Category Archives: Health in Aging

May is Older Americans Month

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Flipping through the TV channels while looking for the news the other day, I caught a glimpse of an old movie that got my attention.  It caught my eye because one of the characters was an older man who was so grouchy and uptight that he scared away almost anyone who tried to get close to him. What struck me about this character was how depressed he was.

May is Older Americans’ Month—the month we celebrate older adults and all they have contributed and continue to contribute throughout their lives. The theme of this year’s Older Americans’ Month is “Unleash the Power of Age.”  However, it’s hard to unleash that power— and do all that you can do with it—if you find depression is holding you back.

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National Healthcare Decisions Day

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April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, and I hope that you will take this time to discuss and document your healthcare wishes.  We all need to be prepared in the event of a health crisis, and having the talk is easier than most people think, but many of us need a little inspiration or a reminder to do it.  I hope that this message and National Healthcare Decisions Day are all you need.

Please take some time today and have the talk with your loved ones.  There are all sorts of free resources, including free advance directive forms for each of the 50 states and a great short video to get you thinking and talking, on the NHDD website: www.nhdd.org.  Additionally, please help spread the word with Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Advance care planning is something we ALL should do and encourage others to do, regardless of age or current health.  Discussing your wishes can be one of the most important gifts you ever give your loved ones.

 

American Geriatrics Society Helps You “Choose Wisely”

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This week, the American Board of International Medicine (ABIM) Foundation published the latest of its ground-breaking Choosing Wisely® “five-things” lists, and I’m pleased to report that one of these new lists comes from the American Geriatrics Society. In case you’re not familiar with these important Choosing Wisely lists, here’s a little background:

Two years ago, the ABIM Foundation and Consumer Reports launched the Choosing Wisely campaign to encourage people to learn more about the tests and treatments their healthcare providers recommend, and to question and discuss these with their healthcare professionals under certain circumstances. There are two parts to the Choosing Wisely campaign. Numerous medical societies have gone through an in-depth review process to identify five tests or treatments for which there may not be enough medical research that shows safety or effectiveness. In some cases, the research may even show unwanted effects. At the same time, the Foundation and Consumer Reports have been encouraging people to check the lists to see if tests or treatments their healthcare providers have recommended are on them. If so, the campaign urges people to bring this up with their healthcare professionals and discuss it.

Some societies developed and published their Choosing Wisely lists last year. The AGS and others in a second group published theirs this week. And a new group of societies is now working on their lists. So, the Choosing Wisely campaign is growing, gaining momentum, and getting more and more attention from the public, from healthcare professionals, and from the media.

I encourage you to check the AGS’ list, which includes five treatments that may pose more risks than benefits in older people. Check to see if any medications or other treatments you’ve been prescribed are listed. This is particularly important for older adults. Why? Treatments that may be helpful for younger adults may not be safe or reliable in older people, because of physical changes that take place as we get older. For example, older people may respond differently to medications than younger adults.

In addition to reviewing the AGS list, you can also check the lists developed by other organizations at the Choosing Wisely website. Don’t worry if a test or treatment your healthcare provider has recommended is on one of the Choosing Wisely lists, and don’t stop a treatment if it’s on the list. Just because a test or treatment is listed doesn’t mean it’s unreliable or ineffective for you. Different people respond differently, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to medical care.

But be sure to ask questions. Talk to your healthcare provider and sort it out. The Choosing Wisely campaign’s goal is to spark conversations about potentially unnecessary tests or treatments and to empower the public to ask questions of their healthcare providers.

To help you understand the items on the AGS’ Choosing Wisely list, the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging has developed “Ask the Expert” resources for each of our five items.

You can find additional, easily understandable background information about the AGS’ “five things.” Just visit the  “Choosing Wisely” section under Health A-Z. Complementing these resources, Consumer Reports has posted supplemental information on http://www.choosingwisely.org/. Enlightened reading!

Heart Healthy Reflections for Valentine’s Day

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Valentine’s Day is a time of flowers, chocolate hearts, and celebrations of love and life.  For thousands of years, the heart has symbolized love and passion and has inspired great poetry, literature, art, and music. But maybe this year we should start a new tradition on Valentine’s Day: To check in with ourselves and those around us to look for signs of heart disease.

There are several types of heart disease, with coronary artery disease being the most common. It is estimated that more than 80 million Americans have at least one major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.

All told, some one million people a year will die of heart disease. Though one of the risk factors is advancing age, more than 150,000 heart disease and stroke deaths every year are among people younger than 65. With the rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes rates in children, we will likely see increased rates of heart disease and stroke occurring at earlier ages.

Heart disease is more common in men, particularly those with a strong family history, but it can strike anyone without warning at any time. Many people do not realize that, in addition to men, heart disease is the number one cause of death in women.

It is critical to recognize the symptoms of a possible heart attack and take immediate action. Don’t assume that it is indigestion or a muscle ache from overexertion. When in doubt, check it out.

Symptoms of a heart attack include:

  • Chest pain or discomfort such as a feeling of squeezing, fullness, or pressure
  • Pain in the upper arms (more common in men)
  • Pain in the back, jaw or stomach (more common in women)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea/vomiting (more common in women)
  • Profuse sweating
  • Light-headedness
  • Unexplained anxiety (more common in women)

If you think that you are having a heart attack:

  • Do not wait
  • Call 911 – do not have a relative drive you to the hospital or worse, drive yourself
  • Immediately chew an uncoated adult aspirin or 3 baby aspirin (an aspirin must be chewed and not swallowed whole to offer heart protection benefits).

Remember: Time is critical in protecting your heart muscle.

Healthinaging.org has a wealth of information about the causes and symptoms of different types of heart disease. You will also find information about ways to prevent a heart attack through lifestyle choices such as not smoking, eating a heart healthy diet, and exercising.

A healthy heart is the best Valentine’s Day present we can give to ourselves and to those around us. I encourage you to celebrate this Valentine’s Day by doing something good for your heart!

My Favorite Time of Year…

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This time of year has always been one of my favorites. It’s a time when things slow down a bit, allowing more time with family and friends – time to catch up, celebrate cherished rituals, and enjoy favorite foods and one another’s company. But while this can be a wonderful time of year, it can also be challenging, particularly for older adults.

For some older people, the end of another year can be a powerful reminder of how many years have already passed. Traditions like lighting the menorah candles or decorating the Christmas tree may bring to mind family and friends who are no longer with us. For some older adults, health problems can make it difficult, or perhaps impossible, to travel to traditional get-togethers with relatives and old friends. All of these things can contribute to the “holiday blues” or, more seriously, depression.

In colder parts of the country older adults may face other challenges. Older people run higher risks of injuries while shoveling snow, for example, and are more likely to develop frostbite and hypothermia –  a life-threating condition in which your body temperature drops to dangerous levels. Snow and icy weather can also put older adults at risk of falls and fractures.

The good news, however, is that there are many things older people, and their caregivers, can do to help address these problems. And you’ll find them on healthinaging.org – the source of a wealth of easy-to-read health information for seniors that’s reviewed by leading experts in elder health. These include:

You’ll also find 10 Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for Older Adults on healthinaging.org. I recommend it for adults of all ages. In fact, I’ve resolved to make a few of the ten my own this New Year.

Here’s wishing you and yours a happy season!