Health and wellness – Page 2

Six ways to help speed your recovery after surgery

Healing after surgery always takes time. But, there are things you can do or not do to help speed your recovery after surgery. And, yes the most basic five are ones that will not comes as a surprise. Keep in mind that it’s always best to have a buddy at the hospital with you before, during and after surgery if at all possible. For more on that and how to prepare for your hospital stay, click here.

Don’t smoke. Smoking is not only bad for your lungs, it’s bad for your entire body. Smoking hurts your vascular system, which can slow down the speed at which your wounds heal and can lead to infection. If you smoke, keep in mind that Medicare covers smoking cessation programs. To learn more about Medicare coverage to help with smoking cessation as well as for other preventive services, click here.
Eat well. A poor diet can slow down recovery. If you are malnourished, you will likely have a weaker immune system and your body will be less prepared to recover from surgery. Malnutrition is considered a risk factor for illness and mortality after surgery. Medicare sometimes covers nutrition counseling.
Keep your weight down to a healthy level. People who are overweight are less fit for surgery, often because they have heart disease, high blood pressure and breathing issues as well. Obesity can slow down the wound healing process. Medicare covers obesity counseling programs.
Take care of your health condition. If you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or hypertension, make sure you are getting good treatment to manage your condition. A managed chronic condition will help you recover faster from surgery. For example, good blood sugar control speeds up healing and reduces the risk of infection.
Make sure you understand and follow directions for your care after surgery. You should receive a written discharge plan before you leave the hospital. And follow these steps before leaving the hospital.
Make sure you understand what medications you should be taking (or not taking) after your surgery. For example, your surgeon or primary care provider may recommend changes to your usual blood thinner (such as aspirin) or diabetes medication after surgery.

Here are two other things you might want to know:

Some evidence suggests that chewing sugarless gum after surgery can help your digestive system to get back to normal, especially if you have a bowel surgery. There is no apparent downside.
Very little evidence supports the notion that carbohydrate supplements prior to surgery speeds the recovery process.

This post was originally published on September 17, 2015.

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March 4, 2019

Seven tips for getting a good night’s sleep

According to the Centers for Disease Control, sleep matters–not getting a good night’s sleep is a public health problem. Insufficient sleep leads to poor health outcomes and greater risk of early death. Yet, one third of adults in the U.S. do not get enough sleep on a regular basis. We need between seven and nine hours a night.

Here are seven tips for a good night’s sleep from the National Institutes of Health:

Develop a sleep routine: Set a daily bedtime and wake-up time and stick to it. If you have an iphone or ipad, the clock app has a helpful bedtime setting. In addition to tracking your sleep, it turns off all the sounds on the device during bedtime hours.
Exercise daily: Even 20 to 30 minutes a day of exercise can help you sleep soundly.
Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine, especially directly before you go to sleep.
Relax before bedtime: Do something quiet and calming–take a bath, listen to classical music, read a book.
Let the sun wake you up. Bright sunlight has been shown to reset your biological clock.
Only go to sleep when you’re ready to fall asleep. It can be anxiety-producing and cause insomnia to lay in bed awake trying to sleep if you don’t feel tired.
See a doctor if you continue to struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. There are effective cures. Here are five proven interventions for sleeplessness or insomnia.

Keep in mind that if you are often tired during the day, you could have sleep apnea.

A recent Rand study also recommends limited use of electronics before sleep. The Rand study finds that people who sleep on average fewer than six hours a night have a 10 percent higher risk of mortality than people who sleep between seven and nine hours a night. And, people who sleep on average between six and seven hours a night have a four percent higher mortality risk.

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February 19, 2019

How to keep aging skin as healthy as possible

Your skin–the largest organ in your body–serves many critical purposes, so skin care is important. Skin care is particularly important as you age, because, inevitably, your skin will thin. Here’s a primer on how your skin functions and how to keep aging skin as healthy as possible.

Your skin protects all the organs in your body. It keeps harmful microbes from getting into your body, preventing infections. Your skin’s nerve receptors enable you to feel when anything touches you, including heat, cold, pain and pressure. And, your skin keeps your body temperature even.

Your skin also controls fluid and electrolyte balance in your body. Electrolytes are the minerals in your blood and other body fluids. Sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium are all electrolytes. They carry an electric charge and play a large role in how your body is working, including how much water is in your body, how much acidity is in your blood, and how well your muscles work.

And, your skin makes vitamin D for your body through exposure to the sun.

No matter your age, to care for your skin, you should replace electrolytes that you lose when you sweat by drinking fluids with electrolytes. Water does not contain electrolytes. You also should protect your skin from too much exposure to the sun, covering it or using sunscreens. And, you should avoid smoking. Cigarette smoking thins your skin and causes it to wrinkle.

Your skin thins as you age and becomes less oily and drier. Your skin loses fat and becomes less elastic. Cuts and scratches may heal less quickly. Your skin may also wrinkle and spot. In short, the process by which your skin naturally rejuvenates slows down significantly. Genetics, over which you have no control, plays a role in the pace at which these changes occur.

To help keep your skin from being dry, the NIH recommends that you use lotions and ointments to moisturize your skin daily. But, wrinkle creams are not likely to reduce wrinkles. The Mayo Clinic suggests that a few ingredients in some creams could improve the way your wrinkles appear, including retinol, an antioxidant, which keep free radicals in your skin from breaking down skin cells. It also suggests that creams with alpha, beta and poly hydroxy acids, can remove old dead skin at the surface and cause new smoother skin to grow.

Your skin also benefits if you take fewer baths and showers because water dries your skin. And, if you use a humidifier, it will make the air in your room wetter, which helps your skin.

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November 27, 2018

Four tips for reducing your chances of getting pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of a person’s lungs caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi. People over 65 are at the highest risk. When symptoms are serious, it can take a long time to recover, especially for older people. So, it’s smart to take steps to reduce your chances of getting pneumonia.

Pneumonia symptoms include wet coughs, trouble breathing, fever and chills. They can be very mild or very serious. You also can feel very sick in your stomach or very tired. About one in five of people end up in the hospital.

Of the six million cases of pneumonia reported each year, about one million involve people who are 65 and older needing to be hospitalized. About 50,000 people die of pneumonia each year; nine out of ten of them (45,000) are over 65. Getting the pneumonia vaccine and appropriate treatment can prevent many of these deaths.

Here are four tips for lowering your chances of getting pneumonia, from the National Institute on Aging and National Institutes of Health.

Get the pneumococcal vaccine. It is generally recommended for people over 65, people with chronic conditions and people who smoke. And, Medicare covers it in full. The vaccine lasts at least five years. While it does not prevent all cases of pneumonia, it still can reduce the severity of the illness.
Wash your hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based wipes in order to kill germs, especially after you are out in public spaces.
Keep your immune system strong. Get the rest you need, eat healthy foods (eating more plants can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s) and exercise to stay healthy (for your bones and to reduce your risk of stroke.)
Don’t smoke. Smoking reduces the ability of your lungs to filter out germs. Smoking also kills. But, it’s never too late to quit. And, quitting reduces your health risks, improving your blood pressure and circulation very quickly. If you’re ready to quit, Medicare covers smoking-cessation counseling.

If you are diagnosed with pneumonia, you will likely be prescribed a drug to treat it. Take the full course of treatment for the drug, as prescribed.

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November 26, 2018

Is the flu shot worth it?

[Editor’s note: The CDC recommends injectable flu vaccines. It recommends Fluzone high-dose flu shots or FLUAD, for people 65 and older. The high-dose vaccine has four times the amount of antigen in a regular flu shot, creating more antibodies and boosting the immune defenses of the people who get it. It provides better protection from the flu for older adults. In 2017, more than 900,000 people were hospitalized and more than 80,000 people died as a result of the flu, according to CDC estimates.]

My patients often ask me if they should get a flu shot. My answer is yes. Absolutely, yes. And, yes, I get the flu shot and so does my 4 year-old daughter. The flu shot works. And, it’s safe. If you don’t want to catch the flu, you should get the flu shot. The flu virus is …a virus.

Antibiotics will not help you if you get the flu. The best way to prevent the flu is with a flu shot.The Centers for Disease Control, the government agency that studies disease, recommends the flu shot for anyone over 6 months old. So, if you’re over 65, you should absolutely get the flu shot. The only reason not to get they flu shot is if you are allergic to the vaccine or have other contraindications. Most people are not allergic to it, but if for any reason you think you could be, talk to your doctor.

I tell my patients to get the flu vaccine for two reasons: to protect themselves and to protect others. Consider it your civic duty. If almost everyone gets the flu shot, the population as a whole becomes less susceptible. A study in Japan, demonstrated that with higher childhood vaccination rates, elderly mortality decreased. Why? Fewer kids got the flu and it could not spread as widely to others.

So you know, the flu vaccine cannot and will not give you the flu…or a cold for that matter. They are different viruses. Bad luck is the only reason you might get the flu right after you get vaccinated because you don’t yet have the immunity. Or you may get a cold around the same time by chance. But, there are no real side effects according to the research. You would have the same reaction to a salt-water solution as you would from a flu shot.

OK. Here’s the rub. Even if you get the flu shot, you still might get the flu. That’s because occasionally, the flu vaccine does not match the seasonal flu type. If you get a type that is not in the vaccine, you might catch the flu. If the vaccine matches the seasonal flu type, as it generally does, you should not get the flu. But, if your immune system is not good, the flu shot is less effective but still beneficial.

You really don’t want to get the flu. It could be very bad for your health. Older adults are at an increased risk of developing flu-related health problems, including pneumonia as well as worsening chronic health problems. If you are over 65, you should seek medical advice if you get the flu. You might need antivirals because of age-related risks.

Help yourself and your community and get a flu shot. And, if you have Medicare, Medicare covers it.

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October 10, 2018

People who engage in social sports found to live longer

Mounds of evidence show that being socially engaged is good for your health. And, there is as much or more data that demonstrate the value of exercise. The New York Times reports on the latest evidence, which shows that people who engage in social sports live longer than people who engage in solo sports.

Of course, you cannot know how many more years you will live or whether you will in fact live longer because you play tennis rather than jog, much less hang out on the sofa. But a new observational study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, of 8,600 Danish men and women, finds that people who engage in social sports, such as tennis and soccer, live longer than people who jog and bike ride. And, it should go without saying that those who exercise lived longer than those who are sedentary.

So how many more years of life are we talking for people who exercise? The researchers found that bikers live 3.7 years longer and joggers live 3.2 years longer than people who don’t exercise.

People who play tennis live 9.7 years longer than people who are sedentary; people who play badminton live 6.2 years longer, and people who play soccer live 5 years longer.

Another recent study of 80,306 British men and women also found that people who engage in racket sports live longer than people who jog, a solitary sport.

Bottom line. We have no definitive evidence as to why people who play social sports tend to live longer than others who exercise. But, it is easy to conjecture that social sports reduce stress more than solitary sports. And, stress reduction generally brings with it psychological and physiological benefits. We do know that social engagement is great for your health and wellness, as is exercise, and that social isolation can cause premature death. Combining social interactions with exercise may give your health an extra big boost.

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October 1, 2018

Know the signs of stroke

Around three-quarters of the 795,000 strokes suffered annually happen to people over the age of 65. I want to help you know the signs of stroke and when it’s critical you go to the hospital. Bottom line, if you or someone you love has a stroke, it is of utmost importance you call 911 immediately and get to the emergency room as soon as possible. You must act quickly or the consequences can be severe. Time is tissue and your brain is the tissue at stake. In many cases, you need to get to the hospital within an hour of symptoms beginning to receive helpful treatment or risk disability.

Believe it or not, the signs of stroke can seem like little things that are off, such as sudden difficulties in normal functioning, including loss of coordination while walking. Or, you might have trouble with your vision. Talking might become harder or you might become confused. Numbness or weakness in limbs is common for people having a stroke, many times on one side of the body. You might notice a face droop. If there’s no simple explanation for why you are experiencing these symptoms—do not hesitate and seek help!

Keep in mind that some people don’t experience typical stroke symptoms. If you feel anything is off, go to the doctor! Do not underappreciate your symptoms or ignore them. Remember, timing is very important in treating strokes. In an article published by Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association, “even in communities with highly organized and active stroke programs, less than 10% of stroke victims receive immediate treatment.” If you don’t get treatment quickly, certain therapies are simply not available and the damage can be irreversible. Help those numbers by recognizing the signs and getting help right away. Speedy treatment can stop damage to the brain and make all the difference.

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September 10, 2018

Kidney voucher program launched and catching on

Fran Kritz of Kaiser News reports on how a retired Superior Court judge, Howard Broadman, came up with a creative idea for gifting a kidney to his grandson. His vision of a kidney voucher program has been launched and is catching on.

Judge Broadman knew his kidney was a perfect match for his grandson, born with only one only partially functional kidney. But, his grandson did not have an immediate need for a new kidney. So, he found a way to gift his grandson a kidney if and when it was needed. Through the kidney voucher program, he could give his kidney away now in exchange for a voucher entitling his grandson to a kidney at some future date.

The kidney voucher is not a guarantee that there will be a kidney match down the road when his grandson needs it. But, it increases the chances there will be. And, immediately, it helps someone in need of a kidney.

The National Kidney Registry administers the voucher program. And, 30 U.S. hospitals now participate in the program. The voucher can only be used by the person to whom it is given.

The voucher program should not be confused with a kidney chain. A kidney chain helps people who need a kidney urgently. A group of people donate their kidneys to a loved one indirectly. Their kidneys are not perfect matches for their loved ones, so they donate theirs to someone for whom their kidney is a perfect match, and someone else whose kidney is a perfect match donates to their loved one.

Each year 4,500 people die because they can’t obtain a kidney. And, 93,000 people are waiting for a kidney, most of whom are on dialysis.

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September 19, 2017

Carmen Herrera thrives as painter in her 100’s

At 101, the artist Carmen Herrera had a solo show of her early work at the Whitney Museum of American Art. She also had a solo art debut at the Lisson Gallery in NYC. At 102, The New York Times reports that Bronx school students were painting a mural she designed. Herrera is thriving as a painter in her 100’s.

The mural that students were set to paint on June 3, in partnership with Publicolor, is based on one of Herrera’s works from 1952, Untitled, now part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.

Ms. Herrera is a Cuban-born painter, who has lived in New York for more than 60 years. Until the late 1990’s, when the Museo del Barrio exhibited her work, few had seen her art. She sold her first artwork at the age of 89!

Theageofhappiness.com asked Herrera what drives her. Herrera’s response: ‘It’s a passion. Every morning, I get up, I have breakfast, I go to the table and I begin drawing.”

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August 21, 2017

Good Grief: A Guide to Navigating Loss

Each year 2.5 million people die in the U.S. Loss is an inevitable part of life. And, people increasingly must cope with the death of loved ones over the course of older adulthood. While the instinct may be to brace yourself against the emotional wave of grief, studies show that exploring all the accompanying feelings is a critical part of understanding, navigating and accepting a loss.

The coping process affects the mental, physical and emotional well-being of all those affected by loss, so it’s important to address the changes in your body, mind and soul, whether it’s with a family member, caregiver, doctor or nurse practitioner. Here are a few places to start:

Practice mindfulness. Avoiding the pain of loss lets it build internally over the course of time, so it’s better to address your feelings as they come. Acknowledging your feelings is the first step to mindfulness, which is the practice of non-judgmental awareness of your conscious thoughts and feelings. And keep in mind that it takes time to mourn a loss.

Talk to caring friends, join a support group or get professional help. Many adults see a grief counselor at the onset of a loss, but talking to a mental health care provider or caregiver repeatedly can help establish emotional and behavioral patterns that might affect the grief process. Consistent visits to a counselor can help you get more comfortable with opening up about your thoughts over time.

Pay attention to your diet. Grief can manifest in appetite changes, which lead to under- and over-eating. Keeping track of new eating habits, cravings and weight fluctuations can highlight a need to readdress your nutrition. Sharing a meal with a family member can be a simple and fulfilling way to stay accountable for your eating habits.

Get closure. You can pay homage to loved ones by visiting their grave, writing a letter, creating an artistic tribute, or talking about them to your friends or family. There’s no limit to the opportunities for closure, and many adults pursue more than one method.

These are only a few of the dozens of ways adults can pursue healthy habits when navigating the loss of a loved one. If you or someone you know needs help, visit https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/ or talk to a health care provider today.

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March 28, 2017

Tag: Health and wellness