Sorry about missing Saturday. This injury is throwing me for a loop. Some days the pain is worse than others and writing is hard to do when all you want to do is chug vicodin and crawl into bed. Here's the delimna though. The more we hurt, the more we want to be immobile, but it's the worse thing we can do.
When someone referred to exercise as medicine, I laughed. Now, when I was young, working-out, dancing and even running was fun to do; I didn't think twice about doing whatever I wanted with my body.
In my thirties and forties, I was chasing children 24/7. That alone can keep you nimble. Teaching in my fifties kept me moving but a bit more slowly. Now that I'm in my sixties, I think first about whether my body can do what my brain wants.
A decision not to do something now has mostly to do with whether I am physically up to the task, and I am hating it! And now that I've fallen, I feel myself thinking even more about this new phase, but here's what I'm finding out fast; the less I move, the more I hurt. And if I do the right kind of exercise in the right way, I can actually relieve pain.
The ailments that accompany aging (including high blood pressure, arthritis, rheumatism and incontinence) can impact the intensity of physical activity but are the very reasons for staying fit, limber and active.
There are several forms of exercise that can be modified in intensity. Walking, jogging and swimming are all excellent for maintaining bone, joint and muscle strength and flexibility, reducing blood pressure and stress levels, and combating pain, but I'm going to talk about yoga as a remedy.
I have tendonitis from the fall and from all the limping. In fact, even though I have to have knee replacement, I'm having more pain in my shoulder and hip. So what does the physical therapist recommend for resolution? Long, slow stretches repeated over and over. Yoga is a form of exercise that embraces long, slow stretches and so much more.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the US, causing 1.5 million heart attacks each year. Recent research has shown that yoga reduces blood pressure, lowers pulse rate, improves artery elasticity, increases the heart's stroke volume and regulates heart rhythm. Yoga benefits the heart and overall health.
Originated in India and now considered a science, yoga has been practiced for over 5,000 years. What differentiates yoga from other exercise routines is its basic principal: that there’s a direct connection between the body, mind and spirit. The theory is that good health is dependent on the positive interrelationship of these three forces, and that balance between them must be achieved.
Yoga’s unique method for maintaining this balance is to combine physical movement with proper breathing and meditation techniques. The exercises are intended to increase flexibility, improve posture and put pressure on the glandular systems to increase efficiency. Deep breathing oxygenates the blood and induces a feeling of well-being. Meditation reduces stress and heart-harmful emotions like anxiety, hostility and hopelessness. Visit www.abc-of-yoga.com for information and products.
See your physician for a thorough examination. Discuss your level of physical fitness and appropriate exercise routines, including duration and frequency. Ask whether yoga will work for your exercise of choice or as an addition to another program. Modern medicine has certainly recognized its physiological, psychological and biochemical benefits.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Dry as a Prune
Two scary things happened lately. One was that I fainted for the first time in my life. I had been sick with what I imagine was a 48 hour bug that included fever for a day and chills, and not a lot of eating or drinking, despite the warnings to drink fluids.
When I finally felt human enough to get up from bed, I promptly dropped to the floor. When I awakened, I looked up at the mountain that my bed had become, struggled to my knees, and climbed Everest to my pillows.
It was so disconcerting to my family that I was rushed to emergency care. The young doctor (She looked 12--although these days, everyone looks 12--policemen, firemen, nurses--they all look like my students) said that it could be any number of things. Her exact words were... "well, you know at your age....". Good heavens...I was already sick. Did she really have to add insult to injury? It was annoying enough to cause a rise in my blood pressure.
After some probbing and blood work, it was determined that I was probably (the reason they call medicine a practice) dehydrated. I was admonished to go home and drink (wine sounded like a good idea, though it was not what the doctor had in mind.)
The second incident was when the blood work came back; it indicated that my kidneys were not functioning as well as they should have been. Well, it turns out that some medication that another doctor had put me on was the culprit. That determination came after many expensive tests and numerous appointments with a kidney specialist.
The medicine was causing chronic dehydration, and it was impacting my kidney function. Needless to say, I stopped the medication and became a camel. My water bottle became another appendage.
Until I began to research what kidney disease was all about, I hadn't worried too much about dehydration, but now I know just how dangerous it can be, especially for people "our age", even dangerous enough to cause hospitalization.
Water, though not exactly the fountain of youth, is at least the “fount of life” and the most critical substance in the human body. Every organ, tissue and cell needs water to function. It transports nutrients, promotes digestion, and carries away waste. Controlling body temperature and ensuring proper blood volume, water keeps skin, mouth, nose and eyes moist.
Preventing thirst is crucial, particularly for those over 60, as it suggests that the optimum level of water in our bodies (50-75% of weight) is already compromised. Seniors are at particular risk because as aging occurs, the amount of water in the body is reduced and the ability to recognize thirst signals greatly diminished.
If enough water isn’t ingested, the body will drain the body’s organs and tissues. Symptoms are: headache, fatigue, poor circulation, muscle spasms, kidney failure, and increased body temperature and pulse rate. Weakness will escalate, and labored breathing, dizziness, and even delirium can result.
A minimum of 64 ounces per day of water, the no-calorie beverage absorbed faster than any other, is the remedy. Milk, juices, soup, and at least five servings of fruits and vegetables (high water content) are good sources for additional fluid intake.
So drink up! Especially water...just in case you missed all those bolded words.
When I finally felt human enough to get up from bed, I promptly dropped to the floor. When I awakened, I looked up at the mountain that my bed had become, struggled to my knees, and climbed Everest to my pillows.
It was so disconcerting to my family that I was rushed to emergency care. The young doctor (She looked 12--although these days, everyone looks 12--policemen, firemen, nurses--they all look like my students) said that it could be any number of things. Her exact words were... "well, you know at your age....". Good heavens...I was already sick. Did she really have to add insult to injury? It was annoying enough to cause a rise in my blood pressure.
After some probbing and blood work, it was determined that I was probably (the reason they call medicine a practice) dehydrated. I was admonished to go home and drink (wine sounded like a good idea, though it was not what the doctor had in mind.)
The second incident was when the blood work came back; it indicated that my kidneys were not functioning as well as they should have been. Well, it turns out that some medication that another doctor had put me on was the culprit. That determination came after many expensive tests and numerous appointments with a kidney specialist.
The medicine was causing chronic dehydration, and it was impacting my kidney function. Needless to say, I stopped the medication and became a camel. My water bottle became another appendage.
Until I began to research what kidney disease was all about, I hadn't worried too much about dehydration, but now I know just how dangerous it can be, especially for people "our age", even dangerous enough to cause hospitalization.
Water, though not exactly the fountain of youth, is at least the “fount of life” and the most critical substance in the human body. Every organ, tissue and cell needs water to function. It transports nutrients, promotes digestion, and carries away waste. Controlling body temperature and ensuring proper blood volume, water keeps skin, mouth, nose and eyes moist.
Preventing thirst is crucial, particularly for those over 60, as it suggests that the optimum level of water in our bodies (50-75% of weight) is already compromised. Seniors are at particular risk because as aging occurs, the amount of water in the body is reduced and the ability to recognize thirst signals greatly diminished.
If enough water isn’t ingested, the body will drain the body’s organs and tissues. Symptoms are: headache, fatigue, poor circulation, muscle spasms, kidney failure, and increased body temperature and pulse rate. Weakness will escalate, and labored breathing, dizziness, and even delirium can result.
A minimum of 64 ounces per day of water, the no-calorie beverage absorbed faster than any other, is the remedy. Milk, juices, soup, and at least five servings of fruits and vegetables (high water content) are good sources for additional fluid intake.
So drink up! Especially water...just in case you missed all those bolded words.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Help!
I fell down a stair well last week and injured my shoulder, hand and both knees to the extent that I must have surgery. It is a scary proposition--no driving for a month afterwards and as much as five months of difficult physical therapy and recovery.
Family and friends have offered their prayers and their help. It is gratifying and allieviates the fear of handling this alone, but it makes me think of those in life who must handle struggles like this without support and without resources to hire help.
Pride is also an issue. I am very independent and enjoy handling challenges myself, but this one has taught me that sometimes we are at the mercy of our situation, and the kindness of others is truly a gift that we should be gracious to accept with great gratitude.
Sometimes people don't know where to go for help especially for the aged who may have dropped out of activites, stopped going to church and are confined to their homes.
"The National Volunteer Caregiving Network (NVCN) is a membership network of local community volunteer caregiving programs, regional and state collaboratives, and individuals who support the work of volunteer caregiving. Membership is open to any organization or individual who believes they can benefit from the National Volunteer Caregiving Network.
The purpose of the National Network is to promote the sharing of knowledge, experience and ideas that can help to strengthen and support the hundreds of local volunteer caregiving programs that are currently active throughout the United States, and to foster and support the establishment of new interfaith volunteer caregiving programs in all communities that want and need the services that volunteer caregivers can provide. Local volunteer caregiving programs bring volunteers of different faiths together to care for their homebound neighbors who may be isolated and living with chronic health conditions or disabilities.
These volunteers come from churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship, as well as from the community at large, and provide many forms of non-medical assistance, such as:
•Transportation to medical and other appointments
•Help with shopping, reading or bill-paying
•Minor home repairs
•Light housekeeping or meal preparation
•Friendly visiting and telephone support
•Respite care for family caregivers
Such simple services can provide the safety net that makes it possible for those with disabling health conditions or other limitations to enjoy a better quality of life and to maintain their independence. The Faith in Action program initiative began in 1983 with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and today there are more than 600 local programs operating in communities across the nation. You may search by state to find a program in your area. If there is not a volunteer caregiving program in your area and you are interested in starting one, please contact the National Volunteer Caregiving Network by calling the toll-free number at 304-907-0428 or by email at info@nvcnetwork.org.
General Inquiries: Kelly, Administrative Assistant E-mail: kelly@nvcnetwork.
Executive Director, Rhonda Anderson E-mail: randerson@nvcnetwork.org
Mail: National Volunteer Caregiving Network, 1359 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003
“When family members and health care providers cannot fill the daily needs of a member of the community, the Faith in Action volunteer fills the gaps. Most belief systems include a mandate to help others. Faith in Action connects neighbors in need with those who want to make a difference.”
Family and friends have offered their prayers and their help. It is gratifying and allieviates the fear of handling this alone, but it makes me think of those in life who must handle struggles like this without support and without resources to hire help.
Pride is also an issue. I am very independent and enjoy handling challenges myself, but this one has taught me that sometimes we are at the mercy of our situation, and the kindness of others is truly a gift that we should be gracious to accept with great gratitude.
Sometimes people don't know where to go for help especially for the aged who may have dropped out of activites, stopped going to church and are confined to their homes.
"The National Volunteer Caregiving Network (NVCN) is a membership network of local community volunteer caregiving programs, regional and state collaboratives, and individuals who support the work of volunteer caregiving. Membership is open to any organization or individual who believes they can benefit from the National Volunteer Caregiving Network.
The purpose of the National Network is to promote the sharing of knowledge, experience and ideas that can help to strengthen and support the hundreds of local volunteer caregiving programs that are currently active throughout the United States, and to foster and support the establishment of new interfaith volunteer caregiving programs in all communities that want and need the services that volunteer caregivers can provide. Local volunteer caregiving programs bring volunteers of different faiths together to care for their homebound neighbors who may be isolated and living with chronic health conditions or disabilities.
These volunteers come from churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship, as well as from the community at large, and provide many forms of non-medical assistance, such as:
•Transportation to medical and other appointments
•Help with shopping, reading or bill-paying
•Minor home repairs
•Light housekeeping or meal preparation
•Friendly visiting and telephone support
•Respite care for family caregivers
Such simple services can provide the safety net that makes it possible for those with disabling health conditions or other limitations to enjoy a better quality of life and to maintain their independence. The Faith in Action program initiative began in 1983 with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and today there are more than 600 local programs operating in communities across the nation. You may search by state to find a program in your area. If there is not a volunteer caregiving program in your area and you are interested in starting one, please contact the National Volunteer Caregiving Network by calling the toll-free number at 304-907-0428 or by email at info@nvcnetwork.org.
General Inquiries: Kelly, Administrative Assistant E-mail: kelly@nvcnetwork.
Executive Director, Rhonda Anderson E-mail: randerson@nvcnetwork.org
Mail: National Volunteer Caregiving Network, 1359 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003
“When family members and health care providers cannot fill the daily needs of a member of the community, the Faith in Action volunteer fills the gaps. Most belief systems include a mandate to help others. Faith in Action connects neighbors in need with those who want to make a difference.”
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Mother's Day is coming
Dear Linda:
My mother raised two children without a husband or family support. She decided not to remarry so we wouldn't have to deal with a stepfather. When we were young, she worked from home so she wouldn't miss any of our activities, and when we went to college, she worked two jobs to pay bills. I didn't understand the extent of her selflessness until I had my own child, and now I know I can never repay her generosity, but I wanted to wish her, and every other single mother who gives so completely, a blessed Mother's Day.
Julia's Grateful Daughter
Dear Julia's Grateful Daughter:
Mothers are extraordinary creatures. They cherish their children and think of little besides their security, contentment and success, put their own desires on hold, and give all that is humanly possible. They sacrifice the bodies of their youth and a simple life of self-centered pursuits.
Regardless of the constant work, exhaustion and worry, mothers still invest every ounce of their energy and emotion into the job of raising their children. The rewards for their self-sacrifice are gray hair, guilt about not doing the job perfectly, being taken for granted, and, ultimately, an empty nest.
Ironically, if asked to do it again, most would do so in a heartbeat-their baby's goodnight kisses, toddler's small hand in theirs, and teenager's laughter and excitement at life's unfolding, all sweet compensation.
Single mothers are particularly amazing-true unsung heroes. Without showing the fear that often darkens their world, they must find the strength, endurance and courage to carry out their awesome responsibility alone and in an environment that is complicated, costly, unsupportive and even hostile.
There is help, however. Read The Single Mother's Book: A Practical Guide to Managing Your Children, Career, Home, Finances and Everything Else by Joan Anderson (Peachtree Publishers) and Going It Alone: Meeting the Challenges of Being a Single Mom by Michele Howe (Hendrickson Publishers).
Visit www.singlemothers.org, www.parenting.ivillage.com, and www.singleparents.about.com for excellent resources, information and support while accomplishing nobly the most important job of all.
My mother raised two children without a husband or family support. She decided not to remarry so we wouldn't have to deal with a stepfather. When we were young, she worked from home so she wouldn't miss any of our activities, and when we went to college, she worked two jobs to pay bills. I didn't understand the extent of her selflessness until I had my own child, and now I know I can never repay her generosity, but I wanted to wish her, and every other single mother who gives so completely, a blessed Mother's Day.
Julia's Grateful Daughter
Dear Julia's Grateful Daughter:
Mothers are extraordinary creatures. They cherish their children and think of little besides their security, contentment and success, put their own desires on hold, and give all that is humanly possible. They sacrifice the bodies of their youth and a simple life of self-centered pursuits.
Regardless of the constant work, exhaustion and worry, mothers still invest every ounce of their energy and emotion into the job of raising their children. The rewards for their self-sacrifice are gray hair, guilt about not doing the job perfectly, being taken for granted, and, ultimately, an empty nest.
Ironically, if asked to do it again, most would do so in a heartbeat-their baby's goodnight kisses, toddler's small hand in theirs, and teenager's laughter and excitement at life's unfolding, all sweet compensation.
Single mothers are particularly amazing-true unsung heroes. Without showing the fear that often darkens their world, they must find the strength, endurance and courage to carry out their awesome responsibility alone and in an environment that is complicated, costly, unsupportive and even hostile.
There is help, however. Read The Single Mother's Book: A Practical Guide to Managing Your Children, Career, Home, Finances and Everything Else by Joan Anderson (Peachtree Publishers) and Going It Alone: Meeting the Challenges of Being a Single Mom by Michele Howe (Hendrickson Publishers).
Visit www.singlemothers.org, www.parenting.ivillage.com, and www.singleparents.about.com for excellent resources, information and support while accomplishing nobly the most important job of all.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Thank the Lord
It is Easter weekend, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the occasion to be thankful that Christ took on the sins of the world so that we might have a place in heaven in the presence of God.
So what's the problem? Unfortunately, it's how we've distorted the honoring of this incomparable gift. Now, I don't have a problem with also celebrating spring with bunnies and baskets and egg hunts. I loved filling my children's baskets with treats and treasures, and some of my fondest memories were my children chasing around the house searching for plastic eggs filled with chocolates, popcorn and quarters, a tradition, by the way, that they didn't want stopped well into their late teens.
But did you read the coverage of parents gone wild at several egg hunts thoughout the country? It's unbelievable---parents who encouraged their tiny children to kick, push and fight other children to grab as many eggs as possible, and if their kids weren't performing well enough, they jumped into the action themselves to grab all they could. Can you imagine adults battling children over colored eggs?
What is wrong with this generation of parents? Do they not know that their behavior says more to their children than any of their words. And what about their values--take, take, take at any cost and at anybody's expense, or their communication to their children that their security and care are really secondary to the needs and desires of their parents.
Perhaps I made a mistake in putting my children first before everything else, but I thought that was my obligation when I brought them into this difficult world. I modeled the behavior I wanted them to emulate. I instilled the values that I hoped they would act out, and I actively encouraged hard work, perseverance and responsible behavior. Then I prayed that they too would adopt those values and choose rightly when they were on their own.
Young parents must recognize that their every choice is a forever imprint on their children and the legacy they hand down from one generation to another. Jesus loved all the little children. He gathered and cherished them. Let's do the same.
So what's the problem? Unfortunately, it's how we've distorted the honoring of this incomparable gift. Now, I don't have a problem with also celebrating spring with bunnies and baskets and egg hunts. I loved filling my children's baskets with treats and treasures, and some of my fondest memories were my children chasing around the house searching for plastic eggs filled with chocolates, popcorn and quarters, a tradition, by the way, that they didn't want stopped well into their late teens.
But did you read the coverage of parents gone wild at several egg hunts thoughout the country? It's unbelievable---parents who encouraged their tiny children to kick, push and fight other children to grab as many eggs as possible, and if their kids weren't performing well enough, they jumped into the action themselves to grab all they could. Can you imagine adults battling children over colored eggs?
What is wrong with this generation of parents? Do they not know that their behavior says more to their children than any of their words. And what about their values--take, take, take at any cost and at anybody's expense, or their communication to their children that their security and care are really secondary to the needs and desires of their parents.
Perhaps I made a mistake in putting my children first before everything else, but I thought that was my obligation when I brought them into this difficult world. I modeled the behavior I wanted them to emulate. I instilled the values that I hoped they would act out, and I actively encouraged hard work, perseverance and responsible behavior. Then I prayed that they too would adopt those values and choose rightly when they were on their own.
Young parents must recognize that their every choice is a forever imprint on their children and the legacy they hand down from one generation to another. Jesus loved all the little children. He gathered and cherished them. Let's do the same.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Exercise to Reverse Aging
I'm back to working out and hating it with a passion right now. My muscles are sore and my joints are aching. You know how it goes in the beginning of a new program. We compulsives attack it with a passion and almost always over do it. Well, that's what I've done--six days a week for almost an hour each visit to the gym after being sedentary for almost six months. Bad idea. It is much better to slowly work up to that kind of a regimen and avoid the excruciating pain. You will be far more motivated to make it the life long commitment it must be to stay healthy and younger.
Exercise is indeed the elixir for aging. When we stop moving, we really start dying, and though I'm sore from overworking some muscles not been used for a while, some of the more chronic pains I was struggling with are subsiding because of exercising. The sore muscle pain will subside as my muscles get strong again, and I will have resolved the muscle aches that result from disuse.
We were meant to move--tending gardens, chasing down food, walking from place to place. Today, everything is with in arm's reach. We don't even have to get up any more to switch the TV channel or answer the phone. And most of us wouldn't consider getting somewhere in any way beside our car.
What's been the consequence beside gaining weight and hurting? Without regular exercise, we are perpetually tired and disinterested; we become soft and weak, and we put ourselves on a collision course with heart, brain and lung disease (muscles that also must be exercised).
An inactive lifestyle impacts physical health adversely in four areas-strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. Being sedentary also puts you at risk for a variety of diseases and disabilities.
Exercise is the prescription for maintaining good health. It improves lung, vessel and heart systems, increases muscle strength and bone density, and keeps the body limber. Those who exercise often look younger, have more energy, sleep better, and have fewer medical visits. They also have a positive attitude, because exercise produces endorphins and relieves depression.
Begin with a complete physical exam, so other causes of your lethargy can be ruled out. Discuss exercise with your doctor, who can suggest the perfect program for your physical condition. Even small changes in your level of activity can be beneficial, like adding regular gardening, heavier housework, or chasing grandkids. Start slowly, but build to 30-40 minutes at least three times a week.
Aerobic activity, like walking (with a goal of 10,000 steps daily), swimming, cycling, and dancing, improves overall health and builds stamina, enabling seniors to handle daily tasks and maintain their independence.
Weight training builds lean body mass and increases strength, (promoting self-reliance), and it jumpstarts metabolism (keeping weight and blood sugar in check). Tai chi and yoga are effective for balance and staying flexible (avoiding falls and injuries).
Call the National Institute on Aging, 800-222-2225 to order their exercise video with guidebook ($7.00), and visit www.nihseniorhealth.gov for exercises to try and free information.
Exercise is vital in slowing down and even reversing the impact of the aging process. Greater physical strength is the best medicine for protecting health, staying independent, and keeping that zest for life.
Exercise is indeed the elixir for aging. When we stop moving, we really start dying, and though I'm sore from overworking some muscles not been used for a while, some of the more chronic pains I was struggling with are subsiding because of exercising. The sore muscle pain will subside as my muscles get strong again, and I will have resolved the muscle aches that result from disuse.
We were meant to move--tending gardens, chasing down food, walking from place to place. Today, everything is with in arm's reach. We don't even have to get up any more to switch the TV channel or answer the phone. And most of us wouldn't consider getting somewhere in any way beside our car.
What's been the consequence beside gaining weight and hurting? Without regular exercise, we are perpetually tired and disinterested; we become soft and weak, and we put ourselves on a collision course with heart, brain and lung disease (muscles that also must be exercised).
An inactive lifestyle impacts physical health adversely in four areas-strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. Being sedentary also puts you at risk for a variety of diseases and disabilities.
Exercise is the prescription for maintaining good health. It improves lung, vessel and heart systems, increases muscle strength and bone density, and keeps the body limber. Those who exercise often look younger, have more energy, sleep better, and have fewer medical visits. They also have a positive attitude, because exercise produces endorphins and relieves depression.
Begin with a complete physical exam, so other causes of your lethargy can be ruled out. Discuss exercise with your doctor, who can suggest the perfect program for your physical condition. Even small changes in your level of activity can be beneficial, like adding regular gardening, heavier housework, or chasing grandkids. Start slowly, but build to 30-40 minutes at least three times a week.
Aerobic activity, like walking (with a goal of 10,000 steps daily), swimming, cycling, and dancing, improves overall health and builds stamina, enabling seniors to handle daily tasks and maintain their independence.
Weight training builds lean body mass and increases strength, (promoting self-reliance), and it jumpstarts metabolism (keeping weight and blood sugar in check). Tai chi and yoga are effective for balance and staying flexible (avoiding falls and injuries).
Call the National Institute on Aging, 800-222-2225 to order their exercise video with guidebook ($7.00), and visit www.nihseniorhealth.gov for exercises to try and free information.
Exercise is vital in slowing down and even reversing the impact of the aging process. Greater physical strength is the best medicine for protecting health, staying independent, and keeping that zest for life.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Aspirin--Pro or Con
Aspirin is one of the most studied and commonly used drugs. It has been long credited with reducing pain, fever, and inflammation (credited with causing both disease and premature aging) in the body. Now there is evidence that it lowers the rate of colon cancer and Alzheimers disease, and, because it is a blood thinner, also lowers the rate of stroke and heart attack. When taken immediately at the onset of heart attack or stroke, aspirin can also reduce their severity and save lives.
Tom Klamet in his piece entitled "Benefits of Aspirin" cites the following facts:
•Aspirin officially has a place in the Smithsonian Institute and is a mainstay in just about every family's medicine cabinet and first aid kit.
•A recent study suggests as many as one percent of air travelers suffer from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to prolonged sitting during long flights. It's been suggested that a low-dose aspirin taken before traveling any distance longer than four hours can reduce the potential for DVT.
•The National Heart Foundation reports that patients who took low-dose aspirin had a 26% reduction in the risk of a nonfatal heart attack, 25% reduction in the risk of stroke and 13% reduction in the risk of death compared to similar patients who didn't take aspirin.
•A daily low-dose aspirin therapy is commonly prescribed to adults to prevent heart attack and stroke and help improve blood flow to the heart.
•Small daily doses of aspirin have proven to be effective in reducing the chances of mini-strokes (in which clogged blood vessels prevent sufficient oxygen from reaching the brain).
•Aspirin is also used to reduce the risk of heart attack in people with clogged coronary arteries, and in those who've already had an attack.
•The latest advancement in aspirin involves a no-swallow tablet that dissolves through the mouth, thus reducing the risk of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
•Aspirin may reduce the risk of heart disease in individuals with diabetes.
•Approximately 36% of the adult US population more than 50 million people are estimated to take aspirin regularly for heart disease prevention.
•Aspirin prevents heart attacks and strokes by blocking platelets from forming blood clots. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also play a role in preventing cancer.
•Studies find that aspirin taken during a heart attack reduces the risk of death by 23%.
•Evidence is rapidly growing that shows aspirin can slow the progression of colon cancer, and preliminary data suggests that regular aspirin use may prevent certain cancers from occurring at all.
•Population-based studies report that an aspirin a day will either slow the progression or even prevent dementia, such as Alzheimers disease.
•There is some evidence that aspirin may increase gall bladder motility and thus be effective in treating gall bladder disease.
•An Australian study suggests that aspirin may guard against severe periodontal disease by protecting the fibers and ligaments around the teeth."
Because aspirin is a drug, there can be adverse side effects. When taking adult or high doses, the common ones include nausea, heartburn, upset stomach, decreased appetite, and excessive bleeding.
On a low-dose regimen, there are minimal side effects, and taking coated-aspirin (which shouldn’t be crushed or chewed) is gentler on the stomach. Be sure to take no more aspirin than prescribed and with a full glass of water for proper swallowing, and with milk, food or an antacid to lessen stomach upset.
Adverse reactions to aspirin include hives, swelling, rashes, mouth ulcers, congestion, sinusitis, polyps, itchy, watery or swollen eyes, breathing difficulties like wheezing and persistent coughing, and in extreme cases anaphylaxis.
Allergic reactions have been observed, but generally on rare occasions. Those who are allergic to inhalants and other drugs, and who suffer with asthma and chronic sinusitis are more susceptible.
It’s critical to discuss the following conditions with a physician before taking aspirin: liver, kidney or heart disease, ulcer, bleeding stomach or blood-clotting disorder, gout, fluid retention or high blood pressure, and asthma or nasal polyps. Discuss also any allergies to ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, nabumetone, oxaprozin and tartrazine.
Tom Klamet in his piece entitled "Benefits of Aspirin" cites the following facts:
•Aspirin officially has a place in the Smithsonian Institute and is a mainstay in just about every family's medicine cabinet and first aid kit.
•A recent study suggests as many as one percent of air travelers suffer from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to prolonged sitting during long flights. It's been suggested that a low-dose aspirin taken before traveling any distance longer than four hours can reduce the potential for DVT.
•The National Heart Foundation reports that patients who took low-dose aspirin had a 26% reduction in the risk of a nonfatal heart attack, 25% reduction in the risk of stroke and 13% reduction in the risk of death compared to similar patients who didn't take aspirin.
•A daily low-dose aspirin therapy is commonly prescribed to adults to prevent heart attack and stroke and help improve blood flow to the heart.
•Small daily doses of aspirin have proven to be effective in reducing the chances of mini-strokes (in which clogged blood vessels prevent sufficient oxygen from reaching the brain).
•Aspirin is also used to reduce the risk of heart attack in people with clogged coronary arteries, and in those who've already had an attack.
•The latest advancement in aspirin involves a no-swallow tablet that dissolves through the mouth, thus reducing the risk of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
•Aspirin may reduce the risk of heart disease in individuals with diabetes.
•Approximately 36% of the adult US population more than 50 million people are estimated to take aspirin regularly for heart disease prevention.
•Aspirin prevents heart attacks and strokes by blocking platelets from forming blood clots. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also play a role in preventing cancer.
•Studies find that aspirin taken during a heart attack reduces the risk of death by 23%.
•Evidence is rapidly growing that shows aspirin can slow the progression of colon cancer, and preliminary data suggests that regular aspirin use may prevent certain cancers from occurring at all.
•Population-based studies report that an aspirin a day will either slow the progression or even prevent dementia, such as Alzheimers disease.
•There is some evidence that aspirin may increase gall bladder motility and thus be effective in treating gall bladder disease.
•An Australian study suggests that aspirin may guard against severe periodontal disease by protecting the fibers and ligaments around the teeth."
Because aspirin is a drug, there can be adverse side effects. When taking adult or high doses, the common ones include nausea, heartburn, upset stomach, decreased appetite, and excessive bleeding.
On a low-dose regimen, there are minimal side effects, and taking coated-aspirin (which shouldn’t be crushed or chewed) is gentler on the stomach. Be sure to take no more aspirin than prescribed and with a full glass of water for proper swallowing, and with milk, food or an antacid to lessen stomach upset.
Adverse reactions to aspirin include hives, swelling, rashes, mouth ulcers, congestion, sinusitis, polyps, itchy, watery or swollen eyes, breathing difficulties like wheezing and persistent coughing, and in extreme cases anaphylaxis.
Allergic reactions have been observed, but generally on rare occasions. Those who are allergic to inhalants and other drugs, and who suffer with asthma and chronic sinusitis are more susceptible.
It’s critical to discuss the following conditions with a physician before taking aspirin: liver, kidney or heart disease, ulcer, bleeding stomach or blood-clotting disorder, gout, fluid retention or high blood pressure, and asthma or nasal polyps. Discuss also any allergies to ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, nabumetone, oxaprozin and tartrazine.
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