September 2017
PATIENT POWER Health Insights for Seniors, Loved Ones and Caregivers
Check 4 Cancer September offers reminders to be aware of several types of cancers. So check with your doctors on prostate, ovarian or other gynecological cancers. Good start: American Cancer Society. At press Harvey storm still on, so see ACS offers on cancer/disaster relief info.
Hug Your Hound Day It’s technically on Sept. 10th, but do it all month…and beyond. (Choose other pets if you want to.) Studies keep showing that this love increases the oxytocin hormone, which decreases anxiety and offers other plusses.
Keep Hands Clean! Sept. 17-23 is Int’l Clean Hands Week, according to Weird & Wacky Holidays. Do it like docs on TV, with Cleaning Institute’s advice: wet, then scrub soap front/back, between fingers, even under nails. Sing Happy Birthday 2x to time it. Rinse well and dry with clean cloth or paper towels.
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photo: Rosmarie Voegtli on Flickr.com
Balancing Your Life…Literally Did you know that “Balance Awareness Week” is this month? That reminded us it’s time to help with this important issue.
Scary Stats As we get older, our balance can go downhill. Many reasons: medications making us dizzy; ear issues throwing us off-kilter, weakened leg muscles and poorer vision causing walking fearfully, not steadily. The dangers show. One in four older (age 65+) adults fall each year, 1 out 5 falls cause serious injuries and (truly scary) every 20 minutes an older adult dies from a fall!
Start with This Checklist There are easy measures that might improve your balance. All involve simple points to review with your primary doctor: WM Medical Communications
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Famous Birthdays Still Going Strong… …whether in life or our memories: • Marge Champion: Sept. 2, 1919. Dancer, choreographer • Garrison Keillor: Sept. 7, 1942. Satirist, Radio host • David S. Broder, Sept. 11, 1929. Pulitzer-winning journalist • David McCallum: Sept. 19, 1933. Actor • Bruce Springsteen, Sept. 23, 1949. Musician. • Ed Sullivan: Sept. 28, 1901. Newspaper columnist, TV host ……………………………………….
September 2017
• Tell him all the meds you’re taking (including from other doctors), plus any natural supplements and over-the-counter products. Modifying or eliminating something could mitigate your balance troubles. • Honestly admit if you get dizzy when quickly sitting or standing. • Have your doc check for inner ear problems.
Take a Stand! The National Institute on Aging (NIA), a division of NIH, has great online info on how to “Improve Your Balance.” I urge you to check this (or other links above). Meantime here are some basics: Do their balance exercises. You can start with a chair to help keep you steady. Even better: find a friend or loved one that can stand nearby and catch you if you’re wobbling. Add in endurance. You need to keep going, with better breathing and other stamina. On Endurance you’ll see NIA recommends finding sports you can handle or even indoor aerobics. Strengthen your muscles. It can be real weights (like dumbbells) or two cleaned out milk or OJ jugs. Fill as much as you can to start, then as you do the NIA’s exercises add more liquid, sand or pebbles to increase weight. Improve your flexibility. That’s critical, as you can see from this section of the NIA’s examples. It includes making sure you can get down to—and then up from—the floor.
Wendy Meyeroff is president of WM Medical Communications, based in Baltimore, MD, but serving clients throughout the U.S. and beyond for over 20 years. Her specialty: writing/ ghosting for and about America’s aging population in print and then one of the first called online. See her at www.wmmedcomm.com
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The great thing about NIA’s examples is that you really don’t need special equipment. Two things you must have: a stable chair (i.e., a dining chair, not your cushioned lounger or rolling desk chair) and a floor mat. The latter are usually yoga mats and trust me, they’re easy to find and fairly inexpensive. Or find exercise/balance classes special to older adults. Tai chi (as in the picture), qi dong, water aerobics at an indoor pool, are just a few that can help year-round. And being part of a group offers extra encouragement. So admit you need balance efforts, find what you like and start! WM Medical Communications
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