Get Up and Get Moving

Getting older can be scary. In fact, as our bodies begin to weaken, and our energy level decreases, we may begin to fear that exercise and physical activity can be too strenuous and harmful. However, studies have shown that seniors that are physically active and exercise regularly may actually prevent or delay many diseases and disabilities.

Exercise and physical activity can actually be one of the healthiest things a senior can do for their health as it helps to restore strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance.  Improving these areas will help to make daily activities easier such as climbing stairs or even just carrying groceries.  Increased balance and endurance can also help to prevent falls and speed up recovery after injuries.

Strength exercises will help to keep your weight and blood sugar healthy because it will build muscle and increase your metabolism.  You should do strength exercises for all your major muscle groups at least twice a week.  However, do not exercise the same muscle group two days in a row.  Start out using no weights and work your way up to a 1 to 2 pound weight so that you don’t strain yourself.  Give your body time to adapt to your exercise regimen.   

Balance exercises will help increase leg strength improving stability and preventing falls.  Incorporate your balance exercises into your strength routine to increase effectiveness and avoid over working muscles. 

Stretching exercises will increase your flexibility increasing your range of motion.  This will help you to perform daily activities more easily.

Endurance exercises increase your heart rate and breathing for an extended period of time.  These include activities such as walking, jogging, and swimming.  Start out slowly and gradually increase the length of your endurance activities. 

Before beginning an exercise program, you should check with you doctor to make sure you are choosing the right regimen for your health condition, especially those who suffer from chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes.

Getting older doesn’t mean that you can’t stay in shape.  Exercise and physical activities can help seniors to feel better and enjoy life more easily. So, Get Up and Go! 

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An Emotional Journey - Update About My Dad

Thanks to all of you that have read my previous blog about my dad, and thank you for all of your kind words. Your thoughts and prayers are more than appreciated. With that being said, I have an update to share with you...

Last week, while over 200 people were viewing my blog and reading about my dad’s ongoing battle with cancer, he was getting his latest batch of scans done. This week he went in for the results…

The scan came back relatively clear… that’s right, I said clear! This cancer pill, Tarceva, is actually shrinking the tumor! In most cases, the pill can only slow the growth of the tumor. Occasionally it will stop it from growing, and in some cases, like my dad’s, it will shrink it!

My sister called me to give me the results. My heart sank when I saw her number on my caller ID. More bad news, I thought. When she told me about the scan, I was floored. Clear? It shrunk? How is that possible… wait… I don’t care! Oh My God, he’s getting better!

That evening, I had dinner with my parents. My dad was so upbeat. He laughed and played with his grandchildren again. It was such a joyous night. As I sat there watching him, I thought about how many people had read about my dad on the day of his scan. It gave me chills. My dad has found his miracle. He isn’t cancer free and he never will be again, but he is strong and he is fighting… and I have hope again that he’s going to stay with us for awhile longer.

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An Emotional Journey

When you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, everything you know changes instantly. Suddenly your every day is filled with appointments, medications, and mostly…fear.

For the last two years, my father has been battling lung cancer. I remember the day we received the news. It was devastating. I found myself feeling emotions that I had never experienced. I was scared, sad, and angry… very angry. Why did this have to happen to my dad? He is such a wonderful man. He didn’t deserve this. Before the day was over, my anger faded and I was just really scared and lost. It was such a feeling of despair. Thankfully, I have an incredible family and we all pulled together to support my dad.

So, now we were faced with decisions. How on earth are you supposed to know how to handle these choices? Chemo? Radiation? Surgery? A combination? What is the best choice? The fact of the matter is… no one but the patient can determine what decision is best. And the patient is probably the one who is most confused.

My father chose to elect surgery with the hopes of not having to go through any follow up chemo. The day before his surgery, I developed a chest cold and wasn’t able to see him before he went under. It was so difficult to sit in the waiting room and not be able to hug him and hold his hand. I was so scared. Again, my family and my friends showed tremendous support. My father’s surgery was successful. They removed the tumor and he was doing well. Then came the bad news. His tumor was larger than they had thought. Chemo was inevitable.

After a few weeks of recovery from the surgery, my father began his chemo treatments. He was so sick. It was so hard to watch helplessly as he suffered through it. On Thanksgiving, he ended up in the hospital and we were afraid we would lose him. But my dad is a fighter and he got better and stronger. Chemo ended and the doctors felt he was clear.

The following June, my parents took a vacation. They spent a few weeks back home getting together with old friends and enjoying life. They had a blast and life was good. I was so happy to see them living again.

Three days after they returned from their trip, my father lost sight in his right eye. It was a tumor. The lung cancer had spread. In fact, it was back in his lung as well. This time, the prognosis was not so optimistic.

Now he is taking a chemo pill to try to slow down the cancer. We can no longer hope to beat it. We can only buy time. Having someone tell you that it is only a matter of time is just heartbreaking. That night as my dad sat in his recliner, I climbed up in the chair with him and cuddled him like I was a little girl again.

Since that day, he has been fighting it, but his quality of life is far from good. Some days are better than others, but most days he spends sleeping in his chair.

Cancer is an ugly disease. It affects so many lives everyday. But the most important thing to remember is that no matter what the prognosis is… it is vital to have a good support system. In times like these, strength comes from the love of family and friends.

If you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, there are so many wonderful organizations available to offer you support and guidance. The American Cancer Society is a tremendous resource. Contact your local ACS office to learn about events, news, resources, and volunteer opportunities in your area.

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Are you having trouble hearing?

As we age, it is normal to experience a gradual loss of hearing. Approximately 25% of Americans between the ages of 65 and 75 have at least some degree of hearing loss. This is a common condition often referred to as presbycusis. Heredity and chronic exposure to loud noises are the biggest contributors to hearing loss. Gradual wear and tear from noise damages the inner ear.

There are signs to watch for that may indicate hearing loss condition. The symptoms include:

• Trouble understanding words, especially in a loud environment
• Muffled speech
• Less participation in daily conversations
• Needing others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
• Having to turn up the volume on the TV or Radio
• Withdrawal from social settings

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your health care provider so that hearing tests can be conducted to determine the extent of the condition. There is no way to reverse hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear. However, there are treatment options that may increase your ability to hear.

These treatments include but are not limited to the following:

• Earwax blockage removal
Earwax blockage is a common cause of hearing loss that can be reversible. Your doctor can remove the blockage restoring hearing capabilities.
• Hearing aids
Although they can’t help everyone with hearing loss, hearing aids can increase hearing abilities for many people. Sounds are amplified helping to stimulate nerve cells in the ear so that you can hear better.
• Cochlear implants
An electronic device can be implanted when there is severe damage to the inner ear. The implant will compensate for the damaged parts of the inner ear.

There are ways to prevent noise induced hearing loss. Protecting your ears in loud environments and having regular hearing tests can reduce your risks. Talk to your doctor if you are frequently exposed to loud noises. Early detection can help to prevent further hearing loss.

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As we age, our ability to bruise also increases.  Capillary walls become more fragile and rupture more easily.  Skin becomes thinner therefore providing less of a cushion against injury.  Most of the time, the bruises will go away without treatment or any cause for alarm.  However, sometimes bruising can be a sign of a more serious condition. 

Bruises are formed when capillaries (small blood vessels) near the surface of the skin are broken by an injury. The appearance of the bruise is caused from blood that leaks out of the vessels. The bruise usually disappears once the body reabsorbs the blood.

Medications can also be a factor in bruising as some drugs reduce the blood’s ability to clot. Blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin and Coumadin can cause bleeding from capillary damage to take longer to stop therefore allowing enough blood to leak out to create a bruise.

But when is bruising an indication of a more serious problem? The following is a list of symptoms to watch for:

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Arthritis is a disorder comprised of more than 100 distinct conditions that affect our joints and muscles. There are various forms of arthritis, but one of the most common forms is Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can affect many different joints. In some people, it can also affect the blood, lungs, and even the heart. RA causes an inflammation of the joint lining, called synovium. This causes pain, stiffness, warmth, and redness. Over time, the joint may lose shape and loss of normal movement. RA can be long lasting and can have periods of flares (active symptoms) and remissions (no symptoms).

The symptoms of RA can vary from person to person and can include but are not limited to the following symptoms:

• Pain and stiffness that lasts more than one hour (usually in the morning or after a period of rest)
• Tenderness, warmth, and swelling of the joint
• Inflammation of the joints in the wrist and finger joints closest to the hands
• Malaise (fatigue, occasional fever, general sense of not feel well)
• Symptoms that persist for long periods of time
• Evidence of symptoms parts of the body other than joints

About 2.1 million Americans suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is more common in women than in men, and generally affects people between the ages of 20 and 50. It is a chronic disease and the severity and duration of symptoms is unpredictable. Severe cases can lead to serious joint damage and can result in a disability.

It is important to contact your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Early detection of RA can help to reduce pain, joint damage and the development of a disability.

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Budget Cuts and Medicare Advantage: What Does This Mean to You?

So we’ve all heard the buzz that President Obama plans to make some health care changes. But what are those changes and how will they affect you? The following is a glimpse at the proposed changes and the projected monetary savings.

President Obama has made it no secret that he is not a fan of Medicare Advantage Plans. His Administration is expected to propose a cut in federal payments to insurers that run these plans. The proposal would call for the insurers to competitively bid to offer plans. The idea is that the government would pay them based on the bids. The way it stands right now, the government pays the insurers based on a formula, and on an average those payments have been 14% higher than what is typically spent per beneficiary. The projected savings over a 10 year period amounts to $177 billion. But many argue that seniors could lose benefits and experience higher costs due to insurers trying to protect profit margins.

President Obama is also proposing to set up a regulatory pathway for companies to create generic versions of biotechnology drugs that currently can’t be copied. The Administration hopes to make it more difficult for makers of traditional branded drugs to extend the patent-protected life of existing products. Additionally, upper-income seniors may pay more for Medicare drug plans just as they do for Medicare’s doctor plan.

The last proposal would bundle Medicare payments to cover a hospital stay plus patient care for the 30 days following the patient’s discharge. It is thought that this would standardize fees to create more stability to hospital pricing. Cutting payments for hospitals that routinely readmit discharged patients is also on the Administration’s agenda. They believe that this proposal will save $8.4 billion over the next 10 years.

So there you have it. Simple right? Probably not so much. Could President Obama’s proposals really work the way he hopes they will? It’s hard to say just how effective a plan of this magnitude could be. Maybe this is the answer to our growing health care crisis…or maybe not.

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According to the American Stroke Association, about 795,000 Americans suffer from a new or recurrent stroke each year. In 2009, Americans will pay about $68.9 billion in medical costs and disability due to strokes. More than 143,000 people die from strokes each year, making it the third leading cause of death.

The brain is a complex organ that controls multiple body functions. A stroke can restrict blood flow from reaching certain regions of the brain that control particular body functions causing those functions not to work.

The effects of a stroke will depend on the part of the brain that that is obstructed and the extent of damage that the brain tissue suffers. Since one side of our brain controls the opposite side of the body, an obstruction that occurs on one side of the brain will result in neurological complications on the opposite side of the body.

A stroke will happen so fast. People usually experience two or more of the following symptoms:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden loss of balance, trouble walking or dizziness
• Sudden trouble talking, understanding speech and confusion
• Sudden severe headache without obvious cause

If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Strokes that are caused by blood clots can be treated with clot-busting drugs like TPA. It must be administered within 3 hours of the start of the stroke in order for it to work. Surgery is also an option to remove the fatty deposits that are clogging arteries.

Although some stroke risk factors cannot be controlled, strokes can sometimes be preventable. To reduce your chances of having a stroke you should take the following precautions:

• Monitor Your Blood Pressure
• Don’t Smoke
• Test For Diabetes
• Test Your Cholesterol
• Maintain a Healthy Weight
• Don’t Drink Excessively
• Decrease Stress

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and scheduling regular routine appointments with your physician can help to reduce the risk of suffering from a stroke.

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Over the next 10 years, twenty percent of our population will be over 65 years old. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 18 seconds an elderly adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall, and every 35 minutes a senior age 65 or older dies as a result of a fall. An estimated 1.8 million elderly adults are treated annually for falls resulting in $20 billion in direct costs. As baby boomers age over the next decade, that number is expected to more than double.

Most falls are due to strength loss, weakness, inadequate shoes, and medication interaction. For the most part, these are preventable factors. Taking precautions is imperative as about a third of those who fall will die within a year due to complications. Seniors should consider a strength training program to help reduce muscle fatigue and improve balance. Proper footwear is a must, and it is essential to consult with a doctor concerning medications. Grab bars and safety rails should be installed in bathrooms, and furniture should be arranged so that there are clear paths from room to room.

A recent study suggests that taking Vitamin D can help reduce the risk of seniors falling down. According to researchers in the journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, low levels of a non-active form of Vitamin D were associated with falling down. However, the FDA has not evaluated these findings. Always consult with your doctor before starting a supplement regimen.

It is important to consult a physician if you or a loved one is at risk for a fall. With proper evaluation, a preventative treatment can help prevent a fall.

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What is E-prescribing?

It is a way for physicians to generate prescriptions through an electronically automated data-entry system which links to participating pharmacies. With an estimated 7,000 deaths each year attributed to medication errors, many believe that E-prescribing will reduce medication costs and improve patient safety.

What are the benefits of E-prescribing?

• Most medication errors are a result of hand-writing illegibility, incorrect dosing, and undetected drug-to-drug or drug allergy reactions. Not only will E-prescribing eliminate hand-written prescriptions, but its built in warning and alert system will provide an overall medication management system. This system is designed to check a patient’s records for drug-to-drug interactions and drug allergies as well as the drug appropriateness and correct dosing based on diagnoses.
• An estimated 20% of paper prescriptions are not filled by the patient. E-prescribing will eliminate multiple trips to the pharmacy and reduce patient wait times. In addition, refill authorizations from the pharmacy can be done completely through the automated system eliminating lengthy calls between pharmacies and physicians.
• Physicians are able to check with healthcare formularies (pharmaceutical sources) in order to prescribe generic substitutions therefore reducing patient costs.
• E-prescribing will also allow reporting on the frequency of medications prescribed by certain providers, and will provide the ability to find patients that have been prescribed recalled medications.

What are the concerns of E-prescribing?

• Safety experts worry that a physician could mistakenly prescribe a quick release version of a drug rather than a long-acting formulation thus causing a risk to the patient.
• Many privacy advocates have concerns that private and personal patient data could get released.
• Physicians cannot E-prescribe controlled medications such as narcotic pain relievers due to current law restrictions.

With an estimated 3 billion prescriptions written annually in the United States, the efficiency of E-prescribing could create a safer, healthier and more cost effective system for physicians, pharmacies and patients.

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