Category: Regency Health Tips

All about Cataract

Posted on by Judah

Blurred objects.

Faded colors.

Double vision.

If you have or had a cataract, you’re probably familiar with these symptoms. You’re also in good company. More than half of all Americans experience a cataract by the time they reach 80 years old.

But what are cataracts? Despite, or maybe because of, its prevalence, many people don’t know much more about the condition other than that it affects the eyes. In this article, we bring you everything you need to know about cataracts.

What Is a Cataract?

Cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens. The lens is situated behind the iris and pupil, and everything we see filters through it in a focused beam at retina. The retina receives the images and sends it along the optic nerve to the brain for interpretation.

The lens is made up of protein and water, and the protein is distributed perfectly to allow clear images and the full amount of light through to the retina.

Often, due to age or other factors, some of the proteins clump together and develop into a cataract. The cataract blocks some of the light coming through, affecting your vision. Cataracts vary in size; some are tiny areas of opacity, while others involve the entire lens and cause near-blindness.

Symptoms of Cataract

Cataracts develop very slowly, and you might not notice the symptoms at first. As the cloudiness increases, your vision will become blurry, and the glare from headlights at night will increase. You may notice colors seem less vibrant, and your night vision will deteriorate.

Treatment of Cataract

The changes in your vision will become more and more marked as the cataract develops. There is no way to slow your vision’s decline, but you can use visual aids to retain your sense of sight. Getting new glasses, increasing your home’s light, and using ant-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses can all help you offset the cataract’s effects at first.

Eventually, your vision may get so bad that the only way to treat it is via surgery. In cataract surgery, the surgeon removes your clouded lens and replaces it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL).

The surgery is a simple and almost painless procedure that has very successful results. Nine out of 10 people who have cataract surgery regain vision of between 20/20 and 20/40.

Risk Factors and Prevention

We don’t know for sure what causes the changes to the lens, but age is definitely a part of it.

Here are some other known risk factors:

  • Exposure to UV radiation, from sunlight and other sources
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Obesity
  • Smoking
  • Prolonged use of steroids
  • Statin medication, used to reduce cholesterol
  • Previous eye injury
  • Previous eye surgery
  • Being very nearsighted
  • Family history

It’s unclear whether or not you can prevent a cataract from developing. Some studies do suggest certain nutrients can reduce your risk. For example, one study found higher intake of Vitamin E and other nutrients was associated with a drastically lower risk of cataract.

Most experts agree wearing sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection can also reduce your risk.

Since cataract most likely develops from a mix of several different factors, some of which are not changeable, there’s probably not much you can do to prevent cataract completely. Fortunately, the cataract removal procedure is safe and common, and the quality and selection of artificial lenses improve every year.

If you or someone you love has a cataract, explore your options today. There’s no reason to suffer in darkness when there’s a beautiful world waiting to be seen.

 

 

 

What You Should Know About Cholesterol

Posted on by Judah

Cholesterol is associated most with heart attacks. High levels of cholesterol are a major risk factor for heart attack. But do you know what causes those high levels of cholesterol?

In this article, we’ll discuss what cholesterol is, why it’s bad for you—and sometimes good for you, and how to keep your levels in balance.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance similar in structure to fat. It’s main role is to help produce hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and cortisone. It’s also involved in Vitamin D production.

Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs; it’s rare for cholesterol levels to sink too low. Too much cholesterol in the blood becomes a problem when it combines with other substances and forms plaque. The plaque can build up on the walls of your arteries, resulting in atherosclerosis—a leading cause of heart attack and stroke.

There are three different types of cholesterol:

  • HDL—high-density lipoprotein. This is often called “good” cholesterol. It’s responsible for moving cholesterol from around your body back to your liver for digestion and elimination.
  • LDL—low-density lipoprotein. This is considered the “bad” cholesterol, because too much of it can cause the plaque build up in the arteries. In truth, LDL is only bad for you when the level of it in your blood blood becomes too high.
  • VLDL—very low-density lipoprotein. This is another form of “bad” LDL that carries triglycerides—fat cells—instead of cholesterol.

The goal is to keep your overall cholesterol levels down, and your HDL and LDLs in good balance.

There are no symptoms associated with high cholesterol. The only way to find out is with a routine blood test. Men 45 and older, and women 55 and older, should have their cholesterol levels checked every year or two.

What Causes High Cholesterol?

The most common cause of high cholesterol is unhealthy habits and lifestyle. Here are the top lifestyle causes of high cholesterol:

  • Eating a lot of saturated and trans fats. Foods that contain saturated fats are some red meats, dairy products, deep-fried foods, and processed foods. Trans fats are also found in deep-fried and processed foods. While some saturated fat is beneficial for your body, eating too much of it can dangerously raise your LDL cholesterol levels. Trans fats do not offer any benefit to your body at all, but can cause your cholesterol to shoot up.
  • Spending a lot of time sitting, with little exercise can lower HDL cholesterol levels.
  • Smoking not only lowers HDL levels, it also raises your LDL levels.

Some people also have a genetic propensity toward high cholesterol. People in that category need to watch their lifestyle even more than the general population.

How Can I Lower My Cholesterol?

Talk with your doctor about the best changes to make in your specific situation. Generally, you can begin with making some heart-healthy lifestyle changes. Overhaul your diet, start working out more, and manage your weight.

If lifestyle changes alone don’t lower your cholesterol enough, your doctor may put you on medication. The most common drugs for cholesterol are statins, which lower LDL levels and raise HDL. This helps prevent plaque from forming.

High cholesterol is common among older Americans, and we can all benefit from changing our diet and lifestyle to a more heart-healthy option. In my next post, we’ll explore one such option that experts say is the perfect diet for your heart.

 

July 4th Safety Tips for Seniors

Posted on by Judah

photo of three-generation family having an outdoor picnic on july 4thHappy Independence Day!

Today we celebrate our beautiful country with our family, friends, and loved ones. Maybe you’re going out for a picnic with the family, or an evening barbecue.

If you’re planning to take your elderly parent, grandparent, or other relative out with you, keep these safety tips in mind:

Drink plenty of water

Everyone needs to stay hydrated out in the heat to avoid dehydration. Seniors are especially vulnerable to heat, since their aging bodies can’t regulate body temperature as well. In addition, seniors don’t feel thirst as much, so you may need to remind Mom to drink every so often.

Stay out of the heat during the hottest part of the day

Today’s going to be a scorcher, topping 90 degrees. If you had plans for an outdoor picnic lunch, consider moving it to an indoor venue or rescheduling it for the evening. If that’s not possible, make sure to set up your meal or activity in a shaded area and have lots of cool drinks and ice cubes handy.

Protect your skin

It’s important to wear sunscreen when you’re out in the sun and reapply it every two hours. If you’ll be sweating a lot, or swimming, you should reapply the sunscreen more often. Make sure Grandma lathers up with sunscreen too; aging skin is thinner and more susceptible to sunburn.

Seniors should also wear wide-brimmed hats to shade their faces and necks.

Watch out for signs of heat exhaustion

If you notice mom or dad becoming confused, disoriented, or dizzy, help them drink , and bring them to a cool, indoor area right away. If their condition worsens or doesn’t improve after half an hour, call their doctor right away.

Here are other signs of heat exhaustion:

  • Cool, moist skin with goose bumps
  • Heavy sweating
  • Faintness
  • Weak and/or rapid pulse
  • Low blood pressure
  • Muscle cramps
  • Nausea
  • Headache

Today’s the perfect day to celebrate with relatives of all ages. Be smart about the heat, and you’ll have a wonderful, safe, happy Fourth of July.

 

 

 

 

Terminal Illness: How to Talk About It

Posted on by Judah

He’s the 90-year-old patriarch of a large family spread across the world. He’s sharp and witty, blood-transfusion dependent, and dying.

She’s been battling cancer for 3 years, her loved ones supporting her all the while. Her doctor just told here there’s nothing more he can do.

As a family they never really talked about the important things, and now death is staring them in the eye. What should they do?

It can be scary and sad when your loved one is given a terminal diagnosis. You may be in denial at first, but it’s important to face reality and talk about the diagnosis. In some cases the patient only has weeks to live, and you don’t want to live with regrets that you didn’t make the most of the time left. While it’s not healthy to ignore or push down your emotions, you may need to shelve them for a short time while you deal with the pressing issues. Here are some important things to talk about after the diagnosis:

1. Prognosis

Whether or not the patient is able to communicate, it’s important for everyone involved to understand the diagnosis. If the patient is still cognizant, they should be included in the discussion. Help them understand what is happening with their illness, and what the next few weeks or months will look like. Encourage them—and their involved loved ones—to ask questions and talk about their concerns.

Knowing how much time the patient has left is also helpful for the family. Loved ones who live far away can make travel plans and come to spend time with Dad while he’s still cognizant. The family can get together to make some memories before Grandma passes.

2. Emotions

Having a terminal illness in the family can make you feel powerless, out of control, or angry. Recognize these feelings in yourself and the other family members. Talking about the illness, the patient, and the future can help your family grow closer and overcome this challenge together. You can start the grieving process when you get the diagnosis, and doing it as a family can provide incredible support.

Some families aren’t used to talking about emotions openly. It can be difficult and scary to open up to others, even your loved ones, when you’re used to putting up a strong front. In such cases it’s even more important to talk about your feelings, so you don’t bury them and leave them to fester.

Another important aspect of emotions is unresolved stories. Don’t hesitate to tell your terminally ill loved one that you forgive them, and ask them for forgiveness in return. Tell them you love them, and thank them for the beautiful memories you’ve shared.

3. Finances

If the patient has any assets, such as a home, car, stock portfolio, or bank accounts, he needs to have a will. If he doesn’t have one yet, now is the time to write one. For more information, check out this old, but still relevant, article about estate planning and wills.

Talk to the patient about their will and where it’s

4. The Patient’s Wishes

Ask the patient what he wants from his loved ones. Does he want company or space? Is he strong enough to handle larger groups of visitors? Perhaps he wants to talk about his life story, and have his family record it.

You also need to talk about the patient’s end-of-life wishes. Does she want to pursue all available therapies, or does she want to continue treatment and go on hospice? Does she have an advanced directive for a time when she may no longer be able to communicate? It’s important to have these conversations early on, before the illness progresses past the point of communication.

Confronting terminal illness is one of the hardest things your family will ever face. Talking about your loved one’s death can be a scary process. But the consequence of not having these conversations when you have the opportunity is even worse. After you get the diagnosis, keep these four things in mind as you approach the following days and weeks. And of course, if you need any help, you can reach out to our excellent social workers at Regency Nursing for support and assistance.

Introduction to Wound Care

Posted on by Judah

Nicked your finger on the edge of a paper or got a nasty bruise after bumping into a doorknob? Your body has the incredible ability to heal itself. Clotting cells in your blood, called platelets, mobilize at the scene of an injury, and get to work repairing small wounds in a fascinating natural process.

But what happens when you have a very large wound? Say it’s a bedsore or advanced diabetic wound that just won’t heal on its own. In that case, you need wound care.

What is Wound Care?

Wound care is a set of various treatments for pressure sores, diabetic foot ulcers, burns, and other wounds. Some of the most common wounds that require specialized wound care are pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers. Pressure sores develop in bed-confined individuals when too much weight presses against a pressure point for too long. This is typically on the buttocks, elbows, heels, and ankles. Other common wounds are diabetic ulcers—wounds that develop in patients with diabetic neuropathy. We talked about neuropathy at length in a previous blog, but the gist of it is that some people with diabetes develop a condition where they lose sensation in their extremities. When that happens, they may not notice an injury to their foot until it develops into a serious wound.

Treatment of Pressure-related Ulcers

If the ulcer is pressure-related, the main goal is to reduce or eliminate pressure right away, before the wound deteriorates. This can involve:

  • Turning the bed-confined  patient at regular intervals
  • Introducing a special surface, like an egg-crate or gel mattress, that alternates pressure points and reduces friction
  • The use of specialized beds that relieve pressure by constantly moving air through the cushioning

Treatment of Advanced Wounds

If the wound is not treated, infection and necrosis can set in. Wounds are typically rated in four stages. The lower the stage, the more superficial the wound. Treatment for stage I and II ulcers involves keeping the wound clean and moist, and making sure the surrounding area is clean and dry. Wet skin is more prone to turning into an ulcer. Wound care nurses will use saline washes, povidone iodine, or sodium hypochlorite to keep the wounds clean and sterile.

More serious wounds, in stage III and IV, will benefit from more advanced treatment. This commonly includes:

  • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: This treatment saturates the body with oxygen. The patient rests in a pressurized chamber of oxygen for up to two hours, absorbing 100% oxygen into their bloodstream. The extra oxygen increases healing capability at the wound site, and clears bacterial infection. This type of treatment is generally available at hospitals, such as Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick.
  • Topical or oral antiobiotics: If the wound is already infected or there is concern of infection, the patient’s doctor may recommend antibiotic treatment. This can be administered orally in pill form, or topically, via anti-bacterial lotions.
  • Debridement: This is a surgical procedure that removes dead tissue via scalpel or chemical agents. Removing the dead, or necrotic, tissue allows for the growth of new, healthy tissue. Since debridement involves blood loss, it’s often not an option for anemic patients or patients with other blood conditions.

Regency Nursing’s Excellent Wound Care Programs

While we’ve only touched on the basics of wound care, you can learn more about wound care by talking to our expert staff in any of our Regency facilities. Regency Nursing’s wound care specialists work hand-in-hand with patients and their doctors to maximize wound healing. To learn more, feel free to contact us here.

 

 

Strokes: Here’s What You Need to Know

Posted on by Judah

In a stroke, every second counts. Do you feel confident you would recognize a stroke when it happens? It’s not hard to identify a stroke, if you know what to look for. In this article, we’ll cover the causes, symptoms, and treatment of strokes. But first, some background:

What is a Stroke?

A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is similar to a heart attack, just in the brain instead of the heart. In a heart attack, a blood vessel leading to the heart becomes blocked, causing reduced blood flow to the heart. The same things happens in the brain, causing a stroke. When less blood is coming to the brain, the brain cells lose oxygen and start dying. As their brain cells die, the stroke victim loses control of any abilities dominated by that area of the brain.

There are two main kinds of strokes, called hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke.

  • Hemorrhagic stroke is caused either by a leaking blood vessel or a brain aneurysm burst. In both cases, blood streams into the cranial cavity and puts pressure on the brain, depriving it of oxygen and damaging brain tissue and cells. Hemorrhagic strokes are much less common than ischemic strokes, but also much more deadly.  They account for only 15% of strokes, but 40% of stroke deaths. The main culprits for hemorrhagic stroke are uncontrolled high blood pressure and aging blood vessels.
  • Ischemic stroke happens when a blood clot forms in a blood vessel and blocks to the flow of blood from reaching the brain. High blood pressure is also a leading cause of ischemic stroke. Blood clots can block blood flow in two ways. The clot can form somewhere else in the body, such as the heart, and travel to the brain, lodging itself in a small blood vessel in the brain. Or, it can build up inside an artery leading to the brain. The second form of blood clot, caused a thrombus, is common among patients with atherosclerosis—a buildup of plaque inside the arteries.

Risk factors for stroke include family history of stroke, old age, sex, and ethnicity—more women have strokes than men, and blacks are at higher risk than whites. You can’t change those factors, but there are some things you can do to minimize your risk of stroke:

  • Stay physically active, as much as possible
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
  • Keep your blood pressure controlled
  • Don’t smoke

What is a Mini-Stroke?

A mini-stroke is a temporary blockage in the brain. It’s also called transient ischemic attack, or TIA. Patients with a TIA will usually have stroke-like symptoms that will go away on their own. If you or someone you loves experiences a TIA, don’t brush it off. You still need to go to the hospital to see why it happened. People who have a mini-stroke are very likely to have a full CVA in the future.

If it’s a Stroke, Think FAST

When someone has a stroke, they need medical attention immediately to get the greatest impact from treatment. In the case of ischemic stroke, we can drastically reduce or even reverse the effects of a stroke if we start treatment within three hours. An easy way to remember the symptoms of a stroke is the acronym FAST. Use it as a checklist if you think someone is having a stroke.

F—Face

Is their face lopsided or drooping on only one side? If you’re not sure, ask them to smile. Any drooping will be more noticeable then.

A—Arms

Ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts down, or they can’t lift it at all, it’s a sign of stroke.

S—Speech

How are they speaking? Is their speech clear or slurred? If you can’t tell, ask them to repeat a simple phrase, such as, “Good morning world.”

T—Time

It’s time to call 911. Also, note the time the first symptom appeared. This can affect treatment decisions.

Other symptoms of stroke include sudden confusion, vision problems, difficulty walking, a severe headache, and a numb or weak feeling—especially on only one side of the body. If you’re alone and you start feeling any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Remember that the FAST symptoms don’t need to be severe in order to be a stroke. Even slight facial droop or slurred speech can indicate a stroke.  If the symptoms stop as suddenly as they come, and the person is back to herself, you should still call 911. She probably had a TIA, and will need testing and observation in the hospital.

Treating a Stroke

Treatment depends on the type of stroke. For ischemic strokes, treatment involves busting the clot to allow blood flow to resume. There are two ways to do this:

  • A medication called Alteplase IV r-tPA is an IV-administered medication that dissolves the clot. It has great results in reducing the long-term effects of stroke, but it’s only effective if the patient receives it within three hours of having a stroke. Many people miss the window for treatment. That’s why it’s so important to identify a stroke and get the patient to the emergency room as soon as possible.
  • Physically removing the clot is a good way to treat a stroke that isn’t eligible for tPA. Patients must meet certain criteria to undergo this procedure. There are a few ways to remove the clot, including using a catheter with a cage-like device that “grabs” the clot and removes it.

Hemorrhagic stroke, while less common, is more serious and difficult to treat. About 15% of patients with brain hemorrhage die before they get to the hospital. At the hospital, the main goal is to stop the bleeding. This can be done by inserting a catheter-led coil to prevent further rupture, or surgery to secure the blood vessel and drain the pooling blood.

Recovering from a Stroke

Stroke will affect every patient differently. The severity and scope of impairment depends on many factors, such as how big the clot was, which part of the brain it affected, and if the patient was able to get tPA. Many stroke survivors see improvement over a period of months or years. There are two areas to focus on in stroke recovery:

  • Preventing addition strokes. Having a stroke makes it much more likely you’ll have one in the future. Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes to minimize the risk of a recurring stroke. This can include controlling your blood pressure, quitting smoking, and eating better.
  • Stroke rehabilitation. Rehab is about getting your life back. Stroke rehab involves intense therapy to help you return to your previous ability level, or get as close as possible. While many stroke survivors remain impaired, many others are able to return home after successful rehabilitation at facilities like Regency‘s. Our goal is to restore stroke survivors’ daily function and quality of life. To accomplish that, our specialized staff provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help stroke patients relearn how to walk, talk, care for themselves, and regain independence.

To learn more about Regency Nursing’s stroke rehabilitation programs, contact us here.

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

Posted on by Judah

The Alzheimer’s Association has designated June as “Azheimer’s and Brain  Awareness Month.” They invite you to “go purple” to raise awareness about the debilitating brain disease known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is caused by plaque buildup in the brain, and it leads to progressive mental deterioration. Symptoms develop slowly and get worse over time, until the patient requires full-time care.

Regency Nursing: A Leader in Alzheimer’s care

Here at Regency Nursing, we’re the experts in New Jersey dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Living with Alzheimer’s can be a frightening experience for a person whose sense of self and security is slowly eroding. We treat  each dementia patient with compassion and love—as if they were our own family members. At Regency Nursing, you can be sure your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia will be cared for in a safe, warm environment.

Today we join in the Alzheimer’s Association’s efforts to raise awareness about this crippling disease. Very often, seniors brush off early Alzheimer’s warning signs as just “normal aging.” By the time the disease advances to the point where symptoms are very obvious, it’s often too late to slow the progression. On the other hand, when we catch Alzheimer’s early, it’s often possible to slow the rate of further decline.

Another benefit to getting an early diagnosis is the sense of empowerment it provides. A senior who is still mostly cognitively healthy may feel scared and powerless when she’s first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but there’s a major hidden benefit. She can participate in—or even lead—her own legal, financial, and long-term care planning. There’s time for her to express her wishes to her family, sign a POA enabling a loved one to make decisions when she no longer can, and draft a living will. For resources and support after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, visit the Alzheimer’s Association’s website.

Alzheimer’s Warning Signs

Here are some common red flags that say you may be facing Alzheimer’s disease:

  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life
  • Planning and problem-solving challenges
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks
  • Confusion with time or place
  • Trouble with visual images and spatial relationships
  • New problems speaking or writing
  • Misplacing things and trouble retracing steps
  • Decreased or poor judgement
  • Withdrawing from normal activities
  • Changes in mood or personality

Early diagnosis is key when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. For more information about these warning signs, see the Alzheimer’s Association‘s information page.

Bruising in the Elderly: Causes and Prevention

Posted on by Judah

If you suddenly see bruises on your elderly mom’s skin and she can’t tell you where they came from, don’t assume the worst. It’s actually quite normal for elderly people—especially women—to have unexplained bruises. The goal is to minimize their occurrence and treat them if they are especially severe.

How Bruises Form

When you sustain an injury, it may damage your small blood vessels beneath the skin without actually breaking the skin. The blood vessel can burst, leaking blood into the surrounding tissue. But the blood has nowhere to go, since your skin is still whole. It pools under the skin, causing discoloration and sometimes swelling.

Then the blood clotting action kicks in, and the bruise gradually heals itself. In the meantime, its colors wane from red to purplish-black, to green or yellow-brown, until the bruise disappears completely after about two weeks. The area feels tender at the beginning, but the pain fades together with the bruise.

Seniors bruise more easily because their skin is much thinner and less flexible. The blood vessels also become more fragile with age, making them more likely to burst from an injury. In addition, wounds heal more slowly as we age, so bad bruises will hang around longer.

Causes of Elderly Bruising

1. Mild Trauma

Bruises can come from some kind of blow to the body. Falling is one common way to sustain bruises. But if your parent is sure they didn’t fall, it’s equally likely the bruise came from bumping into something or knocking against a piece of furniture. Since seniors bruise much more easily, it was likely just a minor bang and they already forgot about it.

If they recently had a blood test or IV, the needle could have caused bruising as well. Whenever trauma is the cause of the bruise, or if you’re not sure where the bruise came from, apply ice and raise the area above the heart if possible.

2. Medications

Seniors who take medications such as blood thinners, aspirin, corticosteroids, or chemotherapy can develop bruising as a side effect. If your parent or loved one is taking one of these treatments and suddenly develops bruises, speak to their doctor about adjusting the dose. Changing the medication may also help reduce or eliminate bruising.

3. Actinic Purpura

This kind of bruising doesn’t come from impact. Actinic purpura comes from years of sun exposure. Too much sun weakens the blood vessel walls and eventually causes them to burst. The bruises this condition causes often look like large, purplish freckles. They show up clearly on aging skin, and may alarm you at first. In most cases, actinic purpura is harmless and does not need treatment. However, you should mention them at your parent’s next medical appointment so the doctor can check them out just in case.

4. Vitamin Deficiency

Deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals can cause bruising. Among these are vitamin C, vitamin D, and folate. Speak with your loved one’s doctor about adding vitamin supplements to their diet.

5. Serious illness

Significant bruising may point to health issues such as leukemia or other blood diseases. Liver disease can also cause bruising, since it’s the liver that’s responsible for producing blood-clotting factors.

How to Prevent Elderly Bruising

You can’t prevent all bruises, but you can take some steps to lower your parent’s chances of injuring themselves.

First, make sure their surroundings are safe. If your mom is a resident in a skilled nursing facility, she’s in a safe environment with care professionals always nearby to keep a close eye on her. But if she’s at home alone, she’s at higher risk of sustaining injuries, including bruises.

Make sure your parent’s room is lit with a nightlight, so if they get out of bed at night they can avoid bumping into things. Follow fall prevention guidelines, as outlined in our blog post How To Prevent Senior Falls . 

 

Lower your Blood Pressure with Doable Lifestyle Changes

Posted on by Judah

Many seniors are in  prehypertension, that borderline stage where your blood pressure is at the highest end of normal. If your blood pressure is consistently 120/80 or higher, it’s a warning sign that you may develop full-blown hypertension. Chronic high blood pressure drastically increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart disease, heart failure, and kidney failure. People with high blood pressure can make some changes in their lifestyle today to avoid developing hypertension.

Exercise in intervals throughout the day

If you’re not used to exercising, it can be hard to start doing an hour-long workout every day. Instead, exercise in short bursts several times each day. Take a short break to run on the treadmill for five minutes, or sprint around the block. Aim to get 30 minutes of exercise in total. That’s just three 10-minute breaks a day.

Reduce your stress

Anxiety and stress have been proven to temporarily raise your blood pressure. It’s unclear if the behaviors associated with stress—drinking alcohol, overeating, or sleeping poorly—cause hypertension, or whether the constant blood pressure spikes are the culprit. Either way, long-term stress is linked to hypertension. For tips on reducing stress and anxiety, read our previous blog post, Take a Break From Stress.

Take a nap

If your schedule allows it, take a one-hour nap every day. It’s been proven to lower blood pressure and may help you avoid blood pressure medication. Just make sure napping doesn’t make it hard to fall asleep at night. Poor sleeping habits are a risk factor for hypertension, so it’s important to get a good night’s sleep.

Don’t drink as much

While you don’t have to give up drinking completely—red wine is actually linked to heart health—reduce your intake if you’re in prehypertension. Drinking too much alcohol can cause high blood pressure, but studies show heavy drinkers can improve their average blood pressure by cutting back to one drink a day. For reference, a drink of alcohol means 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or a shot and a half of whiskey or vodka.

Watch your caffeine

Drinking coffee may contribute to higher blood pressure in some people. One theory is that caffeine blocks a hormone that helps keep the arteries widened. Caffeine doesn’t seem to cause high blood pressure in everyone, but if you’re in prehypertension, ask your doctor if limiting caffeine could help improve your numbers.

 

Silent Heart Attacks: Know the Risks

Posted on by Judah

Do you know the signs of a heart attack? I’m guessing you do; the American Heart Association has done an admirable job raising awareness about heart health. We all know heart attacks usually come with chest pain or discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. Other symptoms include upper body pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, breaking out in a cold sweat, and nausea.

But did you know that you could also have  heart attack and not know it? That’s what a silent heart attack is. And like its name suggests, it comes with mild or no symptoms. You might think you have lingering indigestion, the flu, or passing nausea. Often you won’t even know you had a heart attack until a medical test for an unrelated reason reveals heart damage.

A silent heart attack can hit anyone at any time, but certain conditions can put you at higher risk.

Risk Factors for Silent Heart Attacks

A silent heart attack is not much different from a regular, “loud” heart attack. The risk factors are the same: smoking and tobacco use, family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise, and obesity.

And while the effects of silent heart attacks are usually mild, it leaves you at a much greater risk of having another heart attack. The subsequent heart attack can be fatal, or cause serious complications such as heart failure.

An Extra Risk for Silent Heart Attacks: Type 2 Diabetes

As I wrote in a previous article, a common complication of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy is a condition involving damaged nerves. More than half of all diabetics develop some form of neuropathy. It usually causes numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, but in more severe cases, it can affect nerves all over the body.

When the disease causes damage to nerves leading to your heart, any sensations in that area will be muted. A heart attack that should cause terrible chest discomfort may instead feel like a slight twinge of heartburn. You may not notice anything unusual, chalking up any slight discomfort to normal aging. However, it’s a real heart attack and the damage can be serious.

One way to protect yourself from having a neuropathy-related silent heart attack is to monitor yourself carefully for nerve damage. If you catch the damage early, you may be able to slow it down with medication. Some signs of neuropathy are:

  • Difficulty exercising
  • Dizziness or fainting when you stand up
  • Frequent accidents or incontinence
  • A lower sex drive
  • Sweating excessively
  • Digestion problems

If you are having one or a combination of these problems for longer than one or two weeks, talk to your doctor about the possibility of neuropathy.

Symptoms of Silent Heart Attacks

Some people will not have any symptoms at all, and may never know they had a heart attack. In many cases, there are mild, short-lived symptoms that are easy to dismiss. You may feel slight pain or pressure in the center of your chest. Lasting indigestion, breaking out in a cold sweat, feeling light-headed or tired for no reason, shortness of breath, and heartburn are also signs of a heart attack. Women in particular may feel pain in the jaw, neck, or left arm.

After a silent heart attack, you may feel very tired or have heartburn for a prolonged period. You might notice swelling in your legs or sudden difficulty breathing. If something feels different, check with your doctor right away or call 911.