Book Release: Dr. Elizabeth Jackson Helps Women Improve Heart Health at Any Age
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Spry Publishing | p: 877-722-2264 | e: info@sprypub.com
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Dr. Elizabeth Jackson Helps Women Improve Heart Health at Any Age
May 14, 2013, Ann Arbor
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Spry Publishing and renowned cardiologist Elizabeth A. Jackson, MD, MPH, today announced the release of An Ageless Woman’s Guide to Heart Health: Your Path to Lifelong Wellness. With resources and tips to help women make positive steps toward improving their overall health, An Ageless Woman’s Guide to Heart Health is every woman’s guidebook to enjoying a heart-healthy life.
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Heart disease has long been thought of as a men’s issue, though it is actually the leading cause of death in both men and women. While most published information on cardiovascular health addresses the topic from a male perspective, Dr. Jackson’s new book focuses exclusively on cutting-edge information that is relevant and impactful to women. An Ageless Woman’s Guide to Heart Health provides essential education on the differences between men and women when it comes to heart disease prevention, risk factors, symptoms, and treatments.
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Often at the helm of their family’s overall health, diet, and nutrition, a woman and her lifestyle decisions can affect not only her own well-being; they can determine the habits of her partner and children as well. By becoming better educated, a woman can have a profound, permanent impact on the health of the people around her.
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In a recent interview, Dr. Jackson discussed the inspiration behind writing her book. “Something that I feel particularly passionate about is our ability to improve our health on our own. When we look at exercise and nutrition and stress reduction it’s not like you need to have some pill that has side effects or that you need a medical person to help you through making a decision to take the pill. A lot of things we intuitively know how to do are important—eating healthy foods and being active and enjoying life have a tremendous ability to reduce your risk for heart disease.”
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Dr. Jackson is currently available for interviews and appearances in support of the release of An Ageless Woman’s Guide to Heart Health. She is a knowledgeable and engaging interviewee who is qualified to comment on a wide range of women’s health topics, including:
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- Cardiovascular health concerns that are unique to women; how heart health differs between women and men
- The impact of a woman’s health decisions on her family, friends, and others around her
- Improving heart health—and consequently, overall health and well-being—at any age
- Lifestyle considerations (diet, exercise, stress, sleep, etc.) and how they change throughout a woman’s life
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To receive more information on Dr. Jackson and a review copy of her new book, An Ageless Woman’s Guide to Heart Health, please contact Jeremy Sterling, Director of Marketing at Spry Publishing, jsterling@sprypub.com.
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About ELIZABETH A. JACKSON, MD, MPH
Elizabeth A. Jackson, MD, MPH, received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Brown University’s Rhode Island Hospital and attended the New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, for a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine. She also completed a research fellowship in preventative medicine at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. It was during her research fellowship that Dr. Jackson earned a Master’s in Public Health at Harvard University’s School of Public Health, where she also completed training in nutritional epidemiology.
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Dr. Jackson began work at the University of Michigan Health Center in 2007. She works as an attending cardiologist with an emphasis in women’s cardiovascular health and cardiovascular prevention. Dr. Jackson is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease and is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
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About SPRY PUBLISHING
Spry Publishing is a premier publisher of health books and media, offering valuable content on a wide range of medical subjects. With an extensive list of accredited authors, Spry Publishing specializes in educating both patients and healthcare professionals by delivering timely, relevant wellness information across an array of platforms.
Spry Publishing operates within the Edwards Brothers Malloy family of businesses, a century-old printing and publishing tradition that is currently the sixth largest book and journal manufacturer in North America.
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For more information about Spry Publishing, Elizabeth Jackson, MD, MPH, An Ageless Woman’s Guide to Heart Health or the contents of this press release, please contact:
Jeremy Sterling, Director of Marketing
Spry Publishing, 2500 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
p: 734-546-5434 | e: jsterling@sprypub.com
www.sprypub.com
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Diabetes Management: What It Takes
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by Jessica Snyder and Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE
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In his latest book, Until There Is a Cure: The Latest and Greatest in Diabetes Self-Care, diabetes educator Gary Scheiner shares insider information on forthcoming, groundbreaking advancements in diabetes research, technology, and treatments. The following encouraging excerpt from Gary’s book gives you an idea about what it takes to manage diabetes.
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“Improving your diabetes management is just that … doing better. Not perfect. Improvement requires the right attitude, education, and the ability to utilize the best tools and technologies the diabetes industry has to offer.
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“Nothing, and I mean nothing, takes place without proper motivation. You could have the top doctor in the country and the best tools and training the world has to offer. Without the right mental approach, it’s all for naught.
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“Exactly where does managing diabetes rank in your set of personal priorities? If your diabetes is not well controlled, how will it affect you at work? At school? At home? At the gym? In bed? Although nobody would expect you to place your diabetes self-care above the immediate well-being of your family, it should hold a prominent place in your life. So be prepared to invest some time, energy, and funds into your diabetes management.
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“Persistence is another valuable trait. Over the course of your life with diabetes, there are sure to be many setbacks. Out-of-range readings. Undesired lab results. Lows at inappropriate times. And possibly the development of complications. When these things happen, it helps to live your diabetes life one day at a time. You can’t change the past, so don’t worry about what you did (or didn’t do) yesterday. And you certainly can’t live tomorrow until tomorrow. Every day represents an opportunity for a fresh start.
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“The right mental approach also includes a degree of discipline, sticking to a plan even in the face of distraction and adversity. Maybe not all the time, but certainly most of the time. From my experience, people who are disciplined about things like keeping records, checking blood sugars, counting carbs, taking insulin before eating, and putting appropriate time frames between their meals and snacks (to avoid “grazing”) tend to have better blood sugar control over the long term.
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“In terms of motivation, fear (of complications, for example) can be powerful, but it tends to be temporary. Long-term motivation stems from something personal that comes from within. Are you the type who is motivated by short-term challenges? Then play the numbers game and work on improving your control. Are you the type who will do things for others before you’ll do them for yourself? If that’s the case, serve as a role model for someone else or dedicate your diabetes self-care to someone special to you. Sometimes, motivation can come from a tangential goal, such as participating in an athletic event, having a baby, or simply being around long enough and healthy enough to dance at your grandkids’ weddings. Whatever your motivation, latch onto it and use it to fuel your daily choices and activities.”
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As a Certified Diabetes Educator and person living with diabetes for more than 25 years, Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE, has received numerous awards for his work in the fields of diabetes care and self-management teaching. Scheiner has written six books and hundreds of articles on various topics in diabetes wellness. Additionally, he teaches the art and science of blood glucose balancing to people throughout the world from his private practice in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Jessica Snyder joined the Spry Wellness Blog as a contributor in 2012. She is currently working to obtain an undergraduate degree in English and Communications at the University of Michigan.
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Take Heart: An Ageless Woman’s Guide Is Coming Soon
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by Jess Snyder
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We’re nearing the end of February and as you may have noticed, we’ve been celebrating American Heart Month with a series of heart-related posts here on the blog. Although heart disease has traditionally been considered primarily a men’s health issue, actually more women than men have died from heart complications over the past few decades. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, not cancer as many people believe.
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On May 7, Spry will release An Ageless Woman’s Guide to Heart Health: Your Path to Lifelong Wellness by renowned cardiologist Elizabeth A. Jackson, MD. The new book, written for women of all ages who are concerned with cardiovascular health, will provide an in-depth look at women’s heart issues from a female perspective. Dr. Jackson offers a wealth of valuable tips and resources aimed at helping you take manageable, positive steps toward understanding and improving your heart health.
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Over the next few weeks, leading up to the book release, we’ll share more about Dr. Jackson with you and we’ll be featuring some of the helpful information contained in her book. Whether you’re younger or older, fit or ailing, it’s never too late to make changes that can lead you—and those you love—to a healthier heart.
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Jessica Snyder joined the Spry Wellness Blog as a contributor in 2012. She is currently working to obtain an undergraduate degree in English and Communications at the University of Michigan.
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Meet Gary Scheiner – Part 2
by Jess Snyder
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Gary Scheiner MS, CDE has graciously agreed to share some of his thoughts about what trends he sees in his work as a Certified Diabetes Educator. His new book, Until There Is a Cure: The Latest and Greatest in Diabetes Self-Care , is an invaluable guide to understanding recent advancements in the world of diabetes care. The book will be hitting stores on February 26. I talked with Gary recently about what motivated him to pursue a career in diabetes education, why he thinks this accurate information is essential for people with diabetes, and how things are changing (and why it’s important to keep up!). The following are a few of Gary’s answers from a longer article that we ran a few months ago called Meet Gary Scheiner .
JS: What made you want to do what you’re doing?
GS: Living with diabetes 24/7 and seeing others struggling with it give me the drive to be in this field. It certainly ain’t the money! Nobody is getting rich providing diabetes education.
I’ve had type 1 diabetes since I was 18 … I was actually diagnosed in SUGARLAND, Texas (the irony is unbelievable). I use an insulin pump, CGM, and take Amylin/GLP-1 to manage hunger and post-meal spikes. My control isn’t always the greatest, but I do the best I can.
JS: Why did you feel you had to share the information in your book?
GS: Far too many people with diabetes are, shall we say, “underserved” by their healthcare providers. Many physicians are not up to speed on the latest technologies and are intimidated by them. As a result, their patients are not exposed to devices and techniques that could be benefitting them greatly.
JS: What tips or advice would you share with your readers?
GS: New medications, technologies, and techniques are useless unless you have the self-management skills to utilize them effectively. Take the time to work with diabetes educators on honing your skills and using the latest tools to achieve the best possible control.
JS: How important is it that a person with diabetes keeps up with technology?
GS: It is important, simply because it makes our lives (and I say “our” because I have diabetes as well) easier and our control better. However, technology without proper education and motivation to use it optimally is a grand waste of time.
JS: How have concepts of blood glucose management changed?
GS: We no longer need to mold a person’s lifestyle around their insulin program. We now mold the insulin program around the chosen lifestyle. PWDs can do just about anything they choose to do, as long as they have the tools and insight to match their insulin to the situation.
JS: What trends are you seeing in CGMs and other management technologies right now? Do you think they will last?
GS: The comfort, accuracy, and ease of use continue to improve with each newly released system. But more importantly, third-party payers are accepting this technology and are much more willing to cover the costs. Without coverage, CGM and other technologies would go nowhere.
Read the full interview here.
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As a Certified Diabetes Educator and person living with diabetes for more than 25 years, Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE, has received numerous awards for his work in the fields of diabetes care and self-management teaching. Scheiner has written six books and hundreds of articles on various topics in diabetes wellness. Additionally, he teaches the art and science of blood glucose balancing to people throughout the world from his private practice in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, USA.
Jessica Snyder joined the Spry Wellness Blog as a contributor in 2012. She is currently working to obtain an undergraduate degree in English and Communications at the University of Michigan.
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Diabetes Tips from Gary Scheiner’s New Book
by Jess Snyder and Gary Scheiner
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We here at Spry are very excited to announce our newest book, Until There Is a Cure: The Latest and Greatest in Diabetes Self-Care by Gary Scheiner MS, CDE .
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As Gary says, “This book is all about keeping pace with the changes—changing technology, changing therapies, changing approaches to diabetes management. Basically, the information provided here will help you take advantage of what’s ‘new and improved,’ and ultimately make your diabetes control a little bit better and living with this chronic condition a little bit easier. My personal goal, and what I emphasize to my patients, is to take the best possible care of their diabetes here and now. When a cure does finally come along—and it will—I want to be in the best of health and have no regrets about the effort I put in.”
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To celebrate this upcoming book, we will be releasing a series of ‘DTips’ over the next few weeks. We’ll share short bits of useful information with you on the future of diabetes, excerpted from the pages of Until There Is a Cure. Watch for #DTips on Twitter and don’t miss the next one!
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Gary Scheiner’s Until There Is a Cure: The Latest and Greatest in Diabetes Self-Care releases on February 26, 2013. Preorder your copy now!
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After earning a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology, Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE, received his diabetes training at the Joslin Diabetes Center. As a Certified Diabetes Educator and person living with diabetes for more than 25 years, he has received numerous awards for his work in the fields of diabetes care and self-management teaching.
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Jessica Snyder joined the Spry Wellness Blog as a contributor in 2012. She is currently working to obtain an undergraduate degree in English and Communications at the University of Michigan.
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A Valentine’s Day Heart Health Reminder
by Jess Snyder
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Even though it’s Valentine’s Day—a day to indulge yourself by spending time with your loved ones, having a few chocolates, and maybe even a romantic dinner for two—it’s also an important day to stop and think about keeping yourself and your dear ones as healthy as possible, especially with regard to heart health. Here are 5 quick activities that could help you stay in tip-top shape for many Valentine’s Days to come.
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• Watch the salt! Most of us (and I mean the vast majority of us) are eating more salt than we should be by about 1,000 mg each day. Much of that salt comes from processed foods such as bread, deli meat, and pre-made dinners. Try eating fewer processed foods as a way to cut your sodium intake back a bit.
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• Count your drinks. Some alcohol, like red wine, has flavonoids in it, which can be anti-inflammatory and a decent excuse to have a glass, if you’d like to have one. Many doctors recommend 1 glass a day for women and 2 for men. However, too much alcohol can negatively affect your heart muscles, and it’s very easy to consume more calories than you realize in liquids. So, think before you drink!
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• Take a hike. No, really. Even a 30-minute walk each day can help to burn more calories and work out your heart. Some studies have shown that women who exercise regularly reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 30 to 40 percent. Taking a family walk can also be a great idea if you have a spouse, parent, children, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren who could also use the exercise (and the quality time!). Walking can be a wonderful way to calm down and think, which leads me to my next point …
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• Chill out. Though the link between chronic stress and heart disease is unclear and still being researched, stress can definitely lead to other unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as drinking, emotional eating, smoking, or depression. By working to reduce your stress, you might find it easier to eliminate some of these other unhealthy habits, too.
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• Know when it’s serious. Everyone should be aware of the warning signs of a heart attack, whether it’s for their own benefit or to be supportive of someone for whom they care. The sooner a heart attack is recognized, the more efficient medication and treatment will be, which can mean that lives may be prolonged and saved. The most common signs of a heart attack are the ones many people are familiar with: chest and upper body discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea. However, women also need to be aware that many women won’t experience the characteristic chest pain if they have a heart attack. And as many as 75 percent of women may have symptoms similar to the flu for the week leading up to their heart attack. Be aware—if something doesn’t seem right, seek medical attention immediately.
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Hopefully these tips aren’t too painful, and maybe they’re a part of your lifestyle already. Keep up the hard work, and set yourself up for a happy heart.
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Jessica Snyder joined the Spry Wellness Blog as a contributor in 2012. She is currently working to obtain an undergraduate degree in English and Communications at the University of Michigan.
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First Peek at “Until There Is a Cure: The Latest and Greatest in Diabetes Self-Care”
by Jess Snyder
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Gary Scheiner MS, CDE , knows a thing or two about diabetes. Not only has he managed his own type 1 diabetes for more than 20 years, but he has also devoted his life and career as a Certified Diabetes Educator to educating and empowering others living with diabetes, helping them to truly understand their conditions and their treatment options. He is tremendously skilled at taking difficult medical concepts and communicating them in a way that virtually anyone can understand—an important, if not crucial, qualification in Gary’s line of work.
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Gary’s widely read books are staples in any serious diabetes library, with his Think Like a Pancreas frequently topping best-seller lists and adorning the bookshelves of both patients with diabetes and health-care professionals everywhere.
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In his newest book, Until There Is a Cure: The Latest and Greatest in Diabetes Self-Care , Gary shares insider information on forthcoming, groundbreaking advancements in diabetes research, technology, and treatments. The following excerpt captures Gary’s enthusiasm for helping people with diabetes and explains some of his overall concept behind writing the book.
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I never used to believe in that saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Then I entered the diabetes field.
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This book is all about keeping pace with the changes—changing technology, changing therapies, changing approaches to diabetes management. Basically, the information provided here will help you take advantage of what’s “new and improved,” and ultimately make your diabetes control a little bit better and living with this chronic condition a little bit easier.
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With changes taking place all around us, what exactly has stayed the same? For starters, the goal of diabetes management is roughly the same: to manage blood sugar as effectively as possible so that it does not keep us from enjoying life to the fullest. The emphasis on self-management hasn’t really changed. Experts recognize that diabetes is the type of condition that involves countless choices and decisions on the part of the patient on a daily basis. To expect your doctor or nurse to be there all the time is a pipedream. We, as people with diabetes, must educate ourselves and obtain and use the necessary tools to manage effectively.
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One other constant through the years is hope. We all hope that doing the right things will produce the desired results. We also hope for a cure. Back in 1985 when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in a Texas town called Sugarland (God’s honest truth!), my endocrinologist tried to convince me how lucky I was to be diagnosed when I was.
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“We’ve come a long way in recent years,” he said. “The way research is going, in five or ten years, your diabetes will probably be cured.”
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That was more than 25 years ago. Still no cure, but people are still saying, “In 5 or 10 years … we’ll have a cure.” Although there is some very promising research taking place, I’m not one to put my eggs in that basket. My personal goal, and what I emphasize to my patients, is to take the best possible care of their diabetes here and now. When a cure does finally come along—and it will—I want to be in the best of health and have no regrets about the effort I put in.
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Today, I can look back at the way diabetes was treated when I was diagnosed and say, “Man, those were the Stone Ages!” But you know what? Five or ten years from now, I’ll probably look back to today and think the very same thing. At least I hope so.
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Gary Scheiner’s Until There Is a Cure: The Latest and Greatest in Diabetes Self-Care releases on February 26, 2013. Preorder your copy now!
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Jessica Snyder joined the Spry Wellness Blog as a contributor in 2012. She is currently working to obtain an undergraduate degree in English and Communications at the University of Michigan.
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National Wear Red Day
by Jess Snyder
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Ladies, there’s just something about wearing the color red. It gives you an extra lift and helps you feel a little more confident. Maybe that’s why the American Heart Association chose red to represent their awareness campaign for women’s heart disease.
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Go Red For Women is a campaign with the purpose of educating women about the realities of heart disease and how it is the number one killer of women in the United States today. The campaign was started in 2004, a year after the first National Wear Red Day was hosted by the American Heart Association to educate and empower women about their heart health by providing tools to help women take action to improve their well-being. Every year on the first Friday in February, women (and men) don red dresses, sweaters, blazers, T-shirts, jackets, and anything else you can imagine to make a statement about their commitment to fighting heart disease and educating women about its risks. Funds raised on National Wear Red Day help to supply up-to-date educational programs, research, and support materials specifically designed to teach women about the risks of heart disease.
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The first National Wear Red Day happened ten years ago, and in the past decade there have been some tremendous improvements in women’s heart health to celebrate! Fewer women (21%) are dying from heart disease and more women (23%) are aware that heart disease is their number one health threat.
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So get out there this February. Whether you organize a parade, put together a group of friends to do a fundraising campaign, or proudly don your favorite red heels, it all adds up to increasing awareness and saving lives.
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To learn more about the impacts of heart disease on women and what you can do about it, check out An Ageless Woman’s Guide to Heart Health by Dr. Elizabeth Jackson.
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Jessica Snyder joined the Spry Wellness Blog as a contributor in 2012. She is currently working to obtain an undergraduate degree in English and Communications at the University of Michigan.
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Prenatal Nutrition
by Jess Snyder
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During pregnancy, certain aspects of your nutrition become increasingly important not only for your health, but for your baby’s as well. You will very likely find that new concerns over what, when, and how to eat are often at the center of your attention. Your doctor should give you plenty of advice about what is best for you and your specific pregnancy, but here are a few of the main areas of concern that women generally have about their nutrition while pregnant.
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Nutrients
It is vital that pregnant women get sufficient amounts of protein, folic acid, calcium, and micronutrients, including iron. Additionally, pregnant women should drink 8 or more large glasses of water daily. Protein should comprise about 20% (which is about 60 grams) of a normal pregnancy diet. Most Americans already consume more than enough protein, however, animal sources of protein are very high in fat. These extra fats can build up and create additional weight gain, so be aware of the fat in your meat!
Supplements
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Many women will decide to take prenatal supplements throughout their pregnancy, as they can help to ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients you need each day. In addition to the benefits that you receive from taking supplements, many foods also contain high levels of folic acid, which helps to prevent birth defects. Foods such as leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, dried beans, and peas are good sources of naturally occurring folate.
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Fish & Shellfish
While most foods are perfectly fine for pregnant women to eat, there are some that require a little extra caution. If you frequently eat fish in your regular diet, it’s a very good idea to talk with your physician about which types are OK for your pregnancy and which are not. Certain kinds of fish can be very high in mercury and should be avoided, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. However, other kinds of fish can be great sources of omega 3s and lean protein. Keep in mind that eating raw fish like sushi is generally off limits during pregnancy, due to risks that include bacteria that can cause food-borne illnesses and parasites that live in uncooked fish and can cause parasitic infections.
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Caffeine
For caffeine junkies, pregnancy might present an extra challenge. Pediatricians usually recommend that most women cut back significantly or even eliminate caffeine altogether. Some studies have shown that women who consume 200 milligrams or more of caffeine per day (which is roughly the amount of caffeine in a 12-ounce cup of coffee) are twice as likely to miscarry as women who consume no caffeine. Here is an interesting article about consuming caffeine during pregnancy, which includes a list of the caffeine content in several common beverages.
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As always, your first step toward a healthy pregnancy is consulting with your doctor about which dietary choices are best for you and your baby. Positive decisions about diet and nutrition that are made during pregnancy are some of the most important decisions you will ever make!
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Jessica Snyder joined the Spry Wellness Blog as a contributor in 2012. She is currently working to obtain an undergraduate degree in English and Communications at the University of Michigan.
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Why Should You Donate Blood?
by Jess Snyder
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Ever thought about donating blood? Seventeen percent of Americans say that’s the number one reason that they don’t donate—they’ve never considered it. Another 15% say that they don’t have time to donate. However, an average blood donation only takes about 10 minutes, and the entire process only takes around an hour, which is a little over 4% of your 24-hour day.
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The top reason that compels Americans to donate blood is that they “want to help others.” And they’re right on track. As much as 95% of people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their life. 20% of recipients of blood transfusions are children, many of whom have cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. Trauma patients, people having surgery, and cancer patients are common recipients of blood transfusions. One pint of your blood—the average amount taken during donation—can save up to three lives.
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Blood use is currently rising throughout the country. This is due to an aging population, an increase in surgeries and procedures requiring blood, and an increase in procedures requiring multiple transfusions. For example, a liver transplant patient may require at least twenty units of blood, and a bone marrow transplant patient may need two weeks of blood transfusions. Blood drives are necessary not only because blood use is on the rise, but also because blood cells can only last a few weeks before they can no longer be used.
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Approximately 37% of Americans are eligible to give blood, but less than 10% actually donate. Keep an eye out for blood drives at local businesses, houses of worship, schools, and other locations throughout your community. A single donation, roughly an hour of your time, could save up to three lives.
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Jessica Snyder joined the Spry Wellness Blog as a contributor in 2012. She is currently working to obtain an undergraduate degree in English and Communications at the University of Michigan.
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Eldercare: Creating Compatibilities
by Mary Ann Zettelmaier
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In the previous post I listed some of the most common risks to a safe living environment for the elderly among us. Now I’d like to suggest some modifications to a home that can make, or keep, it safe. The following isn’t an exhaustive list, but it may point you in the right direction for customizing a plan that meets your, or your elderly parent’s/neighbor’s/friend’s needs.
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THROW RUGS: Eliminate them wherever you can. If you still need them (e.g., on a bathroom floor that might otherwise be wet and slippery), you can do one of two things:
-Make sure they have a rubber backing (most bathroom products do), or
-Purchase some separate rubber backing, cut it to fit the rug, and put it under the rug.
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STAIRS: Again, decrease or eliminate their use. This may mean organizing activity to minimize their use, or, if possible, getting all the necessities for living (laundry facilities, bedroom, daytime living space) on one floor. If stairs continue to be necessary, make sure sturdy rails are in place, preferably on both sides, and consider doing something to highlight the edges of the stairs, e.g., painting the edges in a contrasting color. Night lights can also help, even if everything is on one floor.
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STOVES: This can be especially challenging, since cooking is such an integral part of life for so many of us. So what are the options, short of a brand new stove that may be too expensive? A reminder sign near the stove (STOVE OFF?) may help, as may a nightly routine that includes checking lights, open doors and windows and appliances that don’t have an automatic shutoff. Routines have their merits.
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Alternatively, if none of the above is workable, it may be time to consider some kind of food service, such as Meals on Wheels. Another alternative might be supplying meals from other sources. For years, prior to her moving to an assisted living facility, I made meals for my mother and froze them in single-serving sizes. Then all she had to do was remove them from her own freezer and microwave them. I simply made extra portions when I was cooking for my own family, so it was minimal extra work for me. Or, there’s always my husband’s solution: McDonald’s (help us!).
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CABINETS: This usually takes some help for an elderly homeowner, and if you’re the helper, do respect the fact that, for most women, a kitchen is her turf. Proceed with sensitivity. Basically, the important part is to get the necessities (everyday dishes, glassware, eating utensils and high-use cooking utensils) within reach without stretching or bending. The highest and lowest cabinets, shelves, and drawers need to become off limits for independent use, and that convenient little stepstool needs to disappear. It’s too much of a temptation.
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TUBS/SHOWERS/TOILETS: Thankfully, there are many aids that can keep a bathroom safe and usable. Consider an elevated toilet seat that fits over an existing toilet or a commode chair that works essentially the same way. Also, there are side rails available that attach to a toilet of standard height. The latter alternative is sometimes all that’s necessary. For tubs, there are tub transfer chairs, with seats on both the outside and inside of the tub. With a transfer chair, you can sit on the outside of the tub, get your legs over the edge, and then slide to the part of the chair on the inside of the tub. Some people have replaced a standard tub with a walk-in tub or shower. This may be a reasonable alternative for some, but there’s a price tag that may be beyond what a senior on a fixed income can afford. Additionally, some or all of the aids listed above may be covered by health insurance. As necessary, it’s worth a conversation with your physician.
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This gets us to the “I’ve lived here all my life/I don’t want to move” issue. Given this and the previous discussion, it may be necessary to initiate a conversation about alternative living arrangements. Basic safety issues can be a compelling argument, but it may also take discussions with other family members as well as with physicians and attorneys. I sympathize with anybody who has to engage in such a discussion: as necessary as it may be, it’s never easy.
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And under any circumstances, we’re left with those most basic of human needs: connection and communication. If you’re the senior citizen who has to modify or change your living arrangements, stay connected with your larger world. If you’re the friend or family member who assists an elderly person, keep in touch, and/or find somebody who’s nearby to do it for you and then communicate with you. All things being equal, isolation is probably the biggest risk for diminished quality of life in old age.
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Next time I’ll address some issues related to safety outside the home.
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Mary Ann Zettelmaier, MSN specializes in maternal-infant communication, with a comprehensive clinical focus on developing programs of family-centered care.
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Enjoy the New Year and Avoid the Headache!
by Jeremy Sterling with Dr. Gary E. Ruoff
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As the year wraps up, we at Spry wanted to share with you some of Dr. Ruoff’s hints for how to enjoy your New Year’s Eve celebrations without worrying about a follow-up headache. This post originally ran on December 31, 2011.
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This week, people across the globe will ring in the New Year with celebrations great and small. For some, this is a time for quiet introspection, to humbly reflect on the accomplishments of the passing year, and then forge lofty goals and resolutions for the year to come. For others, New Year’s Eve is the best night of the year to ignore goals and resolutions, let down their hair, stay out all night, and party, party, party!
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The indulgences of the evening can present a special set of challenges to people who are prone to suffering from headaches. Many festive foods, drinks, and activities can serve as triggers for headaches, and while you’re busy enjoying your night on the town, it’s quite easy to inadvertently mix together several different components that can create extremely unpleasant problems inside your head.
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I asked our author and headache expert, Dr. Gary E. Ruoff, to give us a few suggestions. Are there simple choices we can make that might increase our chances of avoiding that nasty New Year’s Eve headache? Here’s his response:
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We would all like to have a good time on New Year’s Eve. However, the migraineur needs to be careful. The combination of alcohol, cheese, and other foods—as well as staying out until the wee hours of the morning—can produce enough triggers to bring on one whopper of a headache. Alcohol further causes dehydration, which can compound the problem.
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If you want to celebrate, do not drink red wine or champagne. I would suggest a high-end clear vodka instead. Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of water, maintain your food elimination list, and try to come home at a decent hour.
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Good luck!
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Happy New Year from all of us here at Spry Publishing! We look forward to sharing with you in again in 2013!
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For more on headaches from Dr. Ruoff, check out his book, Knock Out Headaches.
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Ask the Doctor: Frostbite & Hypothermia
by John Zettelmaier
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My son fell through the ice while ice fishing. What should I do?
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Was your son completely immersed?
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No. Just his feet—he was in the shallow area.
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I did this myself. Falling through the ice puts the body at risk of losing heat faster than the body can burn its fuel to replace the heat loss, which can cause COLD INJURIES ranging from hypothermia to frostbite.
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A person’s normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Hypothermia is the term used when our body temperature is lower than 98.6 F. Icy water immersion can rapidly cause hypothermia and frequently the victim becomes disoriented. Other symptoms of hypothermia include clumsy slow movements, longer reaction time, and impaired judgment. Sometimes the mind is so blurred that hallucinations occur.
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Treatment of hypothermia depends on the stage in which the victim presents him/herself. In early (less severe) stages, one would usually help the victim out of the cold, replace his/her cold, wet clothing with warm, dry clothing, give him/her warm/hot beverages, or bundle him/her up in a sleeping bag with a companion. In later (more severe) stages of hypothermia, the victim may be found unconscious. If this is the case, wrap him/her in a warm, dry blanket, move him/her to a warm place, and call 9-1-1 immediately. When taken to the emergency room, the victim will be monitored for heart rhythm irregularities.
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Your son sounds like he may have a case of FROSTBITE. This refers to a cold injury where one or more parts of the body are damaged by the cold.
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As with hypothermia, the person should be removed from the cold and covered with a warm blanket. A frostbitten hand or foot should be warmed slowly in warm—NOT HOT—water. If water is not available, you can tuck your hands under your arms if hands are involved and cover your nose and ears with dry hands if they are involved. DO NOT rub or massage the frostbitten area or disturb blisters. Warm beverages may help. Keep the area clean to prevent infection and go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
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If you have to walk out of the area where the frostbite occurred, you might allow the feet to remain frozen, since thawed frostbitten feet are more vulnerable to damage than are frozen feet. In other words, do not thaw frostbitten tissue if there is a chance that it might refreeze before you receive medical attention.
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Areas that are most vulnerable to frostbite are the exposed body parts: the nose and ears, the hands and feet. Prevention from cold injuries is the best place to start. Stay dry, bundle up, and wear layers of light, loose-fitting clothes. Wear windproof garments, warm socks and mittens instead of fingered gloves. And be careful not to fall through the ice!
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John Zettelmaier, MD is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, a member of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, an American Board of Family Practice Diplomate, an American Academy of Family Physicians Life Member and Fellow, and a Life Member of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians.
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Eldercare: Safety First
by Mary Ann Zettelmaier, MSN
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At some point, it may be necessary to consider what constitutes a safe and manageable environment for your parents, elderly friends, or even yourself. This is when you begin to realize how easy it is to take for granted the little details that make the difference between safety and risk.
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I’ll focus here on typical in-home risks, realizing at the same time that external threats (e.g., safety of a neighborhood) also impact in major ways.
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So put on your “detail spectacles” and start looking: it’s frequently the simple stuff that can prove to be hazardous. For example:
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- Throw rugs: Consider that, by definition, aging means that you don’t lift your feet very much when you walk. The shuffle is not a dance in old age. So those cute little rugs—in the hallway, at the door, next to the bed, in the bathroom—are setups for tripping, especially if they’re not secured by rubber backing or some kind stabilizer under the mat. Additionally, they can slide and their edges curl, easily causing a loss of balance.
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- Stairs: They become problems primarily when they are necessary to get to parts of a home you need for daily living, such as second-floor bedrooms, basements with laundry facilities, entrances and egresses. And the problem gets compounded when there are no rails. So not only do we risk not lifting our feet enough to get up those stairs, but we gradually lose internal balance mechanisms that allow us to go down the stairs without pitching forward. Add to that hip and knee joints that stiffen or give way, bifocals that blur where the edges of the stairs are, and the frequency of needing to carry something on those up and down trips. Necessary stairs can be recipe for disaster.
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- Stoves: Most elderly people don’t have those fancy new stoves on which the surface doesn’t get hot. Gas or electric stoves are far more likely in the homes of the elderly, and each kind carries its own risks. If gas stoves are turned on but don’t ignite right away, gas escapes into the home. And it’s easier than you think to walk away from a gas burner that is open but not ignited without realizing it—until it’s too late. With an electric stove, it’s easy to forget that the burner is still on, and contact burns can be the result.
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- Cabinets: Most cabinets require reaching up or bending over, both of which can be a threat to an elderly person’s compromised internal balance mechanisms. Additionally, cabinets frequently store things that are heavy, and can push a senior citizen’s strength capacity beyond what’s safely manageable.
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- Tasks that require a ladder: Changing light bulbs in ceiling fixtures or getting that “necessary” celebratory platter out of an overhead cabinet or top shelf can be problematic. By now I think you can see that a task a younger person takes for granted can put an elderly person right over the edge (literally and figuratively).
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- Solo living: Here we go with all the risks previously considered being compounded, because there’s nobody else on site to help prevent problems before they happen or act quickly if they do occur.
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- Tubs, showers and toilets: You never realize how something as simple as the standard height of a tub can be a barrier to hygiene until the hips and knees of an elderly adult of average height can’t bend or lift enough to get over the edge. Likewise, both tubs and shower stalls frequently have slippery bottoms that can cause sliding and losing balance, resulting in fractures, drowning or burns. Additionally, it takes old age to realize that the standard height of toilets is only standard for the hale, hearty and young. It can be as much as a foot too low for the infirm and/or elderly, and even if you can sit down you can’t always get up. Enough said.
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And last but not least, “We’ve lived here all our lives and we want to die here.” This is the bottom line that frequently colors everything else. We can all understand what a sense of “home” means—security, familiarity, independence, competence, memory—so many things that are constant feedback about who we are and what our lives have been, and are, all about.
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So as we think about the best way to spend our latter years, or are children who are concerned about helping our aging parents maintain meaning and quality in their lives, safety becomes a primary concern. Next time, I’ll address some resources and strategies that can be helpful in either keeping home safe or, as necessary, broaching the subject of re-location.
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Read other posts in Mary Ann Zettelmaier’s Eldercare series here.
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Mary Ann Zettelmaier, MSN specializes in maternal-infant communication, with a comprehensive clinical focus on developing programs of family-centered care.
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Ask the Doctor: The Holiday Cold
by Dr. John Zettelmaier
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As 2012 comes to an end, we at Spry wanted to share with you some tips on how to stay healthy throughout the holiday season. This post from Dr. John Zettelmaier was originally published on December 28, 2011.
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Every winter, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, I get a “Holiday” cold. We travel a lot at this time and I want my doctor to give me antibiotics, in case we need them on our trips. He says, “No.” Why?
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Common cold symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, coughing, and sinus headaches. Sinus headaches usually are in the area above the eyes, below the eyes, or in the cheek bone space. The symptoms may last for days or up to two weeks.
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The reason your doctor doesn’t give you antibiotics to prevent or “cure” your cold is that that antibiotics can neither cure nor prevent. Most colds are caused by the rhinovirus. However, over 200 other viruses can cause colds. Antibiotics only work against bacterial infections and NOT viruses.
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Taking antibiotics for viruses can be harmful. In fact, indiscriminate use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance. Resistance works as follows—at any given time there is a bacterial pool that reaches a high enough population to cause disease. Antibiotics kill most but not all of the bacteria in the pool. Those that remain may not have been dividing (duplicating themselves), and the antibiotic did not get incorporated into the cell walls of the bacteria (killing them). But, since the pool population has decreased, your symptoms are gone. These last few bacteria with enough antibiotic exposure develop changes and become resistant, that is, never to be killed by that antibiotic again. This antibiotic resistance develops because only the sensitive bacteria are killed and the resistant bacteria are left to grow and multiply. Decreasing the inappropriate use of antibiotics is the best way to control resistance. Antibiotic resistance is considered one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. The problem is that the infections that were easily treatable with antibiotics now are not. When the antibiotic doesn’t work, the illness lasts longer and requires stronger and stronger and sometimes more toxic replacement antibiotics. Some of these resistant infections even lead to death.
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Then, how should I treat my cold?
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Your initial treatment usually consists of rest and over-the-counter (OTC) medications for symptom relief. We are NOT talking about “chest colds,” which is the common terminology for bronchitis/pneumonia, which I’ll discuss in a later post. Since OTCs are for symptom relief, use the OTC that fits the symptom.
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1. FOR PAIN/FEVER: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen
2. FOR SORE THROAT: ice chips, sore throat spray, or lozenges
3. FOR EARACHE: pain medications (listed above) and a warm moist cloth over the ear that hurts
4. FOR RUNNY NOSE: saline nasal spray or decongestants
5. FOR SINUS PRESSURE: warm compresses, decongestant, pain OTCs, or cool mist vaporizer/humidifier
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But remember, many OTCs are NOT recommended for children younger than a certain age, so be sure to read the label on the package. IT IS BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE MEDICATING SMALL CHILDREN.
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When your symptoms include a temperature of higher than 100.4 F, last more than 10 days, or are not relieved by the OTC medications, it is time to visit the doctor and find out if, in fact, you have a common cold or something more serious.
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Since you are visiting others during the holiday season, remember good hand hygiene. In other words, WASH YOUR HANDS A LOT! Have a safe and healthy trip.
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John Zettelmaier, MD is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, a member of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, an American Board of Family Practice Diplomate, an American Academy of Family Physicians Life Member and Fellow, and a Life Member of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians.
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