Q. My mother-in-law has fallen several times in her home, and we’d like to make her home safer. What are some ways we can make her home more "fall-proof?" A. If your mother-in-law is living alone, then you and she may wish to speak your local office of the aging, or a social worker, to determine if she needs more assistance to live more safely at home for as long as possible. A home evaluation can also be conducted to determine what special needs your mother-in-law may have. Some communities…

How does aging affect the nervous system? Almost all of us become aware of changes in memory and thinking (cognition) as we get older. We begin to have difficulty recalling names of persons and places, note that mental processing has slowed and learning is more difficult, and find that certain visuomotor functions (motor skills involving vision, such as eye-hand coordination) are also slower. When should memory loss become a concern? This question is difficult to answer because memory loss…

For most older people, good health and an active lifestyle is an achievable goal with proper nutrition, medical check-ups, treatment of common risk factors, and attention to personal safety. The risk of heart attacks and strokes is reduced with treatment of hypertension and high cholesterol, smoking cessation, and good control of diabetes. Periodic check-ups, mammograms and PAP smears for women help to identify early but treatable diseases; and immunizations (influenza, bacterial pneumonia, for…

Age sometimes brings changes that weaken your eyes, but there are things you can do to maintain lifelong eye and overall health. The solution may be as simple as using brighter lights around the house to help prevent accidents caused by weak eyesight or seeing your doctor more frequently to screen for age-related diseases. Preventing eye problems While eye problems and eye diseases become more prevalent with age, many can be prevented or corrected if you: See your family physician…

Memory and aging Memory: "The power or process of reproducing or recalling what has been learned and retained" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Our ability to remember and to recall our past is what links us to our families, to our friends, to our community. As we age, subtle changes in memory occur, sometimes unnoticed, but at other times disturbing to ourselves or others. Most normal changes in memory and cognition ("The act or process of knowing including both awareness and judgment")…

Q. My mother is 73 and in good physical health. In the past few years, however, she has developed a worsening word-finding problem. This has progressed to the point where sometimes she can barely get a sentence out. Other times she is more fluent and can make herself understood or ask a question. She has also exhibited signs of confusion and forgetfulness. I suspect she may be depressed, but other than that I don't know what could be wrong. Her doctor cannot find any pathology responsible for…

What is stress? Stress can involve a recent change or a daily pressure. Stress happens to everyone and can be motivating and productive or negative and destructive. Tension and anxiety, as well as depression, are frequent emotional consequences of stress. The mind and body are linked throughout our lives. We must learn to respect both our emotional and physical needs, or we will lose our equilibrium and ability to adapt.Why do some experts feel that women are particularly susceptible to…

The challenges of aging Life expectancy is increasing for Americans. The fastest-growing segment of the population is the 85-and-older age group. Despite advances in health care, however, many elderly people have chronic, incurable progressive diseases and need assistance with the activities of daily living. The greatest challenge facing us as we age is the prevention of physical disability and the extension of "active life expectancy." Fortunately, recent studies suggest that healthy…

What is stress? Stress is defined as "any stimulus, such as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism." Put simply, stress is our response to daily life. The right amount of stress can be a positive force. It helps us do our best work and keeps us alert, energetic, focused, and engaged in the world around us. However, too much stress can leave us anxious, depressed, and uncomfortable. Everyday life continually presents us with stressful…

What are women's roles in society today? Women have taken on multiple roles to adapt to changes in society today. They continue meeting household and family responsibilities, while at the same time working and trying to maintain personal interests. Women can view these roles as challenges, or they can perceive them as threats. As demands increase to fulfill these roles, women often feel a sense of losing control and helplessness, making them prone to stress and burnout. For most women, stress…

Signs of Stress Signs of stress include: Apathy, lack of energy Difficulty making decisions Difficulty "keeping track" of things Feeling on edge A change in eating habits Sleeping more than usual or difficulty getting to sleep Being more emotional Using alcohol or drugs to relieve or forget stress Symptoms of stress Symptoms of stress include: Chronic back pain Tension headaches Neck pain Gastrointestinal problems (pain, diarrhea) Palpitations When to seek…

Planning for the Holidays In Great Britain the word "holiday" has the same meaning as vacation. Many Americans would find this comparison laughable. For most of us, the holidays come with our own "to-do" lists. Too often we take holiday stress for granted. What's worse, we often have higher expectations for this season than for any other time of the year. Planning for the holidays can leave us feeling impatient, cranky, and — in some cases — depressed. When the realities of…

Coping With Life's Big Changes Coping usually involves adjusting to or tolerating negative events or realities while attempting to maintain your positive self-image and emotional equilibrium. Coping occurs in the context of life changes that are perceived to be stressful. Psychological stress is usually associated with negative life changes, such as losing a job or loved one. However, because all changes require some sort of adaptation, even positive changes, such as getting married or having…

Is your job killing you? Job stress has been linked with everything from loss of sleep, depression and heart disease to decreased productivity, missed work days and violent behavior. Yet while one worker may stay up counting sheep over tomorrow's deadline, his coworker may excel under pressure. Is it me or my job? The most stressful jobs are those that provide few opportunities for making decisions or changes. Think of the conveyor belt that runs faster and faster while the worker tries…

When appropriately applied, stress management training can reduce the degree and intensity of your current stress reactions and help you develop skills for preventing additional, harmful stress reactions. Concepts of stress management training Stress reactions take five general forms: Subjective experience of distress, as in feeling tense, anxious, worried, harassed Physical symptoms in response to stress, such as raised blood pressure, tension headaches, upset stomach Responding to…

What is an Exercise Stress Test? An exercise stress test involves exercising on a treadmill or stationary bicycle while you are closely monitored. Exercise stress tests are used to: Determine how well your heart and body tolerate activity Evaluate the function of your cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels) Help determine the presence and severity of heart disease Evaluate the effectiveness of your cardiac treatment plan The results of your exercise stress test will help…

Exercise is an important part of improving and maintaining normal, comfortable back function. It is important to exercise regularly so that you can maintain your fitness level. What are the Different Types of Exercise? Exercise can be divided into three basic groups: Strengthening— using repeated muscle contractions until the muscle becomes tired Stretching or flexibility— slow, sustained lengthening of the muscle Aerobic— steady exercise using large muscle…

Sometimes, the hardest part of exercising is simply finding the motivation to do so. We set up mental barriers to give us excuses to not exercise. Overcoming these obstacles can be tricky, but they only serve to prevent you from becoming a better and healthier individual. How Can You Overcome Your Barriers? The answer to this is to find something that motivates you. Make exercise personal. Use a chronic health condition, family history or positive outcome (like keeping medication costs down)…

Being adventurous about trying new fitness trends is a great way to prevent boredom and overcome certain performance plateaus. But it can be risky. The fitness community is not well-regulated and, in some instances, individuals lacking knowledge of physiology have created fitness options that are not effective and possibly unsafe. Let’s look at a few of the most popular fitness trends and sort myth from fact. Trend 1: Flexibility Guidelines for flexibility have changed drastically within the…

As people age, changes take place in the nervous and muscular systems that make the body less able to activate the muscles. Studies show that this process can be slowed considerably through activity and exercise. Bone Density and Muscle Strength A relationship has been established between bone density and inactivity. Increased stress on bones stimulates bone growth, while lack of stress decreases bone growth. Weight-bearing activities (activities that make the muscles work against gravity,…