Young at Heart June 2024

Young at Heart

SUPPLEMENT

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2024

Tips to prevent pickleball injuries

Pickleball has inspired millions of devotees. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, roughly 36.5 million individuals played pickleball in 2022, and 45 percent of players who participated in a YouGov study conducted between August 2021 and August 2022 indicated they planned to play more pickleball in the coming six months than they had in the previous six months.

Pickleball is thriving, and that’s great news for those who love the game. Unfortunately, pickleball also has proven beneficial to orthopedic practices. A 2023 analysis from UBS estimated pickleball injuries could cost Americans nearly $400 million in 2023. Seniors are especially vulnerable to pickleball injuries, as a 2021 study published in the journal Injury Epidemiology found that 86 percent of emergency room visits

related to pickleball injuries affected individuals 60 and older.

Injuries are a part of any sport, and pickleball is no different. Though there’s no foolproof method to guarantee pickleball players don’t get hurt playing the game they love, the following are some tips that can reduce injury risk.

• Gear up. Pickleball is a competitive sport, but there’s a tendency among some players, particularly novices, to take a casual approach to the game. Veteran players may know better, but anyone new to the game should be sure to wear the appropriate gear when playing. Athletic shoes with ample traction can reduce the likelihood that players will slip or fall. The right racket also can reduce risk for elbow injuries. The sporting goods experts at Dick’s Sporting Goods note that paddles should feature a light

to medium weight, comfortable grip and a large sweet spot. The right paddle will be different for everyone, so novices are urged to speak to veteran players for advice on which paddle might be best for them.

• Embrace physical activity. Pickleball can be a great workout, and players can reduce their injury risk by embracing physical activity even when they are not playing. Leg exercises can help build lower body strength, but strength exercises that focus on the upper body also can reduce injury risk.

• Loosen up before playing. Taking the court right after getting out of the car is a recipe for injury. Arrive five to 10 minutes before a game and use that time to loosen up. A short walk and some subsequent stretches can help players make sure their bodies are not too tight to play. Some brief warm-up exercises and stretching can reduce muscle tension and make the body less vulnerable to injury.

• Hydrate before, during and after a game. The experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine note that water cushions the joints, which helps athletes maintain their flexibility. Flexibility can reduce injury risk, particularly in a sport like pickleball. The 2021 study published in Injury Epidemiology noted that 60 percent of pickleball injuries are sprains, strains or fractures. Remaining flexible can reduce athletes’ risk for sprains and strains. Johns Hopkins recommends adults consume between six and 12 ounces of water for every 20 minutes of sports play and to drink between 16 and 24 ounces afterward.

Pickleball is wildly popular, even though pickleball injuries are common. Players can embrace various strategies to reduce their injury risk.

The role of a home health aide

Caregivers come from all walks of life. Doctors and nurses may be the frontline medical providers people encounter most frequently, but there are plenty of others who do their part to maintain the well-being of individuals, including home health aides.

Home health aides, sometimes called personal care aides, are brought in to assist a person with activities of daily life. An HHA typically helps a person who may need some assistance with tasks they cannot perform due to illness or disability. HHAs may work in a person’s home, in a group home or in another care facility.

AARP says home health aides are considered health care paraprofessionals and must meet established training requirements, which vary by location.

HHAs may perform various duties, including:

• assistance with personal care, such as dressing, toileting, feeding, and moving from bed to chair, etc.

• checking vital signs

• monitoring a client

• light housekeeping

• meal planning and cooking

• picking up prescriptions

• companionship

HHAs typically will not pro-

vide skilled nursing care and may not be able to offer recommendations on treatment or medications.

Individuals can find the services of HHAs who may work independently or are placed through agencies. Sometimes a doctor or hospital will have connections to HHA services and can make referrals. It can be useful to interview several potential HHAs to find one who will fit with the needs and personality of the person requiring assistance. A good HHA will be compassionate, patient and flexible. As illness or injury also can affect a person’s mood, HHAs must be able to adjust if a client is reluctant to receive help or is depressed or anxious from his or her limitations.

Home health aides serve vital roles in the health care community by providing care and companionship to those who can no longer live independently.

The modern drug store where you are greeted with a friendly

“Hello” and “How can we help you?”

We also provide FREE DELIVERY and have Alpena’s first drive-thru window.

The Drug Store may not be big, but we excel on friendly, fast service and welcome the opportunity to serve you.

Help keep our independent pharmacy strong in Alpena.

Please let us help you plan ahead.

You don’t have to walk blocks to enter, you are only steps away from the front door or use Alpena’s first drive-through window.

•Accepting all major health plans

•Free delivery service

•Billing for diabetic supplies

•Large selection Spenco Foot Care Products

•Prescriptions dispensed by Personal and Friendly Pharmacists

We are your Home Town Independent Health Mart Pharmacy and we are accepting new patients!

If you need a new pharmacy to transfer your prescriptions towe are here and ready to help. Just bring in your prescription bottles or list of medications that you take with any insurance information.

You don’t have to walk blocks to enter, you are only steps away from the front door or use Alpena’s first drive-through window.

•Accepting all major health plans

We also provide FREE DELIVERY and have Alpena’s first drive-thru window.

We also have Ananda Professional CBD products.

•Free delivery service

What is the “silver tsunami”?

•Billing for diabetic supplies

•Large selection Spenco Foot Care Products

•Prescriptions dispensed by Personal and Friendly Pharmacists

We are your Home Town Independent Health Mart Pharmacy and we are accepting new patients!

If you need a new pharmacy to transfer your prescriptions towe are here and ready to help. Just bring in your prescription bottles or list of medications that you take with any insurance information.

The United States is changing, and observant individuals may notice the nation is skewing a little older than it has in recent years. Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate roughly 56 million Americans had reached age 65 by 2020, which marked a nearly 39 percent increase since 2010. The increase in the population that has reached traditional retirement age has been dubbed a “silver tsunami,” and that increase could stretch government resources thin in the decades to come. In fact, a 2018 report from the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy noted that

the federal government could face considerable challenges as more of its budget is allocated to age entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. That problem may not prove unique to the United States, as the United Nations estimates that the elderly population in Europe is expected to account for around 30 percent of all residents by 2050. Though entitlement programs differ from country to country, finding ways to successfully manage the silver tsunami could be imperative to various nations’ financial stability in the decades to come.

We also provide FREE DELIVERY and have Alpena’s first drive-thru window.

We also have Ananda Professional CBD products.

Signs a loved one might need assisted living

Assisted living facilities provide an invaluable service. When a medical condition, developments associated with aging or another variable affects an individual’s ability to live independently, assisted living facilities can ensure such men and women get the help they need to live as fully and actively as possible.

It’s not always easy to identify when an individual may need to move into an assisted living facility. Some individuals choose to do so on their own, but families often make such decisions together. As families work to determine if a loved one should move into an assisted living facility, they can look for various signs that suggest the time is right to do so. According to the Elder Care Alliance, signs that an individual may benefit from assisted living include:

• Requiring routine reminders to take medication

• Noticeable changes in weight, including weight loss or gain

• Loss of mobility or increase in falls

• Signs that household maintenance is being neglected

• Difficulty with daily tasks like grooming and meal preparation

• Increased isolation

• Loss of interest in hobbies

It’s important for families to recognize that some of the signs noted above might suggest the presence of a condition or disease that would not, if treated successfully, compromise an individual’s ability to live independently. For example, the SilverSneakers program offered through Tivity Health notes that weight gain among seniors may be attributable to slower metabolism, a less active lifestyle or menopause for women. Each of those conditions can be addressed without requiring a relocation to an assisted living facility. Family members are urged to discuss anything that seems to be affecting a loved one’s ability to live independently with that person’s health care team before they consider if a person needs to move into an assisted living facility. It’s equally important to ask a loved one’s health care

team which type of facility they think might be most beneficial if, in fact, they think it’s in an individual’s best interest to relocate. No two facilities are the same, and the Elder Care Alliance notes many specialize in specific types of care, such as tending to

individuals with cognitive issues like dementia or physical issues like limited mobility.

Assisted living facilities help millions of individuals every day. Families can work together to decide if a loved one can benefit from moving into such a facility.

The healing power of nature

Being in good health and avoiding various diseases often comes down to a combination of factors. Individuals may be aware that nutrition and exercise play important roles in personal well-being, but it appears that nature may provide its own medicinal benefits as well.

A number of studies have exam-

ISACKSON, WALLACE & PFEIFER P.C.

ined the potential healing components of being in nature. The World Health Organization released a report in 2023 titled “Green and Blue Spaces and Mental Health,” which indicated that time in nature improves mood, mindsets and mental health. This occurs regardless of whether that nature was “country” regions or urban areas. The following are some of the ways nature can have a healing effect.

• Immunity protection: Trees and plants emit aromatic compounds called phytoncides. When inhaled, these compounds can ignite healthy biological changes similar to the concepts of aromatherapy. When people walk in forests or other green areas, they often experience changes in the blood that are associated with protection against cancer, improved immunity and lower blood pressure, says

Dr. Qing Li, a professor at the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo.

• Get a brain break: When spending time in nature, attention is focused on the scenery, the animals and the rest of the environment. This may help quiet the rush of thoughts in the head that clutters the ability to think freely.

• Reduce stress: Stress is a catalyst for a number of adverse health conditions. The Mayo Clinic says stress can cause headache, muscle tension, fatigue, changes in sex drive, and a weaker immune system, among other things. Being outside in nature and away from work and home responsibilities can help reduce stress levels. Dr. Mathew McGlothlin, senior medical director with WellMed Medical Group, says being in nature provides stress relief.

• Get vitamin D: The body natu-

rally produces vitamin D from sun exposure. The National Institutes of Health says it is optimal to have sun exposure for five to 30 minutes a day, most days a week, to absorb UVB rays and effectively make vitamin D. Vitamin D is a nutrient the body needs to build and maintain strong bones. Vitamin D also regulates many other cellular functions in the body, and may be able to prevent cognitive decline.

• Inspires exercise: People may be more inclined to be physically active while outdoors. Hiking, cycling, swimming, and even strolls in the park all make the outdoors more fun. Exercise promotes heart health and helps people maintain a healthy weight.

Nature can have a healing effect, and more time outdoors can promote mental and physical well-being.

Keith Wallace, William Pfeifer & Theodore Johnson experienced attorneys right here in Alpena

Is marijuana helpful for cataracts?

Medical marijuana has long been utilized to treat glaucoma. Many people wonder if marijuana can have similar benefits for other eye conditions, namely cataracts.

All About Vision says cataracts form on the lenses of the eyes, which are normally transparent structures that work much like the lens of a camera. After age 40, crystallin proteins in the lens of the eye begin to break down into tiny clumps, eventually clouding the natural transparency. This is known as a cataract. Over time, cataracts can produce foggy, blurred vision, especially in older adults.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says there is currently no evidence to suggest that use of medical marijuana or CBD products can prevent the formation of cataracts. Medical marijuana is used for glaucoma treatments, but glaucoma is an entirely different condition. It occurs when intraocular pressure in the eye is very high, and essentially squeezes the optic nerve, causing long-term damage and blind spots. Doctors have determined that THC, the primary active ingredient in marijuana, is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can reduce pressure in the eye. This helps ease symptoms of glaucoma. The medical information resource Veriheal says while preliminary research hints at the potential of medical marijuana to support ocular health, in relation to cataracts, the scientific landscape lacks any conclusive evidence.

There has been some talk that CBD or marijuana might be helpful to treat anxiety, pain and inflammation following cataract surgery. Again, this is something that has yet to be proven, and is best discussed with a doctor. An ophthalmolo-

gist may suggest other post-operative options, offers All About Vision.

While medical marijuana may have many helpful purposes as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, so far there is no evidence to suggest it is an effective treatment for cataracts.

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Jennifer Gruschke MA, CCC-A Audiologist