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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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July 30, 2015

Health & Wellness

Questioning cancer screenings for seniors, part 2

As mentioned in my Part 1 article about “Questioning Senior Cancer Screenings,” the obvious lifestyle habits of maintainng a normal weight, exercising regularly, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol usage, and protecting one’s skin are important guidelines to follow to reduce the chance of developing cancer as a senior.

Questioning cancer screenings for seniors, part 1

In the year 2014, the American Cancer Society informed us that an estimated 1,665,540 new cases would be diagnosed with the projection of 585,720 deaths that year due to cancer.

Fifty ways to support a caregiver

At the March meeting of Sun City’s Neighborhood Advisory Council, Donna Copeland Hill spoke on the subject of Family Caregivers. Representing the Northeastern Illinois Agency on Aging.

In support of support groups, part 3

While support groups do vary, the basic format is a small group of people (maybe no more than 10-12) who meet on a regular basis to discuss their experiences and provide mutual support for one another.

In support of support groups, part 2

As I said in my August 22, 2013, article on Low Vision, “Certainly one of the priceless perks of living in our senior community is our residents’ easy accessibility to support groups.”

In support of support groups

The halls are alive with the sound of music! If you walk into Family Alliance’s new Huntley location’s building (just outside of Del Webb) at mid morning on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, you will indeed hear singing and musical instruments being played and the sound of both emitting from a support group meeting room.

Balance problems and falls

As I coped with Huntley’s recent ice storm on the morning of Tuesday, March 3, I was reminded of my recent horrific fall on black ice, which took place five days before Thanksgiving 2014.

Yours for the choosing, Part III

I recently saw a sign on a Florida road marquee shouting out “Weight Loss is Fat Crying.” We probably all need to become a part of that “crying scene” sometime in our senior lives. It can be easy as substituting grapes for a brownie to lower calories consumed.

Yours for the choosing, part 2

Overweight predisposes individuals, especially seniors, to a multitude of illnesses and health catastrophes! It isn’t surprising then that recently 13 active Sun City residents revealed among their top 2015 New Year’s Resolutions: Weight Control.

Cutting your weight

While some methods of weight loss might mean putting down the fork, other times it’s a matter of going under the knife; but at what cost? According to Dr. Heydari Amir, the decision to undergo weight loss surgery is a complex one.

Yours for the choosing, part 1

It’s January, the month when many Sun City seniors make their New Year’s 2015 resolutions! According to Suburban Senior’s Magazine (December 2014 to January 2015), “… a recent study found that 22 percent of people give up their resolution(s) within the first week. By the end of March, more than half of the people pledging New Year’s resolutions had fallen from the bandwagon.” How can we then make promises to ourselves that are practical and worth keeping, especially to help our body and mind health?

Gratitude for your life in 2015!

Wouldn’t it be great to continue the holiday tradition of giving thanks throughout the entire new year?

‘Tis the season to be jolly – so put on a happy face (part 2)

We all live in the best location, a Sun City Community, where mirth and merriment abound, especially during each Christmas/Hanukah season. Here are six health reasons to practice smiling promoted by Longevity.about.com in health benefits of smiling.

‘Tis the Season To Be Jolly, so put on a happy face, Part One

With winter’s shortened days of daylight and lengthened days of nightlight comes Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression. Then what better occasion to overcome the “winter blahs” and begin or continue a lifetime of optimistic behavior than during the holiday season!

Am I too late…for the flu shot?

So you don’t want to develop those annoying flu symptoms (fever, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, runny or stuffy nose) that can spread to family and acquaintances. I, myself, was almost too late to receive the long-term effectiveness of this season’s influenza immunization. But after a recent interview with Beth, one of our neighborhood Walgreen pharmacists, I was convinced.

The Ebola Enigma

Although discussions about the Ebola virus run rampant everywhere from newspapers to neighborhood chatter, the truth about the virus is hard to find. Common misconceptions about the virus, ranging from potential symptoms to the virus’s continental spread, have further added to the confusion.

A National and World Epidemic – Suicide: Part 3

In the last few weeks since my Part 2 publication on this topic, a Sun City resident, Ed McFarland, admonished me for not including NAMI’s Suicide Crisis Intervention Suggestions in my column. You see NAMI or the National Alliance on Mental Illness, our nation’s largest non-profit organization, is the final definitive source of info on preventing an unnecessary death for someone in the throes of mental illness.

A national and world epidemic: Suicide, part 2

Matt Damon became a close friend of Robin Williams after the well-loved comedian promoted the making of the 1997 American movie drama “Good Will Hunting” written by Matt and Ben Affleck and starring all three actors. On September 25, Mr. Damon chose to engage in an interview with Katie Couric, anchor of Yahoo Global News, on the subject of suicide and its accompanying depression responsible for Mr. Williams’ death.

A National and World Epidemic: Suicide

When comedian Robin Williams recently committed suicide, he brought the plight of this illness to the foreground in public discussion. Suicide hurts both the victim, as well as those loved ones left behind.

Sepsis, Part 2

Very recently, one of my dear friends lost her husband to Sepsis, which had developed from a urinary tract infection. He had been sick with several health issues having developed over the years since his serious heart surgery.

Sepsis, Part 1: Definition, Symptoms, Risk Factors

What do Pope John Paul II, Muppets Founder Jim Henson, and Actor Christopher Reeve all have in common? They all succumbed to the very deadly Sepsis, which developed from a major infection in their bodies.

Swimming up stream towards a longer and healthier life, part 3

With the recent closure of Prairie Lodge’s indoor pool but the opening of Meadowview’s outdoor pool each morning at 9 a.m. sharp, three swimmers can be seen beginning their daily morning exercise routine for the purpose of gaining specific swim health benefits (described in Part 1 and Part 2 on this topic).

Swimming up stream towards a longer and healthier life, part 2

Let’s review what was mentioned in Part 1 of Swimming’s Health Benefits, in reverse order of importance: 10) The Ability to Recover from Health Issues through Bearing Only 10% of Your Body Weight in the Water; 9) The Increase in Muscle Tone and Strength; 8) Improved Flexibility; 7) A Healthier Heart. In addition to Joe Loughlin’s quote, let me add two more testimonials for the sport of swimming’s ability to strengthen one’s most important muscle—the heart.

Swimming up stream towards a longer and healthier life

Do you remember the 1985 movie “Cocoon” that featured a group of senior citizens receiving newly discovered energy from leaping into and swimming in a nearby pool?  The movie’s source of restored youth was outer-worldly.  Your source of energy can be obtained from the aquatic sport itself.

We Feel the Beat

Cheryl Levinson, Family Alliance’s Director of Strategic Advancement, announces, “Through the generous funding of the National Parkinson Foundation, Family Alliance will soon be offering the ‘We Feel the Beat,’ a music therapy program for persons with Parkinson’s disease.” Four groups will meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Family Alliance’s new Farm Hill Road location.

Cancers That Are Skin Deep, part 3

Treatment and research of melanoma alone has cost the United States 2.36 billion dollars!  Let’s try to shrink that budget by heeding critical warnings. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “The UV Index provides information to help plan outdoor activities and avoid overexposure to the sun.”