Flu season has arrived and seniors should be prepared. With all the attention on the H1N1 virus and with the flu season already on its way, there’s no better time than now for seniors to get their flu shots.

There are 226,000 Americans who are hospitalized with flu each year and over 30,000 people die because of the flu or its complications according to CDC. Seniors who have chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney problems have a high risk of being affected. Seniors are more likely to get sick because as people age, their immune systems get weaker and don’t respond as well.

What is Flu?

It is a highly contagious respiratory infection.

Symptoms of the flu

• High Fever/Chills
• Runny or Stuffy Nose
• Headaches
• Muscle Aches
• Sore Throat
• Constant Coughing/Dry Cough  

Pneumococcal Pneumonia is another vaccine that seniors should also protect themselves against. Seniors over 64 years old and others with increased susceptibility to infections such as diabetes, chronic disorders of the lung or heart and cirrhosis should get vaccinated. Seniors who plan to get the flu shot can get the vaccination at the same time and will more than likely be also covered by Medicare.

Seniors should contact their doctor today to get their flu shots or visit a clinic or any drugstore chains that offer flu vaccinations. Medicare will cover the cost of the shot so don’t wait until you get sick. Also CVS and Walgreens are offering free flu shots to the unemployed and uninsured.  For all other consumers Walgreens will charge $24.99 for injections and $29.99 for a nasal spray version. 

It’s your life take care of your body and health…..

When we want something or have an opinion we just ask or say it.  Imagine if you weren’t able to talk  or worse you weren’t being understood. Language difficulties can often become permarnent disabilities for stroke victims. 

Here are some ways to communicate to someone who suffers from aphasia:

Don’t talk down. There’s a tendency to talk down to people who suffer from aphasia, almost like you would talk down to a child.

Don’t speak about your loved one when they are nearby.  They may have communication problem but they can still overhear you or understand.

Don’t speak loudly.  If you’re loved one can’t hear, then you can speak loudly but otherwise speak in a natural voice.

Give your elder plenty of time to respond.  Just because your loved one doesn’t respond right away, it doesn’t mean they aren’t understanding you.  Their brain just might need time to process what you said and to formulate a response.

Speak about one subject at a time and use short sentences. Give your loved one time to grasp one topic before going into another subject.

Reduce background noise.  Turn down television or radios as it might be too distracting for them.

Try to have one on one conversations.  Keep the conversation to you and your loved one. Involving other people might confuse them.

Be expressive or add facial gestures when your words aren’t being understood.

As always consult a doctor for other suggestions.  Ask the doctor for a referral speech therapist who can help improve on their speech problems.   

Information provided by Rachelle Zukerman

A new study shows that aspirin can help fight Colon Cancer by over 30%. 

Andrew Chan co-author of The Journal of the American Medical Association said that the studies revealed that patients who took aspirin after diagnosis were 38% less likely to die from any cause during a 12 year trial.  

How it works?

According to Andrew Chan, the type of tumor overproduces a protein called COX-2. When inflammation is involved that is what feeds tumor growth. This new study however, doesn’t benefit patients who didn’t overproduce the protein as well as people who took aspirin before diagnosis. It does benefits patients whose tumors overproduced COX-2 that took aspirin after diagnosis were alive 10 years later as compared to 67% of those patients who didn’t take them. As exciting as this new finding is, always consult with your doctor for advice.

Information provided by USA Today

Too many times we go through our day to day activities and sometimes not even think of the signs that our body is saying. Caregivers & Seniors know how to prevent cardiac arrest and save yours or your loved ones life.

What is cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest is the sudden, abrupt loss of heart function. The victim may or may not have diagnosed heart disease. It’s also called sudden cardiac arrest or unexpected cardiac arrest. Sudden death (also called sudden cardiac death) occurs within minutes after symptoms appear. Unlike a heart attack, which involves a blockage of the coronary artery and can lead to damage to the heart itself, sudden cardiac arrest is the result of a severely abnormal heart rhythm that stops the flow of blood to the rest of the body. A heart attack can actually cause sudden cardiac arrest when the arterial clot triggers an irregular heart beat. But although sudden cardiac arrest and heart attacks may occur together, it is possible to experience sudden cardiac arrest without a blockage in the artery.

What are the most common symptoms?

The most common symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest are sudden collapse, lack of pulse, no breathing, and loss of consciousness. Though sudden cardiac arrest can strike without warning, people experiencing heart palpitations; rapid or irregular heart beats; persistent chest pain; shortness of breath; blackouts, dizziness, or fainting; fatigue; and/or vomiting should see a doctor immediately.

Prevention

Healthy living is one of the best ways to lower the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. This includes eating a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, fish, exercising regularly, reducing stress levels and a smoke free environment. Frequent visits to the doctor, for screening is advised after a certain age, especially for those with heart disease in the family.

Risk factors

Risk factors are not unlike those of heart attack and other coronary diseases:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Advanced age
• Cholesterol
• Male gender
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Obesity
• Family history of early coronary artery disease
• People who have heart attacks when younger (Male less than 55, female less than 65)

Heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrest starkly remind us of our physical vulnerabilities, often a consequence of unhealthy lifestyle choices. They are the heart’s way of telling us in no uncertain terms that we need to change our routines, if not our entire way of life, if we want to continue living. Take care of yourself and your loved one as life is precious.

In order to avoid Metabolic Syndrome and help prevent diabetes, heart disease and dementia a person needs to re-structure four major components of how they live their lives, including how they eat, exercise, sleep and go about their daily lives.

Step 1: Change Your Eating Habits

• Get into a Routine. Eat a healthy diet by avoiding saturated fats, simple sugar foods, fried and fast foods. Concentrate on eating veggies and whole fruits and avoid continuous snacking.
• Stop Drinking Soda. Avoid sweetened, fizzy or carbonated beverages as much as possible.
• Pick up a yogurt. Eat low-fat yogurt three times a week.
• Take your vitamins. Take the proper supplements, such as a complete age-related multivitamin plus Vitamin D3, Calcium, Omega-3, Magnesium and Co Q-10.   

Step 2: Exercise Your Body & Mind

• Get Moving. Participate in aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a few times a week.
• Keep your brain working, perform mental exercises such as crossword or language puzzles.

Step 3: Get a Proper Amount of Sleep

• Keep Track of Your Sleep. Make sure your sleep patterns are healthy. Many people suffer unnecessarily from sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea which is treatable. Individuals with sleep apnea often feel tired during waking hours and have trouble concentrating.
• Many alternative remedies can help with sleep, such as melatonin, kava and valerian root.
• Everything is related. Be aware that losing weight, especially as a result of a healthy diet and exercise, can have profoundly positive effects on sleep patterns.

Step 4: Stop & Think

• Wear your helmet & seatbelt. Protect your brain while bike riding, skiing or participating in any activity where your head potentially could suffer any damage.
• Treat Pain Effectively. Simple medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs are effective. Acupuncture, massage and music therapy is a good substitute. Always seek medical help for pain that is not explained.
• Protect your brain from toxins. Smoking, drugs, excessive alcohol consumption, are just a few to avoid you should also watch the amount of preservatives in foods and the toxins found in the environment.
• Get Out & About. Make sure you socialize and experience healthy emotions.
• Focus on the positive. Emphasizing the positive, rather than the negative, can help with an overall sense of well-being.
• Understand your place in the world. Take responsibility for your own world and life, to the degree possible, while also accepting your limitations on what you cannot change.

For more on this article go to www.gilbertguide.com