Seniors Site

Nine medical societies (family doctors, allergists and cardiologists) were each asked by The American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation (ABIM), to identify five commonly used medical tests and treatments that are often unnecessary for the aged.

The following are some of the most popular, overused tests and treatments for people over the age of 50.

1. Heart screening tests like EKG for people without symptoms.

Cardiology guidelines have over the years been discouraging heart screening tests for the seniors with no symptoms and aren’t at high risk, and yet their use is more common than it needs to be. However, these tests can be lifesaving for people experiencing chest pain or other heart disease symptoms.

44 percent of people without any signs or symptoms of heart disease have had an EKG, an ultrasound or an exercise stress test (2010 Consumer Reports survey). An EKG or cardiac stress test is more likely to return false positive results than find the real problem for those with low risk for heart disease. The dangers include false positive tests which often lead to more tests and invasive heart procedures.

2.Osteoporosis bone scans for elderly men and women without any risk factors.

Bone density decreases with age which means an increase in the risk of fractures, but medical experts state that most women do not need a bone density test until age 65. However many doctors still recommend the scan from age 50. One of the dangers is that one density (DXA) scans may lead to unnecessary medications that may have some serious side effects.

3. CT scan, MRI or X-ray for low back pains.

An estimated 80 percent of Americans suffer from back pains. A vast majority of people with low back pain simply get better within four to six weeks, with or without a physician’s intervention. If older people get an image, physicians say that the results will, most of the time, show an innocent abnormality which has nothing to do with back pains. Some of these tests expose people to unnecessary radiation which may lead to expensive back surgery.

4. Diagnostic tests for supposed allergies.

Many aging people suffer from seasonal allergies and are increasingly putting the blame on food allergy or sensitivity. Nowadays, some doctors perform a blood test, known as immunoglobulin (IgG), for food allergies. But these tests simply don’t work. Many doctors run a couple of blood and skin tests dubbed IgE for seasonal allergies, when just a few specific tests would do. Doctors can easily pinpoint which tests they should run by asking mature patients when and where they have these symptoms.

5. Imaging procedures and CT scans for uncomplicated headaches.

Elderly people may experience excruciating and frightening headaches. Unless these severe headaches are accompanied by other key symptoms, it makes no sense to get a CT or MRI scan of the brain. Yet this happens all the time as patients get frightened while doctors get worried about lawsuits and people want all the information right away. So doctors find it easier to do the scan than have the conversation. Radiation exposure raises cancer risks in the older population. Also false-positives lead to more testing and patient anxiety.

A common problem that affects most aging people is macular degeneration and limits their sight. Most of senior people have been diagnosed with it and are being treated or have been treated. The problem limits your eye sight and thus affects your lifestyle negatively. The reduced eyesight limits the number of activities that you can engage in where one of the most distressing things is that it makes it hard for you to enjoy read. Of course the age of most senior people limits them from doing a lot of other activities and thus most enjoy reading as their favorite pass time. Others reading may not be their favorite activity but every now and then they have to do some essential reading such reading a watch, religious books or news among others. Thus low vision problem is a concern to many and those who like reading have actually been looking for book service which could cater for them.

Well, if you are such a person with vision problem or you feel that age is catching up with you and son will affect your eye sight, you do not have to worry about your reading. If reading is one of your favorite activities you will not have to give it up when you start having vision problems since there is a solution. Some people have been concerned about you and other aging and young people with vision problems and are providing a free talking book service program. The program is for anybody with low vision or blindness or any other physical disability which makes it a problem to read a standard printed page. There are also many other forms of vision aids available for vision impaired persons such as magnifying aids for people with low vision. There are also talking book clubs that you can join to continue enjoying reading as your favorite activity.

To aid your reading and make it enjoyable, the talking book service mails you books and magazines on cassette and in Braille as well as an audio playback equipment. This service is provided to you via a national network of libraries and the books are mailed to you for free. This service is available to all United States citizens both those who reside in the country as well as those living abroad. Improve your senior living by enhancing your low vision while reading by joining talking book club. This program is for you so that you continue enjoying reading books and magazines despite the sight challenges which will come with age.

Most americans especially the mature ones, aka us, are on dietary supplements. I wouldn’t be surprised as herbal medicines are believed to be necessary in keeping up with our body’s nutritional requirements. We also believe that when aging, our system has somehow slowed down and some of its functions are not functioning properly at all, that we need supplements to keep us going.
However, there was this case wherein a man who was once subjected to kidney transplant had managed to baffle his doctors as his body wasn’t responding to post-op medications recommended to him. It was later found out that he was constantly taking St. John Worts which is usually a tea, known to improve mood. This herb, when taken, enters the body and breaks down the effect of some known post-op medications before they even reach their maximum and desired effect. Further research also discovered that this certain herb has counteracting effects against chemotherapy for cancer patients, thus, further protecting cancer cells instead of killing them.
Garlic, which is known to be a wonder herb for many also has its contraindications. Garlic capsule supplements are considered to be blood thinners which can cause bleeding. Gingko and Ginseng supplements are contraindicated for patients taking psychiatric drugs. Please do note that while fiber is generally good to the body, laxatives like Psyllium fiber are not recommended when we are taking medications that require long absorption period.
We all thought that these dietary supplements are safe and doesn’t trigger drug reactions. But, haven’t we considered that these complicated drugs also came from simple components, it is just that they are a mixture of compounds and later turned out to be medications? All these chemicals have reactions, and it would be best if we take things in moderation. Too much of something is most likely to aggravate chemical reactions in our body. While browsing the doctor’s handbook on prescribing medicines, one thing I noticed, all drugs have interactions, contraindications and adverse effects.
It may be the right time for us to live the natural, balanced way. Before Vitamin C tablets were manufactured for antioxidants, eating oranges, guava and other fruits known to have natural vitamin C were fine. We might say that St. John Wort is safe and natural, but most forms we take nowadays are already processed (capsules, teas etc) These things have greater concentration of the said herb and can cause more damage than good, considering your health status. What nature gives unprocessed would be the ideal amount of whatever nutrients we want our body to receive.

While hair loss is a problem more identified with aging males than females, about half of hair loss sufferers are women, although for some reason, women complain a lot less than their male counterparts, at least when it comes to their mane, perhaps because hair loss in women, in general, is a problem dealt across all ages. That is, starting 20s, some women experience hair loss that it doesn’t really make any difference when they reach their golden age whether or not they are still losing hairs.

Women should be aware that there are reasons behind hair loss and most of the time, it involves your lifestyle or how you live your life, not necessarily hair related. Your overall lifestyle and of course, the changes that happen to it, affect your body’s, or more specifically your scalp’s, ability to hold on to your hair. Stress, for one, can bring about hair
loss, could even trigger other hair problems. Your lifestyle can also bring about hormonal changes and of course, when a woman is in her menopausal stage, she should expect to lose some hair. As simple as excessive hair styling and brushing can also cause hair damage. In general, hair loss can be brought about by age, your health and your genes. Let’s not forget that medications can also do this to your hair so be very vigilant when trying a new medication and don’t forget to report to your doctor if you notice an abnormal amount of hairs you are losing. Some of the known medications that can cause hair loss are antidepressants, beta-blockers and anti-inflammatory drugs. This is because follicles have their own life cycle to complete which can be influenced by above mentioned factors. Normally, when a follicle completes a life cycle, there is another that will quickly replace it however, when we age, sometimes these follicles don’t get replaced as quickly as they should be or never at all.

While thinning hair can be a nightmare thus adding to whatever stress you are feeling right now, always remember that there are work-arounds to these things. It can be as simple as going to a salon for a treatment that is designed to encourage hair growth or having your hair styled to cover up the thinning parts, or as drastic as hair surgeries which, by the way, is the most popular solution amongst your male counterparts. But as I always say, there is nothing better than a simple act of prevention. Knowing what to avoid and how to care for your hair is really important especially when aging.

Adapting a lifestyle, especially if it has something to do with how a person eats can dramatically change a person, physically and otherwise. Vegetarianism seems to be the most favorite adapted lifestyle these days, young and old, it’s just one or the other reason for turning vegetarian however, for seniors, it is a lot more for the health than any other.

As you all may know, we seniors suffer from several limitations on food intake and consumption. Whatever it is that’s being offered to us, we must first be certain what’s in it and how it could affect our health. There is almost always no work-around either, no matter what these “healthy alternatives” companies say – say, artificial sweeteners versus sugar or salt alternative versus real salt. You will still end up missing the real thing.

Now, going vegan is not really a bad idea for seniors, again, considering the many “don’ts” we have to remember when eating. If we look closely to the general order of things, seniors should be limiting consumption of sweets, diuretics such as coffee and tea, fried and greasy foods, and salty - among other things, all the while loading up on fruits, veggies and whole grains. In other words, most of us seniors are encouraged to a life of vegetarianism and I must say, the lifestyle won’t hurt us any, in fact it might even help us solve some of our heath problems.

Still, you need to check with your doctor if this is a good idea for you and ask her/him his thoughts about your decision to go vegetarian. Don’t be ashamed to check, there are many people who do this and doing so will also prepare your doctor for future analysis and treatment with regard to your health.

Taking into consideration how sensitive your digestive system has become, a vegan diet might suit you since you exclude meat in your diet and even its byproducts which often cause trouble to your digestive track. However, it is very important to consult healthcare providers before you start a vegan diet as there are still aspects to it that an aging body won’t probably be able to manage. For example, it is best if you consult a nutritionist to properly plan your vegan meals instead of striking it completely on your own. Aside from that, pay close attention to types of food that have undesirable reaction to your body such as cabbage which is known for their gas-making properties and figs which induce laxative effects. On top of that, a vegan must make sure they are getting all their needed nutrients, even those that are normally found in meats which you are not supposed to take anymore since you have just turned vegan.

Happiness is something we chase all our lives. Honestly, if you ask me now, I would probably tell you that the only human beings not really bothered with being happy are infants. But then again, maybe all those crying could also signify their unhappiness. Regardless of age, we all want to be happy right? But it seems there are times happiness is so elusive, it can be frustrating.

Anyway, if we are to believe Dalai Lama, happiness can actually be achieved, and it is not so elusive afterall. We just have to start with ourselves and work our way out. It is even possible to rub some of your happiness off with people around you who might be in dire need of some happiness in their life.

According to Dalai Lama, happiness is a state of mind which I firmly agree. However, you need to be fulfilled before you can achieve complete happiness. This only means that you should be happy in every aspect of your life, be it worldly and/or intangible.

Dalai Lama recommends that you train your mind to be happy. Of all the things you could do with a human brain, training is one thing you can sure do with it. Happiness is all about attitude, your attitude towards things, and how you react on certain things. I remember a saying “a coin always has two sides” which is true. Something so negative could be positive too, it’s just how you see things that matters most. So it all boils down to how your mind was trained to be in constant happiness.

Thanks to yoga and other meditative techniques, calmness of the mind has become easier to achieve. That you don’t really have to sweat it to be able to calm your mind or exert a lot of effort to do this. Calming techniques, when learned, not only eliminates stress but also helps you to focus on more important things than wasting your time dwelling on unproductive and “over-and-done-with” past. This will also help you to keep on moving forward and be able to feel content and satisfied with what you are achieving right now.

Positivity is very important in your pursuit of happiness. Negativity only has destructive effects on your life and would not - will never - yield long-desired happiness. Learn to let go of the negative things you have been feeling and abhorring and never be influenced by anger. Most importantly, educate yourself, because the better you understand things, the lesser negativity could get to you.

Always remember that good things only bring about good vibes. Knowing that you only have good intentions to start with will only lead to harvesting and ultimately achieving, happiness.

Caring for your heart, or at least, taking measured steps to a healthier heart should begin at 40. This is because when you reach this age, you are less physically active than you ever were but more mind stressed than you’ll ever be. Bear in mind that if you hit the sack at night feeling drained and energy-less, that doesn’t mean you got your fair share of physical activeness. You could be fatigued just by sitting in a corner and thinking of 101 different things at the same time.

So when you hit the age of 40, better start consciously planning your activities according to what’s best for your heart. For this, you could consult with your cardiologist during your annual visits and checkups, ask if a certain activity is suitable for you and what things should be considered during these activities. Moreover, it wouldn’t hurt if you start asking your cardio doctor about tests for more in-depth assessment of your heart’s status. You should, by now, have your own heart doctor, find one if you still haven’t any.

Keep in mind that this is the age when you should get your physical self moving. Set aside some time for your daily exercises no matter how impossible it seems considering your current daily schedule of activities. If it helps, consider yourself as one of your responsibilities, that if you can do things for your kids, parents and husband, certainly you can do things for yourself too. You owe yourself and your body that much anyway.

Also, exercising is not only for those who would like to drop pounds so even if you don’t really need to trim down, you still need to get moving in order to maintain a healthy heart. Work with your cardiologist to be able to detect signs if your heart is in danger or if you’re at risk. There are risk assessment procedures that could be done, just ask your doctor about it.

Do take note of your past and recent surgeries as they may have put you at risk for heart problems. Not all surgeries do, but recent studies find that some of the most simple of surgeries put a patient in higher risk of developing heart problems. Have your doctor check for calcifications in other parts of your body. If you are a girl, mammogram shows specks of calcifications which are usually brushed off by your oncologist but should be noted by your cardiologist.

Again, regular checkups will help you. As simple as monitoring your blood pressure, your pulse rate, glucose levels, your weight and BMI can help you detect heart problems early on.

If you’re a senior and looking for something to occupy your time, you might want to give triathlons a try.

In a nutshell, for those of you who are clueless as to what is a triathlon (which I assume not too many?) The sport involves swimming, biking and running. If you have heard of the “Ironman” then you’re on the right page as this seems to be the most popular of all triathlons.

While the idea of triathlons can be a little overwhelming for some seniors especially those who are fairly new to the world of exercise and getting fit, you would be amazed to know that about half of the senior population is already engaging in this kind of sport – and they are having the time of their lives at that!

Actually, Triathlon organizers agree that most of their participants are ages 35 and above which means the sport has become popular with older people. It was reported that the average age of a triathlete is 38. If you are not convinced then try watching a televised triathlon, most have a diverse group of people: midlifers, grandfathers, wives, etc unless it is the brutal Ironman, of course. Nowadays, triathlons that cater to not-so-pro are organized which only added the appeal for newbies to join.

Triathlons are perfect for seniors since it improves their social lives while keeping them physically active at the same time. It also improves their outlook in life and boosts confidence.

However, it is important to note that joining triathlons can be expensive so if you are on a budget, this may not be the right sport for you. Training for triathlon alone could cost several thousand dollars considering the quality of your road bike and other important accessories. Also, training for the sport would require your time, roughly five days a week, 6 if you are really pushing it. Commitment is very important if you join a triathlon.

Senior triathletes happily reported that triathlons are fun and very much fulfilling. The idea of learning and understanding your body better at their age and knowing its limits seem to seal the deal and reason enough to make seniors get on the bandwagon. Also, for some reason, senior traithletes find triathlons to be more agreeable to their body than any other sports. If you are looking for some more socializing while doing triathlons, join group trainings wherein you can meet people with same interests as well as pros in such sporting event.

Sticking to your workout routine in any other given day is sometimes, hard enough for us seniors so what more if we also have to contend with the weather? No matter how eagerly you have started on your workout, the winter weather could certainly damp your enthusiasm which for me, if you really want to see results, being all enthusiastic about your workout is the key to success.

According to fitness instructors, your exercise routine should be easy to do, convenient and most of all enjoyable. If one of these three is missing, there’s a chance that your eagerness to stick with your workout plan could simply dwindle and you’re almost 50% sure to stop all together. So it is important that YOU incorporate these three things in your workout routine. If and when something is working against these three then you should find a solution and a work-around to avoid conflicts and make it work for you again.

During winter time, the number one obstacle would be the cold weather. Who would want to venture out and make the Herculean effort to sweat it out when it is so cozy inside the house? A normal, aging person would just stay inside their homes and wait for the winter to pass. Some would try to do some routines while inside their homes and the braver ones would probably go out and give it a try. We are all aware of the health hazards winter season presents, that is why it is most recommended for seniors to just stay at home and try to do their routines indoor. While this won’t guarantee you a bodybuilding trophy, it would definitely keep you active – and not hibernating – during the winter months!

Actually, seniors can do aero training, mild strength training and core fitness routines comfortably inside their homes – with some ingenuity and creativeness. Cardio exercise helps oxygen circulate properly inside the body and for the blood to keep flowing to right directions. Strength training on the other hand keeps osteoporosis at bay and lastly, core fitness is important for balance which in a way prevent falls.

It can be as simple as putting on some music and dancing away! You don’t have to have a complete choreographed steps to go along with the music, just shake it off anyway you like! You can also do some jogging in place if you are doubtful of your dancing prowess, or just climb the stairs then down again, if your knees will allow it. Then do some squats and curls to train your muscles then lastly, to train your core, you can do some pushups and basic yoga poses.

Holidays indeed require lots of energy and merry making thus warranting stress as well. This can’t be prevented or avoided as it comes with the experience however for seniors with little energy to spare as well as for caregivers without much time to give them own selves much less, activities like this, this could spell double stress. Below are some ways to minimize holiday stress and make the festivities something to actually look forward to!
· Plan ahead. It may be a little bit late for this now but planning ahead really does wonders in preventing potentially stressful situations. If you are planning a trip with your senior, it is always better to do a little research on your destination to know what problems you might face when you get there. Same goes for parties you and your senior are invited to; it is always best to RSVP with your host at least 3 days before the event.
· Take advantage of the holiday break and get enough rest and sleep. If you are an active senior, meaning you are the kind of senior who is always up and about all year round, then this is the perfect time for you to slow down, sit back and relax. Now if you are a caregiver, you can perhaps hire someone to cover for you for a day or two, depending on how many days you are willing to hand-over your caregiving duties and go get your well-deserved rest and sleep. However, if you are not comfortable with this, asking someone to give you a hand just for the holidays would also work well just so you’ll be able to do more without actually abandoning your post.
· It’s okay to be NOT perfect. Perfectionism adds unnecessary stress. Who cares if your plates and glasses are not matching? It’s not like you’re entertaining foreign dignitaries and the president (unless of course if you really are expecting them) Gone are the days when it was rude to not use the china when entertaining, nowadays people find casually organized parties more fun.
· Forget deadlines. Holidays shouldn’t be done with schedules to stick to. People are busier these past few years that putting up and decorating a Christmas tree second week of December is not anymore a big deal. Unless you are booked for a holiday trip then there’s no need for a timeline, just do whatever whenever suits you.
· Stick with healthy diet. While festivities are synonymous to food, skipping those bad for your help will help you stay happy and healthy even after the holidays. No need to feel all guilty with whatever you consumed over the holidays just as long as you know you didn’t break any major diet no-nos.