Ask the Expert 19 The Healthy Geezer

PAID ADVERTORIAL A New Reverse Mortgage from Sun American Mortgage Company Offers a Brighter Outlook on Retirement!

When Jane and Larry found themselves facing a series of unexpected events that left them with credit card debt and without the money they needed to comfortably retire, they didn’t have a lot of options. Jane could go back to work - but there wasn’t much in the area. Larry tried taking on some consulting work, but it was negatively affecting his health. The only realistic option they could see was to sell their retirement home in PebbleCreek. It felt like an impossible task.

Luckily, a neighbor suggested an alternative: a reverse mortgage. Jane and Larry’s credit card debt was not a part of their retirement plans, but Sun American Mortgage Company stepped in and helped turn a bad situation into an opportunity. With over 30 years of experience assisting Arizona seniors in similar situations, Sun American Mortgage is a leader in the Reverse Mortgage industry. Instead of selling their precious home in PebbleCreek, Jane and Larry were able to turn to the equity in their own home to pay off their credit card debt and get back on track with their retirement plans.

With their reverse mortgage line of credit, they can take money in and out of their home without recourse. They can make payments on their reverse mortgage if they want to, but also feel safe knowing that, in a pinch, no payment is required. They pay their property taxes, homeowners insurance and HOA fees as always. Jane and Larry have options. They can simply pay the interest, make a full payment every other month, make 2 payments every month, or never make a payment again. The reverse mortgage gave them the flexibility to live the future they envisioned even though their retirement plans didn’t go quite as planned.

Live the future you have planned. Call Parker Turk, CPA, CRMP or Rex Duffin, CRMP at Sun American Mortgage Company (480)467-1000 or toll-free at 1(800) 469-7383. 4140 E. Baseline Rd., Ste. 206, Mesa, Arizona 85206

An equal housing opportunity company, member of the Better Business Bureau & the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association • Mortgage Banker License #BK7548 • NMLS #160265 Parker Turk: LO-0912436 • NMLS#267132 Rex Duffin: LO-0911707 • NMLS#169138 This material is not provided by, nor was it approved by the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) or by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

Ask the Expert Five ways to reduce the risk of heart problems

BY TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

While not all heart conditions can be prevented, controlling risk factors can go a long way to staying healthy, says Dr. Raj Bose, cardiothoracic surgeon at Tucson Medical Center.

Bose specializes in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs and other organs in the chest with the goal of giving patients a longer life with better quality.

According to Bose, most people have heard the term “heart disease” but are unsure what it really means.

Heart disease refers to types of heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, aortic aneurysm and others. The one thing these conditions have in common is you can often reduce your risk with lifestyle changes.

Coronary artery disease: This is the buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Plaque causes blockage that can lead to heart attack. Symptoms include chest pain or discomfort and shortness of breath.

Heart valve disease: In heart valve disease, one or more of the valves in your heart doesn’t work properly. This can cause the blood ow through your heart to your body to be disrupted. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, heart murmur and chest pain.

Aortic aneurysm: This is a bubble that forms in the aorta. It can make the wall weak and prone to tears or ruptures. Many patients don’t have symptoms, but if they do, a thoracic aortic aneurysm can cause pain in the jaw, neck or upper back and coughing. An abdominal aortic aneurysm can produce symptoms such as a tender mass felt by a physician or pain in the back, abdomen or groin that is not relieved by position or medication.

Managing your risks

While some risk factors such as family history are out of your control, there are variables that you can control. “The most important thing is to assess your risks,” Bose says. “If you have family history or other risk factors, you should get a screening and try to modify your life.”

Keep blood pressure in check: A normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mmHg. Keeping a healthy weight, exercise and eating lower-sodium foods are natural ways to lower blood pressure. Also, make sure to take medicines as prescribed by your doctor.

Don’t smoke: Smoking can increase your heart rate, tighten major arteries and cause irregular heart rhythm, all of which make your heart work harder. If you do smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit.

Choose healthy foods: Limit foods that are high in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugar.

Move your body: “You don’t have to have a gym membership,” Bose said. “Just don’t be sedentary. Do simple activities, such as going for a walk, every day.”

The Healthy Geezer Alcoholism is a common cause of seniors’ injuries

BY FRED CICETTI

How extensive is alcoholism among older people?

Alcoholism is a serious problem among seniors. Here are just a few statistics that tell the story: • About 70% of hospital admissions for older adults are for illness and accidents related to alcohol. • About half of older adults in nursing homes have an alcohol problem. • Older adults lose an average of 10 years o their lives because of alcohol abuse. • About 80% of doctors misdiagnose alcoholism as depression in older women. • The highest-growing number of alcoholics is among 75-year-old widowers. • About 10% of patients over age 60 who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are actually su ering from brain damage caused by alcoholism.

“Alcohol abuse among older adults is something few want to talk about or deal with,” says Charles Curie, former administrator of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“Too often family members are ashamed of the problem and choose not to address it. Health care providers tend not to ask older patients about alcohol abuse if it wasn’t a problem in their lives in earlier years.

“Sometimes the symptoms are mistaken for those of dementia, depression or other problems common to older adults. Unfortunately, too many older persons turn to alcohol as a comfort, following the death of a spouse, a divorce, retirement or some other major life change, unaware that they are markedly a ecting the quality of their lives.”

A few de nitions: Alcoholism: Alcoholism is a disease with four symptoms: craving or compulsion to drink, the inability to limit drinking, high alcohol tolerance, and physical dependence.

QAlcohol abuse: Alcohol abuse does not include strong craving, loss of control or physical dependence. Alcohol abuse is A de ned as drinking that causes problems in your life such as failing at work, getting arrested for drunken driving, or hurting someone physically or emotionally because of drinking. Moderate drinking: Moderate drinking is de ned as consuming up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people. A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. The American Medical Association offers the following list of physical symptoms to diagnose alcoholism. If an older person shows several symptoms, there is a high probability of alcoholism. • Bruises, abrasions and scars in locations that might suggest frequent falls, bumping into objects, physical altercations or other violent behavior. • Cigarette burns on the ngers. • Flushed or orid faces. • Jerky eye movement or loss of central vision. • Damage to nerves, causing numbness and tingling. • Hypertension, particularly systolic (the rst number). • Gastrointestinal or other bleeding. • Cirrhosis or other evidence of liver impairment, such as swelling in the lower extremities, and other signs of uid retention. • Psoriasis.

Get your copy today!

Deadline: 16th of the month for the next publication

Carpet Cleaning

CARPET DIRTY ?

$30,000 Steamers Call Oro Valley Carpet Cleaners

CARPET 2 Rooms .... $59 TILE & GROUT LINES 2 Rooms .... $59

520-331-7777 OROVALLEYCARPETCLEANERS.COM

Classifi ed & Friendship Ads

THREE EASY WAYS TO PLACE AN AD:

Call: Carpet Cleaning 480-898-6465

Email:ONE CALL class@timespublications.com CLEANS IT ALL * Carpet 2 rooms only $59 * Tile 2 rooms only $59 * Couch & chair only $59 $30k Steam Machines Oro valley carpet cleaners

orovalleycarpetcleaners.com CALL 331-7777 Visit our website: Wanted to Buy www.lovinlife.com Deadline: 16th of the month We Buy SI for the next publicationLVER & GOLD

Jewelry, Watches - running or not, Antiques & Collectibles Sterling, Mexican Silver Plate, Golf Clubs We come to you! 602-989-1323

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SPECIALTY IS, WE HAVE A BIZ BOX SPOT FOR YOU!

Call us at 480-898-6465 or email class@timespublications.com to learn how we can help you stand out from the crowd.