The skin is the largest organ of our body protecting our good health and often preventing possible illness. The skin also reveals a lot about our lifestyle, whether we are exercising, eating well or have diabetes. It makes sense, then, to take good care of our skin and taking care of the skin of our feet is important to our foot health.
If you think about it, we put more stress on the skin of our feet simply because of the wear and tear the feet endure. The skin has to be strong enough to survive the walking, the pounding, and elastic enough to stretch as we move and bend. All of which is why the skin on the bottom of our feet is twice as thick as the skin on any other part of our body to cushion and protect the bones of the feet.

That thickness is called the plantar fat pad and it tends to thin as we age.
In fact, as we get older the appearance and texture of our skin changes. There is less blood flow which causes the skin to become drier and thinner and less elastic. The color of the skin also changes and less hair grows on the lower legs and feet. When the plantar fat pad decreases calluses can form on the forefoot and toes and cause a lot of pain.
Here are a few factors that contribute to a dry and cracked skin foot condition:
· Inherited conditions;
· Metabolic factors such as underactive thyroid gland or major weight loss;
· Increasing age which results in decreased lubrication;
· Cool weather especially where humidity is low;
· Air conditioning, central heating or sitting close to a fan or space heater;
· Frequent showering or swimming or bathing especially in heavily chlorinated hot or cold water;
· Frequent contact with soap and detergents;
· Frictional irritation and chapping.
As we get older our skin changes which impacts our feet and lower legs because they become more vulnerable to certain skin conditions and less resistant to calluses, infection and even ulcers. What’s more the skin tears easily and heals slowly. Basic skin hygiene and callous care are things we can do for ourselves to prevent a lot of the negative conditions. Other more serious conditions should be treated by a dermatologist, or podiatrist or your family physician.

If you are over the age of 60 you probably have a problem with foot calluses and some of you have bunions, misshaped toes and thickening of toe nails. It is also not unusual to experience a numbness or lack of feeling in your feet as you age because you lose nerve function. This is called peripheral neuropathy. If this is one of your problems you should be concerned because that lack of feeling makes it more difficult to detect other problems with your feet such as calluses and blisters and they can do serious damage.

Your feet are your foundation; they get you in and out of the car, up the stairs to your office, to your favorite work out center, to your grandchildren and friends. Take good care of them.

Ruthan

 

Ruthan Brodsky

Copywriter & Content Creator

Freelance Health Writer

Freelance Business Writer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
There are also many reasons why you have a problem with dry skin on your feet. It could be poor nutrition, you’re not drinking enough liquids, your circulation has decreased, you are still smoking or it could be part of the normal aging process.

Our skin produces less oil as we age and that results in drier skin. Dry skin without redness, cracking, blistering or scaling can usually be treated with moisturizing lotions or creams. Depending upon the climate where you live the creams can be applied daily or twice a day. Once you’ve identified why your skin is dry and tackled some of the contributing factors such as wearing shoes that are too tight, there are other treatments to consider. These include:
·     Reducing how often you bath or shower. Showers are probably better than baths and when you do shower, use lukewarm water, not hot water.
·     Replacing standard soap with a substitute such as a water soluble emollient, a bath oil or a fatty soap. In fact, if you can, minimize the use of soap.
·    Apply an emollient liberally and often, especially after bathing. The more dry your skin, the thinker the applications. For dry skin that flakes or develops into a thick callus, moisturizing creams or lotions that have a gentle exfoliating acid are helpful. Look for ingredients such as alpha hydroxyl, glycolic or lactic acid which can help dissolve the dry skin while moisturizing the healthy skin.
·     Creams are thicker and work well on extremely dry skin but they can feel greasy.
·     Lotions are better for daily use and feel less greasy.
·     Keep in mind any of these creams can irritate your skin if used too often or the skin doesn’t heal and remains cracked and dry.
Here’s something you should know before you purchase that tube or jar for you dry toes. First the term moisturizer or to moisten and emollient are usually used interchangeable. Depending on which cream you purchased they do one of two actions:
·     The creams are occlusives which provide a layer of oil on the surface to slow down water loss;
·     The creams are humectants, which introduces a substance into the stratum area to increase water capacity.
The best time to apply any moisturizing lotion is immediately after you gently towel drying after you’ve taken your shower or bath. Application of lotion after bathing helps you to retain the moisture of the shower or bath water on your skin.
I think these small treatment hits should improve your foot health.

 

To your sucess at healthy feet.

Ruthan

 

Ruthan Brodsky

copywriter

Tagged with: dry skin feet • plantar fat pad • podiatrist • skin hygein

Filed under: Back Health

One of the latests trends in anti-aging treatment is a red wine resveratrol ( pronounced rex-vair-ah-trawl) pill is making its mark as the new anti-aging pill. Researchers at LifeGen Technologies in Madison, Wisconsin were recently interviewed on CBS-TV’s 60 Minutes. They reported last September that Longevinex ®, a patent –applied –for nutriceutical matrix, activates 9-fold longevity genes. That’s more than plain resveratrol at a far lower dose than previously reported.
Resveratrol is a molecule found in red wine. It’s been touted that it works the same way a calorie restricted diet works, extending life. Most people won’t deprive themselves of food, even though it may mean living longer. They will, however, take a pill to live longer.
Because it would require over 90 years proving that this intervention prolongs life in humans, researchers believe gene studies in mice demonstrate an accurate method. The mouse has about the same number of genes as humans (about 30,000) and many of its genes show the same functions.
Those who have reservations about the findings report that a person would have to take a mega-dose of resveratrol and the research with animals showed that animals fed mega-dose resveratrol didn’t live as long as animals on a normal calorie diet. Many of the resveratrol pills sold online and in stores also suggest mega dose yet the lower doses, like those found in a 3 or 5 ounce class of red wine appear to work better.
The bottom line – the approval of a pharmaceutical version of a red wine anti-aging pill may be years away if it ever does gain approval.
Would you take the pill if it were available as a nutritional supplement? I believe I could subtitle this post with how energy bars, energy drinks, chocolate, or a Snickers Charged bar effect you also. There are cola drinks that contain more caffeine than a red eye at Starbucks.
Whatever way you look at it, caffeine is the choice of drug for nine out of 10 Americans and another one of the new trends in anti aging treatment. I know I like my morning jolt. I also like it during the afternoon especially when I am on deadline for a news story or a project for a client.

Whatever the reason, I find it interesting that I have been reading snippets about some of the good side effect of coffee such as coffee drinkers have a lower risk of hospitalization for abnormal heart rhythms. This effect does not apply to me personally or to anyone I know, but it makes me feel better that coffee is good for something!

There is also some evidence to support that people who consume caffeine regularly have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. That is from research at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. Apparently people who have Parkinson’s and drink coffee lose less of the brain cells that produce dopamine. (Ann.Neurol.52:276,2002).
Interestingly, people who drink two to three cups of coffee a day are at lower risk of gallstones than people who do not drink.

I enjoy coffee because it improves my mental performance. At least I think it does and that may be all that matters.  This would be a great time to tell us whether coffee or some other source of caffeine works for you or if you have had a problem with caffeine. I see 2 more posts about caffeine in the future of this blog.

Share your thoughts and experiences.
To your healthy aging.
Ruthan Brodsky
Copywriter
Freelance Health Writer
Freelance Business Writer

Filed under: Uncategorized

Many of us have the idea that since a drug is sold from the drugstore shelf, it must be safe to use. I will bet you didn’t know the over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are sold directly to consumers not because they’re harmless but because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks.The fact is almost every OTC drug poses some risk, especially if taken in mega doses or with the wrong foods or other medications.
Granted, most of the OTC medications are no where near the same level of risk as many prescription drugs. And some prescription drugs have fewer side effects than their OTC counterparts. Benadryl, for example, can slow your reaction time as much as 3 to 5 alcoholic drinks. Prescription allergy drugs usually cause a lot less drowsiness.
There may also be ingredients in OTC medications that are unsafe. It’s up to the manufacturer to test for quality of products. Not that long ago Phenolphthalein, once used in laxatives and phenylpropanolamine, used in decongestants, were declared unsafe and were taken off the market.
You need to be especially careful when taking OTC meds because they are more susceptible to misuse. You need to be even more careful when you are diagnosing yourself rather than letting your doctor do the diagnosing. Misdiagnosis happens frequently if the drug you’re taking masks the symptoms of your problem.
You may also be getting inadequate treatment when you diagnose yourself. Or you could be taking too much of the drug because your doctor isn’t involved. Overdoses may also happen inadvertently when people are taking OTC meds. That could happen if you are treating a cold and taking Tylenol, flu tablets, extra zinc, plus meds for heartburn.
Drug interactions are another problem area. Without someone having a handle on the medications you take and the ingredients of the meds you’re buying on line, it is highly likely there will be some sort of negative reaction. Even food and drink can interfere with the OTC drug you’re taking. Trying to calm your stomach, for instance, by drinking lots of milk and taking antacids containing calcium or sodium bicarbonate may eventually cause serious kidney problems.
As you get older, your body is less efficient at getting rid of the drugs in your system. As a result they may reach higher levels in your blood. Even at normal blood levels, the side effects of many OTC drugs are more pronounced. To make matters worse, the suggested average dosage testing probably never included anyone past 50 which means the amount an older person takes might be too much – and in some cases too little for the drug to be effective.
Be sure to ask your physician if there are nonprescription drugs you should avoid. And tell you doctor about all the OTC drugs you’re taking including medicines, supplements and herbs. Aspirin, for example, can change the urine-sugar tests for diabetes.
Read the label and be sure you know what you’re doing before you diagnose and treat yourself with OTC medications.
If you use a special technique to keep track of your medications, prescribed and OTC, let us know. We’d like to share those ideas with the rest of the group.
Scroll down to “Comments” and type what you do in the blank window.
To your successful aging,
Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Freelance Health Writer
Freelance Business Writer
Copywriter

Tagged with: OTC misuse • risk of OTC drugs • self diagnosis

Filed under: Uncategorized

Digestive health is a big concern these days making the probiotics or friendly bacteria market valued at $2 billion dollars by 2013. Even though more of the big food companies are touting the wonders of probiotics, most people have no idea what probiotics are and what they do.

Probiotics are live microorganisms, in most cases, bacteria.  They are usually called ‘friendly bacteria or good bacteria that are similar to the bacteria found in your body. Although you may not need probiotics to be healthy, these microorganisms may provide some of the same health benefits that the bacteria already existing in your body do, such as helping you with digestion and protection against harmful bacteria.

Most of us get our probiotics by taking dietary supplements and foods. Today, they are everywhere in the US especially in the functional food scene.  Live, active cultures are found in fermented dairy products such as yogurt as well as in miso, in some infant formulas, juices, soy beverages, granola, cereals and capsules.

Interestingly there is no legal definition for probiotics although it’s widely accepted scientific definition established by the World Health Organization is “live microorganisms which when given in appropriate amounts offer a health benefit to the host” which would be you and I.

People use probiotics to prevent and treat certain illnesses and support general wellness.  However, effects found from one species or strain of probiotics do not necessarily hold true for others. In addition there is limited evidence supporting some of the uses of probiotics and more scientific knowledge is needed including about their safety and appropriate use.

Even so friendly bacteria are vital to the proper development of your immune system and to protect you from the unfriendly bacteria which can cause disease. Most probiotics are bacteria similar to those found in your gut. Some probiotic foods date back to ancient times such as fermented foods and cultured milk products. Each person’s mix of bacteria varies so that the interaction between a person and the microorganisms in the body and among the microorganisms themselves can be crucial to your health and well being.

As with any dietary or herbal supplement, talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment.

To learning more about preventive health.

Ruthan Brodsky

PS If you have tried any probiotic treatments, tell us about your experience. I know I feel better on those days I eat yogurt. Let’s find out what works experientially!!

 

Ruthan Brodsky

Copywriter and Content Creator

Freelance Business Writer

Freelance Health Writer

Tagged with: digestion help • probiotics • protect immune system

Filed under: Aging Gracefully

I was looking at a few books I purchased 5 years ago and more and then looked at a few more recent ones all of which were about health. I bought the books because they were at one time best sellers on the health and fitness market and I wanted to find out why people were buying them.
I did not trust the information in any of these books but somehow what they offered was particularly appealing to those who recognized they were getting older and weren’t pleased with the results. Or maybe they thought they could do better if they took a different approach.

 

What’s amazing is that many of today’s scams are a variation on a theme. The ads on TV, in new best sellers, in online publications and videos on U tube still claim to cure cancer, get rid of arthritis and improve your memory while making you look 20 years younger.

None of us are kids anymore and we know that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is- not true that is.  

Even so, we forget all that we know from experience and grab onto an instant of insecure hope. It’s not that horrible when some unproven remedy offers false hope for a quick and painless cure and at worst the treatment is worthless and we wasted our money. The fact is many of us probably rationalized that we weren’t going to waste that much money when we bought the product in the first place, but what if…?

The danger enters when the remedy or the product do cause harm. We all have heard horror stories of people who stayed away from conventional medical treatment because they were counting on a special active ingredient found only in this herb and distributed only by such and such company that will completely cure you of cancer or aids or fatigue. So often these are people who live with a chronic condition or are suffering from a disease so miserably that they will try anything. I personally know of a woman who refused all treatment for breast cancer and relied on her nutritional supplements. She passed away way too early.
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It is up to you to protect yourself and your family and friends from these health scams. Be wary about what you see or hear in ads or read on the internet. Find out about the product and the company before you buy anything and do not let a sales person or a sales page on the internet push you into a snap decision.

Check with your doctor about the product or remedy if you have any questions.

Have you ever bought something that you thought would give you the magic pill to stay young, or lose weight, or make your hair thick? Most of us are sorry we did it by the time the package is at our door. Tell us your story and what you did with the package or what happened after you read the book. Maybe your response will help someone else avoid the same mistake.
To your good successful aging.
Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Health Writer
Business Writer
Content Creator

Tagged with: health scams • magic pill to stay young

Filed under: Prevention

If I’d known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself. That’s what the great ragtime composer and pianist Eubie Blake said at the age of 99 when he was still performing. He died the next year.
If you are 40 or 50 or even 60 you may not be giving much thought to the challenges ahead of aging. That is too bad because just as you need to plan for your future financial needs when you don’t have an income, we all should be planning for optimum health regardless of our age.
Now you can ask, what would you prepare for?
Some diseases, such as Alzheimer and certain cancers, continue to baffle the researchers. However, research has shown that the earlier you are diagnosed for one of the cognitive diseases, the more able to delay the major disabilities that accompany the disease. There are still a lot of diseases then that can be prevented, or slowed or minimized with a healthy lifestyle and regular health screening.
The fact is the more you do in middle age, the more you do at any age, to the better off you’ll be.
Obesity is a major problem for middle aged and older adults. The reports say that three-quarters of adults, age 60 and older, are overweight or obese. Obesity is related to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast and colon cancer, gall bladder disease and high blood pressure.
To make matters worse, more than 40 percent of adults 60 years and older have a combination of risk factors known as metabolic syndrome which puts people at higher risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast and colon cancer, gall bladder issues and high blood pressure.
What can you do? It’s no secret. The best way to fight weight is to increase your exercising, reduce the amount of food you eat and the amount of alcohol you drink. Just in case you didn’t know, calories from alcohol go right to the gut.
You can also increase your healthy fat intake that is taking in more foods with omega-3 fatty acids and unsaturated fats. It would also be a good idea to eliminate transfats from your diet because they do you absolutely no good.
In middle age, the best idea is to eat foods as close to naturally prepared as possible. I understand that doing all this is going to take a chunk out of your day. Cooking takes time but anything of value takes time.
My question to you is if you don’t exercise more and eat less, you may have the day to do whatever you want, but you just may be too unhealthy to do anything. Babies get instant gratification. Middle aged women and men get hope.
To your successful old age.

Ruthan

 

 

Ruthan Brodsky

Copywriter and Content Creator

Health Writer

Business Writer

Tagged with: healthy old age • plan for old age • slow down aging

Filed under: Anti Aging

f you are passed age 50 you are probably noticing that your skin is becoming more dry and starting to look thin skinned and wrinkled. You do not have to resign yourself to prematurely aged skin because there are steps you can take to stop the damage.

Here are four steps you can take to moderate your how much your skin is forming wrinkles.

1. Modify your daily skin routine. Wear gloves when cleaning the house, washing dishes, or gardening. In the winter keep your baths and showers shorter than 10 minutes and use warm water, not hot. Use skin cleansers that do not deplete you entirely of oils such as creamy, nonfoaming cleansers. Above all, apply moisturizer to dry areas of skin after showering and before bedtime.
2. Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen daily. The one mistake most of us make is not using enough sunscreen. You can also wear clothing with built in sun protection. In the winder wear gloves and protect your neck, face, and head with a scarf and hat because cold air aggravates dry skin. Wear sunglasses all year to shield the thin skin around the eyes from damage. And be sure to stay hydrated and drink lost of water.
3. Exfoliate your skin regularly. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells that can make the skin thicker and rougher and unable to glow. Exfoliation of your body and face also allows moisturizer to be absorbed easier. To exfoliate dry skin, use a clean washcloth and apply light pressure to the skin using a circular motion. If your skin is normal or oil, try a cleanser that contains alpha hydroxyl or beta hydroxyl acid to exfoliate more rigorously.
4. Moisturize daily. Moisturizers can help your skin stay supple. The cream or lotion you use puts down a barrier that seals in the natural moisture of your skin. For best results, use a moisturizer that has a minimum SPF of 15 for sun protection. Pay as much attention to the skin below your neck as you do to your face. A rich body lotion, applied right after bath time, can help moderate cases of dry skin.

 

 

Taking care of your skin is important no matter your age. It is also important because you want to feel good and look your best. See your dermatologist if you notice any sudden changes in the appearance of your skin.
You probably have some good tips about keeping your sking looking healthy and supple. Share them with us by typing them in the comment box.
To your successful healthy aging.

Ruthan

 

 

Ruthan Brodsky

Copywriter Oakland County Michigan

Freelance Health Writer Michigan

Freelance Business Writer Michigan

 

 

Tagged with: dry skin • efolliate skin

Filed under: Anti Aging

Nutritional needs change as women age so that the same diet you had when you were 35 isn’t going to meet your needs at age 50 and older. A 35 year old woman for example, can consume 2000 calories daily to main a weight of 132 pounds. On the other hand a 55 year old woman cannot consume more than 1600 calories daily to maintain her weight.

My mother somehow knew all this 40 years ago. She used to tell me that for every 10 years she has to eat a lot less or figure on gaining 10 pounds. She was almost successful. The problem was she also had several physical limitations which decreased her level of activity. Unless she absolutely starved herself, she slowly began to gain weight.

The same statement can be made for men except the differences are less great and the risk of not getting enough calcium, for instance, is not as negative. All of which is why you hear less about men and osteoporosis with fractured spines and pelvises.

For decades doctors have been telling women they need to consume more calcium to reduce their risk of osteoporosis and hip fractures. This is especially true for women in postmenopausal years. Calcium in dietary and supplement forms can help replace the calcium that’s lost in bones as you age and help reduce the risk for osteoporosis and fractures. Today they are telling women over 50 that too much calcium is not good for these women and they may not need as much calcium as we think.  In fact too much calcium can cause other health problems such as kidney stones.

The current recommended daily allowance (RDA) for calcium is 1,200 milligrams (mg). However a recent study in Great Britain shows that boosting your calcium intake may not reduce that risk. It was a study in the U.K. of 61,000 women who consumed around 750 mg of calcium daily. They did have a much lower risk of fracture than those who consumed less.  However, increasing their calcium over 750 mg did not lower the risks of fractures any further.

Interestingly the recommendation for calcium is 700 mg per day in the U.K. and 800 Mg per day for Scandinavia, both of which are much less than the U.S.  In fact there is no universal recommendation for the amount of calcium you should consume. In addition, other factors need to be considered before a decision is made such as general health. And of course, different climates around the world influence nutritional needs.  Vitamin D, for example, is required to metabolize calcium so that those who live in the northern climates  get less vitamin D from the sun that those who live closer to the equator.

It’s important to know that you can also consume more calcium from food sources such as 8 ounces of yogurt or milk.  While there’s no agreement on the minimal amount of calcium you need, too much calcium especially from supplements, increases the possibility of kidney stones and kidney problems.
You need adequate calcium but you also need to be careful about getting too much. The number that comes up most frequently is 1,200 mg of calcium a day for senior women.

To your good nutrition
Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Copywriter Oakland Michigan
Health Writer Oakland county Michigan
Freelance Business Writer Novi Michigan

Filed under: Uncategorized

Back pain can  be very debilitating. You may be one of the fortunate patients and discover that building muscle strength can relieve some of your discomfort.
I understand that there are situations for which people can’t do much about their back pain. Whether it’s genetic or because of a trauma such as an auto accident, strengthening muscles will only help to a degree if you deal with spinal stenosis, degenerative disks, or osteoporosis.

Even so, the abdominal and lower back muscles support the spine. The problem is those muscles become weak as we age. The good news is  that strengthening those core muscle groups in the abdominal area and lower back has positive effects. The goal is to get those core muscles – the transversus abdominus and multifidi working to stabilize and support the spine which promotes movement and reduces pain.

 
Working with a physical therapist so that you exercise correctly, and swimming in a heated pool with weights will help. Exercise combined with better body mechanics can lessen the strain. Also avoid spending long periods of time sitting in slumped positions. Think about that when you’re watching TV, playing cards, or working on your computer.

 
The problem with treating back pain, especially lower back pain, is that there is no secret, no ultimate pill, and no specific exercise that can relieve your back pain let alone eliminate the pain. This is an important concept to keep in mind for anyone suffering from back pain. Many people recover by avoiding strain to their spine for a period of time. Some find relief from ice, heat or medications. Others have a routine series of simple exercises to carry out to relieve their pain. Still others do absolutely nothing different in their daily routine and over time the pain goes away.

 
Depending upon the symptoms,  the length of the problem you have, whether or not it is a recurring problem and you have seen a doctor about it more than once, when the simple treatments you can do by yourself no longer work, it’s probably time to have your physician to evaluate your condition.

 
A few symptoms that require immediate medical attention regarding your back discomfort are:
·    Your back pain persists beyond a few days;
·    Your back pain wakes you up at night;
·    You have difficulty controlling your bladder and bowels;
·    You have a fever, chills or sweats and other signs of infection or
very unusually symptoms.

 
The importance of all this is that before you begin any back pain treatment program, be sure you know your diagnosis and discuss any treatment plan with your doctor. It is important that you deal with your back because daily back pain is clearly associated with decreased quality of life and even depression. It is difficult to be happy when you’re in constant pain. My concern is that as we get older we are more prone to back pain because of a lifetime of improper body mechanics such as maintaining good posture while we work on the computer!

 
Rest is usually the first treatment, especially in low back pain, so that you rest the spine. Because most cases of back pain are due to muscle strain, it’s important to avoid further irritation to the spine and muscles that surround the spinal column. I’m not talking about a lot of bed rest – one or two days tops. Then start moving slowly and once acute pain eases avoid lifting and twisting and any real physical exertion.

 
My advice is to always take the least invasive, the most conservative approach first when it comes to treating your back problems. For example modifying the way you use your body and strengthening the muscles that support your back are a key ingredient.

 
This exercise is easier for me. Get on your hands and knees with your hands about shoulder width apart and knees about hip wide. Keep your back straight and level and your neck in line with your back. Draw your abdominal muscles in towards your spin without arching your back. Hold for the count of 10 while breathing normally. Repeat 5 times.

 

These should help but also talk to your doctor if your back pain becomes worse and isn’t relieved by changing position or resting. It doesn’t happen very often but back pain may be caused by an infection or disease such as cancer. It’s worth the time to cross that off your list.

 

Let me know if you’ve been even somewhat successful managing your back pain.

Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Copywriter Oakland County Michigan
Business Writer Macomb county Michigan
Health Writer

Tagged with: abdominal muscles • lower back pain

Filed under: Back Health

Your nervous system is involved in just about everything you do which is why even mild nerve pain and damage can have a serious impact on the quality of your life.

There is a wide variety of symptoms for nerve pain and nerve damage. The kind you have usually depends on the location and type of nerves that are affected. Sometimes the damage can occur to nerves in your brain or on the spinal cord.  Pain can also take place in the peripheral nerves which are located throughout your body.

There are many causes for nerve pain and nerve damage. For instance some types of autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and inflammatory bowel disease can produce symptoms of nerve pain and nerve damage.

Cancer can also cause nerve pain and nerve damage. For instances  there may be a cancerous mass pushing against or crushing the nerves. Chemotherapy and radiation may also damage some of the nerves and cause pain.

Interesting, nutritional deficiencies may also produce nerve pain especially lack of vitamin B 6 and B 12.

Anything that results in trauma or compression of nerves can result in nerve pain and nerve damage. This includes pinched nerves in the neck, crush injuries and even carpal tunnel syndrome.

Although some degeneration of the cervical spine (upper spine) is expected as we get older, that doesn’t mean we must live with pain. In fact many forms of neck pain are temporary and easily treatable. A muscle strain or pinched nerve may respond well  to anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen along with some stretching  exercises to keep neck muscles flexible.  It may be that a hot shower helps your neck feel  better or ice may help reduce the pain.

In some cases, however, neck pain may also be a sign of spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerve. If you neck pain is accompanied by tingling and weakness in the hand and fingers, an unbalanced gait, or it lasts longer than a month you should get an evaluation from a physician.  Treatment may be injections of anti-inflammatory medication , radio-frequency ablation or interrupting the pain signals with radio waves, or surgery to remove the part that is pressing on the nerve.

Spinal degeneration takes place when the bones and disks deteriorate over time due to poor posture, injury or just everyday wear and tear. If the bones start to rub against one another your body may try to repair the damage that’s taking place and bone spurs result. These can narrow the spinal canal by themselves pressing and irritating the surrounding nerves.

By the same token you may be able to control some of the damage. For instance, when sleeping don’t use too many pillows under your head which can force the head forward.  You may also want to exercise your neck following prescribed exercises by your doctor.

One of the best ways to cope with your pain is to keep a pain journal. I understand very well that the written word is very powerful.  I’ve kept a personal journal for years. One of the benefits for this journal is that it gives me a greater sense of control over my live and a journal about your pain will give you a greater sense of control over your pain. No matter what you’re thinking, write it down and get it out of your system.

That includes being honest about your pain with yourself and others. Accepting your pain is part of the healing process.  Coping strategies won’t take you pain away but they may get you to a level where you can deal comfortably with the pain.

To your success coping with your pain.

 

Ruthan

 

Ruthan  Brodsky

Health Writer

Business Writer

 

 

 

 

Tagged with: nerve damage • nerve pain

Filed under: Back Health