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July 31, 2014

Health & Wellness

Cancers that are skin deep, part 1

Now that the longer, sunnier days of summer mean more fun outdoors, Sun Citians need to become even more vigilant in the care of their skin, our body’s largest organ (20 square feet in area).  As seniors, we are at high risk for developing skin cancer on our aged skin’s outer covering of three layers, the epidermis.  In fact, over 50% of deaths associated with skin cancer occur in people over the age of 65.   Here are some more very disturbing facts on the disease.

One step forward at a time

If you are fortunate enough to own a dog as a pet, you should be already engaging in the sport and exercise of walking. An advantage of Sun Citians who have larger canine animals is definitely the real possibility of walking greater lengths and greater speeds on a frequent daily basis (as you will read in Part 2/last paragraph). For a larger population of our community this summer, let’s also try walking!

These feet were made for walkin’ … one step forward at a time, Part I

The Report to the Surgeon General on Physical Activity and Health issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia shows alarming statistics that most older adults aren’t getting enough exercise. It states that one in three men and half of women by age 75 are completely sedentary in their leisure time.

A portrait in resilience: Surviving successive multiple major surgeries

Terry Hora is an amazing 71 year old resident of our community! Like the mythical Phoenix, he has risen from the ashes, those of pain and disability, to overcome multiple heavy-duty surgeries in just 14 months and 3 weeks. Let me tell you his story and how it might help all of you with future medical difficulties.

Our Hard Working Kidneys, Part IV: Treatment and Research

As mentioned in past articles on this topic, prevention is always the goal with kidney failure. Lifelong diligence is important in keeping blood sugar and blood pressure under control.

Our hard working kidneys, Part 3: Risk factors for aged kidneys

Two types of physicians prevail over the “kidney scene.” One is the urologist or kidney surgeon and the other is the nephrologist or kidney specialist. Gary Curhan, nephrologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, discusses chronic kidney disease in “Be Kind to Kidneys” a March, 2014 Nutrition Action Healthletter.

Our Hard Working Kidneys, Part II: Causes, symptoms of kidney failure

A look into what causes kidney failure and how it is manifested in the body.

Our hard working kidneys

March is National Kidney Month and is an important time for us to learn the detection and prevention of problems involving these very necessary renal system organs. The National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org) explains that 26 million American adults have chronic kidney disease.

C difficile, Part 3: Transplant saves a resident’s life

While half of all C diff cases occur in people under 65, 90 percent of its fatalities occur to those over 65.
Recent research proves fecal microbiota transplantation has become a viable option for patients not responding to antibiotics.

Learn about the fast-spreading bacteria C. Difficile, Part II

According to Rockford’s WREX.com: “Two of the most common (and often life-threatening) bacterium found in Illinois hospitals are C diff and MRSA, a virulent staph infection. The C diff rate has more than doubled in the last decade, while MRSA rates have remained steady.”

Learn about the fast spreading bacteria C difficile Part 1: Facts, symptoms, and treatment

This 3-part series will give you an understanding of the dangerous intestinal tract bacteria known as C difficile (Clostridium difficile), more commonly called C. diff.

Profiles in Courage: Managing MS

My four part series on Multiple Sclerosis has illustrated the bravery shown by Sun City’s seniors who have struggled with the disorder’s varying symptoms through a large segment of their lives. Resident Carol Schaefer has a phenomenal story to tell about her struggle to maintain physical strength.

Profiles in Courage

Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 50 years old. Because many other conditions mimic MS, it is a disease difficult to diagnose.

Managing MS: Part II: Four courses of MS and Multiple Sclerosis symptoms

Sun City resident and MS Ambassador Sue Iwinski explains “MS is divided into two major classifications: relapsing-remitting and progressive.” Inside those two larger titles, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society informs says “people with MS can typically experience one of four disease courses, each of which might be mild, moderate, or severe.”

Profiles in courage: Managing MS

It is estimated that over 2.3 million people are affected by multiple sclerosis worldwide. MS is managed by approximately 400,000 Americans or one in every 700 American adults.

Profiles in Health: Paul Souchek

According to Social Securi­ty’s 2010 Life Expectancy Report, American men should live an average of 76.3 years. Sun City resident Paul Souchek defied the odds, celebrating his 90th birthday on Sept. 30, 2013.

Winterizing the body and mind

We take great preparation in winterizing our cars, air conditioners, sprinkling systems, and outside drainage pipes. As seniors, however, it is much more important to winterize our physical and mental selves. How can we keep winter sniffles and blues down to minimum occurrences?

Pumpkin power

‘Tis the season of autumn and time to celebrate the amazingly versatile and incredibly healthy squash fruit/vegetable known as the pumpkin. Introduced to the pilgrims by Native American Indians, the pumpkin was documented as having been served during the second Thanksgiving meal.

The high cost of low vision, Part 4: Low vision’s support resources, cost of services, research

“Helping someone with low vision and giving them the tools to live independent, productive, and happy lives can hopefully be achieved by listening to qualified speakers, learning about adaptive tools and technologies and available resources,” Marlene Pilger, one of the two ladies who started M’Eye Low Vision Group, said, summarizing the group’s mission.

The high cost of low vision, part 3: The use of rehabilitation/therapy and technology

Remembering regular eye checkups is critical to controlling and limiting damage done to our eyes as seniors. With proper management, even those eye diseases that can cause blindness can usually be helped.

The high cost of low vision, Part II: How M’Eye Low Vision Support Group can help those with low vision

Certainly one of the priceless perks of living in our senior community is our residents’ easy accessibility to support groups. All of these groups are exclusively for Sun City/Huntley seniors and are facilitated by our residents.

The high cost of low vision Part 1: Low vision’s four most common eye disorders and their symptoms

As we grow older, it is normal for our eyes to change. John Hopkins Medical Publication (Sept. 2013) tells us “Advancing age also puts you at risk for more serious eye diseases, as do chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are among the most common causes of serious visual impairment, and their frequency is rising.”

Ticks are in the thick of it – Part II: Symptoms and complications of Lyme Disease

From Part 1 of this 2 Part Series, we learned that the blood-thirsty tick is an arachnid (related to the spider and scorpion), who, through its bite, spreads a dangerous form of bacteria. In the Northeastern and Upper Midwestern parts of our country, the resulting illness, Lyme disease, has reached epidemic proportions in recent years.

Ticks are in the thick of it – Part 1: Statistics, preventative measures, and tick removal technique

Having lived in the Kildeer/Long Grove area for 35 years, I am quite aware of that pesky, bloodsucking, disease-transmitting arachnid referred to as a tick.

The brutal impact of lupus, Part II: Lupus diagnosis guidelines and treatment options

In Part 1 of this series, lupus (SLE) was described as a very serious autoimmune disease, where over a period of time, the body’s defense system can attack multiple organs in the body. No single test exists today that can confirm a positive diagnosis of lupus.

The brutal impact of lupus, Part I: Background information and difficulty in diagnosis

“Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood disease in which the immune system is out of balance, causing damage to [possibly] any organ system in the body,” Diane Magerko, a volunteer for Lupus Foundation of America, Illinois Chapter, said.