Category: Health

I have hesitated writing this post because I didn’t want anyone to think I am looking for emotional stroking. I am not!! However, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it when someone says that I look younger than I am. What woman wouldn’t enjoy that and believe me when I say that hearing it never grows old. It hit me the other day when I was out and a younger woman asked me if I had a secret cream that I use or did I have a face lift. I have not had a face lift and you will see pigs fly by your kitchen window before you will hear about me letting a doctor unhitch my face and yank it up. Just the thought gives me the heebee geebees. However, this was not the first time a younger woman had asked so I decided to give some insight that I have gleaned on this topic to young women.

Genetics are a factor regarding the aging process but this article is about the behavior that we have absolute control over.

We all want to look younger, and more energetic as we get older. If you are a young woman and know that is how you will want age then it is time to take the steps now to ensure that you will look younger and be more energetic.

Begin now to eat healthy. Occasional junk food is okay but don’t make it the core of your diet. Do not make soda pop your fall back drink. It leads to dehydration which dries the skin out. Make water your fall back drink.

Next, I want to stress to young women to not be a sun magnet. We all need more Vitamin D as this country now has an epidemic of people not getting enough Vitamin D because of the use of sun screens. What I am saying is always get 15 to 30 minutes of sun a few times a week but the rest of the time use a sun screen with at least an SPF of 30. We all know that the damage that too much sun can do to your skin can lead to skin cancer but it also leads to the brown spots and broken blood vessels that can be seen on the face, as well as other parts of the body, of people who bake in the sun. There are some treatments for long term sun damage but they are expensive and do not replace l skin that has been allowed to age naturally. If you don’t tan naturally you weren’t mean to and all you do is damage your skin and increase your chances for skin cancer when you roast in the sun.

Smoking is the next issue regarding your face. We all know about the dangers of lung cancer but rarely does anyone mention what it does to your face. According to the Mayo Clinic smoking is a major cause of facial wrinkling. The nicotine in cigarettes leads to a narrowing of the blood vessels in the outer layer of the skin. The narrowing impairs blood flow to your skin which keeps the skin from getting the oxygen and important nutrients such as Vitamin A. The chemicals in tobacco smoke damage the collagen and elastin in your skin leading to early sagging of the skin. This paragraph alone should lead to cigarettes being put out left, right and center.

I am not against an occasional adult beverage but I drink alcohol rarely. I drink mainly water and water is the best fluid for your skin. Water helps to rid the body of toxins and that is always good for your skin. Too much alcohol leads to altered blood flow to the skin. That means the widening of capillaries and then the breaking of the capillaries which leads to those broken capillaries being obvious on the face. The dehydration that alcohol causes also leads to the sagging of skin.

We have all known older people who just don’t have a very happy demeanor. Their face often reflects that. Having a positive attitude and joyful spirit are essential to all aspects of our lives including our faces. Dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are all released when we smile. Some physicians even say that smiling can lower blood pressure and heart rate. Even during times of trouble we can all find something to smile about.

The woman I spoke to the other day asked me if I had a special concoction that I put on my face. I had to smile because it was such a simple answer. No, I have used Pond’s Moisturizing cream morning and night for over 45 years. I am sure there are other good moisturizers on the market but it is the one I prefer. I think moisturizing your face is essential. I also use a facial cleanser that gently exfoliates. I also use a liquid foundation with an SPF of 30. Nothing fancy or expensive.

To all the young women who read this I wish you all a long and prosperous life as you age gracefully and naturally. And truth be told – It never grows old to be told you look younger than you are!

When I was teaching I always reminded my juniors and seniors that this is not a dress rehearsal; this is your life. I think this is important for people of all ages to remember.

We get one body and if you wreck because you didn’t take care of it then it is on you. As we age we really get to see the damage poor decisions make on our body. Sadly, too many children are on the road to poor health and they have no say in that decision.

I see way too many parents especially single parents and those where both parents are working who are relying on too much fast food or easy to make packaged food which means that sensible eating goes out the window. Now, I am not some health food nut who is telling people that eating a Big Mac is going to be their downfall but I am promoting moderation. These parents often know the importance of organization in other aspects of their lives but for some reason preparing meals isn’t on that menu so to speak. There are lots of web sites to help in this area. It doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare food ahead of time on the weekend and freeze things ahead. The selection of easy to steam vegetables is endless and it sure doesn’t take much time to microwave a “real” potato.

When I was homeschooling my youngest daughter I used to say that if you are what you eat then some days I am “fast, cheap and easy” especially when it came to lunch. However, our dinners were always balanced and she along with her older sisters had a love of vegetables and fruit. She also exercised regularly with karate classes and was active with outside activities.

Today I see far too many obese children. Yes, obese is accurate and all you parents who want to believe that at the age of 12 your child still has baby fat, well, I am sorry to be the one to tell you but that is not the case. For some reason parents either don’t want to make their children do anything they don’t want to do, are too lazy or tired to cook or they are also obese so that leads us to a generation of children who are looking at a limited life span. Not to mention a less than fulfilling life because of the obesity. Add to this the fact that these children often spend hours and hours on video games or in front of a TV and you have a recipe for disaster.

It is estimated that one out of five children are obese and that rate is rising. The rate of obesity rises with age and by the ages of 16 – 19 nearly 40% of teens are obese!! What are we doing to our young people? What kind of future will they have? How many have to put the career they hoped for on hold because they can’t pass a physical?

Recent studies show that obesity rates in this country have contributed to the rise in Type 2 Diabetes in people under 30 which was almost unheard of previously. Experts are referring to this increase as an epidemic. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has predicted that one third of all children born in the year 2000 will develop Type 2 Diabetes unless diets change and exercise increases.

People don’t seem to realize that over time diabetes leads to life altering health issues such as heart disease, kidney disease, amputations and blindness. According to the National Kidney Foundation 44% of all new kidney failure diagnoses are due to diabetes. Nearly 50% of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease have diabetes! Diabetes and hypertension are the top issues related to Chronic Kidney Disease. Both of the those conditions are directly related to obesity.

It is not easy to be a parent. I know. I have five daughters and eight grandsons. However, if you are going to dive into this difficult job and it is a job like no other, then you have to do it right. Don’t let lack of organization or taking the easy way out everyday where meals are concerned keep you from giving your children a good start in life. Life is hard enough without having to face it with health problems early on that could be avoided. If your child is already over weight and you want to get a hold of this problem now then see your pediatrician and have a serious talk about how to get a handle on this problem. Make sure you take part too in the change of lifestyle. Taking walks together and making nutritious meals can become fun family activities. Don’t visit on your children heartache that can be avoided.

Remember there are no do overs. This is not a dress rehearsal!!

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Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone that makes it more porous and thus weaker and more fragile. Yes, age, gender, ethnicity and family history are risk factors but the factors you can have some control over are the ones you need to focus on when considering your odds of falling prey to this devastating medical issue.

The first thing I recommend is to get a bone density test which will tell you if you have any weak bones before you break one. Ask your doctor is you should have one done. This test is non-evasive and can help you stay on top of an issue that can have life altering effects. Remember that weak bones become brittle and can break under even a small amount of stress such as bending over or even coughing. It doesn’t have to be a fall. Most breaks related to osteoporosis are in the hip, spine and wrist.

When getting a yearly physical make sure your doctor included blood work to check your thyroid. The thyroid gland controls a lot of aspects of our metabolism and this includes building bone cells. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can lead to bone loss. If you have either of these thyroid issues be sure to discuss with your doctor as to what you can do to off set the bone loss. This can include taking selenium supplements as well as thyroid replacement medication.

Some prescription medications can lead to bone loss too. Make sure you ask your doctor or even research for yourself the medications you are taking regarding this issue.

Smoking is another factor. It was recently discovered that smoking creates proteins that contribute to the breakdown of bone cells. If you smoke add this to the list of reasons why you should quit!

As we get older we often tend to get into a more sedentary life style. Too many people come home and sit in front of the TV for hours and that is after sitting at a desk all day and then sitting in a car for the ride home. If this is you I suggest you purchase a step tracker. See what your average day reflects on the number of steps you take. Then start working toward 10,00 steps a day. You will feel better and may even see some pounds disappear. Then look at adding some weight bearing exercise into your day. This you can do while watching TV! All of this can be accomplished without a gym membership if you want to avoid that. If you are looking for a gym and you are on Medicare check to see if you qualify for the Silver Sneakers Program. Bottom line – exercise helps to build bone cells.

Sun Block cream has become such a part of our society today that we forget that our bodies need vitamin D which comes from the sun. No, we don’t want to get melanoma but the facts according to the National Institute of Cancer show that medical complications from a lack of Vitamin D far surpass the chances of complications from skin cancer by nearly 10 to 1!! The number of people in the United States suffering from Vitamin D deficiency has soared over the last decades. Many doctor’s believe that besides leading to osteoporosis it also increases the chances for heart disease and diabetes. So, get some sun on a regular basis. This doesn’t mean you need to roast for an hour at high noon but get some of those awesome sun rays each week.

If you are being treated for any of the following conditions be sure and ask your doctor how your bone density might be affected and what you can do about it. These are Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Liver Disease, digestive issues, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Endocrine gland problems and cancer.

The issue of vitamin and minerals to assist you in building bone is huge. There are many sites to research to get the information on what is important. The same for foods that are big in helping the building of bone cells. Protein makes up about 50% of the volume of your bones and about 1/3 of bone mass!! Calcium is another important aspect of our diet that far too many Americans are short on today. You must do your research and along with your doctor determine what you need to change in your lifestyle regarding these two issues.

When we are young we don’t think about issues such as osteoporosis but the reality is that loss of bone mass can begin in females by mid thirties. For the most part men are tens years later showing symptoms. It is important to take steps to prevent the problem from ever starting. If you already have symptoms then make sure you take the necessary steps to begin to correct or at least slow up the bone loss.

Life is too short not to enjoy every day to the fullest. You can’t do that if you have a broken hip.