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Hearing Loss & Dementia

How often have you found yourself questioning whether you heard something correctly, or have asked someone to repeat themselves? Does it happen in a crowded room?  Are you turning up the volume on your TV more often?

  • Hearing loss that occurs gradually as you age (presbycusis) is common. About 25 percent of people in the United States between the ages of 55 and 64 have some degree of hearing loss. For those older than 65, the number of people with some hearing loss is almost 1 in 2. Source: Hearing loss – Mayo Clinic

In my research the following information gave me a more serious approach to thinking about hearing loss and why I should pay attention.

  1. People with mild, moderate and severe hearing loss are 2, 3 and 5 times more likely to develop dementia respectively than people with normal hearing.Even after taking into account other factors that are associated with high risk of dementia, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, age, sex and race, hearing loss and dementia are still strongly associated.  Source: Dementia and hearing loss – hear-it.org
  2. The findings concerning hearing loss and dementia suggest that it might be possible to delay the onset of dementia through the use of hearing aids and paying more attention to the prevention and early identification of hearing loss.Source: Hearing aids, cognition and dementia – hear-it.org

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Acupuncture & Pain Relief

I admit that when some of my friends suggested I try Acupuncture to relieve the pain in my hands, I was hesitant.  What really prompted me to explore acupuncture was the severe pain I was struggling with in my hands.  In addition, I was taking Ibuprofen, and when the pain became unbearable, I took Naproxen.  My doctor had cautioned me not to take either of these medications on a frequent basis due to other side effects. As I was considering what I would do I came across an article in Health Matters, which is a publication of the White Plains Hospital (WPH) in Westchester, NY.  I was convinced that if WPH was willing to suggest acupuncture to its patients as part of their Cancer Wellness Center program, it was worth a try.

♦ Today, acupuncture is being practiced in all 50 states by over 9,000 practitioners, with over 4,000 MDs including it in their practices. Acupuncture has shown notable success in treating many conditions, and over 15 million Americans have used it as a therapy. Source: Acupuncture | definition of acupuncture by Medical dictionary

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Are there benefits to positive thinking?

I’m not one to make light of the fact that for some seniors aging is a difficult challenge. Loss of the ability to function the way we could when we were younger; loss of friends and companions; sickness.  All of these things add to enormous stress, and sometimes despondent feelings.  But what if thinking positively could help us out?  Should we at least try to find a way to cultivate this habit?

♣ An article in the New York Times suggest that our thoughts can do “far more than raise one’s spirits”.  How about if thinking positively could boost your immune system, alleviate depression, lower your blood pressure, give you better weight control.  Would you try it?

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Not taking your meds? Caution!..

I must admit that I am guilty of not taking my medications sometimes.  It’s not intentional really, but it does happen. It could seem like a simple thing missing, or not taking your meds. Right?  It turns out that it could actually be life threatening !  Yes!

Following is a summary of a New York Times article. You can check and find out whether you are using these excuses for not taking your meds. Non-adherence to taking prescribed medications results in
50 % of prescriptions for chronic diseases not being taken as prescribed, typically people take only half of their prescribed doses.

  • Approximately 125,000 deaths and 10 percent of hospitalizations are the cause of non-adherence to prescriptions. If the drugs are not taken correctly they do not work.
  • A third of kidney transplant patients don’t take their anti- rejection medications. In addition, heart attack patients do not take their blood pressure meds.  Moreover, children with asthma do not use their inhalers at all, or consistently.

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Traveling: Thru Airports FYI

One of the ‘dreams’ I hear from senior citizens all the time, is their excitement about traveling.  They can’t wait to visit all of those faraway places that have escaped them all of their working lives.  It is distressing that it seems traveling outside of your home city is more and more cumbersome: lines for checking if the luggage is safe; confinement on how many toiletries you can travel with; having strangers ‘pat’ you down for suspicious articles that could be unsafe for the flight.  It made me think are there some easier ways to get through the ‘process’ and to the location, location, location faster?

  • An article in the NY Times reviewed a number of ‘Trusted Traveler’ programs, which provided some guidance for the various options available to travelers to make their travels ‘easier’, and to inform travelers of some changes.  For example, earlier this month, some green card holders were notified that their Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network status had been revoked. Source – New York Times

Below is a summary of various programs and benefits you acquire when you join a program.  For complete details see the article by clicking the source link.

T.S.A. (Trusted Security Administration)

  • T.S.A. PreCheck – Cost $85 for 5 years. Suggested for domestic travelers. Perks: expedited security lines; shoes, belt and light jacket stay on. You can leave your laptop in your bag (children 12 years and younger can apply). You get a ‘known traveler number’ once approved, which takes about one-two weeks.
  • Global Entry – Cost $100 for 5 years. Suggested for International travelers. Perks: fast track through US immigration and T.S.A. PreCheck. US Customs and Border Protection – preapproved travelers do not have to do the paperwork and processing lines when returning from international trips. Members automatically enrolled in T.S.A. PreCheck.
  • Clear – Cost $179 for 1 year. Suggested for Baseball fans, frequent fliers who use Clear’s airport locations. Perks: automatically go to the front of the security line. Private traveler program, which is sanctioned by T.S.A. Officers do not check your ID and boarding pass. Identity is verified by fingerprints or iris scan. If you do not have T.S.A. PreCheck – shoes still come off, and laptop comes out of bag etc. Clear lanes are located in international hubs: San Francisco, Miami and Kennedy in New York.  Clear also used at baseball stadiums i.e. NY Citi Field, Yankee Stadium.   Not meant for the occasional traveler.
  • Nexus – Cost $50 for 5 years. Suggested for Canadians and Americans who live near the northern border. Perks: Quick processing at airports and borders for US and Canada. Includes enrollment in Global Entry and T.S.A. PreCheck. Applicants must interview at Nexus enrollment center, which are solely in Canadian and American cities near northern border. Best for Nexus members to enjoy T.S.A. PreCheck and Global Entry benefits.  However, only works best for those who live near a Nexus enrollment center.

◊ Now you can really get started on those trips.  Enjoy!

Read Source:  NY Times Trusted Traveler Program

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Healthy Eyes & Eye Care

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When is the last time you visited your Eye Doctor?  Whom did you see?  Was it your Optometrist, Ophthalmologist, or Optician? Do you know that senior citizens should have their eyes checked yearly?

I saw my Optometrist (OD) recently.  Optometrists provide eye care and vision care services; they are not required to attend medical school. The majority complete an undergraduate degree, then they attend a specialized training program to obtain an optometry degree (OD).  Source: http://glassescrafter.com/information/MD-vs-OD-vs-DO.html

  • When my OD finished the complete eye examination she indicated on my chart how my prescription had changed.  Afterwards, I saw the optician who reviewed the prescription and helped me with fitting and choosing eyeglasses. Not all opticians require a license. The licensing requirement varies by state.  In some states, opticians must complete an opticianry training program and be licensed. Source: http://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-doctor/choose.htm

I’ve used  theratears for my dry eye problem. My OD advised new research suggests that using Fish Oil or FlaxSeed helps with tear film –  the liquid consisting of lipids, water, and mucin that coats the outer surface of the eye, lubricating it. Source: Tear Film.
Refresh Optive Advanced can also help to lubricate your eyes.

Click the source below to find out how you can use flaxseed oil or fish oil to help with dry eyes 🙂abstract-19141_1920

♥ Flaxseed oil and fish oil contain important dietary fatty acids that have multiple health benefits, including prevention or treatment of dry eyes. Other benefits include a lower risk of heart disease and a reduction of chronic inflammation that can lead to a variety of serious diseases, including cancer and stroke. Chronic inflammation also has been indicated as an underlying cause of osteoarthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. Source: Flaxseed Oil and Fish Oil for Dry Eyes

Last Word
Visit your Optometrist and your Optician. Get your eyes checked at least once a year, every year – especially if you are a senior citizen.

 

maya-angelo

In February, KQED proudly celebrates… a special Black History Month programming lineup on KQED Public Television. Click the link for more information. Source: February 2017 – Black History Month | On Q Insider | Heritage Months | About KQED

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Easing Arthritis Pain with Essential Oils

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As some of you know, I am an Essential Oils Enthusiast.  So, you can imagine my delight when I learned that I can use Essential Oils to ease my arthritis pain, which I have developed in my hands. Arthritis is not uncommon in senior citizens.  As I read information from the Arthritis Foundation, I learned  some of the key points cited below, and  I think they may be useful to those of you who are also suffering from arthritic pain.

  • While the risk of arthritis increases as you age – half of people 65 and older have arthritis – the truth is people of all ages get arthritis including children and young adults. Source: Home – Arthritis Foundation Blog
  • Aromatherapy can have a powerful impact on your well-being, including your level of pain. “Certain scents activate smell receptors in the nose, which triggers a reaction in the nervous system,” says Julie Chen, MD, an integrative medicine physician in San Jose, Calif. This, in turn, stimulates the part of your brain that controls emotion, triggering the release of hormones such as feel-good dopamine. Source: Aromatherapy for Pain Relief – Living With Arthritis

essential-bottles-w-herbsTry some of the suggestions below for relieving your arthritis pain:

  • Bergamot and Lavender for Pain : This blend reduced pain levels in people with chronic pain who inhaled it regularly over four months, a 2014 study in BioMed Research International found.
  • Try it: Blend 2 to 12 drops of essential oil with a tablespoon of milk or vegetable oil (undiluted essential oil can irritate skin), and add it to a bath. Or mix 15 to 20 drops with 1 ounce of jojoba or almond oil to dab on your wrists or massage into skin.
  • Ginger for Pain: A 2008 study in Complementary Therapies in Medicine showed that people with moderate to severe knee pain reported less pain and stiffness after they were massaged with a ginger-and-orange oil than an unscented one.
  • Try it. Mix 10 to 15 drops of ginger essential oil with 1 ounce of jojoba or almond oil; massage directly on the skin.

You can learn more about essential oils at my  Website: http://www.judithguerra.com/  Click the More button  ⇓
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Embracing Aging Beauty

aging-processHave you embraced the aging beauty you’ve become yet? Or, have you been hiding under the covers of ‘ I wish I looked the way I did when I was younger‘?african-am-woman

When we are consistently wishing for another time, another “age”, we miss out on our beautiful present moments.  I love what Helen Mirren had to say about aging:

“The best thing about being over 70 is being over 70,” Mirren says in an interview with AARP The Magazine for its December/January Issue. “Certainly when I was 45, the idea of being 70 was like ‘Arghhh!’ but you only have two options in life: Die young or get old. There is nothing else. Source: Cele|bitchy | Helen Mirren: ‘You have two options in life: Die young or get old’”

aging-caucasian-womanSo why don’t you choose the option of embracing that you’re still alive, and you are an aging beauty?

Cindy Joseph, Baby Boomer/ senior citizen, had a flourishing modeling career during her youth, and is a ‘pro-age’ advocate for the beauty that is inherent in us all, who still models.  I agree with Cindy that beauty blossoms at every age.

Cindy’s Boom! beauty products are designed to show our aging beauty with a natural touch.  Her company makes the products with ingredients, which are organic, olive oil, honey.  educator-726386_1280

Her customers are so satisfied with her advice and products that they take ‘selfies’ of themselves and post their beauty on her website!  Click the pictures on this post to read the various stories and information at Cindy Joseph’s website.

Stay Beautiful!

 

 

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Sharp brain health

women-697928_1280I must admit, the aging process is a little intimidating. Sometimes, when you least expect it, a body part,  that was ok in the morning, all of a sudden is hurting later on that same day.  It’s that ‘wake-up call’, which then becomes a part of your daily life (chronic pain, osetoarthritis, knee pains and the like).

Is  your memory is ‘slipping’ ?  You can’t recall where you put an item down, or why you came upstair?  Needless to say, it’s an adjustment. Nevertheless, willy-nilly these changes are all part of an ongoing aging process.  That’s why I want to share with you a tool, which AARP has available for seniors and those approaching ‘senior-hood’.  It’s called  the ‘Staying Sharp Brain Health Assessment’.

Why don’t you take a ‘Leap’ and try it out by clicking the link below.

  • Better Brain Health Starts Here. Subscribe and take the Brain Health Assessment to get your Brain Health Score and a detailed report that will provide insight into how your brain works and how your lifestyle supports important cognitive functions like memory and focus. Then, get started on your personalized recommendations for fun ways to create simple habits that can help you improve and maintain brain health over time.
    Source: AARP Staying Sharp Brain Health Assessment