Most of us have some understanding that there are medications that aren’t going to agree with us. For instance, we have this vague understanding that if we take too much aspirin we may end up with stomach problems. We know that there are allergic reactions to antibiotics because whenever you are prescribed one or one of your kids were prescribed something the first question is do you have any known allergies to this medication.

What we don’t realize is that our response to medication, even medications that we may have been taking for 10 years, may result in a problem as we get older. Or it could be that normal adult dosages of medication may create problems because the dosage should be smaller.

I will always remember the time my mother was in the hospital because she fell down at the adult recreation center and cracked her head. She was about 82 years old at the time and taken to emergency at a hospital. Apparently she became very anxious and distraught and the resident in charge gave her a simple dose of valium. It took this poor woman at least 3 weeks to get back to normal.

It took me nearly a week to figure it out. The head injury was mild and required no stitches but it bled a lot as head injuries do. Her snow white hair was pink and there was no concussion. My mother weighed about 105 pounds at the time and it took a long time for the valium to leave her 82 year old body. In the mean time she could not function, didn’t remember anything from one minute to another and acted like a zombie.  She went from a screaming wild woman (I’m told) to a very quiet, can’t do anything for herself in less than an hour. What I subsequently found out was that the dosage was probably too much for her

My mother lost a piece of herself with that incident. I already knew that she had a difficult time recovering from anesthesia when she had a couple of minor surgeries. The medications did what they were supposed to do but they were making it tougher for my mother to live an active, normal life. Her reaction wasn’t much different from the 55 year old woman who lost 25 pounds and still received the same dosage of baclofen for multiple sclereosis that she had taken for the past 6 years to control muscle spasms in her leg. Only this time, with the weight loss, the drug built up to toxic levels and her behavior completely changed.

It is so interesting that drug toxicity and reaction is a common problem yet we don’t think about it and neither do our doctors suspect it as a symptom, especially of mental problems. Dizziness, blurred vision, memory laws, loss of balance are all symptoms that someone is having a bad reaction to a drug .and  It may be that, like my mother, the dosage was too high or it may be that a person’s ability to metabolize the drug may have changed.

And this isn’t just a problem for older people. More about that in my next post. If you are 40 years old or older, you need to know this.

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

Ruthan Brodsky
Health and Business Writer
Content Marketer   Copywriter

http://ruthanbrodsky.com

Http://fromretiremnttocareerchange.com

Your normal weight could be unhealthy for you. Apparently it’s not enough to look at your bathroom scale or to your body mass index or BMI. Your BMI is a measure of what your weight is in relation to your height to help you figure out if you are healthy. For example, normal BMI is 18.5 to 24.9. Overweight is 25 to 29.9 and obese is over 40. You can calculate your own BMI at The US department of Heath and Human Services.

You also need to consider your levels of fat. Part of the problem is that BMI can be misleading. If you are very muscular, for instance, you may have a false high BMI because it does not account for the weight of the muscle. Besides, BMI does not factor in what is called central obesity which is when weight is carried around the abdomen and considered an increased disease risk.

Mayo Clinic did a research study in 2008 and identified the term normal weight obesity. This takes place when a person has a normal BMI but a large percentage of body fat, such as more than 30 percent for women and 20 percent for men. They observed over 2000 normal weight adults, men and women, and found that over half of them had normal weight obesity or NWO. They estimate that up to 30 million Americans have this condition.

The problem is people with normal weight obesity do not have much muscle mass and their bones are not very dense. This condition is more likely to take place in elderly people. People with NOW are also more likely to have metabolic syndrome which often leads to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. An earlier study reported that NWO women had higher biomarkers of inflammation putting them at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

One of the better programs that I’ve encountered is Healthy Weight  Loss Success Guide. The author not only discusses how to get your metabolism going but show you how to include foods that provide you with nutrition. Check it out; I think the author may have a trial version still available. If you purchase the program I do receive a commission but I bought it and I think it’s good and helpful.

If you are skinny it’s unlikely you have NOW. If someone is overweight they already know their BMI is high. It is the folks in the middle range that need to measure their body fat.

The answer to having a healthy weight is exercise. If you are dieting and losing weight you could be also losing muscle. A combination of aerobic exercise and strength or resistance training exercise that involves all muscle groups is probably where you need to look.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults, age 18 to 64, do the following:

• 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate intensity or 1 hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.

• Increase to 5 hours a week of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity or 2 hours and 30 minutes weekly of vigorous intensity physical activity for extra health benefits.

• Muscle strengthening activity for all major muscle groups at least 2 days weekly is probably where you need to focus.

Looks like we all have our worked cut out for us.

Much success to your healthy aging,

Ruthan Brodsky
Health & Business Writer
Content Marketer

If you can read or watch TV you already know that it’s not good to be overweight, worse to be obese and just as bad to not be doing any physical activity on a regular basis. A recent report published in the May 26,2010 issue of Science Translational Medicine, describes the results of a research project that measured specific molecules or metabolites in the bloodstreams of people who just exercised. The scientists were able to see the complicated metabolic effects that take place in our bodies during and after exercise.

The gist of the research is that the more active you are the more your body uses fat burning metabolites. In fact, those research projects showed that the better shape you are in, the more fat your body will burn. Even less fit individuals will start burning fat once they start exercising. I think we all knew the importance of exercise to be true but it’s always good when there is a scientific verification for our thinking. The bottom line: keep moving and don’t forget about keeping those muscles in shape. Muscles burn more fat than fat does when you’re exercising.

One of the better programs that I’ve encountered is http://HealthyWeightLossSuccessGuide.com. The author not only discusses how to get your metabolism going but shows you how to include foods that provide you with nutrition. Check it out; I think the author may have a trial version still available. If you purchase the program I do receive a commission but I bought it and I think it’s good and helpful.

The program talks about nutrition, another area that doctors are concerned about because people on diets usually cut out their needed intake of vitamins and minerals. This is not uncommon for doctors to notice because 1 out of 3 Americans is trying to lose weight. To test the nutritional effects of some of the more popular diet plans, Stanford University assigned 300 obese women to one of these diets: Atkins, Zone, LEARN and Ornish.

They learned that by cutting 500 calories a day, the women also reduced their intake of many nutrients. Interestingly, the reduction in dietary vitamin E was the most pronounced with more than 65 percent not getting the Estimated Average Requirement. Women on the Zone diet did better in their intake of vitamins A, E, C and K and didn’t lose any other nutritional areas. The conclusions was that diets which encourage moderate but not extreme carbohydrate reductions and increase the use of veggies and beans work best.

More research on what is your healthy weight in my next post.

To your good health and healthy weight,

Ruthan Brodsky

Business & Health Writer

http://ruthanbrodsky.com

If you want you feet to last, to give you the support you’ll need to do the things you want to do, you will need to take care of them.  Most of us abuse our feet during the summer or if we’re in a warm client. We don’t realize that our feet are open to many problems because they do so much, like keep us upright!

The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that runs from the base of your heel to the base of your toes. Heel spurs begin when there’s a partial separation between this tissue and the heel bone. Sometimes this injury causes new bone growth in the affected area that projects out into the flesh of the foot. This is very painful because you can’t put any pressure on the foot. They may be caused by standing on your feet all day, wearing worn out shoes, if you are carry too much weight, or if you’re jumping up and down because you’re an aerobics teacher. A heel spur can feel as if you have a rock wedged in your heel. The pain is intense especially after you rest a while. Actually, the more you walk the better it feels .

Treatment is resting your foot and applying heat with a heating pad or hot water soak. When wearing shoes place a half-inch thick heel pad in your shoe to help cushion the pain and absorb the shock. Sometimes arch supports help take the pressure off your heel.

Again, when it comes to your feet, the best treatment is prevention. There’s an excellent digital book you can download right now that tells you everything you wanted to know about heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. Click on Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief Guide if you’re interesting in finding out more about treatments  and prevention. I do want you to know I receive a commission if you purchase the book but I wouldn’t recommend it unless I thought it worth your while.

You can prevent heel spurs by stretching your feet and allowing them to relax throughout the day. Remove your shoes several times a day and flex and point your feet and rotate your ankles, especially after your exercise. Above all, wear comfortable shoes.  If heal padding and your home therapy doesn’t work it’s time to see your doctor. Your podiatrist may use steroid injections for temporary relief or recommend custom orthotics. As a last resort your doctor can perform surgery to remove the spur.

To your success at health and aging.
Ruthan Brodsky

A very big and athletic 14 year old, a son of friends, had a very large plantar wart removed yesterday. They’re found on the bottom of the feet and are caused by a virus. Since it is a virus, a particular age is not a requirement; anyone can get them.

Most people don’t talk about our foot problems, especially warts, until the problem becomes so painful we can hardly walk. That’s when friends and family start asking questions.

Sometimes we confuse them with calluses and don’t treat them properly. That is asking for trouble, pure and simple. Another problem is that even when correctly identified some of them are not easily treated. Some of them are small, rounded and sit by themselves while others involved large patches of skin two to four inches across.

These warts can be difficult to treat because of their location at the bottom of the foot. The skin at the bottom of the foot is twice as thick as the skin on the other parts of your boy. This thicker skin allows the wart to penetrate deeper and prevents topical medications from reaching the entire wart. That was the case in this young teen’s case and the physician had to dig his wart out. I’m told there was a sizeable hole.

He probably got his wart from the gym or locker room. Any crack or abrasion on your feet is an open invitation for the virus to go deep inside. They can be very painful when they become pushed deep inside the skin. Some foot specialists recommend the cost-effective treatment of repeatedly applying salicylic acid drops. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. See your podiatrist is the best bet.

Adults who get a plantar wart usually have to stop exercising and playing tennis or golf because their foot hurts too much. That’s not very good either because it doesn’t take long to get out of shape.

That’s why the best step is prevent them by avoiding going barefoot in the gym or around swimming pools; actually avoid walking barefoot in any public place. Wash and dry your feet daily and put powder in your shoes to absorb moisture. Also, if you are looking at someone else’s toes, wear disposable gloves.

You can enjoy working out in the gym and lounging at the pool; just wear something on your feet.

To your success in health and aging,

Ruthan Brodsky

I mentioned in my previous post that there are 40 different nutrients you require for your good health. No matter how much a particular food could be in vogue no one food is going to supply all your energy, to help build your muscles and bones, to maintain good teeth  and to keep all your body functions working.

Here are a few tips:

• Eat a variety of nutrient rich foods daily.

• Plan your meals for plenty of whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Five servings daily are known to help prevent cancer, obesity and heart disease.

• Maintain a healthy body weight. Work with your doctor or dietician for a weight management program

• Eat moderate portions especially when dining out.

• Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to overeating the next time.

• Reduce, but don’t eliminate, foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar.

• Balance food choices over time. If you miss out on a food group for one day, make up for that group on the next day.

• Keep a food diary to help you track your nutrition in take.

• Make diet changes gradually and set realistic goals.

• Take a multivitamin

Your body needs vitamins to function properly. A multivitamin tablet or capsule is a safe way to start with supplements because there won’t be any massive amount for any one vitamin. On the other hand, vitamin tables are not a substitute for a healthy, well balance diet. It does make sure you receive the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamins and minerals.

Take your multivitamin with food so your body absorbs it more effectively.
And if you’re over 65, extra supplements of vitamin D and B 12 may be helpful.

Some of these tips may require making changes in your lifestyle. One of the best ways to find support for activating those goals is to tell another person about them. The commitment just about doubles. If for some reason you can’t find  or don’t want to find another person to let them know about the dietary changes you’re making, then tell us.  I will give you an anonymous name and make up a location. Then I will write about you as a center figure in this blog and let the world know your trials and victories.

If this sounds like fun, type your name and email address in the Comment window and we’ll have an email conversation about your dietary plans.

Much success for your healthy aging,

Ruthan Brodsky
www.ruthanbrodsky.com

Eating a healthy diet is always one of the top five tips for staying healthy and looking younger as you age. If you live in a northern climate as I do, you’re reminded of this during the summer months by the road stands on the highways and the farmer market days in the city and suburbs that display locally grown fruits and vegetables.

I always make sure there are lots of vegetables on my plate throughout the year but being able to eat locally grown produce is the best! Right now it’s tomato and corn season. They taste so incredibly good.  Blueberry season is just about over but peach season has begun and in a few weeks it’s time to go to the orchard and pick apples.

Besides being a delicious part of my meal, fresh produce and produce in general have amazing health benefits. Even the research says that people who eat a variety of fruits and vegetables generally have a lower incidence of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some types of cancer.

Here are some tips to help you maximize your health benefits of eating produce:

Fresh produce is best. Fresh is the healthiest in terms of vitamin and nutrient content. When fresh is out of season where you live, frozen produce is the next best choice. These are usually harvested when they’re ripe and frozen immediately so they don’t lose much during the processing. Canned vegetables, although still healthy, should be last juice because many of the B and C vitamins are destroyed in the cooking process.

Choose a produce rainbow. Eating more vegetables that are dark green won’t hurt either. The experts say that the more richly colored the fruits and vegetables compared to those that are pale like head lettuce. That’s why dark green veggies like spinach and kale are good for you. Bright colored vegetables such as tomatoes and carrots and pink grapefruit or guava are good sources of carotenoids, a form of vitamin A that helps prevent heart attacks.

Avoid prepackaged health foods. They usually contain a lot of salt and not much fiber.

Pay attention to preparation. You get the most benefit if you eat your produce raw after a good washing. If you cook them, steam them rather than boiling so you don’t lose the vitamins in the cooking water. Try using no salt or salt reduced ingredients in your recipes. I use a lot of herbs and spices instead of salt. Garlic, basil, and tarragon are among my favorites.

When you make an omelet add vegetables such as spinach and mushrooms. Add vegetables as a topping for pizza.  Add lots of vegetables to your pasta.

Remember something like 40 different nutrients are required for your good health. No one food has all that so eat a balanced, healthy diet.

A few more tips on healthy aging in my next post. Following that I’ll be writing about your feet and how to keep them in good shape so you can stay in good shape. If you have questions about caring for your feet, let me know now so I can answer them in those later posts. Ask your questions by typing them in comments.

To your successful healthy aging,

Ruthan Brodsky

In my last post I explained that store brand medications are equal to name brands in quality, variety and convenience. Part of the perception that they may not be as good is the way they are marketed. Branded versions of medications get the best product placement at the drugstores and millions of dollars are spent advertising them.

If you read the ingredients in the branded drugs you’ll find that the store branded drugs are identical. You do have to pay attention to what version of the branded drug you’re comparing so that you compare to the same store brand. Examine the ingredients on the label. You can see line by line how the store brand is the same as the name brand.

Pay special attention to the first several ingredients, which are the active ingredients that work on your symptoms. Those are often identical. For instance, if the pain relief is time release for six hours in the branded drug it should be time release for six hours for the store-brand label. Or if Tylenol contains 500 milligrams of acetaminophen, the active ingredient, make sure the OTC version does the same.  If you compare the ingredients of name branded Tylenol versus Rite Aid acetaminophen, for instance, they are the same except for the price. Rite aid pays less money for advertisement, packaging and development so they charge you less for their products. Ask the pharmacist to help you if you’re not sure.

Even if you are saving on how much you are spending on drugs, it’s important to use your medications safely.

• Use OTC medications only when you need them and in recommended dose.

• Do not drink alcohol while take medications.

• Do not take a combination of drugs without your doctor’s consent.

Saving money all adds up even if it’s saving $2 for a bottle of low-dose aspirin or $10 for an acid reducer. That can add up to an extra tank or two of gas during the year.

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

http://ruthanbrodsky.com

http://SecretsToHealthandAging.com

http://fromRetirementtoCareerchange.com

When generic medications were introduced, most people were reluctant to try them because they believed the generic brand wasn’t as good or didn’t work as well as the name brand. That attitude changed especially with insurance companies providing support for generic brands only unless, that is,  a physician specifically prescribed a brand name WITH a reason for doing so.

That same attitude, about not trusting the product, is applied to store brand names for over the counter (OTC) products and medications.

Attitudes are beginning to change because today, the store brands, sometimes called private labels, are considered just as good as or better at times than national brands. Many are realizing that purchasing store brands is a smart way to save money.

It’s not unusual for baby boomers to purchase commonly used branded drugs such as Tylenol, Advil or Prilosec to treat a range of minor ailments. However, if you’re on a tight budget those are going to cost a lot more than the store-brand versions of the same drugs. The store brand products contain the same ingredients and are considered just as reliable and safe as the branded drugs. The only difference seems to be the cost. You may also want to consider choosing from off-brand alternatives.

According to the FDA these generic versions of our branded favorites contain the same active ingredients and are just as strictly regulated by the FDA. After all, they’re the federal agency that makes a prescription drug available over-the-counter so that more people can afford to have access at lower costs. For some people, the over the counter may raise the cost because insurance plans don’t cover these meds.

Before you make the switch, know how much it will cost. You could save as much as 30 percent by swapping a store brand or private label for a brand name. Keep in mind  that many supermarkets, discounters, warehouse clubs and drugstores carry their own brands. CVS pharmacy, America’s largest retail pharmacy sells its own brand in just about everything.

Many people make the mistake and assume that the branded versions of the drugs re more rigorously tested for safety and side effects and they may work faster.  NOT SO. The FDA regulates both types and the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture unbranded OTC drugs have to follow the same strict regulations that apply to the brands.

More about unbranded products in my next post. Then you’ll know most of what you’ll need to decide whether to purchase the brand or the unbranded.

To your successful healthy aging,

Ruthan Brodsky

http://ruthanbrodsky.com

http://fromRetirementToCareerChange.com

Anyone I’ve ever spoken to over the age of 60 wants to live independently for as long as possible. However the concept of aging in place, remaining where you live now, will probably require some adapting to changes that take place as you get older.

I am convinced that the keys to staying independent are:

• maintaining good cognitive and physical function, preventing disease, and managing well your current medical conditions.

Physical activity is important not only because it helps maintain or increase your muscle mass and strength, but it also protects you against cardiovascular disease and improves other conditions like high blood pressure. Another very important benefit of exercise is it helps older adults with their balance and flexibility, two important conditions that help prevent falls.

Walking and exercise, for example, increases your breathing and heart rate so that more blood flows to your brain, improving your energy level. In fact, studies show that in response to exercise, cerebral blood vessels can grow, Another study of senior citizens who walk regularly showed significant improvement in their memory skills compared to sedentary people. Walking also improved their ability to learn, concentrate and reason abstractly.

In a study of senior women who walked regularly,  it was found that they were less likely to experience age related memory loss. This research was at the University of California at San Francisco where they measured the brain function of nearly 6,000 women over an 8 year period. They found that the most active women had less cognitive decline than the other groups, just over 40 percent.

In the meantime, be realistic about where you are in your health and how age-related changes may be affecting you. Staying independent requires finding help in areas where you may need it. There are many resources available in just about every community and some of those resources may be members of your own family.

Waiting too long to get help may put you in a box that is too difficult to exit. For example, if you require a knee replacement, get one before you injure your hip because your knee is working right. If you need to use a cane to keep you in balance, use one and lower your risk of falling down. And if you need to lose weight to get your blood pressure and cholesterol count down, there is no better time than right now.

To  your success for healthy aging,

Ruthan Brodsky