During this blessed Christmas season, most of us are excited and maybe just a little frantic with preparations for family gatherings, parties and celebrations of all sorts. Sometimes in the midst of our business we forget that for many this is a sad time, a time even when depression is a huge problem. Being alone, loss of loved ones, and ill health all contribute to the problem, and a real problem it is.
Depression is a serious medical illness that must be diagnosed and treated by trained professionals. If left untreated, depression, which can last months or even years, can cause unnecessary suffering for the person and their family members, worsen other diseases, lead to disability or premature death, and result in suicide (Those over 65-years-old account for more than 25% of the nation’s suicides).
Being depressed is not a normal part of aging, and it’s impossible “to just snap out of it”. Unlike sadness, which does not impact engaging in regular activities, depression interferes with the ability to function. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, other symptoms are: sadness that lasts more than two weeks, unexplained physical pain or gastrointestinal problems, excessive worry about finances and health, difficulty with sleeping and concentrating, weight changes, no interest in personal hygiene and appearance, and withdrawal from regular, social activities.
Like other illnesses, there are various types and levels of depression. Published in Cognitive Therapy and Research, a recent study determined that late-onset depression (in people over 60) can damage the brain’s executive functions (planning and control), and can spiral into excessive rumination (uncontrolled thought patterns that are repetitive, negative and destructive). Symptoms include inattention, a decline in the working memory, rigid thinking, and no inhibition.
Depression is sometimes difficult to diagnose among the ageing. Rather than be considered weak or crazy, an older person usually describes physical pain to the physician rather than feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, loss of interest or prolonged grief. When properly diagnosed and treated, however, more than 80% of those suffering from depression recover fully and return to normal, productive lives.
Be aware of how the older people in your life are handling the holidays. Are they having as much enjoyment as you? Are they positive and looking forward? Are they hopeful? If not, perhaps you will need to pursue diagnosis and treatment. At least, begin with a conversation about how they feel and what you can do to make this Christmas season special for them.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Flying in Peace
I just got back from an amazing trip to Minnesota. I adore everything about traveling except the flying. I'm not at all afraid and I never get sick, but with the exception of flying business-class abroad, there is absolutely nothing about flying that is fun.
At best, the quarters are close, cold and uncomfortable. The worst has included being plastered between two men who hadn't bathed for what smelled like a year, tolerating a reclined seat that allowed a strange man's head to be practically laying in my lap, and having to listen to a screaming baby for five hours straight while the father read his book and the mother did a crossword puzzle.
Why do parents travel with babies? They are exposing them to countless germs, extreme ear pain from the change in pressure and altitude variance, and a disruption of their schedule.
Some airlines are considering putting families at the back of the plane in a group and I say hurrah! I realize that a little distance might not create complete silence but it beats having a miserable child crying in your ear or a mom rocking the row as she jiggles and jostles in vain.
Is it discrimination? In any other circumstance, if someone was causing disruption to the peace and distress to others, they would be asked to leave or be removed from the premises. Now, I adore babies and I empathize with those who must travel with little ones, but the parents must also be sensitive to the commotion they are causing.
And what's the down side to the parents if they are all put together in one section. I see none. They will be surrounded by others who can empathize and even help. Oh yes, it might be a bit noisy, but there are repercussions for all our choices.
At best, the quarters are close, cold and uncomfortable. The worst has included being plastered between two men who hadn't bathed for what smelled like a year, tolerating a reclined seat that allowed a strange man's head to be practically laying in my lap, and having to listen to a screaming baby for five hours straight while the father read his book and the mother did a crossword puzzle.
Why do parents travel with babies? They are exposing them to countless germs, extreme ear pain from the change in pressure and altitude variance, and a disruption of their schedule.
Some airlines are considering putting families at the back of the plane in a group and I say hurrah! I realize that a little distance might not create complete silence but it beats having a miserable child crying in your ear or a mom rocking the row as she jiggles and jostles in vain.
Is it discrimination? In any other circumstance, if someone was causing disruption to the peace and distress to others, they would be asked to leave or be removed from the premises. Now, I adore babies and I empathize with those who must travel with little ones, but the parents must also be sensitive to the commotion they are causing.
And what's the down side to the parents if they are all put together in one section. I see none. They will be surrounded by others who can empathize and even help. Oh yes, it might be a bit noisy, but there are repercussions for all our choices.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Kidney Health in Kids
I didn’t know youngsters struggled with kidney stones until one of my students had to miss school because the pain from one was so great. As it turns out, the incidence of kidney stones is rising sharply among children (an 11 fold increase).
There are a number of reasons for why both adults and children develop this painful condition and most of it has to diet, which means it is also preventable. Factors that put us at risk is not drinking enough fluid and ingesting too much of what dehydrates us, so avoid drinking too much caffeine, eating too much salt (should take in no more than 3000 mg. per day) and protein, and eating too much oxalate found in chocolate, peanuts, spinach, tea and black pepper.
The biggest cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough decaffeinated liquid. Doctors recommend that we drink enough to make more than a half a gallon of urine. “The Institute of Medicine reported that U.S. women who appeared to be adequately hydrated consumed the equivalent of about 91 ounces of fluids each day, and men about 125 ounces -- far more than the 64 ounces in eight glasses of water --but stated that beverages other than water and the fluid in solid foods also counted toward the total. Even a slice of white bread is more than 30% water.
Doctors believe that if we wait until we’re thirsty to drink that we are already dehydrated. It is imperative to drink water constantly throughout the day especially if the weather is hot or physical activity is high, which, of course is the reason that children are prone, that and the fact that too many children live on a steady diet of colas, energy drinks and sweets. How do these bad choices impact our kidneys? Well let’s look at what the kidneys do as described by American Urological Association Foundation.
“What do the kidneys do?
Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. The kidneys are sophisticated trash collectors. Every day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The wastes and extra water become urine, which flows to your bladder through tubes called ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you go to the bathroom.
The wastes in your blood come from the normal breakdown of active muscle and from the food you eat. Your body uses the food for energy and self-repair. After your body has taken what it needs from the food, wastes are sent to the blood. If your kidneys did not remove these wastes, they would build up in the blood and damage your body.
In addition to removing wastes, your kidneys help control blood pressure. They also help make red blood cells and keep your bones strong.
What is a kidney stone?
A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in a kidney out of substances in the urine.
A stone may stay in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all the way out of the body without causing too much pain.
A larger stone may get stuck in a ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. A problem stone can block the flow of urine and cause great pain.
Most kidney stones pass out of the body without help from a doctor. But sometimes a stone will not pass. It may even get larger. You should call a doctor if you have any of the following signs:
• extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away
• blood in your urine
• fever and chills
• vomiting
• urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
• a burning feeling when you urinate
Are all kidney stones alike?
No. Doctors have found four major types of kidney stones.
• The most common type of stone contains calcium. Calcium is a normal part of a healthy diet.
• Though calcium is a normal part of a healthy diet, that which is not used by the bones and muscles goes to the kidneys. In most people, the kidneys flush out the extra calcium with the rest of the urine. People who have calcium stones keep the calcium in their kidneys.
• The calcium that stays behind joins with other waste products to form a stone. The most common combination is called calcium oxalate.
• A struvite stone may form after an infection in the urinary system. These stones contain the mineral magnesium and the waste product ammonia.
• A uric acid stone may form when the urine contains too much acid. If you tend to form uric acid stones, you may need to cut back on the amount of meat you eat.
• Cystine stones are rare. Cystine is one of the building blocks that make up muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body. Cystine can build up in the urine to form a stone. The disease that causes cystine stones runs in families.
What can my doctor do about a problem stone?
If you have a stone that will not pass by itself, your doctor may need to take steps to get rid of it. In the past, the only way to remove a problem stone was through surgery.
Now, doctors have new ways to remove problem stones. The following sections describe a few of these methods.
Shock Waves
Your doctor can use a machine to send shock waves directly to the kidney stone. The shock waves break a large stone into small stones that will pass through your urinary system with your urine. The full name for this method is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Doctors often call it ESWL for short. Lithotripsy is a Greek word that means stone crushing.
Two types of shock wave machines exist. With one machine, you sit in a tub of water. With most newer machines, you lie on a table. A health technician will use ultrasound or x-ray images to direct the sound waves to the stone.
Tunnel Surgery
In tunnel surgery, the doctor makes a small cut into the patient's back and makes a narrow tunnel through the skin to the stone inside the kidney. With a special instrument that goes through the tunnel, the doctor can find the stone and remove it. The technical name for this method is percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
Ureteroscope
A ureteroscope looks like a long wire. The doctor inserts it into the patient's urethra, passes it up through the bladder, and directs it to the ureter where the stone is located. The ureteroscope has a camera that allows the doctor to see the stone. A cage is used to catch the stone and pull it out, or the doctor may destroy it with a device inserted through the ureteroscope.
Ask your doctor which method is right for you.
How will my doctor find out what kind of stone I have?
The best way for your doctor to find out what kind of stone you have is to test the stone itself. If you know that you are passing a stone, try to catch it in a strainer.
Your doctor may ask for a urine sample or take blood to find out what caused your stone. You may need to collect your urine for a 24-hour period. These tests will help your doctor find ways for you to avoid stones in the future.
Why do I need to know the kind of stone?
The therapy your doctor gives you depends on the type of stone you have. For example, a medicine that helps prevent calcium stones will not work if you have a struvite stone. The diet changes that help prevent uric acid stones may not work to prevent calcium stones. Therefore, careful analysis of the stone will help guide your treatment.
Points to Remember
•Most stones will pass out of the body without a doctor's help.
•See your doctor if you have severe pain in your back or side that will not go away.
•See your doctor if you have blood in your urine-urine will appear pink.
•When you pass a stone, try to catch it in a strainer to show your doctor.
•Drink lots of water to prevent more kidney stones from forming.
•Talk with your doctor about other ways to avoid more stones.
For More Information, contact:
American Urological Association Foundation
1000 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 410
Linthicum, MD 21090
Phone: 1-866-RING-AUA (746-4282)
Email: patienteducation@auafoundation.org
Internet: www.auafoundation.org
www.UrologyHealth.org
There are a number of reasons for why both adults and children develop this painful condition and most of it has to diet, which means it is also preventable. Factors that put us at risk is not drinking enough fluid and ingesting too much of what dehydrates us, so avoid drinking too much caffeine, eating too much salt (should take in no more than 3000 mg. per day) and protein, and eating too much oxalate found in chocolate, peanuts, spinach, tea and black pepper.
The biggest cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough decaffeinated liquid. Doctors recommend that we drink enough to make more than a half a gallon of urine. “The Institute of Medicine reported that U.S. women who appeared to be adequately hydrated consumed the equivalent of about 91 ounces of fluids each day, and men about 125 ounces -- far more than the 64 ounces in eight glasses of water --but stated that beverages other than water and the fluid in solid foods also counted toward the total. Even a slice of white bread is more than 30% water.
Doctors believe that if we wait until we’re thirsty to drink that we are already dehydrated. It is imperative to drink water constantly throughout the day especially if the weather is hot or physical activity is high, which, of course is the reason that children are prone, that and the fact that too many children live on a steady diet of colas, energy drinks and sweets. How do these bad choices impact our kidneys? Well let’s look at what the kidneys do as described by American Urological Association Foundation.
“What do the kidneys do?
Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. The kidneys are sophisticated trash collectors. Every day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The wastes and extra water become urine, which flows to your bladder through tubes called ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you go to the bathroom.
The wastes in your blood come from the normal breakdown of active muscle and from the food you eat. Your body uses the food for energy and self-repair. After your body has taken what it needs from the food, wastes are sent to the blood. If your kidneys did not remove these wastes, they would build up in the blood and damage your body.
In addition to removing wastes, your kidneys help control blood pressure. They also help make red blood cells and keep your bones strong.
What is a kidney stone?
A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in a kidney out of substances in the urine.
A stone may stay in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all the way out of the body without causing too much pain.
A larger stone may get stuck in a ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. A problem stone can block the flow of urine and cause great pain.
Most kidney stones pass out of the body without help from a doctor. But sometimes a stone will not pass. It may even get larger. You should call a doctor if you have any of the following signs:
• extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away
• blood in your urine
• fever and chills
• vomiting
• urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
• a burning feeling when you urinate
Are all kidney stones alike?
No. Doctors have found four major types of kidney stones.
• The most common type of stone contains calcium. Calcium is a normal part of a healthy diet.
• Though calcium is a normal part of a healthy diet, that which is not used by the bones and muscles goes to the kidneys. In most people, the kidneys flush out the extra calcium with the rest of the urine. People who have calcium stones keep the calcium in their kidneys.
• The calcium that stays behind joins with other waste products to form a stone. The most common combination is called calcium oxalate.
• A struvite stone may form after an infection in the urinary system. These stones contain the mineral magnesium and the waste product ammonia.
• A uric acid stone may form when the urine contains too much acid. If you tend to form uric acid stones, you may need to cut back on the amount of meat you eat.
• Cystine stones are rare. Cystine is one of the building blocks that make up muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body. Cystine can build up in the urine to form a stone. The disease that causes cystine stones runs in families.
What can my doctor do about a problem stone?
If you have a stone that will not pass by itself, your doctor may need to take steps to get rid of it. In the past, the only way to remove a problem stone was through surgery.
Now, doctors have new ways to remove problem stones. The following sections describe a few of these methods.
Shock Waves
Your doctor can use a machine to send shock waves directly to the kidney stone. The shock waves break a large stone into small stones that will pass through your urinary system with your urine. The full name for this method is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Doctors often call it ESWL for short. Lithotripsy is a Greek word that means stone crushing.
Two types of shock wave machines exist. With one machine, you sit in a tub of water. With most newer machines, you lie on a table. A health technician will use ultrasound or x-ray images to direct the sound waves to the stone.
Tunnel Surgery
In tunnel surgery, the doctor makes a small cut into the patient's back and makes a narrow tunnel through the skin to the stone inside the kidney. With a special instrument that goes through the tunnel, the doctor can find the stone and remove it. The technical name for this method is percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
Ureteroscope
A ureteroscope looks like a long wire. The doctor inserts it into the patient's urethra, passes it up through the bladder, and directs it to the ureter where the stone is located. The ureteroscope has a camera that allows the doctor to see the stone. A cage is used to catch the stone and pull it out, or the doctor may destroy it with a device inserted through the ureteroscope.
Ask your doctor which method is right for you.
How will my doctor find out what kind of stone I have?
The best way for your doctor to find out what kind of stone you have is to test the stone itself. If you know that you are passing a stone, try to catch it in a strainer.
Your doctor may ask for a urine sample or take blood to find out what caused your stone. You may need to collect your urine for a 24-hour period. These tests will help your doctor find ways for you to avoid stones in the future.
Why do I need to know the kind of stone?
The therapy your doctor gives you depends on the type of stone you have. For example, a medicine that helps prevent calcium stones will not work if you have a struvite stone. The diet changes that help prevent uric acid stones may not work to prevent calcium stones. Therefore, careful analysis of the stone will help guide your treatment.
Points to Remember
•Most stones will pass out of the body without a doctor's help.
•See your doctor if you have severe pain in your back or side that will not go away.
•See your doctor if you have blood in your urine-urine will appear pink.
•When you pass a stone, try to catch it in a strainer to show your doctor.
•Drink lots of water to prevent more kidney stones from forming.
•Talk with your doctor about other ways to avoid more stones.
For More Information, contact:
American Urological Association Foundation
1000 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 410
Linthicum, MD 21090
Phone: 1-866-RING-AUA (746-4282)
Email: patienteducation@auafoundation.org
Internet: www.auafoundation.org
www.UrologyHealth.org
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Colon Cleansing--really a good thing?
My colonoscopy went well. The procedure was completely painless. The anesthesiologist administered a lovely drug that resulted in my not even remembering being wheeled into the operating room much less being probed in such a delicate area.
So why does everyone dread having a colonoscopy? It’s because of the necessary preparation the day before the procedure. Having a squeaky clean colon is necessary for the scope to do its job, and that means spending the day in the bathroom after having drunk several disgusting liquids. Well, drinking yukky fluids wasn’t my only horror before the procedure.
The doctor’s office called and said he was sick and would not be able to do the procedure. Well, I had already drunk the first of two laxatives required and had already spent quite a lot of time in the bathroom, and in anticipation of all this I had also taken off several days of work.
Now, I know doctors are human, and I also know that they get sick, but I am quite sure I screamed bloody murder when the nurse told me. She immediately suggested that one of his colleagues do the procedure, and I immediately accepted. I had had no recommendation from a friend about the second doctor as I had with the first, and I wouldn’t have time to research if he’d ever killed anyone on the table. I just knew I couldn’t go through the preparation process again anytime soon, and I hadn’t even done the second go round of laxatives yet.
Well, the second doctor was fine though he did not come in after to discuss the results. The nurse did that. I thought it should have been the doctor. She told me everything was fine, and I did not have to another colonoscopy for 10 years. She did say that I had a couple of “non-bleeding diverticula”.
The prescription for them NOT turning into a problem is a high-fiber diet, something that will be easy to subscribe to as I love vegetables, but I found a few other suggestions on the list that I had not considered high fiber but are. I thought I’d share the ones that surprised me:
• Kidney beans 13 grams of fiber
• Baked beans 6 grams
• Raspberries 8 grams
• Papaya .8 grams
• Almonds 1.1 grams
• Bean sprouts 1.5 grams
• Canned corn 2.9 grams
Add those to the others you know including whole grain foods (bran cereals and multi-grain breads), root vegetables (carrots, turnips and potatoes), cabbage and dark, leafy greens, fresh fruits with their skin, and dried fruits (prunes, raisons and apricots), and you have the prescription for a large, soft, bulky stool that passes through the bowel easily and quickly, and the way to avoid digestive tract disorders.
So why does everyone dread having a colonoscopy? It’s because of the necessary preparation the day before the procedure. Having a squeaky clean colon is necessary for the scope to do its job, and that means spending the day in the bathroom after having drunk several disgusting liquids. Well, drinking yukky fluids wasn’t my only horror before the procedure.
The doctor’s office called and said he was sick and would not be able to do the procedure. Well, I had already drunk the first of two laxatives required and had already spent quite a lot of time in the bathroom, and in anticipation of all this I had also taken off several days of work.
Now, I know doctors are human, and I also know that they get sick, but I am quite sure I screamed bloody murder when the nurse told me. She immediately suggested that one of his colleagues do the procedure, and I immediately accepted. I had had no recommendation from a friend about the second doctor as I had with the first, and I wouldn’t have time to research if he’d ever killed anyone on the table. I just knew I couldn’t go through the preparation process again anytime soon, and I hadn’t even done the second go round of laxatives yet.
Well, the second doctor was fine though he did not come in after to discuss the results. The nurse did that. I thought it should have been the doctor. She told me everything was fine, and I did not have to another colonoscopy for 10 years. She did say that I had a couple of “non-bleeding diverticula”.
The prescription for them NOT turning into a problem is a high-fiber diet, something that will be easy to subscribe to as I love vegetables, but I found a few other suggestions on the list that I had not considered high fiber but are. I thought I’d share the ones that surprised me:
• Kidney beans 13 grams of fiber
• Baked beans 6 grams
• Raspberries 8 grams
• Papaya .8 grams
• Almonds 1.1 grams
• Bean sprouts 1.5 grams
• Canned corn 2.9 grams
Add those to the others you know including whole grain foods (bran cereals and multi-grain breads), root vegetables (carrots, turnips and potatoes), cabbage and dark, leafy greens, fresh fruits with their skin, and dried fruits (prunes, raisons and apricots), and you have the prescription for a large, soft, bulky stool that passes through the bowel easily and quickly, and the way to avoid digestive tract disorders.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Shortcutting an Education
I have students who take so many dual credit (for both high school and college credit earned on a high school campus) and online classes that they often begin college with their first year already completed. Now, I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or not.
For the parents, it is a good thing because their children could complete college in far less time than four years, and that could be quite a savings. I keep saying could because it is still up to the student to complete the subsequent on-campus classes successfully and in a timely manner.
I have seen students start college way ahead of the game, then crash and burn during their first semester of on-campus classes. They are either having way too much fun or they are taking higher level classes for which they are not prepared, able or willing.
There is an epidemic going on in America right now. College sophomores are failing out in droves. In my day, Freshman English was the class in which they weeded out the kids who really did not belong. Today, colleges are struggling financially, so they open their doors to just about anyone. Then they water down the freshman classes in hopes of keeping students in school and paying, but when they advance to “real” college classes, they just can’t or won’t do the necessary work.
I still have high school students who don’t believe that they could have more than a 1,000 pages a week to read. Many are still banking on getting degreed by use of Spark Notes or Cliff Notes (what we older folks called them). What a shock these lazy and work adverse students are in for.
The problem of ill prepared students who don’t really want to do college level work and don’t really want to work hard at a job either does not bode well for our country. Every generation looks to the one that follows to not only carry on, but also to lead us to a higher level—a better standard of living and greater quality of life. I doubt the ability of this generation to do so. There is far too much self-centeredness and far too little competence and drive. Even the brightest among them will cheat to achieve rather than work.
In order for America to be great again, we must have an informed, educated and competent group leading us on. Will this generation that doesn’t read a newspaper, that doesn’t study history or civics, that cannot communicate above an eighth grade level be ready for the task? I think not.
And what is the older generation’s contribution to the problem? We are the ones who have coddled our children, excused their behavior, and enabled the decline. America is in trouble, and we are all to blame.
For the parents, it is a good thing because their children could complete college in far less time than four years, and that could be quite a savings. I keep saying could because it is still up to the student to complete the subsequent on-campus classes successfully and in a timely manner.
I have seen students start college way ahead of the game, then crash and burn during their first semester of on-campus classes. They are either having way too much fun or they are taking higher level classes for which they are not prepared, able or willing.
There is an epidemic going on in America right now. College sophomores are failing out in droves. In my day, Freshman English was the class in which they weeded out the kids who really did not belong. Today, colleges are struggling financially, so they open their doors to just about anyone. Then they water down the freshman classes in hopes of keeping students in school and paying, but when they advance to “real” college classes, they just can’t or won’t do the necessary work.
I still have high school students who don’t believe that they could have more than a 1,000 pages a week to read. Many are still banking on getting degreed by use of Spark Notes or Cliff Notes (what we older folks called them). What a shock these lazy and work adverse students are in for.
The problem of ill prepared students who don’t really want to do college level work and don’t really want to work hard at a job either does not bode well for our country. Every generation looks to the one that follows to not only carry on, but also to lead us to a higher level—a better standard of living and greater quality of life. I doubt the ability of this generation to do so. There is far too much self-centeredness and far too little competence and drive. Even the brightest among them will cheat to achieve rather than work.
In order for America to be great again, we must have an informed, educated and competent group leading us on. Will this generation that doesn’t read a newspaper, that doesn’t study history or civics, that cannot communicate above an eighth grade level be ready for the task? I think not.
And what is the older generation’s contribution to the problem? We are the ones who have coddled our children, excused their behavior, and enabled the decline. America is in trouble, and we are all to blame.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Gettin' Off the Sofa
I hate to exercise now. I hate the “must-do” of it. I hate the sweat that’s necessary for a really good workout. And I hate most not being able to do with my body what was once effortless.
I remember leading exercise classes during college, hiking through the woods for hours, and dancing non-stop for an entire weekend, and I never thought once that any of it was a drag. Now, exercise is just one more chore, and I hate that most of all.
I love the end results though, and I’m not even talking about maintaining weight, which is the obvious benefit. I definitely have more energy, tighter and more defined muscles, and NO aches and pains. Whenever I stop exercising, I almost immediately feel worse physically. YUK! You’d think all those reasons would be more than enough to motivate one to exercise every waking moment, but no.
Well, I found a few more reasons to do so, and these are even more compelling.
1. According to a study done with adults over 55, exercising at least three times a week at moderate or high intensity can reduce the odds of mental decline like dementia by 46%.
2. Lifting weights twice a week can boost bone density and decrease falls by 40% reports a study of women age 65 and older.
3. Women who walk at a brisk rate at age 60 and up are 200% more likely to be disease free at age 70.
If all these reasons aren’t enough, I don’t know what else we need to hear. My dilemma is that I have been able to do 45 minutes in my own pool every day. I love that—no travel, no competition for machines, no sweat and a tan to boot, but it’s too cold now, so I don’t have any choice but to do weight bearing exercises.
Here are some tips to for getting motivated and for making it fun:
1. Get a friend to go with you to the local high school track to walk. It’s close by; you don’t have to dress for or pay for the gym. The flat surface is easier on the joints. You can walk faster than through the neighborhood, and the time will fly if you’re doing it with someone else.
2. Exercise in front of a mirror. Besides seeing clearly what needs improvement, you can also see your muscles in action as you work them.
3. Work hard on the “show-off” muscles. Your biceps and shoulders will tone in just two weeks and there is nothing more exciting than seeing growing muscle definition.
4. Studies show that people exercise longer if they are doing it to music. Choose songs with strong beats and empowering words.
5. Cut your work in half by exercising several muscle groups at once. For example, lunge as you do triceps curls and squat between head presses.
They say that the key to being motivated is to focus on “how” to exercise rather than the “why” to exercise,, but these why’s are really compelling, so everyone, let’s get up off the sofa, once and for all.
I remember leading exercise classes during college, hiking through the woods for hours, and dancing non-stop for an entire weekend, and I never thought once that any of it was a drag. Now, exercise is just one more chore, and I hate that most of all.
I love the end results though, and I’m not even talking about maintaining weight, which is the obvious benefit. I definitely have more energy, tighter and more defined muscles, and NO aches and pains. Whenever I stop exercising, I almost immediately feel worse physically. YUK! You’d think all those reasons would be more than enough to motivate one to exercise every waking moment, but no.
Well, I found a few more reasons to do so, and these are even more compelling.
1. According to a study done with adults over 55, exercising at least three times a week at moderate or high intensity can reduce the odds of mental decline like dementia by 46%.
2. Lifting weights twice a week can boost bone density and decrease falls by 40% reports a study of women age 65 and older.
3. Women who walk at a brisk rate at age 60 and up are 200% more likely to be disease free at age 70.
If all these reasons aren’t enough, I don’t know what else we need to hear. My dilemma is that I have been able to do 45 minutes in my own pool every day. I love that—no travel, no competition for machines, no sweat and a tan to boot, but it’s too cold now, so I don’t have any choice but to do weight bearing exercises.
Here are some tips to for getting motivated and for making it fun:
1. Get a friend to go with you to the local high school track to walk. It’s close by; you don’t have to dress for or pay for the gym. The flat surface is easier on the joints. You can walk faster than through the neighborhood, and the time will fly if you’re doing it with someone else.
2. Exercise in front of a mirror. Besides seeing clearly what needs improvement, you can also see your muscles in action as you work them.
3. Work hard on the “show-off” muscles. Your biceps and shoulders will tone in just two weeks and there is nothing more exciting than seeing growing muscle definition.
4. Studies show that people exercise longer if they are doing it to music. Choose songs with strong beats and empowering words.
5. Cut your work in half by exercising several muscle groups at once. For example, lunge as you do triceps curls and squat between head presses.
They say that the key to being motivated is to focus on “how” to exercise rather than the “why” to exercise,, but these why’s are really compelling, so everyone, let’s get up off the sofa, once and for all.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Colon Testing
Well, I’m 61 and have waited 11 years too long to bite the bullet and get my first colonoscopy (koh-luh-NAH-skuh-pee) done. 50 is the recommended age for the first one and, generally, every ten years thereafter for the purpose of removing colonic polyps before they become cancerous. How often one should really undergo a colonoscopy depends on the abnormalities found at previous colonoscopies.
Individuals with a previous history of polyps or colon cancer and certain individuals with a family history of some types of non-colonic cancers or colonic problems that may be associated with colon cancer (such as ulcerative colitis and colonic polyps) may be advised to have periodic colonoscopies because their risks are greater for polyps or colon cancer.
Also a colonoscopy may be done to investigate the cause of blood in the stool, abdominal pain, diarrhea, a change in bowel habit, or an abnormality found on colonic X-rays or a computerized tomographic (CT) scan. Colonoscopy enables the physician to see inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, and bleeding.
What is colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a 30-60 minute procedure that allows the physician(usually a gastroenterologist) to examine the inside of the entire large intestine, from the lowest part, the rectum, all the way up through the colon to the lower end of the small intestine.
The colonoscope is a four foot long, flexible tube about the thickness of a finger with a camera and a source of light at its tip. The tip of the colonoscope is inserted into the anus and then is advanced slowly, under visual control, into the rectum and through the colon usually as far as the cecum. The scope transmits an image of the inside of the colon, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of the colon. The scope bends, so the physician can move it around the curves of the colon. The patient may be asked to change position occasionally to help the physician move the scope. The scope also blows air into your colon, which inflates the colon and helps the physician see better.
How does the procedure go?
The patient lies on the left side on the examining table. Some pain medication and a mild sedative is given to keep the patient comfortable and to help with relaxation during the exam. If anything abnormal is seen, like a polyp or inflamed tissue, the physician can remove all or part of it using tiny instruments passed through the scope. That tissue (biopsy) is then sent to a lab for testing.
If there is bleeding in the colon, the physician can pass a laser, heater probe, or electrical probe, or can inject special medicines through the scope and use it to stop the bleeding.
Bleeding and puncture of the colon are possible complications of colonoscopy. However, such complications are uncommon.
The sedative and pain medicine should keep the patient from feeling much discomfort during the exam, but it is necessary to stay 2-3 hours afterwards until that medication wears off. Also, it is necessary to be driven to and from the procedure.
What bowel preparation is needed for colonoscopy?
If the procedure is to be complete and accurate, the colon must be completely cleaned, and there are several colonoscopy preparations. Patients are given detailed instructions about the cleansing preparation. In my case, the doctor's nurse showed an explanatory video one evening for all who were about to have the procedure done. She explained in detail afterwards all that had to be done and why.
The colon must be completely empty for the colonoscopy to be thorough and safe. To prepare for the procedure, the patient should follow a liquid diet for 1 to 3 days beforehand. A liquid diet means fat-free bouillon or broth, strained fruit juice, water, plain coffee, plain tea, or diet soda. Gelatin or popsicles in any color but red may also be eaten. Red dye of any sort may appear like blood during the test.
The patient must also take one of several types of laxatives before the procedure. In general, this consists of drinking a large volume of a special cleansing solution or several days of laxatives or enemas prior to the examination. These instructions should be followed exactly as prescribed or the procedure may be unsatisfactory, and may have to be repeated, or a less accurate alternative test may be performed in its place.
I have the procedure in a couple of weeks. I'm not looking forward to the liquid diet or the preparation process for cleansing the colon, or the scope for that matter. Clearly, I don't want to do this. I know I'm not afraid. Good heavens, I gave birth naturally to two babies over nine pounds. It just all seems so yukky.
But intellectually, I know it's necessary, so onward. I'll let you know if the yuk factor turns out to be such a big deal.
Individuals with a previous history of polyps or colon cancer and certain individuals with a family history of some types of non-colonic cancers or colonic problems that may be associated with colon cancer (such as ulcerative colitis and colonic polyps) may be advised to have periodic colonoscopies because their risks are greater for polyps or colon cancer.
Also a colonoscopy may be done to investigate the cause of blood in the stool, abdominal pain, diarrhea, a change in bowel habit, or an abnormality found on colonic X-rays or a computerized tomographic (CT) scan. Colonoscopy enables the physician to see inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, and bleeding.
What is colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a 30-60 minute procedure that allows the physician(usually a gastroenterologist) to examine the inside of the entire large intestine, from the lowest part, the rectum, all the way up through the colon to the lower end of the small intestine.
The colonoscope is a four foot long, flexible tube about the thickness of a finger with a camera and a source of light at its tip. The tip of the colonoscope is inserted into the anus and then is advanced slowly, under visual control, into the rectum and through the colon usually as far as the cecum. The scope transmits an image of the inside of the colon, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of the colon. The scope bends, so the physician can move it around the curves of the colon. The patient may be asked to change position occasionally to help the physician move the scope. The scope also blows air into your colon, which inflates the colon and helps the physician see better.
How does the procedure go?
The patient lies on the left side on the examining table. Some pain medication and a mild sedative is given to keep the patient comfortable and to help with relaxation during the exam. If anything abnormal is seen, like a polyp or inflamed tissue, the physician can remove all or part of it using tiny instruments passed through the scope. That tissue (biopsy) is then sent to a lab for testing.
If there is bleeding in the colon, the physician can pass a laser, heater probe, or electrical probe, or can inject special medicines through the scope and use it to stop the bleeding.
Bleeding and puncture of the colon are possible complications of colonoscopy. However, such complications are uncommon.
The sedative and pain medicine should keep the patient from feeling much discomfort during the exam, but it is necessary to stay 2-3 hours afterwards until that medication wears off. Also, it is necessary to be driven to and from the procedure.
What bowel preparation is needed for colonoscopy?
If the procedure is to be complete and accurate, the colon must be completely cleaned, and there are several colonoscopy preparations. Patients are given detailed instructions about the cleansing preparation. In my case, the doctor's nurse showed an explanatory video one evening for all who were about to have the procedure done. She explained in detail afterwards all that had to be done and why.
The colon must be completely empty for the colonoscopy to be thorough and safe. To prepare for the procedure, the patient should follow a liquid diet for 1 to 3 days beforehand. A liquid diet means fat-free bouillon or broth, strained fruit juice, water, plain coffee, plain tea, or diet soda. Gelatin or popsicles in any color but red may also be eaten. Red dye of any sort may appear like blood during the test.
The patient must also take one of several types of laxatives before the procedure. In general, this consists of drinking a large volume of a special cleansing solution or several days of laxatives or enemas prior to the examination. These instructions should be followed exactly as prescribed or the procedure may be unsatisfactory, and may have to be repeated, or a less accurate alternative test may be performed in its place.
I have the procedure in a couple of weeks. I'm not looking forward to the liquid diet or the preparation process for cleansing the colon, or the scope for that matter. Clearly, I don't want to do this. I know I'm not afraid. Good heavens, I gave birth naturally to two babies over nine pounds. It just all seems so yukky.
But intellectually, I know it's necessary, so onward. I'll let you know if the yuk factor turns out to be such a big deal.
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