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December 14, 2017

Health & Wellness

Sleep apnea, part 2

While obstructive sleep apnea can affect all ages, central sleep apnea affects only older folks.

My daughter, 43 years old, and my daughter-in-law, 52 years old, were recently diagnosed with the sleeping problem. My son, 46 years old, is about to be tested for the illness. So why is it so important to be checked for the disorder? Well, Mayo Clinic provides us with this list of complications that can arise from untreated sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea Part 1: explanation and symptoms

Twenty-two million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, but 80% of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea cases appear to go undiagnosed. Those of us who sleep solo nightly/daily may not be aware of our snoring or breathing habits. And with the epidemic of overweight U. S. citizens increasing in number, so too are the case statistics for this health disorder.

Reduce that sodium intake!

Besides the major problems of senior kidney and cognitive functioning, Kay Alberg, a Mayo Clinic Health System registered dietitian in the Community Shopper, explains that “Sodium intake is associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.”

How to develop strong health habits

Here are three simple suggestions that will help you to make sound habit development, whether it be quitting smoking, increasing social life through charter club or support group volunteering, or stimulating one’s mind with appropriate reading material.

Wanted: Outstanding pool etiquette and pool sanitary behavior

We are thoroughly entrenched in the “dog days of summer,” having already received multiple warnings about too much sun and too many biting disease-bearing ticks. Concerning our indoor and outdoor pools, Sun City/Huntley’s seniors should have been taught by now how to enter our community’s swimming lanes using notification of their presence as a form of safe and proper etiquette.

Top your pizza with probiotics?

You may expect more bugs in your food this summer! Though in the recent past, you might have only found probiotics in your yogurt, now food companies are adding the digestive and immune system helpers to granola, juices, baking mixes, and even pizza and water!

2 types of Alzheimer’s, part III

Serious memory loss problems experienced in the senior years come under one umbrella term: “dementia.”

These frustrating situations have a plethora of causes, too. These include bad drug reactions, depression, inadequate diet, consuming too much alcohol, blood clots or tumors in the brain, head injuries, and thyroid, kidney, or liver problems, as well as vascular dementia.

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

An estimated 500,000 Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) this year alone. At present, brightfocus.org/ADR explains that AD “is (now) the only disease among the top 10 causes of death in America (including cancer and heart disease) that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed.” Therefore, it behooves Sun Citians to understand the warning signs of the dreaded disease as found at alz.org/10 signs.

Slowing down Alzheimer’s

As we age, our brains tend to develop memory loss and daily life cognitive difficulties. Did you know that 5.5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of senior mental decline or dementia? Today Alzheimer’s accounts for 60 to 80 percent of Americans’ progressive loss in thinking, memory, and behavior.

Setting the avocado record straight

A tropical fruit that grows on trees, native to South America and dating back to Inca Indian times, the avocado requires a tropical climate for growth. If temperatures fall below freezing for only one day, its tree will die. As a result, U.S. avocados are grown in the states of California and Florida.

Prostate cancer risk factors, part 2: Controversial screening debate and cancer/non-cancer treatments

In April, 2017, the Wall Street Journal, AARP Bulletin, and Northwest Herald reported on the latest positive recommendation from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force concerning the use of P.S.A. (prostate specific antigen) testing for men 55 to 69 years of age of average risk and higher risk for developing cancer.

Prostate cancer risk factors, part 1


Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer that develops in males, other than skin cancers. This year, more than 1 million men will be diagnosed worldwide. It has become the second leading cause of cancer deaths among male Americans.

Think Before You Drink Part 2: Are you drinking too much and what can you do to cut back?

The March 2017 publication of “Lifestyles After 50” states that some seniors may have been drinking for many years earlier and already are physically and mentally dependent on alcohol.

Think before you drink, part 1

Are you aware of the fact that drinking in excess may become more dangerous as you age?

Other important facts you should know about heart disease

Heart disease is the U.S. #1 cause of death, responsible for one in every four deaths.

Seven simple steps towards heart health

In 2010, the American Heart Association introduced “Life’s Simple Seven,” which were steps the public could take to reduce their risk of developing heart disease. A new study informs us that over the span of 11 years, people who met three or four of the heart health steps had a 55% lower risk of cardiac mortality than those who adhered to two or fewer of the criteria.

It’s healthy snack time!

Most of us engaged in big-time snack eating throughout the recent exciting Super Bowl football game. The question remains: Did we control the calories and nutrition level of what we devoured?

Winter low-impact fitness routines

Now that we are thoroughly entrenched in the cold, cloudy days of the Midwest winter, what are we to do to lift our physical and mental health?

Visiting your doctor as your own best patient advocate

As we age, office visits to our health providers will inevitably become more numerous. With today’s average of 15-20 minutes allotted for doctor visits, it behooves us to become our own best patient advocates.

Gratitude is an attitude that can continue to make us happy

Chuck Swindoll, an 82-year-old Evangelical Christian pastor and author of 70 self-help books, is also a radio and audio preacher who gives people, especially seniors, insight for living daily with difficult situations. Here is one of Swindoll’s outstanding poems to help guide us through life under situations that we wish were different.

With the correct attitude, you can still be in control of your happiness!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful

With the first polar vortex arriving this December, and temperatures already plunging into the single digits and below, winter has arrived without much warning. With winter’s grand entrance, what can Huntley residents do to cope with sudden snow and cold? Whether it’s what to pack in your car or how to stock your home, both the Huntley Fire Department and the Neighborhood watch have some answers.

Ring out the allergies this holiday season!

The Winter Holidays can be an extremely stressful time of the year for the 50 million Americans (one in every 5 adults and children, often otherwise healthy) who suffer from runny noses, breathing problems, itchy eyes, and headaches – all or any of which may be symptoms of allergic reactions during Christmas/Hanukah festivities.

Cranberries: The super food of the holidays

Found often on hostess tables throughout November and December, cranberries may appear in a variety of sauces, jells, and drinks, as well as in fresh or dried cranberry form added to yogurt, salads, casseroles, stuffing, or dessert. Because Native Americans used cranberries not only for food, but also for medicine and clothing dyes, the fruit’s connection with the holidays seems to be a natural derivation.

A psychological boost from the Cubs’ win

What a past week this has been (November 2 through November 8)!

With two exciting news media results, I would like to discuss the one dearest to sports fans here in the Chicago area: our Cubbies’ World Series Victory!

Low-impact fitness

Sun Citians should ALL be aware of the benefits of regular exercise and physical activity: improved mobility, stamina and independence, improved mental health, reduced cholesterol and blood pressure levels, increased bone health, and reduced risk of falls.

Stop the sneezing!

Ever get itchy, watery eyes and a constantly running nose, and of course, a scratchy throat caused by seasonal (fall and spring) allergies? You’re not alone.