Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
Apropos Of Nothing . . .
. . .do you think
if cannibals ate a clown,
it would taste funny?
Getting Fatter Not Inevitable With Aging
Contrary to popular wisdom, getting fatter is not inevitable for those over 50.
The weight most of us put on after 50 results more from overeating and under-exercising than
from any ‘natural’ aging process, according to a report out o Vanderbilt University.
However, nutritional needs and metabolism do change after 50.
For instance, coping well with stress is an effective way to combat “apple” fat, which is the type
of excess weight most tend to gain after 50. Apple fat is the kind deep in the upper torso and
around the waist that leaves you round like an apple. This type of fat distribution has been linked
to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and, in women, to breast cancer.
Developing a repertoire of nonfattening stress-relievers, such as doing crossword puzzles or phoning an old friend or praying and meditating or getting a weekly massage, is recommended to prevent
stress from redistributing even more fat to your middle.
Things Got A Little Tense . . .
. . . after lunch
as we sat around the table
and talked about the past, the present and the future.
Women Major Victims of Strokes
Most people are unaware that strokes kill more women than does breast cancer. One out of five women between 55 and 75 will suffer a stroke.
Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in women and kills more women than men. It leaves 60 percent of its victims disabled.
Because stroke robs the brain of blood and oxygen, it results in the death of brain cells. The functions that these cells control can be impaired or lost, leading to paralysis, loss of speech, loss of memory, diminished reasoning, coma ‑‑ sometimes death.
Learn how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T.
If you see Face drooping, Arm weakness or Speech difficulty, it’s Time to call 911.
Tablemate Was Wailing . . .
. . . about weight gain since he’s moved here.
I told him he should just think of it as
becoming easier to see.
Quick Fix for ID Theft
If someone has stolen your wallet or purse – or your Social Security, bank-account, or credit-card number – and is using the information to make fraudulent fiscal transactions, there’s a handy resource you can use to help thwart the identity thieves.
Go to consumer.gov/idtheft and follow the steps outlined at that Web site to notify all your creditors.
You Don’t Really Need . . .
. . . a parachute to go skydiving,
unless you want to go a second time.
Full Bladder, Seat Belt Don’t Mix
It’s not a good idea to put off nature’s call when embarking on a road trip – or even a jaunt to the corner store. Car wrecks are the most common cause of bladder injury nationwide, according to the American Urological Association.
The trauma occurs when a person with a full bladder has a seat belt strapped across the lower abdomen, and is jolted by the force of the crash. Experts liken it to a balloon: if someone has a full bladder and receives a blunt-force trauma, it could cause the bladder to rupture. If you empty the bladder, it’s like letting the air out of a balloon. It’s a lot harder to break.
Also, seat belts should be worn across the hips, as lap belts. Though most people don’t plan on getting in a wreck, it’s good to know that you can almost eliminate the possibility of an injured bladder if it’s empty. Signs of bladder trauma include blood in urine, difficulty urinating, weak urinary system, painful urination, fever, and severe back pain.
When The Folks Around Here . . .
. . . get to discussing exercise,
I just tell them I’m into resistance training.
I refuse to go to the gym.
Older Couples Share Dental Habits
Couples who have been together a long time tend to have similar dental habits, according to a study conducted by the University of California and the University of North Carolina.
A person with dental neglect is 32 times more likely than others to have a partner with neglect and a person without neglect is 5.4 times more likely to have a similar partner. Persons who are “in denial” about their oral health are 1 to 1 1/2 times more likely to have a similar partner.
Results of another poll by the Sacramento-based California Dental Association include the following:
— Blue is the most preferred color for toothbrushes;
— 47 percent of Americans wet their toothbrushes before applying paste;
— Americans spend an average of 911 hours brushing their teeth during their lifetimes;
— The average number of dental visits in a lifetime is 142, and
— 4 percent of American adults think they have periodontal disease — in reality, closer to 75 percent do.
A Lotta Folks Around Here . . .
. . .keep telling me
that cooking is easy,
but I’ve known for quite some time
that not cooking is much easier.
Hallucinations Offer Clues to Medical Condition
Seeing animals or people that you know aren’t there, or hearing music or voices giving commands – these are hallucinations. They aren’t an uncommon experience, especially for older adults, according to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.
Talk to your doctor if hallucinations occur regularly, last longer than a few moments, are a new occurrence, or are telling you to do something bad or dangerous. They may be a symptom of a treatable medical or mental condition.
Hallucinations can be a symptom of:
– Mental disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder;
– Certain medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, strokes, tumors, and seizures, and
– Vision problems loss ranging from cataracts to macular degeneration or glaucoma may cause visual hallucinations while hearing loss or deafness may trigger auditory hallucinations.
Reminiscing Around The Lunch Table . . .
. . . today, the conversation got around to long-ago dating
and I recalled the time I dated a twin.
I was asked how I could tell the difference,
and I said it was easy.
Laurie painted her nails
and Larry had a beard.
Home Is Where The Hazards Are
The majority of injuries – slips, falls, burns, poisoning, bruises, choking and cuts – to people older than 75 occur at home because that’s where they spend most of their time. Home-accident prevention requires some changes in both environment and behavior.
High on the list is knowing your escape plans in case of fire, flood, earthquake or other major disaster.
Other simple steps to take toward improving safety at home is to install grab bars in bathrooms and hand rails along any stairs around the house, toss out comfortable but curled up throw rugs, have all areas well lighted, and don’t leave shoes and clothing lying around to trip over.
He Who Laughs Last . . .
. . .probably had to have things explained to him.
Sleep On It
An experiment conducted by German scientists showed that a good night’s sleep improves the
ability to solve problems, according to an AARP Bulletin report.
Researchers set up a number of puzzles and gave the subjects two ways to solve them. The
subjects were divided into three groups. One group was allowed to sleep for eight hours after receiving the instructions. The second group stayed awake, and the third was given instructions in the morning after sleeping eight hours.
By a two-to-one margin, the subjects who slept eight hours after getting instructions came up
with a third way to solve the problems more quickly. The researchers suggest that during a good
night’s sleep the “brain rearranges recent memories, a process that can lead to insight and new
knowledge.” |
From High School Science . . .
. . .we were taught the universe
is made up of protons and neutrons and electrons.
But no one ever mentioned the
limitless and ever-increasing number of morons.
Men “Bulletproof” Until Mid-40s
A major health concern in this nation is the fact that many men in their 50s and older haven’t seen
a doctor in years.
With the aging of the baby boomers, more than 150,000 men a month are turning 50 from coast to coast.
“Up until around 45, men are basically bulletproof, so there’s little need to see a doctor,” according to Dr. Gordon Ehlers of Denver. “Men also are not conditioned, as women are, to have annual checkups. All of which leads to a large segment of the population who does not know about or use the health-care system.”
That changes after about 45 because of three critical ailments that begin to emerge – joint deterioration, cancer, and heart disease. The last is the number-one killer around the world.
But the biggest health-care problem is that men who have reached this age do not visit doctors
regularly.
The first critical move for men in this cohort is to begin with an annual general physical exam to screen for general problems, such as stress and anxiety.
It’s A Good Thing . . .
. . . we have time,
otherwise,
everything would happen all at once.
Take Time Out for Tea
Modern science has confirmed the potential health benefits of tea, according to the Mayo Clinic. People have turned to tea to soothe body and soul for more than 5,000 years. In China, tea has served medicinal purposes since ancient times.
Tea leaves contain a mix of substances including antioxidant compounds called polyphenols, and may offer some protection from:
— Cancer: Green tea may help prevent gastric, pancreatic, bladder and ovarian cancers. Research indicates that the reason may be catechins, polyphenols that appear to have cancer-fighting and other health-promoting properties. Green tea is especially rich in catechins.
— Cardiovascular disease: Green tea may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. And black tea and green tea are linked to a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.
— Cavities: Green tea destroys bacteria that can contribute to tooth cavities. It also helps prevent plaque formation.
— Parkinson’s disease: Caffeine in tea might help prevent Parkinson’s or slow its development, possibly by increasing mental alertness or by increasing the availability of the brain chemical, dopamine.
Mature Life Features 