Not Another Test!

Life is busy. Fitting in doctor's appointments is a hassle and keeping them is time consuming. It also can be confusing to know what wellness tests are necessary and when to have them done, but regular check-ups and preventative screenings are critical to mantaining good health. They establish baselines to which later tests are compared, and they catch problems as soon as they develop.

Additionally, it is important that we moms set a good example for our children. If they see us making our health a priority, they will be more likely to do the same.

It is also important to understand that when patients only visit physicians when they fell ill, the opportunity to prevent and sometimes even to identify diseases early is lost. When we wait until we are symptomatic, damage has already occured. If problems are caught before the onset of symptoms, there is a greater chance of resolution.

Below are the basic tests that are critical to assess wellness.

In your 20s and 30s:

• Physical Exam once a year.
• Blood Pressure Screening every other year unless abnormal; then definitely more often.
• Cholesterol Screening at age 20, particularly if patient is at increased risk for heart disease.
• Breast exam at least once every three years until age 40; then it should be annual.
• Pap test every other year from 21 to 30, then yearly.

In your 40s:

• Eye exam at least every other year. At age 45, your exam should include a glaucoma test.
• Women should have their first mammograms at age 40; then every other year unless breast cancer is in the family and then a yearly exam may be warranted.

In your 50s:

• Bone density screenings should begin at age 65. If osteoporosis or osteopenia is found, then yearly tests are warranted.
• A colonoscopy should be done at age 50. Unless results are abnormal, they can be performed there after every 10 years.

COPD

I have a friend who is struggling with COPD. He is constantly coughing now and completely exhausted. Coughing all the time zaps him physically and disrupts his sleep, so he feels like a zombie most of the time. His struggle prompted me to do some digging about this disease.


Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to two lung diseases—chronic bronchitis and emphysema (often co-existing), and is the fourth leading cause of death in America. Obstructing airflow, COPD is usually caused by cigarette smoke (80-90% of COPD deaths), or inhaling chemicals, dust or pollution for a long time.

According to the National Institute of Health, “The airways branch out like an upside-down tree. At the end of each branch are small, balloon-like air sacs. Healthy airways and sacs are clear and open, elastic and springy. In COPD patients, they lose their shape and become floppy. The airway walls become thick and inflamed (swollen), and the walls between the sacs are destroyed. The airway cells produce more mucus, become clogged, and cause a continual cough.


Chronic bronchitis is the inflammation and scarring of the bronchial tube lining, and emphysema causes permanent holes in the lung tissue. Shortness of breath and coughing is the result. Symptoms can begin as early as 32-40 years of age but are often left untreated, resulting in incurable respiratory problems and even heart failure.


COPD limits physical movement, affects involvement in family and social activities, impacts the ability to do household chores and even work. Patients may eventually rely on mechanical respiratory assistance—supplemental oxygen and even ventilators.


Though there’s no cure, there is treatment. Medications don’t modify long-term decline, but can provide relief. Bronchodilator medications (inhaled as aerosol sprays or taken orally) relax and open air way passages. Oxygen therapy, antibiotics and steroids are used in acute cases, as steroids, in particular, can cause serious side effects long-term. Lung transplantation is more common now, but those with severe emphysema are at higher risk of death from the procedure.


COPD patients should be vaccinated for pneumonia and influenza. They should quit smoking, avoid pollutants, and increase exercise under a physician’s supervision. Visit www.lungusa.org.

Connecting in Modern Times

The truth is that the younger generation is on some kind of screen 24/7. Whether twittering on their phones or facebooking on the computer, they are communicating online far more often than in person, and if parents and grandparents want to stay connected and know what going on in the lives of their young loved ones, they better figure out how to follow along.


One way to keep connected, particularly for family members who are strewn around the world, is to share information through a blog.


A blog, derived from the term “Web log”, is a personal online journal. Increasingly popular since their debut in 1994, blogs can feature any subject. They not only address controversial topics including politics, religion and current events but also fluffier fare about fashion and celebrities. They function as personal diaries, too. Bloggers can change and update their sites at will, and there is not censoring.



Many free sites, like www.livejournal.com, have interactive features that allow blog readers to write comments in response to journal entries, so blogging can be a good way to keep in contact with faraway family and friends. Free blog services also keep an archive, so users can access their previous entries.



Some sites offer a “private” option that permits only certain readers to have access. However, for those who want their opinions and thoughts read by many, befriending unfamiliar bloggers increases traffic to the site and exposure to their writing. In addition to the written entries, bloggers can post images (photos and artwork) and upload links to other sites.



Though it’s estimated that only 5% of bloggers on the Web are older than 50, blogster.com reports that 22% of their users are older than 50. Blogging is not just for communicating with family and friends and the older population is using this form of social media for connecting with others who are like minded.


"When people quit working, their social group shrinks,” he said. “Blogs enable people with similar interests to develop a new social group. Blogging also aids in keeping the brain sharp."

Visit www.blogger.com for more information, and then visit www.createblog.com and blogster.com and http://www.wordpress.com/  for ideas.

Brittle Nails

There was a time when my fingernails were natuarally long and lovely. Now they’re short, peeling and brittle. I was all ready for the dermotologist to blame aging for this problem too. It seems to be the catch-all answer for many problems now that can only be managed not resolved.

Aging is just one explanation for nails that are so dried out that they chip, split or snap off. Thyroid dysfunction, malnutrician, anemea, vitamin/mineral deficiency, and diseases of the lung, kidney and liver that affect the amount of oxygen in the blood are medical reasons for first seeking a physician’s diagnosis and resolution of the problem.

Water is another culprit. When nails soak, they absorb water and expand 20-25%. When nails are dry, they contract. The more water they’re exposed to, the more they expand and contract, and that weakens them, so if you take long baths or showers, do a lot of swimming or cleaning, particularly with harsh household products, you’ll be prone to brittle nails.

Certain nail polishes, nail polish removers and nail hardeners, particularly those containing formaldehyde, can be drying. Some low grade products actually have the strength of paint strippers.

To prevent brittle nails, avoid exposure to strong detergents or wear gloves when cleaning, and use polish removers no more than once a week. Use a lactic acid moisturizer after hand washing. Keep fingernails short to avoid injury, and use emory boards to trim not metal files as they weaken the nail tip. Never bite or peel nails.

A good diet is critical for healthy nails. Foods that improve nail strength are: milk, liver, salmon, tuna, trout, shrimp and cod liver oil. Rich in biotin, cauliflower, peanuts and lentils thicken nails. B-complex vitamins and minerals including silica, iron, zinc and calcium are also beneficial.

Massage nails with castor or vegetable oil to moisturize and stimulate circulation, and give nails a break from daily use of polishes. Water-based nail products are safer and non-toxic. They hydrate the nail, allow oxygen exchange, and recondition damaged nails.

Elder Abuse

Dear Linda:


Though the nursing home in which my elderly mother resides seems nice enough, lately, I’ve been suspicious that she’s been abused. How can I tell and what do I do?




It’s difficult and painful to imagine anyone harming those who are frail, ill and totally dependent on others. The trust given by families to assisted living centers, rehabilitation facilities, and nursing homes is sacred but often broken, and don’t let the décor fool you. Some of the worst cases of fraud, neglect and abuse have occurred in the plushest surroundings.


The National Elder Abuse Study reported that over 500,000 Americans, 60 years and older, were abused in 1996. The study also revealed that only 16 percent of cases were reported and referred for help. The Senate Special Committee of Aging now estimates five million victims every year.


According to Dr. Linda Woolf of Webster University, there are six types of abuse with symptoms for each. “Neglect: malnourishment, chronic physical and psychiatric problems, dehydration, bed sores and poor hygiene. Physical Trauma: scratches, bruises, cut, burns, punctures, choke marks, restraint (rope burns, gag marks, welts), repeated and unexplained injury (sprains, fractures, detached retina, paralysis), inconsistent explanations of injuries and lag time between incident and treatment. Psychological:passivity, shame, anxiety, depression, confusion, trembling, cowering, clinging, lack of eye contact. Sexual Abuse: trauma to the genital area, venereal disease, infections, discharge, odor and any of the psychological symptoms. Financial: bank statements diverted, accounts changed from one bank to another, documents drawn up for an elder no longer competent to sign, missing property. Basic Rights: withholding mail, obstructing religious freedoms, over medicating or sedating, and preventing the elder to speak.” For more information, visit www.elderabuseprevention.com.

If you recognize symptoms, call 911 and report your suspicions immediately. Also contact Adult Protective Service (APS). The APS agency will assign a caseworker to investigate (usually within 24 hours) and intervene as necessary. Contact Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 for the number in your area and visit www.elderabusecenter.org for a list of hotlines—all free, anonymous and confidential.