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The Health Issues And Causes Among Boomers

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.
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.

According to Reyzan Shali, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Scripps Coastal Medical Center Vista. the root causes of many of these conditions begin earlier in life,

“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.

Age. Your risk for Alzheimer

  • Age. Your risk for Alzheimer‘s goes up as you get older. For most people, it starts going up after age 65.
  • 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)

Hepatitis C Among Boomers The Causes and Prevention

Hepatitis C,  among boomers  Why, is the infection risk higher for Baby Boomers?
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.

Are Baby Boomers at a higher risk for infection?

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.

Why Get Tested?

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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Standard STD Test for Women – Check for HIV, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Herpes Simplex Type 2, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis – Verisana

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNe0SJnWckQ

Symptoms

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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WAGNER Switzerland Air Purifier WA888 HEPA-13 Medical Grade Filter, Particle Sensor for 500 sq. ft. Rooms. Removes Mold, Odors, Smoke, Allergens, Germs and Pet Dander, etc..(Black)

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.

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The 5-Minute Seated Cardio Blast

Thank you for your time; I hope you found the information in this post useful; your comments and questions are welcomed.

Please remember to share this post and stay healthy.

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)

Health Goals For Seniors —Maintaining Good Health

Seniors health Goals
Health Goal for Seniors

Health Goals For Seniors

There is a new perception of reaching old age ( boomers.) We boomers’ are more active and is taking an active role in our health and wellness well- being. We look forward to the future with much hope and optimism.

According to a recent US census estimates that those who are over 65 years will surpass those who are 5 years old by the year 2020 and as most boomers’ becomes more tech-savvy manufacturers and entrepreneurs needs to find new ways to cater to this age group and find new ways to meet our challenges yet allow us to live our lives fully.

Continue reading “Health Goals For Seniors —Maintaining Good Health”

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