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Stay Alert for These 5 Common Aging-Related Conditions

5/21/2015

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I love being this age...I'm wiser (that's not hard...), drama-free, sincerely self-confident (no pretending to not care what people I hardly know think of me...I really like me now so I genuinely don't care if someone doesn't, unless I've grown to value his/her opinion), calmer, and generally the best person inside and out I've ever been (that includes no more monthly cramps, mess, & bloating from a long gone menstrual cycle...). 

Youth is vastly overrated; I don't pine for it (those poor folks who peaked in high school or college...) nor do I value it more than age.

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That said, with aging comes a few non-lethal ailments beyond the aches of minor arthritis, and I don't mean high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or obesity, all problems for many Boomers that can be exacerbated by age and so many years of poor health habits, but not necessarily age-related.

The following 5 conditions are likely to occur once you've reached a certain age (eg over 50), all remediable if you stay alert for them:

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  • Shingles
    You've seen the commercials about this painful skin rash which occurs when the virus that caused chickenpox during childhood returns for round two.  Before age 50, the chance of developing shingles is just 1-2% but after 50, that chance nearly doubles to 2-3%.

    What to do: Get vaccinated unless you are allergic to the antibiotic neomycin or any component of the vaccine (including gelatin), or have a weakened immune system (usually caused by treatments that use radiation or corticosteroids, or due to conditions such as HIV/AIDS, cancer of the lymph, bone, or blood.  Most insurances cover it, but if uninsured the cost is $200-$300. If you already have it or think you might, see a doctor immediately as the most effective treatment is anti-viral medication used within 72 hours of an outbreak.

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  • Vertigo
    Most common among those hitting middle age, this benign version common to age is a sensation of dizziness most likely caused by natural aging or a head trauma that lodges tiny crystals into the wrong area of the ear, which then send bad information to the brain that knocks off your sense of balance.
    What to do:
    get tested by an ear, nose and throat specialist to rule out more-extreme causes such as a tumor or stroke; iIf correctly diagnosed, benign positional vertigo is treatable at home using one of three "maneuvers," Epley. Semont, or Foster.


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  • Weakened Depth Perception
    We've become quite accustomed to a pair of reading glasses
    in every room, but we're not aware that our depth perception can also change with age, and it can be dangerous (research shows that as depth perception begins to deteriorate, one of the most dangerous driving maneuvers is a left turn in traffic).

    As vision deteriorates over time, eyes can become less symmetrical. For instance, one eye might see things near while the other sees far. This difference affects depth perception.
    What to do:
    have your eyes checked regularly...don't wait until you've had an accident to discover eye-trouble
    .

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  • Tinnitus
    This is that ringing, buzzing, hissing, sizzling sound in your ears and it's fairly common among Boomers as a result of our youthful love of loud rock and roll.  The condition can last for a week to several years.
    Tinnitus is related to high-frequency hearing loss, and is cumulative.  The ringing of the ears makes up for the absence of sound, and once you hear a ring, it's likely to recur.
    What to do: Unfortunately there isn't a treatment for tinnitus, but once you've developed full-blown hearing loss and start wearing hearing aids, there's a 50-70% chance of recovering from tinnitus.  If you have it but no hearing loss, background "white noise" helps to draw attention away from the internal racket (I have tinnitus and this works well for me).
    To prevent the condition, wear earplugs/ear protection whenever you're exposed to lout activities (like concerts or visiting a shooting range).

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  • Menopausal Acne
    Great, just when we're getting hot-flashes and night sweats as we go through meopause, some of us also get teen-ager-like oily skin and red bumps.Just like teen-age acne is caused by hormonal changes, menopause causes estrogen levels to drop and testosterone-like compounds to form, causing acne.  Menopausal acne might not be as severe as a teenager's, but it could last as long as one to two years.  You need not have had acne as a teen to get it now.
    What to do: Retinoids, more commonly known as Retin-A, help prevent and deal with acne. In addition to reducing puffy oil glands, the topical medicine also combats fine lines, wrinkles and skin cancers (nice side-effect!).

OK, I said being older is better than younger...I didn't say it was perfect...  Every age has it's down-side, agreed, but the upsides of being a Boomer far outweigh'em!

You have been officially alerted.

Post Script...

This week we experienced the retirement of two Boomer biggies - one national, one local to Tampa Bay but who set a national record:
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David Letterman (born 1947)

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Gayle Sierens (born 1955)

Letterman hosted The Late Show on CBS for 33years, Sierens has co-anchored prime-time local news for Tampa Bay's NBC affiliate WFLA for 30 years; she was also the first, and still the only, woman to call play-by-play for the NFL (1987).

Enjoy retirement, which I'm sure you'll handle like true Boomers...
we look forward to your second act.

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Tra La...It's May!

5/14/2015

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Ah, May...when, according to the song from Camelot, fiendish thoughts of love awake from their winter slumber:

Tra La, It's May...the lusty month of May
That darling month when ev'ryone throws
Self-control away.

Tra la! It's here!
That shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts
merrily appear!

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So, to honor the tradition of the month that officially kicks off summer love, we offer you love-making tips for Boomers, submitted by listener Jeff C:
  • Wear your glasses to make sure your partner is actually in the bed....and that it's the right person...
  • Set the mood with lighting. (Turn them all off...)
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  • Set timer for 3 minutes, in case you doze off in the middle.
  • Make sure you put 911 on your speed dial before you begin.
  • Write partner's name on your hand in case you can't remember; if you're married, consider a tattoo...that way you're always ready!
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  • Use extra Polygrip so your teeth don't end up under the bed.
  • Have Tylenol ready in case you actually complete the act.
  • Make all the noise you want....the neighbors are deaf, too.
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  • If it works, tell everyone you know about the good news!
  • Don't even think about trying it twice.

You have been officially alerted.

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Always Tired?  Here's Why...and What to Do About It

5/7/2015

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Even with good "sleep hygiene" - no coffee after 3 p.m., a quiet, darkened bedroom (which includes not falling asleep with the TV on) and a reasonable bedtime - many Boomers still feel endlessly tired.

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If you've not adopted the good sleep practices above, that's the first place to start to remedy your endless exhaustion.  But, if you tried all the right good-night's sleep-inducing elements, you've eliminated medical/medically related causes like drug side-effects, GIRD, or sleep apnea, yet still find yourself slogging through the workday, hitting a wall in late afternoon, then read on to find out why & what to do about it, with thanks to our friends at Next Avenue:
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  • Going non-stop & at full speed right up to bedtime
    When your day doesn't stop until you're in bed and turning off the light, there's no way you're going to get a good night's sleep.  Many people go to bed without first slowing down which releases physical and mental tensions.
    What to do: An hour before bedtime, treat yourself like a baby: a warm bath, followed by a quiet activity in dim light such as meditation, journal writing or reading.  But no reading or writing on your computer before bed or in the middle of the night.

  • Daily/Regular anxieties
    Boss or subordinate troubles, economic realities, sick elders, unwelcoming job market and even global terrorism, concerns about our children’s future...we have a ton of things that worry us, and they don't magically disappear at bed time.
    What to do:
      Find meditative/uplifting conduits that you enjoy, whether it's soothing music, 30 minutes of meditation, or an uplifting TV show, and use them each night to help you move away from your worries, calm down, and clear your head of the day's woes.
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  • Sleeping with your animal family members
    Pets have different circadian rhythms than humans; they sleep most of the day, and they shift a lot when sleeping — they get comfortable, then they move. This goes on all night, and whether you admit it or not, it interrupts your ability to get the level of sleep needed to feel rested.
    What to do:
    For two weeks, put your pooch or cat in a crate outside your closed bedroom door. When your pet can sleep quietly in the crate, move the crate inside your room for another two weeks. When the crate training is complete, try letting the dog or cat sleep in his own bed near your bed.
    Discourage all attempts by your pet to jump on your bed and reward all successes for staying in his own bed. (Caveat: Plan on interrupted sleep for a few weeks)

  • Exercising too close to bedtime
    Heavy exercise too close to bedtime raises your core body temperature so your sleep is fragmented at best until your body temperature drops to normal, which may take several hours.
    What to do:
    No exercise at least three hours before bedtime so when you lay your head on that pillow, your body temp will be normal.
    Speaking of temperature, keep the bedroom temperature between 58 and 65 degrees depending on your tolerance for the ideal sleeping climate. Still too cold for you? Pile on the blankets. Just make sure your head (no stocking cap, please) is exposed to the cooler air to help regulate your body temperature.
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  • Drinking too much liquid before bed time
    When you do, you have to get up and pee frequently. Coffee, tea, and colas are not only diuretics, but also stimulants, and even water can be a problem in great quantities right before bedtime.
    What to do: Stop drinking caffeinated drinks after lunch and other liquids at least three hours before bedtime. Peeing at night and aging do not automatically go hand in hand unless you suffer from a prostate issue, sleep apnea or weak pelvic muscles; in those cases, see your doctor for help with the related sleep issues.

You have been officially alerted.


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