Information and Inspiration for the Solo Retirement Community
I love the outdoors, especially the Colorado outdoors. I am blessed to live within an hour of the Rocky Mountain National Park since hiking is one of my favorite hobbies. I feel closer to God when I hike and, besides the exercise and sense of accomplishment, I feel at peace. The following article may give you a reason to enjoy some outdoor therapy:
…a walk in the country reduced depression in 71 percent of participants…
The peace of wild places makes us happier, healthier
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
from American Heart Association
January 10, 2017
If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.
We’ve all seen the movie scenes where a man gasps, clutches his chest and falls to the ground. In reality, a heart attack victim could easily be a woman, and the scene may not be that dramatic.
‘Although men and women can experience chest pressure that feels like an elephant sitting across the chest, women can experience a heart attack without chest pressure,’ said Nieca Goldberg, M.D., medical director for the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU’s Langone Medical Center and an American Heart Association volunteer. ‘Instead they may experience shortness of breath, pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, upper back pressure or extreme fatigue.’
Even when the signs are subtle, the consequences can be deadly, especially if the victim doesn’t get help right away.”
Health benefits of resistance exercise
My 83-year-old Mom who lives in Iowa fell at her home last winter. A neighbor found her unconscious, lying on her living room floor a day or two later. She was transported to a hospital and later to a rehabilitation center. She doesn’t remember what happened or being in the hospital. After a couple of weeks, she was back in her home living independently but walking with a cane.
In December, she fell twice. Once at the hospital while visiting a dying friend. Luckily, two orderlies helped her to her feet. A day or so later she fell again at her home but luckily she was able to get herself upright after several attempts. I spoke with her about the importance of setting up a system to notify someone if she has fallen and is unable to get back up. This system would be imperative if she wants to continue living independently in her home.
A dear friend of mine notified me recently about her Dad’s (80+) recent fall. He was hospitalized and diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. He has also developed pneumonia. Needless-to say, the family is extremely distraught. In her last text to me she said, “It’s been a roller coaster ride of emotions over the past two weeks….”
There are simple steps you can take to prevent falls and decrease falls risks. CDC has developed the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) initiative which includes educational materials and tools to improve fall prevention.
If I were to fall and break a bone, I wouldn’t be able to play with my grandkids. So I take a vitamin D pill each day to keep me strong. Lisa, 74
Falls can be prevented. These are some simple things you can do to keep yourself (or a loved one) from falling.
Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve your balance. Tai Chi is a good example of this kind of exercise.
Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year, and be sure to update your eyeglasses if needed.
If you have bifocal or progressive lenses, you may want to get a pair of glasses with only your distance prescription for outdoor activities, such as walking. Sometimes these types of lenses can make things seem closer or farther away than they really are.
When to Get a Second Opinion
by Nellie S. Huang for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine
December 2016
“Your doctor has just diagnosed you with a serious disease, or recommended a costly procedure, or advised you to have major surgery. Before panicking or following a drastic course of treatment, get a second opinion. Not only can a medical evaluation from a different doctor help you learn more about your illness, the options available to you, and the risks and benefits of each path, but it can also ‘give you the confidence and peace of mind that you’re making a good decision,’ says Robert Nielsen, medical director of PinnacleHealth System in central Pennsylvania.
Most insurance policies will cover the fee for a second opinion as they would cover a regular office visit, but it’s always wise to check with your insurer before you schedule the appointment, especially if you plan to go out of network. ‘In some cases, such as certain elective surgical procedures, a second opinion is mandatory,’ says John Ulatowski, vice president and executive medical director of Johns Hopkins Medicine International, in Baltimore.
Ask for referrals from people you trust—your primary care physician, the doctor who delivered your first opinion, your family and friends. Avoid seeing a colleague at the same practice or medical center as the doctor who gave you the first opinion—the approach to care can vary from place to place. For example, ‘some cancer centers are more aggressive about treatment; others are more concerned about side effects,’ says Jerome Groopman, Recanati Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
For cases that involve a specific procedure—for example, heart-valve replacement surgery—consult a doctor who frequently performs those surgeries.” Read more
How to Dispose of Drugs Safely
by Emily Bazar for Kaiser Health News
December 2016
Take them to a collection site or even your local pharmacy
“Vicodin, percocet and other opioid painkillers often languish in medicine cabinets for years, providing easy pickings for someone with an addiction.
The consequences can be deadly. More than 165,000 people in the U.S. died from overdoses related to prescription opioids between 1999 and 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pop singer Prince’s death from a fentanyl overdose earlier this year put a celebrity face on the epidemic.
But flushing unwanted drugs down the toilet can taint water supplies. Drugs tossed into the trash may also harm the environment, and they can be found by children or pets–or adults looking for a high.
The safest and most environmentally responsible option is to take unwanted medications to a drug take-back site. twice a year, the federal government partners with state and local law enforcement to operate temporary collection sites. The next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will likely take place in spring 2017. Check www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov for details.”
Make the Most of Your Annual Checkup
by Nellie S. Huang for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
October, 2016
“You feel fine. You rarely get sick. So do you really need an annual physical?
If you’re completely healthy, a ‘well’ visit once a year won’t improve on perfection. But feeling healthy and staying healthy are two different things, says David Meyers, chief medical officer for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. That’s where a regular visit, if not a head-to-toe annual physical, comes in. Nowadays, these appointments are preventive and goal-oriented. You and your doctor will make key decisions to keep you healthy, such as whether you should take a cholesterol-lowering drug or whether you need a colonoscopy.
The focus is on ongoing care, and the actual exam “is the least important thing that happens,” says Jack Der-Sarkissian, a Kaiser Permanente family physician in Hollywood, Calif. Your doctor will still read your vital signs, scan for skin cancer and perform other tests you’d expect. But it’s the resulting game plan that counts most. Der-Sarkissian equates a preventive visit with a meeting with your investment adviser. You should leave your doctor’s office with a goal of where you want to be, healthwise, in 10 years and an action plan to achieve it.”