3 minute read
Better health
Claire L. Sable
Life is all about balance
AS WE AGE, OUR SENSE of balance declines and that can affect even simple movements like getting up from a chair or climbing or descending stairs. Worsening balance problems can also lead to potentially dangerous and debilitating falls—something we all want to avoid.
But losing your balance does not have to be an inevitability of growing older. You can practice and improve your balance every day by doing some simple exercises that train your body and brain to help keep you vertical. • Stand on one foot and hold it to the count of 10. Do this several times and then repeat the whole process with the other foot. Try this when you’re brushing your teeth or watching TV. It’s a good idea to have a countertop or back of a chair nearby in case you need to steady yourself. • You’ve seen sobriety tests on TV where the person has to walk back and forth, heel to toe. This exercise helps improve your balance. Do this one before happy hour for better performance. • Get an exercise half-ball. Balance yourself while standing on the soft, rounded side—this too will help improve your balance.
Don’t suffer in silence with anxiety and depression
THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN challenging to say the least. We’ve all had to contend with a global pandemic. More recently we are feeling the pressures of inflation, ongoing political strife and unpredictable and sometimes extremely destructive weather events. Layer all that on top of the daily stressors of life and it’s easy to see why many of us feel anxious and depressed.
If it’s all feeling like a little too much, it may be time to seek professional help. A good place to start is with your primary care physician. While psychology is not their specialty, medical doctors generally have some insight into these conditions. They also have the ability to prescribe medications that may help alleviate symptoms and may also be able to provide some mental health referrals and resources.
Another option is finding a trained practitioner who is skilled in cognitive behavioral therapy and other psychotherapeutic treatments. A quick google search will produce lots of options for private therapists as well as group practices. Some insurance plans will help cover the cost of treatment and some therapists offer a sliding fee scale.
EVER HAD TO ASK SOMEONE to repeat themselves? Ever had to ask them more than once? Hearing loss is an unfortunate but not uncommon side-effect of aging, and can even be a problem for people in their 50s.
The size and appearance of hearing aids have also evolved. Gone are the large, clunky hearing aids our grandparents wore. Today, hearing aids are very small, nearly invisible devices that neatly and discretely tuck into the outside of the ear canal. “You can hardly even see them, yet these tiny devices make a huge difference in the ability to hear, and that improves the quality of life for our clients,” Baker adds.
For more information go to advancedhearing.net.
These are not your grandparents’ hearing aids
