you notice any red or white patches of your gums or tongue, or if you have a sore that doesn't heal within two weeks.
Problem Solving
It can be difficult to brush teeth if you have arthritis or other dexterity problems. Make the toothbrush easier to use by inserting the handle into something easier to grip, such as a bicycle grip or rubber ball.
If you have difficult chewing, chopping, grinding, or pureeing foods may help. Canned fruits and vegetables are often softer than fresh —but be sure to get sugar-free varieties.
Take care of your oral health and you'll have something to smile about — a healthy mouth and a healthier body.
Nancy Sokoler Steiner is a freelance writer and author based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles and Lifestyles Magazine, among other publications.Labels: Dental Health, Dentist, Dentures, Floss, For the Body, Gums, Mouth, Oral Hygiene, Periodontal Disease, Periodontitis, Teeth, Toothbrush
Friday, March 15, 2013
On the Road Again: Safe Driving for Seniors
As we age, however, our driving abilities may change. To minimize safety risks to ourselves and others, it’s wise to understand how aging affects our driving and learn strategies that can help us continue driving well into our senior years.
Physical Factors
According to the Automobile Association of America (AAA), seniors are safe drivers compared to other age groups because they wear seatbelts, observe speed limits, and tend to avoid drinking and driving.
On the other hand, seniors face physical challenges that can impair driving. “Older drivers may have eyesight or hearing issues that affect their driving,” says John Beringer, Sr., California State Coordinator for the AARP Driver Safety Program. “Also, reflexes and responses are slower – it takes longer to transmit information from the eyes to the brain and from the brain to the muscles.”
Mobility may also be affected. For example, neck pain or stiffness can impair being able to look over your shoulder. Leg pain might make it difficult to move your foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal.
Medication can also impact driving performance. More than 75% of people over age 65 take at least one medication.
Taking the following steps can help minimize potential physical problems associated with driving:
- Get your vision and hearing checked annually
- Have regular check-ups and talk to your doctor about how your physical condition and medications might affect your driving ability
- Choose a car with automatic transmission, power steering and power brakes
- Do exercises to improve your flexibility
AAA and AARP both offer driving classes for older adults. “A lot of what we cover involves reviewing and reminding drivers what they knew 30 years ago,” says Beringer. “Also, many older folks learned to drive from their parents, not from a driving instructor. So they may have learned some bad habits.”
Here are some safe driving strategies, many of which apply regardless of age:
- Leave enough space between your car and the car in front of you.
- Scan far down the road continuously so you can anticipate future problems.
- Minimize distractions inside your car, such as music volume.
- Plan your route before you get in the car.
- Minimize left turns. Drivers age 65 and older are disproportionately involved in crashes involving left-hand turns. Use designated left-hand turn lanes, or make three right turns to avoid making the left.
- Try to avoid busy highways and congested traffic.
- Consider getting a car with reverse monitoring and back-up cameras, blind-spot warning systems and other crash-avoidance technologies.
There may come a time when it’s no longer safe to remain behind the wheel.
“Indications that it’s time to stop driving include getting lost on roads you should know, being told repeatedly by passengers that you missed a stop sign or finding scrapes on your car that you weren’t aware of getting,” says AARP’s Beringer.
He stresses that the age to stop driving can vary greatly. “I had an 89 year-old woman in my class with all of her faculties, and a 57-year-old that I wouldn’t want to be on the road with,” says Beringer. “We don’t age at the same rate.”
If you are concerned about someone else’s driving ability -- for example a parent’s -- join your parent as a passenger for several trips and at different times in order to get a good sense of his or her driving performance.
Encourage your parent to check his or her skills by taking a self-rating program (such as this one from the Automobile Association’s Foundation for Traffic Safety) or getting assessed by a professional such as a doctor, rehab clinic or geriatric care service.
Get a sense of your parent’s transportation needs and come up with options such as:
- Using local public and private transportation options. Try out these services with your parent in order to determine which are convenient and easy to use.
- Offering to do the driving yourself.
- Hiring a trusted friend or neighbor who needs a little extra cash.
And be empathetic: You wouldn’t want to lose your ability to drive, and neither does your parent. Keep the focus on your parent remaining safe while still getting where he or she needs to go.
Nancy Sokoler Steiner is a freelance writer and author based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles and Lifestyles Magazine, among other publications.Labels: AAA, Aging, Automobiles, Driving, For the Body, Nancy Sokoler Steiner, Seniors
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Strengthening the Body
It turns out there really is a tried-and-true method for aging well physically, mentally and spiritually. It’s not magic, and it takes effort, but it can add years to your life, help keep your brain fit, and boost your mood.
The secret formula: regular exercise and a healthy diet.
“Only thirty percent of how you age is determined by your genes,” says David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition. “The other seventy percent is in your hands.”
For example, he notes, Asians who live in China and Japan typically have low rates of cancer and diabetes. However, once they come to the U.S. and adopt our dietary habits, their rates dramatically increase.
Physical Activity
Active people are half as likely to develop heart disease than those who are inactive. They are less likely to develop diabetes and osteoporosis; make fewer visits to the doctor and the hospital; and take fewer medications. Unfortunately, more than half of Americans age 65 and over are inactive.
“Exercise of the right types can maintain muscle mass … which improves overall metabolism, puts less stress on your pancreas, and helps you achieve a healthier body,” says Dr. Heber.
Here’s the catch: You need to do physical activity regularly in order for it to work. By scheduling time for physical activity and making it part of your regular day, you are more likely to stick to a routine. You don’t need to join a gym: Lift two-pound weights while you watch TV or walk the entire mall when you go shopping.
Be sure to include these different types of exercise, each of which provides unique benefits:
- Endurance activities are those that make you breathe hard, like dancing, swimming, biking, or running. Build up to at least 30 minutes of endurance activity most days of the week. You can break the 30 minutes into shorter sessions.
- Strength exercises involve lifting weights. This helps build muscles and strengthens bones.
- Balance activities help improve balance and prevent falls. Your doctor can show you some exercises to do on one foot to improve balance. Here are some examples: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/balance-exercises/SM00049
- Flexibility activities generally refer to stretching, which can improve your freedom of movement.
The other part of the equation is diet. Studies show that following a healthy diet can reduce the risk of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart diseases, and certain cancers. What does a healthy diet look like? At least half of your plate should consist of fruits and vegetables. Eat a variety of colors of produce in order to take full advantage of what Dr. Heber refers to as “nature’s pharmacy.”
In ancient times, Dr. Heber notes, our diets were filled with fruits and vegetables. These foods contain chemical compounds that protect us against cell damage and disease. However, modern food processing has removed many of these compounds from our diets.
The part of our plate not filled with fruits and vegetables should include a combination of low-fat dairy products, grains – at least half of them whole grains – and lean protein such as fish or chicken. Nuts and beans also count as protein.
We need some fat in our diets, but not all fats are created equal. Red meat and full-fat dairy products -- such as cheese, milk, ice cream and butter – contain trans and saturated fats, which increase the risk for certain diseases. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, on the other hand, are good for the body. They are found in such foods as salmon, nuts and seeds, plant oils, and avocadoes.
Dr. Heber says that most of us consume more sugar than we realize because many of the processed foods we eat contain high fructose corn syrup. Soft drinks are a major source of “empty” calories. Thirty-three percent of the sugar consumed in the average American diet comes from soft drinks.
The secret’s out: For a healthy body, exercise regularly and choose foods wisely.
- - -
Here’s one more powerhouse tip for aging healthfully: Get preventive health screenings and appropriate vaccinations. Here are guidelines for women and men:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007463.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007466.htm.
Always check with your physician before beginning a diet or exercise program.
Nancy Sokoler Steiner is a freelance writer and author based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles and Lifestyles Magazine, among other publications.Labels: Balance, David Heber, Diet, Endurance, Exercise, Flexibility, For the Body, Nancy Sokoler Steiner, Physical Activity, Strength
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Doron Melamed: Unlocking the Secret to Stronger Immunity
Based at Haifa’s Technion, one of Israel’s most prestigious universities, Melamed leads a team of researchers that has accomplished something extraordinary: showing that it is possible to turn back the clock on the aging of the body’s immune system. The idea, he says, is not necessarily to extend survival, but rather to help people live healthier. “Older people suffer more from infectious disease and cancer,” he notes. “If we are able to improve their immune systems, they will age healthier and enjoy an increased quality of life.” His finding matches up exactly with the Jewish Home’s commitment to healthy aging, which includes a focus on helping seniors live high quality, productive and independent lives.
Melamed is an immunologist – someone who studies the development of immune cells. As the body ages, those cells see a marked decrease in development, ultimately leading to an immune system comprised of old cells that have a limited capacity to respond to infection. In the scientific community, conventional wisdom has long held that this age-dependent change in immune cell development is part of a progressive and irreversible process. Working in collaboration with colleagues, Melamed has turned that conventional wisdom on its head. “We conducted a ‘proof of principle’ experiment in which we took an old mouse whose lymphocytes [a type of white blood cell] were poorly generated and transformed it so that it was just like a young mouse in terms of generating cells,” he explains.The potential implications of his work are remarkable and far-reaching. Restored to full health and functionality, immune systems would be better equipped to fight disease, enabling seniors to maximize enjoyment of their golden years instead of “going every week or two to a physician, having to take multiple pills each day and facing repeated hospitalization,” Melamed says.
In partnership with researchers at Haifa’s Rambam Hospital, Melamed is conducting a clinical trial in humans to determine whether his discovery holds true across species. “I think it will take another two or three years until we start getting data from the clinical trial about whether or not this will work,” he forecasts. Once the efficacy of his treatment is determined, Melamed predicts it will be another several years before physicians and scientists begin identifying the full range of opportunities for human use.
Funded in part by coveted grants from the Israel Science Foundation, Melamed’s research continues to distinguish him as one of the country’s most promising young scientists – someone capable of seeing things with new eyes. It’s a metaphor he finds appropriate. “Aging was always considered to be progressive and irreversible,” he says. “Suddenly, someone comes along and wonders whether that’s just the way we see it, and that maybe, if we adjust our vision, we would come up with a different result. And that’s exactly what happened.”
Labels: Age Reversal, Aging, For the Body, Healthy Aging, Immune System, Immunology, Israel, Israel Science Foundation, Melamed, Technion
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Why Does Aging Skin Bruise So Easily?
“These kinds of bruises, referred to as solar purpura, may start occurring in your 50’s, and become more common as time passes,” says David E. Sawcer, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology in the Keck School of Medicine at USC. “They happen closer to the surface of the skin than other bruises, and are not usually caused by trauma.”
Bruises come from injury to the small blood vessels (capillaries) near the skin’s surface. Blood leaks from the capillaries and remains trapped under the skin. Normal bruises are usually tender, change colors, and go away after a week or two. Solar purpura, on the other hand, don’t hurt, and often get darker, progressing from red to deep purple before they fade. They can take several weeks to disappear.
Why it Happens
As our skin ages, its structure begins to weaken. The outer skin layers grow thinner and the capillary walls become more fragile. At the same time, the layer of fat under the skin thins, providing less padding and insulation.
“Day-to-day activity is enough to cause solar purpura,” says Dr. Sawcer. “The capillaries in the skin are more easily damaged because they become thinner and less protected.”
Although bruising can’t be avoided, sun exposure worsens it by weakening the skin. Also, blood-thinning medications, such as Coumadin and aspirin, contribute to bruising by slowing the blood’s ability to clot. Corticosteroids, prescribed for a variety of conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and asthma, cause thinning of the skin, which also promotes bruising.
On rare occasions, bruising may indicate medical conditions such as clotting or coagulation disorders. If your bruises are painful, you experience abnormal bleeding in other areas, or you start bruising when you’re ill, be sure to see your physician. If you see bruising on a loved one and worry about physical abuse, you should know that bruising caused by abuse tends to appear on different parts of the body -- such as the face, neck, back and chest – rather than on the hands, arms and legs. Still, it’s a good idea to talk to your loved one if you have any concerns.
What Can You Do
Sun exposure makes the skin weaken more quickly, so protecting yourself from the sun can help delay this process. Keeping skin well moisturized can also lessen bruising. Do both at one time by using a moisturizer with sunscreen.
The most effective treatment for bruises is time. Eventually, the body reabsorbs the blood, and the bruise disappears. Cosmetics may help hide bruises in the meantime.
“People tend to be concerned about bruises because they’re deeply colored and look serious,” says Dr. Sawcer. “But despite their appearance, they’re generally not something to worry about.”
Nancy Sokoler Steiner is a freelance writer and author based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles and Lifestyles Magazine, among other publications.Labels: Aging, Bruise, Bruising, Feature Articles, For the Body, Healthy Aging, Nancy Sokoler Steiner, Skin, Solar Purpura
Monday, August 29, 2011
How to Avoid Breaking Your Hip
The reasons for such poor outcomes after hip fractures are not clear, however loss of mobility and independence play an important role. Immobility also leads to depression, a loss of motivation, and, in many cases, even the will to thrive and live.
Since we don’t want one, let’s look at ways to prevent these potentially devastating accidents.
Fall Proofing Your Home
Most falls occur in the homes, that were built without the needs of senior residents in mind. Many contain slippery floors and poorly-lit hallways, and stairs.To fall-proof your home, start with your kitchen and your bathroom, the two most common sites for falls. Grab rails are a must in the shower and next to the shower, bathtub and sink. They don’t have to look industrial. There are nice designer shapes and colors from which to choose.
If you use throw rugs in the bathroom or kitchen, make sure they are fixed to the floor. Re-organize your kitchen to ensure that commonly-used items can be easily reached. And don’t store anything so high that you need to stand on a chair or stool to reach it.
Be sure hallways and staircases are well-lit and clutter-free. For more information on how to make your home safer, visit www.homemods.org.
Change Those Shoes
High heels and smooth-soled shoes must go. Personally, I prefer the security of shoes with non-skid bottoms. If you encounter a wet or slippery surface, your shoes can make the difference.While you’re at it, retire those running shoes with lots of elevation. They simply put too much space between the soles of your feet and the surface on which you’re walking.
Improve Your Balance
There are several ways to improve your balance and thereby prevent falls. Perhaps the best method was devised by the Chinese, and is called T’ai Chi. The gentle motions of T’ai Chi have been shown in clinical trials to reduce falls and their resultant hip fractures in seniors.If T’ai Chi is not for you, there are other balance exercises that a physical therapist can show you. Your physical therapist or physician can also coach you on how to avoid landing on your hip if you do take a fall.
Strengthen Your Bones
We all lose bone mass after the age of 40 or so. For women, this process accelerates after menopause due to a loss of estrogen. What can we do to slow down and even reverse this process so that we’re not at risk for fractures?Surprisingly, the best way to strengthen bone is through exercise, both the aerobic and strength-training types. Just 30 minutes of walking at two to three miles per hour will build bone mass. Light weight training will strengthen your bones as well as improve your balance.
Get Sufficient Vitamin D
Another way to prevent fractures is by getting enough vitamin D, which has been shown to prevent falls. Your skin manufactures vitamin D after exposure to the UV rays in sunlight.Unless you get out in the sun for a considerable amount of time each day, it is unlikely that you are getting enough vitamin D, and you will need to take a supplement of 1,000 IU a day.
Have a Bone Scan
If you are over age 50, you should have a DEXA scan. This x-ray of your hip and spine will determine if you have osteoporosis (severe loss of bone matrix) or osteopenia (moderate loss of bone matrix). If you do have these conditions, you are at greater risk for hip fracture.There are several options for treating osteopenia and osteoporosis. Consult with your physician to see if estrogen, etidrionates such as Fosamax, SERMs such as Rolaxifene, calcitonin, or parathyroid hormone, are right for you.
Reducing the risk of a hip fracture and its consequences is something you can start working on today. By taking the steps outlined above, you should be able to protect yourself from this potentially devastating injury.
Dr. Edward L. Schneider headed the largest private center for research and education on aging, the Andrus Gerontology Center of the University of Southern California, from 1986 to 2004. He is now Dean Emeritus of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and Professor of Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Schneider has written or co-written 14 books, including Ageless: Take Control of Your Age & Stay Youthful for Life, and published more than 180 scientific articles on topics related to aging.Labels: Aging, Bones, Falling, Feature Articles, For the Body, Hip Fracture, Schneider
Friday, August 5, 2011
Study: Any Exercise Helps the Heart
News Review From Harvard Medical School -- Study: Any Exercise Helps the Heart
Even small amounts of daily exercise help to reduce the risk of heart disease. That's the conclusion of a new review of research on the topic. Some benefit was seen with as little as 10 to 15 minutes of exercise a day. The review combined the results of 9 previous studies. All of them included information on exercise habits. Researchers looked at people who did moderate-intensity exercise (such as walking) for a least 150 minutes a week. That is the current recommended minimum. People in this group had a 14% lower rate of heart disease than those who did no exercise. Benefits of exercise were strongest among women. The study appeared in the journal Circulation. USA Today wrote about it August 2.
By Howard LeWine, M.D.
Harvard Medical School
What is the Doctor's Reaction?
Yes, we all know that exercise is good for you. But does more exercise actually prevent coronary heart disease? Not everyone has been convinced of the direct link.
People who exercise tend to be more conscious of what they eat. They are less likely to smoke. They also pay more attention to their health. Maybe that's why they are healthier.
This very comprehensive study gives us a definitive answer. It found that any amount of exercise decreases your risk of chest pain, heart attack and death from heart disease. In fact, people who don't exercise at all can decrease their risk of heart disease with as little as 10 to 15 minutes of exercise per day.
The researchers set out to define how much exercise it takes to decrease your risk of heart disease. Their benchmark was the recommended minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This is exercise that a person performs during non-work hours. It is often called leisure-time physical activity.
According to this study, people who get an average of 150 minutes per week of exercise reduce their risk of coronary heart disease by 14%. For people who average 300 minutes per week, the risk reduction improves to 20%.
Women appear to benefit more than men. The researchers found that women had a greater reduction in heart disease from similar amounts and intensity of exercise. This was unexpected. Other studies have not shown a sex difference. Also there is not a good biological explanation to account for this.
What Changes Can I Make Now?
Do you engage in any leisure-time physical activity that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat a little? If you don't, get started. Take a short walk every day, mow the lawn or plant a garden. Do something every day, even if it is only for a few minutes.
Your next goal is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. That is less than 2% of the total minutes in a week! (There are 10,080 minutes per week.)
Moderate-intensity exercise can be determined by heart rate or METs. MET stands for metabolic equivalent. One MET is the amount of energy you burn when you are sitting quietly.
Heart rate -- Moderate-intensity exercise raises your heart rate to 60% to 75% of your maximum heart rate. The simplest formula for maximum heart rate is 220 minute your age.
METs -- Moderate-intensity exercise means 3 to 5.9 METs. Examples of activities that increase your metabolic rate to this level include:
- Walking at 3 to 3.4 miles per hour
- Riding a stationary bike with light effort
- Riding an outdoor bicycle at 7 to 10 miles per hour
Labels: Circulation, Cross Post, Exercise, For the Body, Harvard Medical School, heart disease, Heart Rate, Howard LeWine, Leisure-Time Physical Activity, METs, moderate-intensity, Physical Activity, Staff
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Aging Is Awesome
The saggy, wrinkly view of aging may have a much more positive, and real, conterpart: Getting older has its perks, lots of them, from needing less sleep to having better sex. Here's a look at why the crowded candles on your birthday cake, as you enter middle age and beyond, are just plain awesome. (photo credit: stock.xchng)
That's right, more time to enjoy life. Seniors need about 1.5 hours less sleep on average than their younger counterparts, according to one study.
In another study of 110 healthy adults who were allowed eight hours of bed time, the oldest group (ages 66 to 83) snoozed about 20 minutes less than the middle-agers (ages 40-55), who in turn slept about 23 minutes less than the youngest group (ages 20 to 30). The simplest explanation for the fewer shut-eye minutes: Older adults need less sleep.
Another explanation, and one supported by research: Older adults just can't get the sleep they need, taking longer to nod off, spending less time in deep sleep, and having more trouble staying asleep. In fact, more than half of men and women over the age of 65 say they suffer from at least one sleep problem, with many experiencing insomnia, according to WebMD. (photo credit: © Rozenn Leard | Dreamstime.com)
Being happy may come down to attitude, studies have shown. That's great news for older adults, whose brains seem to be wired to remember the good times. A brain-scanning study published in 2010 in the journal Cortex revealed that older adults' rose-colored glasses may be linked to the way the brain processes emotional contents.
The researchers scanned the brains of participants — young adults (ages 19-31) and older adults (ages 61-80) — as they viewed a series of photographs with positive and negative connections between the brain regions that process emotions and those known to be important to the successful formation of memories, particularly when processing positive information. The same strong connections weren't found for the younger participants.
Aging adults don't just recall blissful moments of the past in vivid colors. It's also becoming apparent to researchers that being old could lend itself to optimism. In one recent study, both old and young participants where shown virtual faces portraying sadness, anger, fear and happiness. Eye-tracking technology revealed the older participants, ages 18 to 21, focused on fearful faces, while those ages 57 to 84 zeroed in on the happy faces, avoiding the angry ones. The researchers, who detailed their study in 2006 in the journal Psychology and Aging, think that as a person's life expectancy decreases, they might focus on what makes them feel good now rather than focusing on the negative. (photo credit: Dreamstime)
No diapers. No temper tantrums. No fevers and ear infections. Aging means you get to enjoy grandkids, as if they were your own, but without any of the frustrations. Pop-pop and G'ma can do no wrong in the eyes of grandkids. Research has suggested grandparents can increase the chances of a child surviving during the high-risk period of infancy and childhood in traditional societies. The same link may hold true in Western societies, according to David A. Coall of Edith Cowan University. "We felt if such an association existed in Western societies, where the fertility and childhood mortality rates are much lower, grandparents could make a substantial public health contribution to our society," Coall said in a statement.
And you're good at it, too. A study published in the November 2008 issue of the journal Pediatrics, by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, showed that kids cared for by a grandmother were 50-percent less likely to get injured than children cared for by daycare workers, other relatives, or even the child's own mother. (photo credit: © Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime.com)
Like a fine wine, older adults have been aged to perfection it seems, at least when it comes to wisdom. As you age, you may have a tougher time tuning out irrelevant information, but this lack of focus can actually boost memory, according to research published in 2010 in the journal Psychological Science. More specifically, seniors have the unique ability to "hyper-bind" the irrelevant information, essentially tying it to other information that is appearing at the same time. This type of memory could help older adults with decision-making and problem-solving, the researchers suspect. For instance, if a manager wants to promote an employee, it might be helpful to recall not just that employee's work performance, but also his interaction with other employees. (photo credit: © Denis Raev | Dreamstime.com)
Sex drive seems to stay strong as you age. One 2007 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine surveyed adults ages 57 to 85, finding more than half of 75- to 85-year-olds reported a roll in the hay at least two to three times a month, and 23 percent reported having sex at least once a week. oral sex appeared to be less "ageless." nearly 60 percent of the participants under 65 years old said they had engaged in oral sex in the previous 12 months, compared with 31 percent for the over-75s. (photo credit: © Alexander Raths | Dreamstime.com)
What else do you think makes aging awesome? Leave a comment!
Labels: Aging, Cross Post, Elderly, For the Body, For the Mind, For the Spirit, Grandma, Grandpa, Grandparents, Healthy Aging, Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience, Optimism, Seniors, Sexuality, Sleep, Staff, Wisdom
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Vital Signs (a Poem)
Labels: Annenberg, Barzall-Sola, Blood Pressure, DeGuzman, Flittner, For the Body, Leung, Nguyen, Nursing, Nursing School, Nursing Students, Pail Level, Pulse, Staff, Temperature, Vital Signs
Monday, May 9, 2011
Salt and Water: How Much is Too Much?
Coffee, alcohol, wine, and chocolate have been hot topics over the past several years. But the most common confusion I encounter in the clinical setting results from misinformation patients and families receive regarding the amount of salt and water we should consume on a daily basis.
Most Americans understand that adding extra salt to food is not healthy for them, and that excess salt can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. Unfortunately most people do not understand that the normal American diet already contains an extremely high amount of sodium, as salt is measured in most prepared foods, averaging 4,000 mg per day. This is much higher than the American Heart Association guideline of 1,500 mg per day.
It is estimated that limiting sodium intake to recommended levels could save 150,000 lives each year by reducing complications from high blood pressure and heart disease.
Surprise — It's Not the Salt Shaker
Many patients feel they are not at risk for excess sodium if they don't add extra salt to their foods at the table. However, sodium added to foods from a salt shaker only accounts for 5% of the sodium consumed in the regular American diet. Ninety-five percent comes from processed foods themselves.It comes as a surprise to most of my patients that many common foods contribute to high sodium intake. Most canned soups have nearly 1,000 mg of sodium in one serving, which is two-thirds of the daily limit in one meal. One small package of soy sauce also contains nearly 1,000 mg of sodium.
With such a high sodium content in everyday foods, many patients exceed their daily limit before lunchtime. Patients with the diagnosis of heart failure are often the most vulnerable to excess sodium intake, which commonly leads to excess water retention in the legs and lungs and is a common reason for heart failure admissions to the hospital.
By eating fewer processed foods, and adding more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet, you can help keep your sodium intake well within the recommended guidelines.
Water — Large Quantities are Not for Everyone
Water consumption is another dilemma for patients. It is generally assumed true that drinking several large bottles of water a day may be good for a young, healthy person. But for patients with certain medical conditions, such as heart failure or kidney disease, large amounts of water can actually compromise their conditions.Depending on the severity of their particular condition, physicians often limit patients daily water intake to one-two liters (two-four 500ml bottles) per day. The American Heart Association recommends less than two liters of fluids per day for patients with heart failure and patients with end stage kidney disease often are recommended to drink about one liter per day.
Well-informed about the benefits of hydration, patients are often surprised that they are drinking more fluids than the recommended amount and that drinking too much fluid can make them sicker.
It is always advisable to discuss your particular fluid and sodium restrictions with your physician because these two essential nutritional elements can have an enormous impact on your health.
As a Jewish Home clinic physician, Dr. Esiquio Casillas helps seniors learn to better control their chronic diseases by incorporating social determinants of health with high-quality primary care services. Dr. Casillas completed a year-long Health Policy Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, where he analyzed the role private community physicians play in stabilizing the healthcare safety net in Los Angeles. Dr. Casillas received his medical degree in 2001 from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency in family practice in 2004 at White Memorial Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. He was born in Los Angeles and enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and running.Labels: Casillas, Feature Articles, For the Body, Staff
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Unconventional Practices for Practical Purposes
“It relieves stress, it reduces anxiety and it can help diminish pain,” said Marie Muller, the agency’s education manager and a trained reiki master. “We hope that our clients with dementia who become agitated and stressed will find reiki calming” — and thus will be less disturbed when aides help them bathe or dress or eat.
Reiki is the ancient Japanese practice of channeling universal energy to heal or, at the very least, soothe a person in need. And in addition to senior care facilities, some hospitals are experimenting with the practice.
“People say they just feel comforted,” said Christina Niles, the hospital’s reiki director, citing patient surveys. “I personally believe reiki is healing. Not everyone at the hospital agrees, but everyone thinks that people feel better afterward.”
In a recent Jewish Home Feature Article, Dr. Edward Schneider explained that Eastern and Western medicine can complement one another. What would be interesting to know definitively, though, is whether reiki can physically heal, or whether the presence of a calm caregiver or peaceful music simply puts dementia patients at ease.What do you think?
Labels: Alternative Medicine, Caregiving, Dementia, Eastern Medicine, For the Body, Healing, Health, Japanese Medicine, New York Times, Reiki, Schneider, Staff, The New Old Age, Traditional Medicine, Wellness
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Good Form: On the strong and balanced side
By Karen Voight
When your core is strong, daily activities become easier and you'll get more from your exercise routines as well. Remember to incorporate this straightforward yet challenging move for a more balanced practice.
Begin on your hands and knees. Turn to the side and position your right hand directly below your right shoulder and your right knee below your right hip. Straighten your left leg with your left foot flat on the floor, toes and knee facing forward. Reach up with your left arm so it is above your shoulders. Engage your abdominals and move your tailbone in toward your body to avoid over-arching your lower back. Look up to the ceiling and pause.
Keeping your hips and shoulders stacked, push through your left heel and lift it to hip level. Concentrate on maintaining your balance with minimal movement in your torso. Hold this position for three to six breaths. Then lower your leg, come to all fours and repeat on the other side.
Voight is the creator of a line of fitness DVDs, including "Full Body Stretch" and "Ballet BodySculpt."
Read the original article.
Labels: Activities, Balance, Cross Post, Fitness, For the Body, Los Angeles Times, Staff, Voight
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Feeling Sporty? Popular Activities for Seniors
Freshwater Fishing- Fishing can offer peace and tranquility, along with working the muscles in your arms and torso.
Labels: Activities, Aging, Bowling, Cross Post, Fitness, For the Body, Golf, Health, Senior Living, Seniors List, Sports, Staff, Swimming, Walking
Friday, February 18, 2011
New Advice on Preventing Falls
By Karen Stabiner
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Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press |
The earlier guidelines did not single out any particular exercise regimen and endorsed prescription reviews only for patients taking more than four medications.
Exercise is essential for any older person who can manage it, according to Dr. Mary Tinetti of the Yale University School of Medicine, a chairwoman of the panel that issued the new guidelines. Tai chi gets the nod because several trials have suggested that it seems to help reduce the risk of falling, she said, although it is possible that other forms of balance training work just as well.
Greg Fuller teaches tai chi at the Jewish Home in Los Angeles. “The basic underlying philosophy is that balance is everything,” he said. Most important for his students, whose average age is 90, tai chi involves small, slow, controlled motions.
“With beginners, we spend a lot of time working while seated, bringing attention to the proper alignment of the pelvis, chest and head,” said Mr. Fuller. Once that is accomplished, “finding strength and balance while standing is much easier.”
Even then, many students work standing just behind a chair. “The presence of the chair back within reach gives them a sense of security and confidence,” Mr. Fuller said. “They forget about the possibility of falling and concentrate on the movements.”
Confidence is important to fall prevention, according to Dr. Tinetti, who said that fear of falling can itself lead older people to cut back on activities they used to enjoy. The less they do, sadly, the less they eventually are able to do.
The geriatrics groups also have long recommended that the medication regimens of older patients be reviewed and, if possible, scaled back. Earlier guidelines called for reviewing medications only if a patient takes more than four. This time around, researchers say that all older patients ought to have their doctors review their prescriptions for any that might increase the risk of falling.
“The evidence is strongest that medications that affect the brain — these include antidepressants, sleep medications and medications for anxiety — increase the risk of falling,” said Dr. Tinetti. “There is also a suggestion, not yet proven, that narcotics and some blood pressure medications may increase the risk of falls, as well.”
The updated guidelines distinguish between a fall that requires intervention and one that might be a isolated incident. The updated criteria for getting a risk evaluation are:
- An elderly person worried or frightened by a fall.
- Two or more falls in the past year.
- One or more falls with injury.
- Repeated difficulty with balance when walking.
Read the original blog post here.
Labels: Aging, Balance, Cross Post, Falling, Fitness, For the Body, Health, New York Times, Stabiner, Staff, T'ai Chi, The New Old Age
Friday, January 7, 2011
Alternative Meds/Traditional Chinese Medicine
According to legend, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was invented 4,500 years ago by Huangdi, known as the Yellow Emperor, in collaboration with his physician.
To better understand this type of medicine, which is increasingly popular with Westerners, I visited China a decade ago.
On my trip, a TCM practitioner took me on a tour of one of the country's hospitals. In contrast to the smell of disinfectant encountered in American hospitals, wonderful aromas greet you when you enter a TCM hospital. Similarly, while the pharmacy occupies a small part of the first floor of many hospitals in the U.S., the pharmacy is the first floor of a TCM hospital. Shelf after shelf in the pharmacy hold the ingredients of Traditional Chinese remedies: herbs, animal parts, and chemicals.
Ingredients New to Westerners
Seahorses are considered a key ingredient in treatments for a number of conditions, ranging from impotence to heart disease. Rhinoceroses have been hunted to near extinction in order to acquire their prized horns, which are then ground into a powder, and used for a variety of ailments. Shark fins cooked in soup are thought to cure cancers. Tiger bones were used to treat arthritis until tigers were on the verge of extinction, so the Chinese government banned their use in 1993. Popular herbal ingredients include gingko biloba and ginseng.
During my tour of the hospital, I entered a patient's room and watched a Chinese practitioner as he sat on the bed next to the patient and administered a concoction of TCM ingredients. While Western medicine often treats patients with a single pill for a specific ailment, Traditional Chinese treatments consist of a tea with 10 to 20 separate ingredients.
I was very impressed by the “hands on” approach and the obvious caring relationship between the patient and the physician. But I was very surprised to see an intravenous pole at the other end of the bed with the modern antibiotic Amoxicillin being infused into the patient. I asked the doctor about this apparent incongruity.
“Here in China, we use the best of the West and the best of the East,” he said. I learned that treatments for serious medical conditions like cancer and heart disease are very similar to those used in the United States. However, for day to day preventive care, the Chinese take a different approach.
Examining Chi, Yin, and Yang
When a TCM practitioner is examining a patient, he will look at the hands, tongue, eyes, and skin of a person. In this way, he is looking at the patient's chi, or vital force. Chinese doctors are concerned about the flow of chi, and look for signs that it may be interrupted.
They also examine the balance of opposing forces in the body, the yin and yang. Yin is thought to be wet, slow, soft, and tranquil, and often described as a feminine force. By contrast, yang is hot, hard, dry, and aggressive, traditionally masculine attributes. In examining the balance of these forces, Chinese doctors may conclude that the patient's chi is not flowing properly. Over four millennia, they have come up with many ways to correct such imbalances.
Acupuncture and Acupressure
One TCM treatment is acupuncture. The Chinese believe that chi flows along meridians in the body, and that placement of acupuncture needles at specific points along these meridians can help restore the flow of chi, bringing yin and yang into proper balance. A few years ago, the National Institutes of health convened a consensus conference on acupuncture. It found support among American physicians for using acupuncture to treat specific conditions such as headaches and arthritic pain. Today, the practice is used with varying degrees of success. Fortunately, there is very little risk from having acupuncture as long as the needles are sterilized or disposable.
In addition to acupuncture, a TCM practitioner can use acupressure, which is pressure placed at specific points along the same meridians that are used in acupuncture. Other treatments include cupping, where a heated cup is placed over the skin; moxibustions, the burning of herbs close to acupuncture meridians; massage; and qigong, a combination of breathing and meditation exercises.
So, do I recommend that you try Traditional Chinese Medicine? For serious medical conditions, I would seek a physician trained in the latest Western medical practices. I believe that the main danger of seeking out TCM is that a patient might postpone receiving proven modern treatments for treatable conditions. But for those who want to see how their chi is doing, or whether their yin and yang are in balance, there is very little danger in trying Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Dr. Edward L. Schneider headed the largest private center for research and education on aging, the Andrus Gerontology Center of the University of Southern California from 1986 to 2004. He is now Dean Emeritus of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and Professor of Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Schneider has written or co-written 14 books, including Ageless: Take Control of Your Age & Stay Youthful for Life, and published more than 180 scientific articles on topics related to aging.
Labels: Chinese Medicine, Feature Articles, For the Body, Schneider, Traditional Medicine
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Getting a Good Night's Sleep
As we age, many of us find it is harder to fall asleep. We may awaken more frequently during the night, and have a tougher time getting back to sleep.
Studies show us that seniors have less Stage III and IV deep sleep and fewer episodes of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, when dreaming occurs. As a result, we may find ourselves feeling tired, discouraged, and depressed after a series of 'sleepless' nights.
The good news is that there are several things you can do — starting tonight — to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep and your functioning during the day.
Creating a Good Environment for Sleep
Heavy curtains or drapes can shield your sleeping area from unwanted noise or light. If soundproofing is difficult, consider a sleep machine that provides soothing sounds that help lull you to sleep.
If you have a clock radio or clock with a bright digital display, turn the light away from your eyes. Consider a new mattress or pillow. A few cents per night spent on a good mattress and pillow can be an excellent investment.
Dedicate your bedroom to two activities only — sleep and sex. Move that widescreen TV to another room. Leave your books, knitting, to-do list outside the bedroom. Your brain needs to associate walking into the bedroom with rest and sleep.
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene
When you enter the bedroom, turn off the mental tape for tomorrow's plans. Endlessly revisiting the next day's concerns impinges on your time and place of rest.
Worrying at night is unproductive and even self-destructive, but many of us have a hard time breaking out of the pattern. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can make you aware of bad habits, and help you practice more productive, sleep-inducing habits.
Reduce Your Stimulants
If caffeine sensitivity is a concern, eliminate caffeinated coffee or teas after noontime. Recent studies indicate that caffeine's detrimental effect on sleep can last longer than previously thought.
Read labels, and remember that there is caffeine in Coke, Dr. Pepper, Iced Tea, Snapple flavored teas, and many other beverages. Chocolate is loaded with caffeine, so reduce or stay away from it in the evening.
Health Issues and Sleep
If you get up at night to urinate, consider not drinking beverages for a couple of hours before bedtime. This is a characteristic problem for men with enlarged prostates.
A variety of other conditions can also interfere with sleep, including arthritis, emphysema, and heart disease. Ask your physician for ways to make sleep easier if you have these conditions.
Many older individuals suffer from sleep apnea. This breathing interruption disorder is particularly prevalent among the overweight. Sleep apnea is easily diagnosed in a sleep lab, and there is an effective treatment that uses a small mask and pressurized air. Another sleep-disturbing condition is Restless Legs Syndrome, in which individuals have involuntary leg movements during the night.
Treating Insomnia
A number of studies now show that cognitive behavioral therapy is a more effective treatment for insomnia than medication. This therapy begins with many of the techniques described above to optimize your sleep environment.
It is also recommended that you go to sleep and wake up at the same or nearly the same time every day. If you can't fall asleep after 30 minutes of trying, you should leave the bedroom, then return in 30 minutes.
Sleep therapists also teach relaxation and meditation techniques to prepare the mind and body for sleep.
Medications in a Pinch
If you are desperate to break the insomnia cycle, a sleeping pill can be a reasonable option. But don't reach for antihistamine-heavy, over-the-counter sleep aids that will leave you feeling groggy the next day.
Prescription medications are preferred, and come in short, intermediate and long-lasting versions such as Sonata, Ambien, and Lunesta. Stay away from long-acting agents like Restoril. Rozerem is meant for those who have a hard time falling asleep but do not awake frequently.
Finally, don't give up trying! With a little planning, practice, and perseverance, you should be able to find the solution and begin enjoying the daily benefits of a good night's sleep.
Dr. Edward L. Schneider heads the largest private center for research and education on aging, the Andrus Gerontology Center of the University of Southern California. He also serves as Dean Emeritus of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and Professor of Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Schneider has written or co-written twelve books, including Ageless: Take Control of Your Age & Stay Youthful for Life, and published more than 180 scientific articles on topics related to aging.
Labels: Feature Articles, For the Body, Medication, Sleep
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Getting the Most Out of Alternative Medicine
These days, you don't have to look far to find an alternative remedy for just about anything that ails you. There is echinacea for the common cold, ginkgo biloba for memory loss, herbs for circulation and digestion, and teas for relaxation.
Every open-minded person welcomes new solutions to health challenges. As a physician, I am also concerned with the medical basis and validity of these treatments. That's why I took a year's sabbatical from my teaching at USC to delve into the science and art of alternative medicine.
The result was my book, What Your Doctor Hasn't Told You and the Health Store Clerk Doesn't Know: the Truth about Alternative Medicine and What Works.
In the course of my research, I discovered many effective remedies. I also found that, in the search for answers and safe solutions, patients are often caught between a rock and a hard place.
The Rock and the Hard Place
The rock is the physician who often lacks the time, training, or inclination to discuss alternative remedies. Sensing this, patients are often reluctant to raise the subject with their doctors.
The hard place is the helpful health store clerk who seems to have a product for whatever ails you – yohimbe for libido, saw palmetto for the prostate, ginseng for low energy – but knows nothing of the science behind it.
I visited two dozen health stores where many clerks seemed to have an impressive body of knowledge. Most learned what they knew from their store manager, who, in turn, learned from a previous manager.
Tips for the Consumer
So, how can you evaluate a remedy? Should you try acupuncture for fibromyalgia, chiropractic for back pain, Reiki for cancer pain? My book provides a thorough evaluation of all these therapies and more. But in the meantime, here are a few guidelines for the informed consumer:
First – if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is! Be wary of the argument that physicians don't have answers but alternative practitioners do. Two wrongs don't make a right. Be a critical consumer of all claims, no matter who makes them.
Second – if your physician refuses to discuss alternative therapies, find another physician. Your doctor needs to know about every alternative treatment you are considering or receiving. For example, gingko, ginseng, red clover, aspirin, and estrogen all effect blood-clotting.
Likewise, your alternative practitioner needs the same information about any traditional Western medicines you are on that may interact with alternative treatments.
Third – be aware that herbal remedies are not controlled by the FDA. In a study done by The Los Angeles Times, 10 bottles of St. John's Wort were tested for their contents. The results were shocking: the active ingredients varied from 35 to 135% of the amounts claimed on the labels.
Look for remedies that are labeled "USP" (U.S. Pharmacopeia), the stamp of approval of the official authority for prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Another way to protect yourself is to buy from large chain stores, such as Costco or CVS. These chains require testing of the products they sell.
Finally, remember there is a powerful connection between mind and body, between belief in a remedy and its actual efficacy. As long as an alternative medicine or therapy is not dangerous and is perceived to be working, there is no good argument against it.
In my next article I will explore specific types of alternative treatments. For now, whenever considering alternative remedies, it's best to recall the Latin saying, caveat emptor – let the buyer beware.
Dr. Edward L. Schneider heads the largest private center for research and education on aging, the Andrus Gerontology Center of the University of Southern California. He also serves as Dean Emeritus of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and Professor of Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Schneider has written or co-written twelve books, including Ageless: Take Control of Your Age & Stay Youthful for Life, and published more than 180 scientific articles on topics related to aging.
Labels: Alternative Medicine, Feature Articles, For the Body