Healthy » Elderly Health

Ways to prevent osteoporosis

Health Guru — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:52:09 +0000

There are a number of ways to prevent osteoporosis and your chances of acquiring osteoporosis can be decreased when you modify your diet and lifestyle. Here are some ways that will help you prevent osteoporosis:

1. DIET

>Drink milk products that are low in fat like skim milk, nonfat yogurt and reduced fat-cheeses (except cottage cheese). They are excellent sources of calcium and will keep bones healthy and strong.
>Eating fish and its bones provide good amounts of calcium. Mackerel and other oily fishes also contain high levels of vitamin D which is good for the bones.
>Leafy vegetables are also good sources of calcium.
>Avoid excessive protein intake because it increases the body’s calcium excretion.
> Limit caffeine intake to 3 cups per day.

2. EXERCISE

Regular weight bearing exercises can minimize the occurrence of bone loss and also helps build your bones as you age. Risks for falls and fractures are also reduced by improving your balance, posture and flexibility.

3. MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS

>Submit yourself for a bone density test especially if you are a woman who is over 65. This is a test that will analyze the availability of bone materials in the bone, predicting future risks for fractures. It is also a diagnostic test done to confirm osteoporosis.
>Consult your doctor on how you can counteract bone loss effects caused by certain medical conditions and seek for treatment.

4. SUPPLEMENTS

>1,000 mg of elemental calcium is needed by both men and women daily. The diet cannot supply the body with enough calcium and so there is a need to take supplements in two to three doses a day with meals. Vitamin D is also important factor that should be present in the supplement to facilitate calcium absorption.
>Hormone replacement therapy. HRT contains estrogen which is beneficial to prevent osteoporosis in menopausal women. But recent studies show that it can cause serious long-term health effects.

5. LIFESTYLE CHANGES

>Quit smoking. Smoking increases the risk for fractures and slows the healing process of fractured bones.
> Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol impedes the proper absorption of calcium in the body.

Am i Fit to Drive??

JBric — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 05:00:04 +0000

The issue of elderly people driving cars will always be a talking point within modern society.

For years there have been disputes over weather or not ageing people be allowed to drive cars with deteriorating physical and mental skills.

As we age, we begin to lose our sharp reflexes, our deep memories, and our ability to act on instinct as well as we used to. It’s a part of growing old.

The only problem is that there is no limit to how old one person can be before their license is taken away from them.

In theory, we are legally able to drive until we are 200 years old, if you could reach that milestone!

He reality is that it will probably take some time before any law is put into place where we have to re-sit our license, or where an age cap is et up for drives.

Until then, we can only speak of the dangers that do exist when we get behind the wheel of a car with an ageing mind and body.

Wisdom and intelligence are things most of us will hold onto until the day that we die, but reflexes and awareness both tend to fade away as they yeas move on.

As a driver it is important you are aware of all objects coming from all sides and angles.

You need to be aware of what to do in specific situations, and how to avoid accidents by thinking in advance.

It is not to say that elderly people cannot achieve this, it is only to say it can often be harder to achieve this the older your get.

It is important to ask yourself every time you get behind the wheel, “Am I fit enough to be driving, or am I a hazard to myself and others on the road?”

Cancer and heredity

Health Guru — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:49:50 +0000

Background

Research suggests that some cancers are more likely to occur in some people based on heredity. This is because genes have been shown to play a role in the development of some cancers.

Current knowledge suggests that the strongest hereditary links are with bowel, breast and stomach cancers.

About five to ten per cent of cancers are thought to be hereditary.

However, it is known that the strongest causes of most cancers are environmental factors like tobacco, diet, alcohol, infection, radiation, drugs and chemicals.

Breast cancer and genetics

With almost 2900 cases of breast cancer in Australia each year, it is the most common cancer in Australian women. There are a number of factors that determine a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, at the forefront of which is age. Ovarian cancer is another substantial risk factor in breast cancer.

About 1 in 20 cases of breast cancer are attributable to hereditary factors.

Bowel cancer and genetics

With almost 3500 cases diagnosed in Australia each year, bowel cancer is the second most common cancer, following prostate cancer. As with breast cancer, the single biggest risk factor is age.

Cancer and family history

If a family has a strong history of cancer, this normally means the same type of cancer has occurred in family members over several generations, or one member was diagnosed at an unusually young age.

Those who are part of these families can be referred to a specialist genetics service, where pathology reports of relatives who have carried cancer are checked and an estimate of the risk of cancer to the person may be provided.

If a person is deemed to be at a higher than average risk of developing cancer, a specialist can arrange screening in order to pick up the signs of cancer as soon as possible.

Cancers believed to have a genetic link

Breast cancer
Bowel cancer
Prostate cancer
Stomach cancer

Stroke

Health Guru — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:18:51 +0000

Background:

Stroke is the second biggest killer in Australia, after coronary heart disease. A stroke occurs somewhere in Australia every 10 minutes; 60,000 strokes will occur each year.

It is a mistake to refer to stroke as an accident, because almost always the underlying condition that causes stroke – cerebrovascular disease – is present for several years.

A stroke occurs when supply of blood to the brain is suddenly disrupted. Blood, which is normally carried to the brain by arteries, may not be able to get through because of blood clot, plaque buildup or a burst or broken artery.

Brain cells in the immediate area of the stroke are killed, and this can lead to severe disability for the sufferer. Inability to talk properly or use certain muscles is a common result.

Treatment:

Stroke is always a medical emergency and the sufferer needs to be taken to hospital with a Stroke Unit straight away.

The National Stroke Foundation recommends the FAST test to identify stroke.

F – facial weakness – can the person smile, or have their eyes and mouth drooped?
A – arm weakness – can the person raise both their arms?
S – speech difficulty – can the person speak clearly and understand what you are saying?
T – time to act – call 000 immediately

When the patient arrives in hospital, he or she will be treated with Tissue Plasminogen Activator, a drug that breaks down blood clots.

This is normally administered after a CT scan has confirmed the type of stroke.

Another treatment option is aspirin, but that is only recommended for ischaemic strokes (those caused by blood clots).

Prevention:

Lifestyle factors are very big when it comes to your chances of having a stroke.

By not smoking, not drinking alcohol (or not drinking very much), eating healthy foods and remaining physically active, you will greatly lower your risk of having a stroke.

Diabetes can also factor in, so make sure you talk to your doctor about it if you are a diabetic.

If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you need to deal with these immediately to reduce your chances of stroke.

Healthy Ageing

Health Guru — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:37:10 +0000

As our bodies grow older many of our systems slow down and function less well than they did in our youth.

The amount of energy you have and your physical and emotional well-being depends greatly on the lifestyle and health choices you make.

By reducing stress and taking good care of your body you can slow the onset of age-related health problems and even avoid some entirely.

What kinds of changes should you expect to face with age?

Most of the time age-related health changes are gradual. Your metabolism will slow over time, meaning you will need less food (energy) than previously.

Eyesight and hearing generally begin to diminish between the ages of 40 and 50, and many people discover they need to use reading glasses from this age.

The rate at which your bones age will begin to increase in your 50s, and you will need to keep an eye out for signs of osteoporosis.

Vital organs such as your kidneys and heart will begin to drag in their performance. The key to keeping these organs well and strong is by remaining physically active and maintaining a great diet.

What do you need to do to feel good as you age?

First of all, devise and stick to a physical exercise program that suits your level and comfort. Consult your GP for initial exercise advice if you are uncertain.

Emotional health is also very important. Having a strong social network and feeling connected to friends, community and family will have a big say in your well-being. Ensure you set aside relaxation time each day so that stress doesn’t get the better of you.

Finally, don’t disregard the value of keeping your mind active and sharp. Keep reading and do word puzzle or play strategy games to this end.

Alzheimer’s disease

Health Guru — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:40:16 +0000

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and in 2006 more than 26 million people were thought to be suffering it.

It is a degenerative and incurable disease that is generally diagnosed in people over the age of 65.

The key symptoms associated with the disease are memory loss, confusion, agitation, mood swings and language breakdown.

There is a significant amount of hereditary factor in Alzheimer’s disease, meaning for some people it is very difficult to avoid.

However, some definite strategies are available to all people to try to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Diet is key, and the ‘Mediterranean diet’ is known to be great for reducing the risk of the disease. The main elements of this diet are fruit and vegetables, bread, wheat and cereals, fish, olive oil, and even red wine.

Ensuring a good supply of B3, B12 and C vitamins can also make a big difference.

The next thing to do is keep mentally active. Do things that stimulate your mind such as reading, crossword puzzles, play board games and play musical instruments. Remember to remain socially active too, because this stimulates the brain and helps a lot.

You could also learn another language, because studies have shown that bilingual people tend to have a later onset of the disease.