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March 12, 2015

Health & Wellness

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.

‘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.

The Ebola Enigma

Although discussions about the Ebola virus run rampant everywhere from newspapers to neighborhood chatter, the truth about the virus is hard to find. Common misconceptions about the virus, ranging from potential symptoms to the virus’s continental spread, have further added to the confusion.

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.

A National and World Epidemic: Suicide

When comedian Robin Williams recently committed suicide, he brought the plight of this illness to the foreground in public discussion. Suicide hurts both the victim, as well as those loved ones left behind.

Sepsis, Part 2

Very recently, one of my dear friends lost her husband to Sepsis, which had developed from a urinary tract infection. He had been sick with several health issues having developed over the years since his serious heart surgery.

Sepsis, Part 1: Definition, Symptoms, Risk Factors

What do Pope John Paul II, Muppets Founder Jim Henson, and Actor Christopher Reeve all have in common? They all succumbed to the very deadly Sepsis, which developed from a major infection in their bodies.

Swimming up stream towards a longer and healthier life, part 3

With the recent closure of Prairie Lodge’s indoor pool but the opening of Meadowview’s outdoor pool each morning at 9 a.m. sharp, three swimmers can be seen beginning their daily morning exercise routine for the purpose of gaining specific swim health benefits (described in Part 1 and Part 2 on this topic).

Swimming up stream towards a longer and healthier life, part 2

Let’s review what was mentioned in Part 1 of Swimming’s Health Benefits, in reverse order of importance: 10) The Ability to Recover from Health Issues through Bearing Only 10% of Your Body Weight in the Water; 9) The Increase in Muscle Tone and Strength; 8) Improved Flexibility; 7) A Healthier Heart. In addition to Joe Loughlin’s quote, let me add two more testimonials for the sport of swimming’s ability to strengthen one’s most important muscle—the heart.

Swimming up stream towards a longer and healthier life

Do you remember the 1985 movie “Cocoon” that featured a group of senior citizens receiving newly discovered energy from leaping into and swimming in a nearby pool?  The movie’s source of restored youth was outer-worldly.  Your source of energy can be obtained from the aquatic sport itself.

We Feel the Beat

Cheryl Levinson, Family Alliance’s Director of Strategic Advancement, announces, “Through the generous funding of the National Parkinson Foundation, Family Alliance will soon be offering the ‘We Feel the Beat,’ a music therapy program for persons with Parkinson’s disease.” Four groups will meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Family Alliance’s new Farm Hill Road location.

Cancers That Are Skin Deep, part 3

Treatment and research of melanoma alone has cost the United States 2.36 billion dollars!  Let’s try to shrink that budget by heeding critical warnings. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “The UV Index provides information to help plan outdoor activities and avoid overexposure to the sun.”

Cancers That Are Skin Deep, Part II

On a warm, sunny Saturday or Sunday afternoon, when families are streaming into Prairie Lodge’s “grandchildren’s outdoor swimming pool,” let’s hope that the senior residents are setting a good example for their younger kin. Because skin damage begins in one’s early years and continues throughout a lifetime, it is important for grandparents to teach good sunscreen protection habits to younger family members.

Cancers that are skin deep, part 1

Now that the longer, sunnier days of summer mean more fun outdoors, Sun Citians need to become even more vigilant in the care of their skin, our body’s largest organ (20 square feet in area).  As seniors, we are at high risk for developing skin cancer on our aged skin’s outer covering of three layers, the epidermis.  In fact, over 50% of deaths associated with skin cancer occur in people over the age of 65.   Here are some more very disturbing facts on the disease.

One step forward at a time

If you are fortunate enough to own a dog as a pet, you should be already engaging in the sport and exercise of walking. An advantage of Sun Citians who have larger canine animals is definitely the real possibility of walking greater lengths and greater speeds on a frequent daily basis (as you will read in Part 2/last paragraph). For a larger population of our community this summer, let’s also try walking!

These feet were made for walkin’ … one step forward at a time, Part I

The Report to the Surgeon General on Physical Activity and Health issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia shows alarming statistics that most older adults aren’t getting enough exercise. It states that one in three men and half of women by age 75 are completely sedentary in their leisure time.

A portrait in resilience: Surviving successive multiple major surgeries

Terry Hora is an amazing 71 year old resident of our community! Like the mythical Phoenix, he has risen from the ashes, those of pain and disability, to overcome multiple heavy-duty surgeries in just 14 months and 3 weeks. Let me tell you his story and how it might help all of you with future medical difficulties.

Our Hard Working Kidneys, Part IV: Treatment and Research

As mentioned in past articles on this topic, prevention is always the goal with kidney failure. Lifelong diligence is important in keeping blood sugar and blood pressure under control.

Our hard working kidneys, Part 3: Risk factors for aged kidneys

Two types of physicians prevail over the “kidney scene.” One is the urologist or kidney surgeon and the other is the nephrologist or kidney specialist. Gary Curhan, nephrologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, discusses chronic kidney disease in “Be Kind to Kidneys” a March, 2014 Nutrition Action Healthletter.

Our Hard Working Kidneys, Part II: Causes, symptoms of kidney failure

A look into what causes kidney failure and how it is manifested in the body.

Our hard working kidneys

March is National Kidney Month and is an important time for us to learn the detection and prevention of problems involving these very necessary renal system organs. The National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org) explains that 26 million American adults have chronic kidney disease.

C difficile, Part 3: Transplant saves a resident’s life

While half of all C diff cases occur in people under 65, 90 percent of its fatalities occur to those over 65.
Recent research proves fecal microbiota transplantation has become a viable option for patients not responding to antibiotics.