You and I know that exercise is good for us. I admit to being very good about doing aerobic exercise on a regular basis but not so good about strength training. I need to set aside time for longer workouts at least a few times a week. Read the rest of this entry
Keeping your bones and muscles strong will give you a better quality of life as you get older. There is no doubt about the results of the research on this topic. Read the rest of this entry
Today we know botulinum toxin as Botox. I recall when I only knew of botulism as a lethal food poisoning that paralyzed your muscles including those that control breathing. Now we know that a regulated dosage of Botox can be helpful. For instance, injected into muscle tissue, botulinum toxin can reduce spasms and pain.
Today I usually think of Botox as an injection that gets rid of wrinkles, at least temporarily. Most of the cosmetic injections are on the vertical furrows between the eyebrows that become deeper as we age. By preventing muscle contractions that cause facial lines, Botox smooths the skin and makes the skin look younger.
Today it is also used to treat a range of facial wrinkles including those on the neck, commonly called turkey neck, and at the corners of the eye called crow’s feet.
However, Botox has a longer medical history. In the late 1980s it was approved for the treatment of misaligned eyes (strabismus) and abnormal squinting and eyelid twitching. Since then it’s been approved for the treatment of muscle spasm affecting the neck and shoulders called cervical dystonia as well as for severe sweating.
Botox and some of its cousins such as Myobloc, have the approval for just a few medical conditions. However, once a drug is approved it can be prescribed at a clinician’s discretion. As a result, Botox is being used for many conditions including reducing migraine headaches.
The effects of using Botox for cosmetic or medical conditions are temporary which means doses must be repeated. The dose depends on the patient’s weight, the condition being treated, which muscle is being injected, and how much of that muscle is being treated. With repeat injections, muscles may atrophy and lose some function. That is usually when injections stop. Some patients who receive large doses become resistant to the drug but now they have developed antibodies to deal with that problem.
More on Botox and medical conditions in my next post.
If you receive Botox injections, let us know what your condition is or is it cosmetic? It will be interesting to see which areas are treated more. Our own clinical survey.
To you healthy aging.
Ruthan Brodsky
Sleep patterns to change as you get older along with all the other physical changes. Most people tend to have a tougher time falling asleep and then more trouble staying asleep than they did when they were younger. The problem is, no matter what the common thinking is all about, your need for sleep doesn’t decline as you get older. In fact your sleep needs remain fairly constant. Read the rest of this entry
Gym memberships cost money. If you don’t need a gym or do need a gym but don’t use the gym, you’re wasting your money. Plain and Simple.
If you’ve never been to a gym they probably all look the same to you; they are not. And selecting the right gym for you is not as trivial as it seems. Many of the things you should be looking for are obvious and others are more subtle and may be overlooked. For example, how qualified are the instructors? Read the rest of this entry
My mother was very depressed as she aged. I suspect
It started in her sixties but I really didn’t notice it until she was in her eighties. The problem is that depression is difficult to identify because it usually develops gradually and its symptoms are mistaken as symptoms of other conditions or reactions from medication or being tired because someone is older. Read the rest of this entry
I don’t believe that you can stop aging. Neither do I believe that you can reverse aging. I do understand that there are medical and surgical and pharmaceutical things you can do and have done to you that may help you look younger and may even give you more energy, but those aren’t the secrets I’m seeking.
I’m convinced that the secrets to not becoming old are wrapped up in the lifestyle habits I need to include in my daily activities that will give me:
Secrets To Health and Aging is an exploration to discover what we need to know and do to lead extraordinary lives as we age.
I suspect you have additional ideas about what your secrets are to healthy aging. Will you share them with us? Scroll down to comments and type your tips for healthy aging. Let’s see how much good information we receive.
To your healthy aging success.
Ruthan
