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October 22, 2015

Joanie Koplos

The Chronic Pain Connection

Those of you who suffer from maladies such as migraines, fibromyalgia, or irritable bowel syndrome (along with neuropathic and inflammatory pain), know the meaning of chronic pain.  Modern medicine and its diagnostic testing often give us no conclusion as to what is causing the pain.

Weight control while sailing the ocean blue

Many seniors resist taking a long ocean voyage due to their fear of unprecedented weight gain that can occur on a luxurious ocean liner. This past May, my husband and I were determined to prove these critics wrong, as we approached our 6th cruise taken together/my 8th with nary a pound gained in the past.

Heeding the signs of heat stroke

Attention: Runners/walkers, bikers, tennis/pickleball and bocce enthusiasts, golfers, swimmers/water exercisers in warm water, and all Sun City seniors! Since summer has finally arrived with its sunny skies and high temperatures, a word to the “wise” becomes necessary.

The Dreaded “C” Word, part 4

According to 2015.thetrendingstories.com, here are the “Signs You Might Have Cancer You Can’t Ignore:” 

The Dreaded “C” Word, part 3

You probably have heard in recent decades that cancer has been linked with certain viruses. That is true.

Penny Flooring Just Makes Cents

When Chad Radtke moved his State Farm office to the west side of Highway 47, he did not know that it would be more than a business pursuit, but a creative one as well. 

The dreaded “C” word, part 1

The two leading causes of death by disease in the United States are cancer and heart disease. Together, they accounted for nearly half of all deaths in 2008, the latest year for which data was available, according to a Center for Disease Control (CDC) report. Med Page Today tells us that while heart disease was first with 25% of all deaths, cancer was second with 23% that year.

Questioning cancer screenings for seniors, part 2

As mentioned in my Part 1 article about “Questioning Senior Cancer Screenings,” the obvious lifestyle habits of maintainng a normal weight, exercising regularly, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol usage, and protecting one’s skin are important guidelines to follow to reduce the chance of developing cancer as a senior.

Questioning cancer screenings for seniors, part 1

In the year 2014, the American Cancer Society informed us that an estimated 1,665,540 new cases would be diagnosed with the projection of 585,720 deaths that year due to cancer.

Fifty ways to support a caregiver

At the March meeting of Sun City’s Neighborhood Advisory Council, Donna Copeland Hill spoke on the subject of Family Caregivers. Representing the Northeastern Illinois Agency on Aging.

In support of support groups, part 3

While support groups do vary, the basic format is a small group of people (maybe no more than 10-12) who meet on a regular basis to discuss their experiences and provide mutual support for one another.

In support of support groups, part 2

As I said in my August 22, 2013, article on Low Vision, “Certainly one of the priceless perks of living in our senior community is our residents’ easy accessibility to support groups.”

In support of support groups

The halls are alive with the sound of music! If you walk into Family Alliance’s new Huntley location’s building (just outside of Del Webb) at mid morning on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, you will indeed hear singing and musical instruments being played and the sound of both emitting from a support group meeting room.

Sun City seniors to celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary

Paul and Joan Souchek will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary on Sunday, March 29. The Sun City couple were married in 1947 at the Norwood Heights Evangelical Congregational Church. Paul and Joan have three children: Linda, Donna, and Paul David. Also included in the Souchek clan are seven grandchildren (10 including the grandchildren’s spouses). Joan, …

Balance problems and falls

As I coped with Huntley’s recent ice storm on the morning of Tuesday, March 3, I was reminded of my recent horrific fall on black ice, which took place five days before Thanksgiving 2014.

A Valentine’s Day bonanza for charity

For the seventh consecutive year, Sun City’s Stingray Swim Club celebrated Valentine’s Day. This year the festivities actually were held on Feb. 14.

Yours for the choosing, Part III

I recently saw a sign on a Florida road marquee shouting out “Weight Loss is Fat Crying.” We probably all need to become a part of that “crying scene” sometime in our senior lives. It can be easy as substituting grapes for a brownie to lower calories consumed.

Yours for the choosing, part 2

Overweight predisposes individuals, especially seniors, to a multitude of illnesses and health catastrophes! It isn’t surprising then that recently 13 active Sun City residents revealed among their top 2015 New Year’s Resolutions: Weight Control.

Yours for the choosing, part 1

It’s January, the month when many Sun City seniors make their New Year’s 2015 resolutions! According to Suburban Senior’s Magazine (December 2014 to January 2015), “… a recent study found that 22 percent of people give up their resolution(s) within the first week. By the end of March, more than half of the people pledging New Year’s resolutions had fallen from the bandwagon.” How can we then make promises to ourselves that are practical and worth keeping, especially to help our body and mind health?

Gratitude for your life in 2015!

Wouldn’t it be great to continue the holiday tradition of giving thanks throughout the entire new year?

‘Tis the season to be jolly – so put on a happy face (part 2)

We all live in the best location, a Sun City Community, where mirth and merriment abound, especially during each Christmas/Hanukah season. Here are six health reasons to practice smiling promoted by Longevity.about.com in health benefits of smiling.

An afternoon at the Swan Lake Ballet

As a very young child, I remember listening to beautiful classical piano music such as Frederic Chopin’s Polonaise in G Minor. For many years of her own youth, my mother, Marcella, had been trained in the classic form of ballet known as “pointe.”

‘Tis the Season To Be Jolly, so put on a happy face, Part One

With winter’s shortened days of daylight and lengthened days of nightlight comes Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression. Then what better occasion to overcome the “winter blahs” and begin or continue a lifetime of optimistic behavior than during the holiday season!

Am I too late…for the flu shot?

So you don’t want to develop those annoying flu symptoms (fever, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, runny or stuffy nose) that can spread to family and acquaintances. I, myself, was almost too late to receive the long-term effectiveness of this season’s influenza immunization. But after a recent interview with Beth, one of our neighborhood Walgreen pharmacists, I was convinced.

A National and World Epidemic – Suicide: Part 3

In the last few weeks since my Part 2 publication on this topic, a Sun City resident, Ed McFarland, admonished me for not including NAMI’s Suicide Crisis Intervention Suggestions in my column. You see NAMI or the National Alliance on Mental Illness, our nation’s largest non-profit organization, is the final definitive source of info on preventing an unnecessary death for someone in the throes of mental illness.

A national and world epidemic: Suicide, part 2

Matt Damon became a close friend of Robin Williams after the well-loved comedian promoted the making of the 1997 American movie drama “Good Will Hunting” written by Matt and Ben Affleck and starring all three actors. On September 25, Mr. Damon chose to engage in an interview with Katie Couric, anchor of Yahoo Global News, on the subject of suicide and its accompanying depression responsible for Mr. Williams’ death.