Archive for October 2022
People Keep Asking . . .
. . . why I take so many naps.
Because, I tell them,
it prevents aging,
especially when you take them
when you’re behind the wheel.
Listen to Communicate with Alzheimer’s Victims
A friend has a running gag in which he tells someone he received a solicitation for a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association but he forgot where he put it. It’s his form of gallows humor to forget the fact that some 5 million Americans are victims of this disorder.
The AA urges victims to be candid about their disease and, at the appearance of its signs, to discuss their symptoms with relatives and friends. Maintaining open lines of communication with people facing dementia are critical to keeping victims, caregivers, relatives and friends on as even a keel as possible as disabilities progress.
The first of a half dozen steps recommended by the AA to everyone around an Alzheimer’s sufferer is to listen. And let the sufferer know they are listening, are being patient, and are trying to understand what he or she is saying.
Many times the emotions being expressed by the victim are more important than the words used. Tone of voice can help you search for the feelings behind the phrases. If you don’t understand what’s being said, ask the Alzheimer’s-afflicted person to point or gesture to let you know what he or she wants.
Birthdays . . .
. . . are good for your health.
The more you have,
the longer you live.
Moving May Damage Your Credit
There other ways than missing or making late payments to damage your credit rating.
Moving can result in a lower credit score because bills may get lost in the mail or may be forwarded but arrive too late to pay on time. The delayed payments, or lack of payment, become blots on your credit history.
Another bit of misinformation is that canceling unused credit cards will improve your credit score. It can do the opposite because you dump a chunk of available credit, lowering the amount of credit available to you while increasing the percentage of available credit that you’re using.
If you do close down a credit card, do it to one with a low credit limit.
Even At This Age . . .
. . .an old buddy was worried
about an on-line date he’d made.
I suggested they meet in a gym
and if she didn’t show up
then he’d know they wouldn’t work out.
Positive Attitude Negates Arthritis Pain
Millions of Americans live with arthritis, which occurs in more than 100 forms and at varying levels of severity. But not everyone copes in the same way, even among those with similar signs and symptoms.
People with a positive, proactive attitude are likely to experience less pain and fewer limitations from their arthritis than those who are more negative. And when people feel in control, they’re more likely to use medical-treatment options effectively, medical experts report..
The following are some healthy lifestyle measures that can help people cope with arthritis.
–Reduce stress, because stress increases muscle tension than can worsen arthritis pain. This can set off a cycle of increased pain, decreased ability to function, and more stress.
–Take time to relax in a variety of ways; meditation and prayer can calm your minds while massage or slow and deep breathing help relax muscles. Exercise, such as yoga or tai chi, often enhances relaxation.
–Understand your pain by learning the difference between pain associated with general joint discomfort and what is caused by joint overuse.
–Know when to rest. The feeling of fatigued joints may be a signal to back off or change activities. Painful, inflamed joints may require total rest temporarily or even an immobilizing splint. Whole body rest also is important. If you have trouble getting a good night’s sleep, talk to your doctor about strategies to improve sleep. During the day, rest before you become too tired.
–Use “assistive” devices, such as as jar openers, specially designed kitchen knives, devices to extend your reach, and aids to help you dress, to make common daily tasks less harmful to your joints.
A Good Way . . .
. . . to make a small fortune on Wall Street
is to start out with a large one.
Legs Support Your Health
Hockey Hall-of-Famer Gordie Howe reportedly said it years ago: “The legs go first.”
Maintaining leg strength and flexibility ranks high on the list of physical activities that will slow the aging process and ward off illness. Simple things, such as walking, swimming, jogging, hiking, and biking, not only lengthen one’s life but make those extended years more comfortable and enjoyable.
While watching television, stand up from the chair. If you can do this, and sit back down, without requiring any form of support, you’re doing OK.
Then sit on the edge of the chair and extend one leg out in front of you. Reach down with both hand and try to touch the toes on your extended leg without bending the knee. Now try it with the other leg. Work on this until you can get your fingers within four to six inches – or closer — from your toes.
I Got Musing . . .
. . .the other morning
about what type of work I might do
and I could see myself hanging mirrors
Exercise Exorcizes Pain
Your muscles, ligaments, and tendons have to be stretched regularly to remain limber and
lubricated. You can start before you get out of bed by lying on your side, pulling your knees up in a fetal position and pushing your butt toward your heels for about 10 seconds. This stretches and pulls your spine into proper position. Do this a couple of times on both sides.
When you get out of bed, kneel on the floor and place your palms on the floor under your shoulders and arch your back toward the ceiling for about five or 10 seconds. Reverse the motion and push your back downward while you push your head toward the ceiling. Hold this for five or 10 seconds. And repeat the sequence three or four times.
Now lay stomach down on the floor and do a half-body push-up. Press your hips on the floor and stretch your head and neck toward the ceiling. Hold this position for five or 10 seconds
and repeat the exercise a three or four times.
Now you can stand up. Spread your legs apart as far as you can without hurting yourself and, while keeping your knees straight, bend forward as far as you can. If your hand touches the floor, fine. Hold this for five or 10 seconds and repeat a few times.
If any of these, or any exercises, cause you pain, either modify the motion or quit.
.
The People Here . . .
. . .are treating me like one of the family,
but I’m not going to put up with that much longer.
Shredding Saves
If you don’t anticipate receiving a shredder for Christmas or your upcoming birthday, you might settle for scissors to cut up documents, cards and statements sought by identity thieves.
Or you might trot out and buy your own shredding machine to get rid of anything with your signature, Social Security and driver’s license numbers, PINs, birth date, and numbers of credit cards, insurance policies, and bank and credit union accounts.
And start shredding immediately.
Start with three-month-old credit-card statements you don’t need for taxes or proof of purchase. Do the same with credit-card receipts that have appeared on those monthly statements. If you have a computer with Internet connection, you can shred those receipts as soon as the transactions appear in your online statement. Don’t forget ATM , bank deposit and withdrawal slips.
What you must keep, however, are documents required for taxes, medical records, and papers linked with mortgage payments and home maintenance and repairs.
The Lady At The Next Table . . .
. . .looked surprised
when I told her
she’d painted here eyebrows too high.
Don’t Answer Ringing in Your Ears
Any ringing, whistling, whooshing or hissing sound in one or both ears when there is no external source of noise could be a sign of tinnitus. Up to 15 percent of adults have prolonged tinnitus that often requires medical evaluation. The problem can interfere with sleep, concentration and daily activities.
Tinnitus often is caused by age-related hearing loss. Exposure to loud noises also can damage hearing and lead to tinnitus. It can be caused by something as simple as a buildup of wax blocking the ear canal. Some medications, certain antibiotics, and cancer drugs can cause or worsen tinnitus. Aspirin taken in excessive amounts can cause temporary ringing in the ears.
There is no cure. A medication change or removal of earwax may diminish symptoms for some people. Beneficial treatment strategies include:
— Amplifying hearing with a hearing aid;
— Avoiding excessive noise, such as using ear plugs when operating noisy machines and tools;
— Avoiding such stimulants as caffeine, nicotine and decongestants;
— Adding soothing background noise, such as quiet music or a fan, and
— Using sedatives or antidepressants when the condition interferes with sleep or causes a high level of anxiety or stress.
Apropos Of Nothing . . .
. . . I got to thinking
that if you took the shell off a snail,
you’d just make it more sluggish.
Make a Fist to Fight Arthritis
To avoid stiffening and soreness in your hands, or alleviate it if that’s already started, clench your hands into a fist.
It’s one of several easy exercises you can repeat two or three times that are recommended by
orthopedic experts for everyone to maintain flexibility and use of your hands.
The idea is not to force any movement, especially if you’re suffering from any form of arthritis.
After making a fist, you should straighten out all your fingers and thumb as far as possible. Then spread apart all your fingers and thumb as far as you can.
Close your fingers, aim your hand at the ceiling and point your thumb to the side. Then hold your hand out in a hand-shake position and roll your thumb from an outstretched position to touch the base of your little finger. Then cup your hand and touch the tip of each finger with the tip of your thumb.
If There’s A Will . . .
. . .you’ll find out
how many relatives you have.
A Rose by Any Other Name is – Who?
Remembering names is a lifelong thorn in most people’s side.
A co-worker years ago leaped over the remember-names hurdle by greeting everyone with, “Hello, Judge.” Another colleague made up his own name for people around him, claiming he never used names “your mother called you.”
The initial step to take to remember a name is to pay attention when you’re being introduced. This becomes difficult at a wedding, funeral, service club luncheon or any gathering with a lot of unfamiliar faces.
To help imprinting a name in your mind, repeat the name when you’re introduced. “Nice to meet you, Mike,” will help you remember his name. You may be able to link him to a childhood friend, relative or movie star with the same name. It can help if his or her name has a visual connection. Lily can be linked easily to the flower, Jay with a bird, and Rocky with the movie of the same name.
If you’ve forgotten their name, say so and tell them you’re name.
If You Are . . .
. . . what you eat.
They must be feeding dope
to the guy down the hall.
Coffee Worth the Break
Caffeine can be good for you. Moderation matters in all corners of our lives but up to three cups of coffee a day can be healthy.
Critics warn that caffeine dehydrates your system, increases hypertension and the risk of heart attack, cuts down on your ability to sleep, is linked to gout attacks, raises blood pressure, and brings on anxiety, heartburn and stomach problems. While coffee fans admit much of this may be true, there’s a growing list of benefits for those who drink coffee.
It’s been discovered that an eight-ounce cup of java contains more disease-fighting antioxidants than a regular serving of oranges or blueberries. Coffee drinkers reportedly have a lower risk of such chronic conditions as diabetes and heart disease as well as less cognitive decline as they age. Researchers have found that seniors who have as many as four cups of coffee a day cut in half their risk of heart disease compared with those who take in less caffeine.
Caffeine interacts with many medications so go over your list of prescriptions and supplements with your primary care physician to make sure coffee is compatible.
Mature Life Features 