Arthritis and it's effects as we age

     As I got out of bed this morning, I looked outside to see another cool, rainy day. It's on days like this that my joints ache; especially in my back and my knees. I used to run, and over the years I have had knee problems. I decided to write a little bit about Arthritis. I've learned that it affects over 40 million people in the United States. Arthritis can be debilitating, but with proper care and treatment Arthritis can be defeated. Its important that you become aware as early as possible about its effects, and more importantly what can be done to prevent it.

Stroke

     When we think of  a "Stroke", what do we think about? We think of a disabled family member or friend who has trouble moving and speaking, and needs to be cared for; possibly for the rest of their lives What you may not know is the stroke is the third leading cause of death in America, and it is number one in causing long term disability. Simply put, a stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. It is sometimes called a "Brain Attack." Strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, or more commonly when a blockage occurs. Without immediate treatment the cells in the brain become starved for oxygen and quickly begin to die. The result can be a serious disability or even death. It sounds pretty bad, doesn't it?

The good news is that there are many things to do to prevent strokes and to minimize the damage when one occurs. The key is to take the time to learn how to recognize the onset of a stroke, and what to do. Sometimes the symptoms can be confusing. Sometimes you may be confusing age related problems such as physical infirmities, along with age related memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer's with what may actually be a stroke. The key is to learn all the symptoms, and keep your eyes open for them. Take a look at the picture below. Notice how one side of the face is dropping at the eyes and mouth. It is very important to look for this. Here are more symptoms.

Running

     I was recently asked why my "25 Rules for Good Health" doesn't include any rules on running? first, let me tell you that I love running. I believe that it is one of the best things to do to keep in shape. There is nothing like the runner's high you get after a work-out or a big race. I was a runner in my mid to late 30's. I would still be running if not for the wear and tear on my body.  A lot of this was caused not by running, but by other factors such as my size and weight, over training not strengthening my muscles, and not having proper form. God bless the runners whose bodies can take the stress. When I go on my morning walks with my dog there is a man in his 70's or 80's. It's hard to tell his exact age because he's in great shape. He runs every day. From watching him I can see that his mile splits are still good at between 10 and 12 minutes. Studies have shown that as we get older running is one of the best ways to slow the aging process. After age fifty it has been found that runners have fewer disabilities, a larger span of active life, and a reduced risk of early death. The key words are "active life." I've know people who lived to be a hundred, but the quality of their lives over the last twenty years was poor. They were often sick, had limited mobility and spent the last few years of their lives being cared for in nursing homes. Sometimes the quality of life, and how active you are as you get older are what's important.

BMI-Good or Bad?

    I just received a notice from my Son's high school informing me of his current BMI score. The BMI or "Body Mass Index" is given yearly to measure the height and weight of students to determine whether they have a healthy weight for their sex and age. I noticed that his score was in the higher percentiles, while bordering on being considered overweight. I thought something was wrong with the results. My Son is in perfect health. He eats healthy and exercises, including lifting weights. He has large muscles, very low body fat and has been developing a set of impressive six-pack abs. How could he be considered being heavy for his age. I decided to do a little investigating of my own, and came up with some startling facts.

10.Rule For Better Health-Reach Out to Those Around You.

      It seems a little strange to see this on a health blog under the heading of 25 rules for better health. When most of us think about our health we think about exercising, eating healthier and losing weight. These things are still very important for our physical health, but sometimes we overlook some of the spiritual, emotional and psychological factors which determine how healthy we really are. I learned a long time ago how our emotional health is directly related to our physical health. You could be a world class athlete with strength, speed, agility, and a perfect physique, but if you're not happy, loved, needed, and fulfilled, then life is pretty empty. I would like to tell you a story of a remarkable woman who is on her own personal journey to better health. I hope Sarah can teach us all why it is so important to reach out to those around us, and why this is so important for our health.