As we get older, the wear and tear on our bodies start to add up. That wear and tear can lead to conditions like osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of the protective cartilage between bones, resulting in the bones rubbing together causing joint pain. It affects some 27 million Americans 11.
Health Issues and causes among boomers—-It’s essential to take care of yourself first, Make an effort to get enough sleep, eat right, and exercise regularly.
The Health Issues And Causes Among Boomers
Baby boomers ages 50+ are showing us how to have better health well into older decades. They’re exercising, watching their diet, enjoying friendships,.
Many say that improved health is the primary reason for their fitness endeavors. They want to be around to see their grandchildren and be able to interact with them in a physical way, like scooping them up into their arms for big hugs, play on the floor, and run to the ice cream truck without getting winded.
Of course, this is all after a long day at work. Many baby boomers have no choice but to continue working way past the retirement age as they don’t have the pension plans or retirement savings of their parents’ generation.
Certain health issues that plague the boomer generation
But in spite of all this, there are certain health issues that plague the boomer generation and I will be looking at some of the health issues and causes among boomers in this post.
Health Issues and causes among boomers
Because of the advancement of medical innovations people are living longer lives,
This has allowed better control of diseases which enable boomers to live longer and more independent life.
But in spite of these advancements, boomers still face many chronic diseases just like their parents and grandparents before them.
According to family medicine specialist Christina Zarate Kolp, MD, many of these conditions, if addressed early, can be minimized and/or treated.
“The sooner that you address a health concern, the better it can be managed,” she says.
“Research has shown that people who eat healthy, stay active and avoid tobacco use can significantly lower their risk of developing many of the chronic health conditions we often associate with aging,” Dr. Shali adds
I will list some of the top health concerns and causes for boomers, and how to best avoid them:
Health Concerns for Boomers
Cardiovascular disease. (Heart disease)Causes of cardiovascular disease
While cardiovascular disease can refer to different heart or blood vessel problems, the term is often used to mean damage to your heart or blood vessels by atherosclerosis (ath-ur-o-skluh-ROE-sis), a buildup of fatty plaques in your arteries. Plaque buildup thickens and stiffens artery walls, which can inhibit blood flow through your arteries to your organs and tissues.
Atherosclerosis is also the most common cause of cardiovascular disease. It can be caused by correctable problems, such as an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, being overweight, and smoking.
Diabetes
Diabetes. The number of adults with diabetes has more than tripled in the last 20 years. This due to an increase in obesity rates. Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for type 2diabetes.
With type 2 diabetes, you face numerous health problems that could affect your kidneys, nerves, feet, and eyes, as well as an increased risk for heart disease.
Healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent type 2 diabetes, and that’s true even if you have diabetes in your family. If you’ve already received a diagnosis of diabetes, you can use healthy lifestyle choices to help prevent complications. If you have prediabetes, lifestyle changes can slow or stop the progression of diabetes.
Cancer
Cancer. It is important that certain screenings, such as a skin cancer check, mammogram, pap smear, colonoscopy, or prostate exam be done regularly as this can help save or extend your life.
Cancer impacts people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and sexes. For most cancers, though, research shows that nearly 90 percent of all cancers are diagnosed in people ages 50 and older. Early detection is the key to saving lives.
Depression.
Depression. Many baby boomers find themselves taking care of children and aging parents. Sometimes, this feeling of being caught in the middle leads to depression and anxiety
The stress of being a dual caregiver can be significant, especially on individuals who are also working, struggling financially, or dealing with other challenges
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease Researchers don’t know exactly what causes Alzheimer’s disease. But as scientists have learned more about the condition, they’ve found clues about where symptoms come from and who’s at risk.
Gender. Women get the disease more often than men.
Family history. People who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s are more likely to get it themselves.
Down syndrome. It’s not clear why, but people with this disorder often get Alzheimer’s disease in their 30s and 40s.
Head injury. Some studies have shown a link between Alzheimer’s disease and a major head injury.
Other factors. High cholesterol levels and high blood pressure may also raise your risk.
No matter what area you look to, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, or osteoporosis, research shows being physically fit into your senior years will keep you healthier and active longe
The desire to stay independent
The desire exists to stay active late in life, and defy traditional aging and age-related stereotypes
So as boomers I am one also, we need to take care of ourselves we need to Eat Healthily, Stay Fit
We need to exercise it is wise to do some strength-building exercise, build muscles, eat healthily cut down on red meat, butter, and other such foods. Instead, add more fatty fish and fats from plants, like flaxseed and nuts.
Eating Healthy
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Choose foods packed with the nutrients you need. Eat dark leafy greens and colorful fruits and vegetables.
Increase low-fat dairy to get calcium for bones. Fortified foods — like cereals with vitamin B12 and milk with vitamin D — can help, too. Cut down on empty calories from sugary drinks and sweets.
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Protect Your Joints if you have arthritis or damaged joints, running could be too much. But you can still benefit from exercise. Low-impact activities like walking or biking can help strengthen muscles, support joints, and lessen pain
It’s essential to take care of yourself first,” says Dr. Shali. “Make an effort to get enough sleep, eat right, and exercise regularly.
Thank you for your time, it is greatly appreciated, your comments are appreciated and if you have any information related to the health issues mentioned in this post, please let me know and remember to share this post.
You must not rely on the information on our website as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers”
.NOTE: This post includes affiliate links, which, if clicked on and a product purchased, I get a small commission (with no increase in cost to you)
The Flu and the Elderly Cause, treatment, and Prevention
2020 has been a terrible year for everybody, especially for older people regarding the virus COVID 19. Still, the flu seasons are also devastating, even though available flu shots exist.
So in this post, I will be looking at the flu and the elderly population
The flu (influenza) is a seasonal virus that causes mild to severe symptoms. Some people recover in about a week, while others can be at risk of serious, life-threatening complications. There are many strains of the virus.
The risk of complications increases if you’re over the age of 65. Older adults tend to have a weaker immune system, naturally occurs as we age. And when your immune system isn’t robust, it becomes harder for the body to fight off a virus.
Diabetes Disease / Diabetes Insipidus Symptoms and Cause
In this post, we are looking at a rear type of disease that affects the kidneys. While there is no known cure for this disease, there are medicines that can help to manage the symptoms.
What Is Diabetes Insipidus?
Diabetes insipidus is a rare condition that causes your body to make a lot of “insipid,” colorless, and odorless urine. Most people pee out 1 to 2 quarts a day. People with diabetes insipidus can pass between 3 and 20 quarts a day.
Hepatitis C, among boomers Why is the infection risk higher for Baby Boomers?
In this post, I am taking a look at Hepatitis C among boomers. In doing my research for this post, I discovered a few facts that surprised me.
In this post, I will be looking at hepatitis C and the Boomer Generation. This Viral Disease Poses a Problem for Boomers.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads through contaminated blood.
Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection spreads when blood contaminated with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person.
Globally, HCV exists in several distinct forms, known as genotypes. Seven distinct HCV genotypes and more than 67 subtypes have been identified. The most common HCV genotype in the United States is type 1.
Although chronic hepatitis C follows a similar course regardless of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype, infection causes acute hepatitis C, which may progress to chronic hepatitis C. Many people with hepatitis C do not show symptoms until severe liver damage. If it is not treated, chronic hepatitis C can cause life-threatening liver disease.1,2
Unfortunately, about 60 percent of people in the U.S. with hepatitis C know they have it. This means access to testing limits our ability to address hepatitis C.3
Chronic hepatitis C has been most common among people born between 1945 and 1965 (Baby Boomers). Now, because of the opioid crisis, new HCV infections occur more in people born between 1981 and 1996 (Millennials).
To address this, the CDC and other organizations now recommend that all adults get tested for hepatitis C at least once. They also recommend that people with ongoing risk factors get tested regularly.
A CDC report in 2012 showed that about 1 in 30 Baby Boomers were infected with HCV. This infection rate was 5 times higher than for other generations. And Baby Boomers made up about 75 percent of all chronic HCV infections among U.S. adults.1,4
The CDC then recommended Hepatitis C screening for all Baby Boomers. This helped identify more chronic hepatitis C cases than the previous guidelines based only on risk factors. However, the hepatitis C epidemic has changed since 2012. Because of increased injection drug use, new HCV infections are more common in young adults. According to a CDC study in 2018, Millennials and Baby Boomers each make up 36 percent of new chronic hepatitis C infections. People born between 1966 and 1980 (Generation X) make up about 23 percent of new infections.2,5
Hepatitis C is still a concern for Baby Boomers because of their individual risk factors. But the opioid crisis is also increasing the risk for all generations.
Why is the infection risk higher for Baby Boomers?
We do not know why Baby Boomers have a higher risk of HCV infection. Some studies suggest that they were more exposed to injection drug use during young adulthood in the 1970s and 1980s.1 Also, many Baby Boomers may have been infected by blood transfusions before we began screening the blood supply in 1992. It is also possible that HCV infections were more common because of poor medical practices at the time.6,7
Other studies also show that lack of health insurance, use of alcohol, and service in Vietnam may have contributed to the higher infection risk. Most Baby Boomers with chronic hepatitis C will not know how they were infected.4,8
What are the current testing recommendations for Baby Boomers?
The CDC now recommends testing for:5
Every adult at least once
Pregnant women during every pregnancy
Everyone with current risk factors regularly
Risk factors include injection drug use, sharing drug preparation equipment, and certain medical conditions. Talk to your doctor to discuss your risk factors and how often you should get tested.9
Testing is essential for Baby Boomers. Living longer with chronic hepatitis C increases the chances of serious liver disease. Testing can help you get treated quicker.7
If you and your doctor decide you should be tested, you may first take an FDA-approved test for a hepatitis C antibody. A positive test means you were exposed to the virus. Either you have an active infection, or you fought off a previous infection. You would then take an FDA-approved test for HCV RNA. If this test is positive, it means you have an active hepatitis C infection.9
Your doctor can give you more information specific to your situation. Then, they can help you get tested, advise you on precautions to take, and help you get treatment if needed.
Hepatitis C is a silent disease. Three out of four people who’ve been infected don’t know they have it.
A blood test is the only way to determine if you’ve been infected before the virus causes serious health problems. If your test shows you have it, antiviral drugs can cure it in most cases and prevent future issues.
“It’s so sad when we see patients who have been unknowingly infected for many years and come in with cirrhosis, cancer, or liver failure,” says Sammy Saab, MD, professor of medicine and surgery at UCLA.
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Understanding Your Hep C Risk
Been exposed to IV drug use or unprotected sex before the virus was known about or anyone was being tested for it. Baby boomers’ chances of having hepatitis C are higher.
Some could have gotten it through a blood transfusion or organ transplant before widespread screening of the blood supply began in 1992.
While it was once uncommon among younger people, their odds of having it has risen sharply in recent years.
One reason for that could be the increase in IV drug use caused by the growing opioid problem.
Seventy-three percent of those surveyed correctly said that all baby boomers should be tested, but nearly three-quarters of survey respondents between the ages of 18 and 38 didn’t think they were at risk.
Long-term infection with the hepatitis C virus is known as chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C is usually a “silent” infection for many years until the virus damages the liver enough to cause the signs and symptoms of liver disease.
Signs and symptoms include:
Bleeding easily
Bruising easily
Fatigue
Poor appetite
Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
Dark-colored urine
Itchy skin
Fluid buildup in your abdomen (ascites)
Swelling in your legs
Weight loss
Confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)
Spiderlike blood vessels on your skin (spider angiomas)
Every chronic hepatitis C infection starts with an acute phase. Acute hepatitis C usually goes undiagnosed because it rarely causes symptoms.
However, when signs and symptoms are present, they may include jaundice, fatigue, nausea, fever, and muscle aches.
Acute symptoms appear one to three months after exposure to the virus and the last two weeks to three months.
Acute hepatitis C infection doesn’t always become chronic. Some people clear HCV from their bodies after the acute phase, an outcome is known as spontaneous viral clearance.
In studies of people diagnosed with acute HCV, rates of spontaneous viral clearance have varied from 15% to 25%. Acute hepatitis C also responds well to antiviral therapy.
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Causes
Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection spreads when blood contaminated with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person.
Globally, HCV exists in several distinct forms, known as genotypes. Seven distinct HCV genotypes and more than 67 subtypes have been identified.
The most common HCV genotype in the United States is type 1.
Although chronic hepatitis C follows a similar course regardless of the genotype of the infecting virus, treatment recommendations vary depending on viral genotype.
Risk factors
Your risk of hepatitis C infection is increased if you:
Are a health care worker who has been exposed to infected blood, which may happen if an infected needle pierces your skin
Have you ever injected or inhaled illicit drugs
Have HIV
Received a piercing or tattoo in an unclean environment using unsterile equipment
Received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992
Received clotting factor concentrates before 1987
Received hemodialysis treatments for a long period of time
Were born to a woman with a hepatitis C infection
Were ever in prison
Were born between 1945 and 1965, the age group with the highest incidence of hepatitis C infection
Complications
Hepatitis C infection that continues over many years can cause significant complications, such as:
Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). After decades of hepatitis C infection, cirrhosis may occur. Scarring in your liver makes it difficult for your liver to function.
Liver cancer. A small number of people with hepatitis C infection may develop liver cancer.
Liver failure. Advanced cirrhosis may cause your liver to stop functioning.
Prevention
Protect yourself from hepatitis C infection by taking the following precautions:
Stop using illicit drugs, particularly if you inject them. If you use illicit drugs, seek help.
Be cautious about body piercing and tattooing.
If you choose to undergo piercing or tattooing, look for a reputable shop.
Ask questions beforehand about how the equipment is cleaned. Make sure the employees use sterile needles.
If employees don’t answer your questions, look for another shop.
Practice safer sex. Don’t engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners or any partner whose health status is uncertain. Sexual transmission between monogamous couples may occur, but the risk is low.
Treatment
Antiviral medications
Hepatitis C infection is treated with antiviral medications intended to clear the virus from your body.
The goal of treatment is to have no hepatitis C virus detected in your body at least 12 weeks after you complete treatment.
Researchers have recently made significant advances in treatment for hepatitis C using new, “direct-acting” antiviral medications, sometimes combined with existing ones.
As a result, people experience better outcomes, fewer side effects, and shorter treatment times — some as short as eight weeks.
The choice of medications and length of treatment depends on the hepatitis C genotype, existing liver damage, other medical conditions, and prior treatments.
Due to the pace of research, recommendations for medications and treatment regimens are changing rapidly.
It is, therefore, best to discuss your treatment options with a specialist.
Throughout treatment, your care team will monitor your response to medications.
Liver transplantation
If you have developed serious complications from chronic hepatitis C infection, liver transplantation may be an option.
During liver transplantation, the surgeon removes your damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy liver.
Most transplanted livers come from deceased donors, though a small number come from living donors who donate a portion of their livers.
In most cases, a liver transplant alone doesn’t cure hepatitis C. Instead, the infection is likely to return, requiring treatment with antiviral medication to prevent damage to the transplanted liver.
Several studies have demonstrated that new, direct-acting antiviral medication regimens are effective at curing post-transplant hepatitis C.
Vaccinations
Although there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, your doctor will likely recommend that you receive vaccines against hepatitis A and B viruses.
These are separate viruses that also can cause liver damage and complicate the course of chronic hepatitis C.
I have left a straightforward exercise from Silver Sneakers. I hope you enjoy it.
One of the many ailments that affect us as we age is Arthritis, and there are many different types of Arthritis in this post; I will be looking at one of them, rheumatoid Arthritis.
There are different types of Arthritis, up to 100 types, but the most common are rheumatoid Arthritis, osteoarthritis, and septic Arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is the most common type of Arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease that affects 1% of the whole earth’s population, which is equivalent to over 75 million people suffering from this disease which are suffering from this disease. It is chronic, which means a stable condition with intermittent periods of remission and exacerbation. https://betahealthy.com/
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. The wrist and hands are most commonly involved, with the same joints typically involved on both sides of the body. Wikipedia
Signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis may include:
Tender, warm, swollen joints
Joint stiffness is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity
Fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite
Early Rheumatoid Arthritis tends to affect your smaller joints first — particularly the joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet.
As the disease progresses, symptoms often spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips, and shoulders. In most cases, symptoms occur in the same joints on both sides of your body.
About 40 percent of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis also experience signs and symptoms that don’t involve the joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect many non-joint structures, including:
Skin
Eyes
Lungs
Heart
Kidneys
Salivary glands
Nerve tissue
Bone marrow
Blood vessels
Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms may vary in severity and may even come and go.
Periods of increased disease activity, called flares, alternate with periods of relative remission — when the swelling and pain fade or disappear. Over time, Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause joints to deform and shift out of place.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is more than just joint pain. This chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease mistakenly causes your body to attack healthy joints and leads to widespread inflammation.
While RA is notorious for causing joint pain and inflammation, it can cause other symptoms throughout the body.
RA is a progressive autoimmune disease that mainly affects your joints. According to the Arthritis Foundation, about 1.5 million U.S. people live with RA.
Anyone can get RA, but it generally begins between 30 and 60. It also tends to affect women nearly three times more than men.
The exact cause of RA is unknown, but genetics, infections, or hormonal changes may play a role.
Disease-modifying medications can help slow the progression of RA. Other drugs, combined with lifestyle changes, can help manage the effects and, in turn improve your overall quality of life.
One of the first signs of RA is inflammation of the smaller joints in the hands and feet. Most of the time, symptoms affect both sides of the body simultaneously.
Common symptoms include pain, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness, which are more pronounced in the morning. Morning RA pain can last for 30 minutes or longer.
RA can also cause tingling or burning sensations in the joints. Symptoms can come and go in “flares” followed by a period of remission, but the initial stages can last at least six weeks.
Symptoms of RA can occur in any of the body’s joints, including your:
fingers
wrists
shoulders
elbows
hips
knees
ankles
toes
RA can also result in:
bunions
claw toes
hammer toes
As the disease progresses, cartilage and bone are damaged and destroyed. Eventually, supporting tendons, ligaments, and muscles weaken. This can lead to a limited range of motion or difficulty moving the joints properly. In the long term, joints can become deformed.
Having RA also puts you at greater risk of osteoporosis, a weakening of the bones. This, in turn can increase your risk of bone fractures and breaks.
Chronic inflammation of the wrists can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, making it difficult to use your wrists and hands. Weakened or damaged neck or cervical spine bones can cause chronic pain.
Circulatory system
RA can also affect the system responsible for making and transporting blood throughout your body.
A simple blood test can reveal the presence of an antibody called the rheumatoid factor. Not all people with the antibody develop RA, but it’s one of many clues doctors use to diagnose this condition.
RA increases your risk for anemia. This is due to the decreased production of red blood cells. You may also have a higher risk of blocked or hardened arteries.
In rare cases, RA can lead to inflammation of the sac around the heart (pericarditis), the heart muscle (myocarditis), or even congestive heart failure.
A rare but serious complication of RA is inflammation of the blood vessels (rheumatoid vasculitis, or RA rash). Inflamed blood vessels weaken and expand or narrow, interfering with blood flow. This can lead to nerves, skin, heart, and brain problems.
Skin, eyes, and mouth
Rheumatoid nodules are hard lumps caused by inflammation that appear under the skin, usually near joints. They can be bothersome but typically aren’t painful.
According to the Sjogren’s Foundation, as many as 4 million U.S. people have an inflammatory disease called Sjogren’s syndrome. About half of these individuals also have RA or a similar autoimmune disease. When the two conditions are present, it’s called secondary Sjogren’s syndrome.
Respiratory system
RA increases the risk of inflammation or scarring of the linings of the lungs (pleurisy) and damage to lung tissue (rheumatoid lung). Other problems include:
blocked airways (bronchiolitis obliterans)
fluid in the chest (pleural effusion)
high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)
scarring of the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis)
rheumatoid nodules on the lungs
Other systems
The pain and discomfort of RA can make it difficult to sleep. RA may lead to extreme fatigue and a lack of energy. In some cases, RA flare-ups can cause flu-like symptoms such as:
short-term fever
sweating
lack of appetite
Early diagnosis and treatment may help slow the progression of RA. Disease-modifying medications, symptom relievers, and lifestyle changes can significantly improve your quality of life.
Treatments FOR RA
Healthy joints are the “hinges” that let you move around. Many of us take that for granted. However, these simple movements aren’t always automatic or easy when you have RA. They can be painful.
The goals and treatments used by physical and occupational therapists sometimes overlap, but there are some general differences.
Physical Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The goal of it is to keep you moving. It uses exercise and other methods to stimulate muscles, bones, and joints. The result is more strength, tone, and overall fitness.
Physical therapists understand the mechanics of bones, joints, and muscles working together, the problems that can happen, and what to do about them. It’s a good idea to work with a therapist, whether you’ve had RA for a long time or are newly diagnosed, no matter how severe it is.
Exercise. This is the cornerstone of any physical therapy plan. It will match your ability and fitness level and include flexibility, strength, and cardio.
Heat or ice. Treating inflamed or painful joints with heat or ice packs helps some people feel better.
Massage. It can also help you feel better.
Motivation and encouragement. It’s a big plus to have a pro to cheer you on and push you to keep going.
Occupational Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
This helps you stay independent. A therapist will check to see what you need help with. Then, he can teach you better or easier ways to accomplish those things.
Occupational therapists can recommend or provide solutions if activities like dressing, cooking, or bathing become hard or painful. Assistive devices are products or improvements that make everyday tasks easier.
