Health and Fitness Displaying items by tag: Seniors
Despite a bleak economic outlook, America is on the cusp of an entrepreneurial boom, according to a study conducted by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
One of the most popular endeavors for those in this age bracket is that of a professional business or life coach. Boomers are well suited to this professional calling based on their vast business and life experience. Coaching is the practice of focusing existing talents and channeling them to create true significance and empowerment to change in the lives of others.
Even before the entrepreneurial boomers took to the profession, the coaching industry has seen tremendous growth, with revenues topping $1 billion in 2008. The International Coach Federation, because of the demand for coaches, has seen an explosion in its membership since its creation in 1995. Membership has grown from fewer than 1,000 members to more than 14,000. Additionally, between 25 to 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies use executive coaches, as reported in a recent survey by The Hay Group, an International Human Resources consultancy.
"Baby boomers comprise the largest segment of our student and graduate base," comments D. Luke Lorio, president of iPEC's coach training division. "The baby boom generation brings with it the experience, skills, contacts, drive and other resources to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities such as coaching. They reached a point in their careers where they want to capitalize on their experience and often give back to others. Coaching has provided them an outlet to help others while also earning substantial incomes."
On average, experienced life coaches are earning an average of $77,000 per year, and experienced corporate/business coaches are earning an average of $134,800 per year, according to the 2009 Sherpa Executive Coaching Study.
With baby boomers living healthier and longer lives, they are no longer following traditional retirement paths and instead are seeking second and third careers. There's been a shift away from lifetime jobs with long-term employment - with a noticeable drop among people ages 35 to 64 years old during the past 50 years, according to the study.
Jim Kelly, president of Real Leaders Lead Executive Coaching (RealLeadersLead.com), is a baby boomer success story. The 63-year-old certified professional coach was attracted to coaching because it was a career that was truly aligned with his values of giving back and empowering others to live their dreams.
"My 35 years of real world leadership and life experience, including a tenure as CEO of a multi-million dollar company, is the ideal foundation for a coaching business. I went through the ups and downs of every career and the struggles of building successful businesses. It is that experience that allows me to help leaders navigate similar experiences much more quickly than if they go it alone," says Kelly. "My coaching business is strong because clients are investing in the one thing they know will produce a return: themselves."
Here are six ways to know if a career in coaching is for you:
* People usually come to you for advice and you have a positive impact on them.
* You value personal growth and seek a career that will utilize your strengths.
* You see great potential in people and are frustrated when they don't exercise that potential.
* You emphasize strong relationships and a balanced life with many interests, including vitality in health and career.
* You're not afraid of hard work to create more personal and financial freedom.
* You know you have a gift - and you want to share it to help yourself and others live a more powerful and fulfilling life.
To find out more about careers in coaching, contact www.iPECcoaching.com.
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(ARA) - Schools with only a third of the students sitting in chairs, offices sending out notices to employees asking anyone with a fever or cough to please stay home, and hand sanitizer stations popping up everywhere; the signs are very visible this year that flu season has arrived.
Seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses are making big headlines. And while everyone has the potential to catch either variety, senior citizens tend to suffer more from the complications of flu.
"It's a good idea for everyone - including caretakers of senior citizens - to get the flu shot. And there are many other ways to help prevent the spread of viruses from one person to another," says Richard Bitner with Visiting Angels, a senior home-care service. "If you provide care, or even just frequently visit with a senior, pay attention to their living environment to make sure it is safe and protects your loved one from viruses. And make sure you take care of yourself as well, so you don't pass on the germs."
Seniors are more vulnerable because they spend time with grandchildren, get out and explore new activities and visit with friends and family. The CDC recommends everyone over the age of 50 get a yearly flu vaccine because the flu can be more serious and even deadly for seniors. About 36,000 people die from flu complications annually, and of those deaths, 90 percent are age 65 or older.
In addition to getting both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following steps to help protect your health:
* If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone - unless you need to get medical care.
* Even if you aren't sick, keep your home stocked with a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubbing solution and tissues, so that if you do start experiencing symptoms, you don't need to go out and to purchase supplies.
* Wash your hands every day with soap and water - or if this isn't available, hand sanitizer.
* Avoid close contact with sick people.
When you are visiting a senior citizen in senior home care, make sure they have supplies on hand and are practicing good personal hygiene. Do they have a squirt bottle of soap next to every sink in their house? Do the counters and bathroom sinks get cleaned frequently? Are tissues available next to chairs in every room?
Remember, seniors may not pay attention to basic preventative measures when it comes to viruses. But by practicing good health habits yourself, you can help keep them from getting sick from the flu. For more information about flu prevention and seniors, visit visitingangels.com/library.asp.
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(ARA) - It's been called "the disease of kings" because of its association with historical figures like Henry VIII, Benjamin Franklin and Isaac Newton, but gout, a painful and potentially debilitating form of arthritis, is anything but a "historical" condition. In fact, 3 million to 5 million Americans currently suffer from gout, and this number is expected to rise as the population ages.
Despite gout's growing prevalence, results from a survey of more than 2,000 Americans reveal that 65 percent of adults admitted to being "not at all knowledgeable" about gout. The new survey by the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society illustrates major gaps in the public's understanding of the condition.
"Gout has a rich history, but the notion that the condition is no longer a major health problem can't be further from the truth," says Dr. N. Lawrence Edwards, chairman of the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society, a specialist in rheumatology and professor of medicine at the University of Florida, Gainesville. "What many people don't realize is the number of Americans with gout has actually doubled over the past 30 years."
Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis and the most common form of inflammatory arthritis among adults. It causes sudden intense pain and swelling in the joints and, if left untreated, can lead to permanent joint damage and destruction of tissue.
The survey revealed that many Americans don't realize just how serious a condition gout can be - almost half (49 percent) of adults were not aware of the potential crippling effects of gout, such as needing to use a cane or walker, or having to stop working because of limited mobility. More than 70 percent did not know that gout is a form of arthritis.
"Advanced gout leads to the same level of work loss, physical disability and diminished quality of life seen in advanced rheumatoid arthritis, but, as these survey results indicate, the severity of the disease remains underappreciated," Edwards says. "People with gout are often stereotyped as being overindulgent or heavy drinkers, and there is a perception that sufferers bring the condition on themselves. If we are going to improve care for the growing number of Americans living with gout, these myths need to be corrected."
If you have gout or think you may be at risk, Edwards and the experts at the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society have some tips to help manage the condition:
1. Know the risk factors and triggers for gout
Risk factors include obesity, previous joint injury or disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease, genetics (one out of four people with gout has a family history of the condition) and elevated uric acid levels (hyperuricemia).
Triggers for attacks include surgery or sudden severe illness; consumption of large quantities of purine-rich foods, especially meat products; or excessive intake of alcohol, especially beer.
2. Stay in control of your uric acid levels
Most experts agree that lowering a person's uric acid level to less than 6.0 mg/dL is helpful to reduce urate crystal accumulation and prevent the consequences of hyperuricemia and gout. It is important to work with your physician to monitor your uric acid level.
3. Talk to your doctor and visit www.GoutEducation.org to learn more
The www.GoutEducation.org Web site features a downloadable patient brochure with key information about gout.
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(ARA) - While a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, is extremely frightening for patients, there is ongoing research, new technology and medications to help make life easier.
"While we are waiting for a cure, people need to know that a lot can be done to make life easier and longer for people with ALS," says Dr. Robert G. Miller, the lead author of guidelines on treating ALS that are published by the American Academy of Neurology in the Oct. 13 issue of the medical journal Neurology.
ALS is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurologic disease that attacks the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, or the muscles a person can control. These muscles - for example, the arms, legs, and throat - eventually stop working. About 10 percent of people diagnosed with ALS will live 10 years or more, significantly longer than the three to five years typically predicted.
Tom Kobler, 57, of Eden Prairie, Minn., noticed he didn't have good control of his left foot in the spring of 2007, and received an official ALS diagnosis in May 2008.
"I had a lot of people at work asking why I was limping," he says. "I first thought I had lower back issues."
In addition to seeing his regular physician, Kobler attends an ALS clinic at Mayo Clinic on a quarterly basis to meet with several specialists, including a neurologist, dietician, speech pathologist, swallowing specialist, nurse and a physiatrist (a doctor of physical therapy). They anticipate together the challenges he will face over the next several months, and plan ways to get around those challenges.
"I probably see seven people over the course of four to five hours at that clinic, and they're all talking to each other," Kobler says. "[ALS] symptoms can progress quickly. Knowing what you can do with the use of various types of equipment is very helpful. We try to anticipate when my weaknesses would come and have the equipment in place as I need it."
Dr. Miller says research affirms the importance of multidisciplinary care. "Attending a multidisciplinary clinic will likely increase survival and access to treatments, and may improve quality of life," Miller says. Several ALS clinics have met standards set by well-known medical organizations, and if you've been diagnosed with ALS, your doctor can help guide you in finding a clinic in your area you can work with.
Kobler has been involved in reviewing the last decade of ALS research and agrees with Dr. Miller. "In my battle with ALS, I have tried to anticipate my family's future needs to make living with ALS as manageable as possible. That is not something easily done, but with frank conversations with my medical team at Mayo and at home, we have been fairly successful in having the equipment and expertise on hand when needed to allow me and my family to enjoy my remaining life as fully as possible," he says.
One guideline identified by the American Academy of Neurology recommends people with ALS use the drug riluzole, which slows the rate at which the disease progresses. It is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ALS, and has a modest effect on prolonging survival.
As ALS progresses, it starts affecting the muscles in the mouth, which can cause eating, talking and drooling issues. The drug botulinum toxin B is recommended by the Academy for patients who are suffering from sialorrhea - also known as drooling - if oral medications aren't working.
Kobler's disease has limited him to a wheelchair, but he continues to prepare for future needs. He says any equipment that allows him to conserve energy helps.
"More recently we have gained access to a lift that lifts me out of bed and into my wheel chair," he says. "I have also recorded my voice for certain requests - 'I need water,' 'I'm cold,' 'I need to go to the bathroom.'"
Recent studies indicate the disease typically proceeds to affect the muscles that control breathing, so people with ALS have problems getting enough oxygen. People with ALS who use an assisted-breathing device usually have increased life expectancy and may have better quality of life. Longer life expectancy is also likely for people with ALS who use a feeding tube known as a PEG tube, since nutrition plays a critical role in extending survival.
People with ALS who develop thinking or behavioral problems will be less likely to initially accept treatment with an assisted-breathing device or a PEG tube. Doctors need to approach these people differently to help them accept these treatments.
The cause of ALS is still a question mark, and it's not known why the disease strikes some people and not others. About 30,000 Americans are currently diagnosed with ALS.
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(ARA) - Even in the best of times, life insurance can offer an extra measure of peace of mind in terms of helping to provide financial security. But the need for life insurance is even more significant during difficult economic times, when jobs are harder to find and dependents are in greater need of financial assistance.
The current high rate of unemployment is causing consumers to re-evaluate the importance of individual life insurance coverage, with many viewing it as an essential component of long-term financial security for their families and loved ones.
"People have been hit hard and aren't sure where to turn," says Mark Hug with Prudential's Individual Life Insurance business. "They see life insurance as a way to help provide stability and financial protection."
Hug notes that a recent report titled Navigating Life Insurance Choices in Challenging Times issued by Prudential Financial, Inc. in September, found recent layoffs made two-thirds of consumers realize they need more insurance than their employers provide. But, 22 percent do not have more coverage beyond what they get at work and 18 percent have no coverage at all, according to the report.
The discrepancy between the coverage people have and the coverage they believe they need seems to boil down to the fact that the choices in life insurance policies can be confusing.
Getting started
The good news is, determining your needs is not as complicated as it may first appear. When selecting a policy, consider several key things, including:
* Calculating how much coverage you need.
* Considering the period of time for which you need coverage to determine if term or permanent insurance is right for you.
* Determining how your needs fit within an overall plan that suits your personal circumstances, your financial priorities and your budget.
Understanding your options
Like its name implies, term life insurance provides coverage for a specified "term" or period of time. It is usually less expensive than whole life or permanent insurance, especially in the early years of the policy, and can be a good option for people who want maximum coverage at minimum cost.
Whole or permanent life insurance provides lifetime coverage and premiums are typically paid for as long as the policy remains in place. In addition to providing a death benefit, permanent policies can potentially accumulate cash value, which can be accessed via loans or withdrawals. Loans and withdrawals will reduce policy cash values and the death benefit and may have tax consequences.
When in doubt, a combination of coverage can be a good approach to cover all your bases. A financial professional or a life insurance agent can play an important role in helping you determine what level of protection you need by evaluating present and future financial responsibilities and income, and identifying the right products to help meet those needs. When it comes to financial security, life insurance offers the kind of guarantee you can take to the bank. Of course, it's also important to note that all guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. For more information, download a copy of Navigating Life Insurance Choices in Challenging Times.
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(ARA) - As cold weather sets in, thousands of retirees are making plans for a winter getaway. If you're one of them, switch to direct deposit for your Social Security payments before you leave - it's the safest, easiest way to receive your money.
"Each year, the U.S. Department of the Treasury receives more than 1.4 million inquiries regarding paper check-related problems," says David A. Lebryk, commissioner of the Treasury Department's Financial Management Service.
Yet, approximately 10.5 million Americans continue to receive their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments by paper check each month. The Treasury Department's Go Direct (R) campaign encourages senior citizens and people with disabilities to switch to direct deposit.
Increased safety, convenience and reliability
When there's a problem with a Social Security payment, nine times out of 10 it's with a paper check, not a direct deposit payment, says Lebryk.
Paper checks can be vulnerable to financial crimes like theft and fraud. In fact, the Treasury Department investigates more than 70,000 cases of altered or fraudulently endorsed checks each year, totaling $64 million in estimated value.
"In 2008 alone, more than 485,000 Social Security and SSI checks were reported lost or stolen and had to be reissued," says Lebryk.
Direct deposit is also more convenient and reliable. There is no more waiting for a check to arrive in the mail, and there are no more worries about delivery delays due to severe weather, local emergencies and other check related problems. Last year alone, severe weather events forced alternative delivery arrangements for millions of Social Security and SSI paper checks.
"Switching to direct deposit for federal benefits is such an easy way for people to safeguard their money, especially when traveling for extended periods of time," says Lebryk. "Your money is deposited to your account on payment day, so there's no need to worry about delivery delays or a check sitting in your mailbox while you're gone."
Prepaid debit card option
In addition to direct deposit, the Treasury Department recommends the Direct Express (R) Debit MasterCard (R) card as an alternative to paper checks for people without bank accounts.
More than half a million Americans signed up for the optional Direct Express (R) card in its first year of availability, according to the Treasury Department. A recent survey of cardholders finds that 95 percent say they are satisfied with the prepaid debit card, and 86 percent say they would recommend it to family members or friends who receive a federal benefit payment.
With the Direct Express card, cardholders can make purchases, pay bills and get cash at thousands of locations nationwide. Sign-up is free and no bank account is required. While most services are free, there are fees for a limited number of optional transactions and services.
Making the switch is easy
It is easy to make the switch to electronic payments for federal benefits. To sign up for direct deposit, call the Treasury Department's Go Direct campaign helpline at 1-800-333-1795 or visit www.GoDirect.org. To sign up for the Treasury-recommended Direct Express card, or to learn more about the card's features and fees, call 1-877-212-9991 or visit www.USDirectExpress.com. preceding information has been provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service.
The
The Go Direct (R) campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks. The Direct Express (R) Debit MasterCard (R) card is issued by Comerica Bank, pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Incorporated. MasterCard (R) and the MasterCard (R) Brand Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated. The Go Direct (R) logo, Direct Express (R) logo and Direct Express (R) are service marks of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service.
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(ARA) - The signs of aging aren't always as obvious as a few more wrinkles and grey hairs. The body naturally changes as you get older, but what exactly can you expect and how do you make sure you're aging in a healthy way?
The experts at Mayo Clinic offer a list of things to look for as you age, and tips on how you can stay healthy:
Heart
As you get older, your heart must work harder to pump the same amount of blood through your body. Your blood vessels may narrow if hardened deposits of fat have formed on your arteries. This can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension).
You can help prevent high blood pressure by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and reducing your salt intake.
Muscles, joints and bones
Your bones shrink in size and density as you age, which makes you susceptible to fracture. Your muscles and joints also lose some flexibility and strength.
To help your body stay flexible and to keep your bones strong, get the recommended daily amount of vitamin D and calcium and engage in weight-bearing exercises like walking, climbing stairs and light weight training.
Eyes
Experienced eyes have thinner retinas with lenses that are less clear. Focusing on objects close up may become more difficult and you may be sensitive to glaring lights, particularly when driving at night. Common eye conditions include glaucoma and cataracts.
Eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and get regular eye exams to help catch any problems early.
Ears
Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions reported in aging adults. The thickening of eardrums can cause you to have difficulty hearing high frequencies and you may notice an increase in ear wax.
Avoid prolonged exposure to loud noises and wear hearing protection when doing noisy tasks like mowing the lawn. Have your hearing checked regularly.
If you've got health concerns or questions about what you can expect as you get older, a great resource to have on hand is the Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 4th edition. You'll have great information at your fingertips including:
* Preventive screening recommendations and tests to consider based on your age
* Hundreds of pages of fully updated information on diseases and conditions
* How to protect yourself and prepare for flu pandemics
* How to make sense of your symptoms
* A medication guide
Also included is general information designed to help you navigate the changes and health care decisions that come as we get older.
For more information and healthy aging tips, visit MayoClinic.com. To purchase your copy of the Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 4th edition, visit Bookstore.MayoClinic.com.
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(ARA) - A diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) often results in a patient feeling helpless and depressed about not being able to maintain a normal, active lifestyle. However, with a chronic lung disease like COPD, it's particularly important, and tremendously beneficial, for patients to exercise and stay active.
It is a misconception that people with COPD are unable to stay active post diagnosis. On the contrary, exercise can help patients feel less short of breath, strengthen muscles (including the heart) and can improve a patient's mood, according to the National Jewish Medical and Research Center.
COPD patients should always consult with their doctor to collaborate on developing an appropriate exercise program prior to beginning one. Done properly under a doctor's supervision, exercise can increase energy levels, muscle strength, cardiopulmonary endurance and help with shortness of breath. Not to mention the additional benefits of losing weight and lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
If you have COPD and are overweight, the extra weight can make it even more difficult for you to breathe. Losing the weight by participating in a doctor-supervised exercise program will help to reduce the strain on your heart and lungs. Common activities include stretching, strength exercises such as leg lifts and arm extensions and endurance activities like cycling, swimming and water aerobics.
Patients and their caregivers may be concerned about blood oxygen saturation (measured by oximetry) levels during periods of activity. In the past, patients would be required to visit a clinic to have their blood oxygen saturation levels monitored. Today, however, doctors often prescribe a fingertip pulse oximeter for patients with COPD.
By self-monitoring with a personal fingertip pulse oximeter such as Nonin Medical's GO2, blood oxygen saturation can be measured safely and independently - anytime, anywhere. A doctor can prescribe the GO2 during a patient visit.
Managing a condition like COPD is a lifelong commitment. It is important to stay active, keep healthy and monitor your oxygen during exercise. Work with your doctor to create a program that best suits your needs and take back control of your life.
For more information on the GO2 fingertip pulse oximeter, as well as helpful patient education resources, visit www.Nonin.com/go2. of ARAcontent
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(ARA) - Look anywhere in the nonprofit world these days and you're likely to find an older adult volunteering his or her expertise in new ways. From the board room to the building site, organizations are putting those 50 and older to work to meet a rising demand for charitable services. In the process, members of the most experienced active generation are discovering the possibilities of giving back on their own terms.
So what's powering the boom in older adult skilled volunteering? There's a revolution under way in how nonprofits are asking for help, and this group is ready to make a difference during the recession.
Two million more baby boomers and close to 800,000 people 65 and older volunteered in 2008, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service - making the current crop of older adults the most socially engaged in three decades. At the same time, organizations are designing creative new roles for volunteers who have expertise. Many organizations are posting them online at VolunteerMatch.org, where more than 10,000 nonprofits have signed up since the start of the recession.
Sue Hires, 55, began volunteering at Just Friends, an adult day service in Columbus, Ind., when her mother started participating in the program. As a registered nurse, getting involved at Just Friends was a natural fit for Hires, and she thrived at helping the organization understand how to improve its operations and marketing from a participant family's point of view.
Since then, as Hires' interests evolved, so has her involvement. Today, she's the organization's green thumb, getting her hands dirty by putting her skills as a master gardener to work keeping the garden beautiful. "I guess nurturing is just kind of up my alley," she says.
Like a lot of nonprofits, Just Friends tries to accommodate a variety of skilled contributions from its volunteers. Elizabeth Ball, a volunteer resource coordinator, says she keeps an updated list of each volunteer's interests and regularly asks them what they may want to try. "Everybody's needs change over time," says Ball.
According to recent research by VolunteerMatch, older adults in particular tend to have interests that are more specific than many other demographics. Even traditional barriers to involvement, like geographic distance, can be overcome by a committed older volunteer.
For John Dits, 58, connecting with others has been a key part of his engagement on volunteer housing builds, and it has led the longtime construction contractor far from his Elko, Nev. home.
A self-professed "hands-on kind of guy," Dits began volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and other housing groups after years of helping out on land improvement and planning issues. "I guess I started to grow a bit," he said.
Dits has since volunteered on builds from the Gulf Coast to Costa Rica. The physical work of volunteering in construction can be draining, he says, but the satisfaction of helping to guide first-time volunteers is priceless. "A big part of the success is just making sure every one is having a positive experience. They're always surprised by what they're capable of," says Dits.
As a blue collar skilled volunteer, Dits isn't alone. Despite the popular notion that skilled volunteering happens in board rooms, the listings at VolunteerMatch.org show plenty of demand for industrial trades like construction, plumbing, and gardening. Travel Town, for example - a museum that restores historic trains in Los Angeles' Griffith Park - is currently looking for a cabinet maker to join its crew of mostly 50-something volunteer videographers, carpenters, track inspectors and metal workers.
According to volunteer manager Julie Foster, Travel Town's entire restoration team consists of volunteers. Even so, she says productivity is not something the organization worries about. "I may not see these volunteers every day, but when I do see them I smile knowing that a lot will get done," says Foster.
Greg Ramsey, 55, is a U.S. Navy track inspector and self-described fan of "big machines." At Travel Town, he handles heavy mechanical work, track-laying, and maintenance. He also spends time working with other volunteers. Growing up in nearby Burbank, Calif., Ramsey recalls hanging around Travel Town himself and checking out the machines. Now he's proud to be able to show young people the ropes.
"Some of these kids have never even turned a wrench," says Ramsey. "A lot of them end up thinking, 'You know, it's really fun to get dirty and work with my hands.'"
Find skilled volunteer opportunities at www.volunteermatch.org. of ARAcontent
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(ARA) - Happy holidays, time with friends and family, the freshness of a new year - there are many things to look forward to with the arrival of winter. If you're among the millions of Americans, however, who suffer from chronic pain, winter can bring on a whole new set of problems and pains.
Whether you suffer from chronic ailments like arthritis or fibromyalgia, or simply experience the aches, pains and stiffness associated with past injuries or with aging, winter's cold and dampness can exacerbate these problems. Plus, there's the potential to suffer painful injuries from winter activities like shoveling snow or hazards like slipping on icy ground.
Here is some simple advice to minimize winter's impact on chronic pain and avoid new pains from injuries:
Arthritis and fibromyalgia
While both conditions can cause excruciating pain, both also respond well to positive influences like exercise, diet and hot/cold therapy. To help minimize winter's impact on these two chronic ailments, be sure to stay active and maintain prescribed medications and therapies. Dress warmly when going outdoors, wearing layers that help trap heat near your body.
Turn to hot and cold therapy to soothe sore muscles and aching joints. You don't need to resort to a hot water bottle or an ice pack to get hot/cold therapy relief. The IMAK Therapy Wrap is a 38-inch wrap that fits virtually any part of the body. Insertable gel packs can be heated or chilled, depending on what works for your pain. Breathable cotton Lycra fabric keeps the wrap comfortable against the skin. Visit www.IMAKproducts.com to learn more.
Hot and cold therapy had also proven useful in treating normal aches and pains associated with aging, and with pain resulting from injury. To avoid common winter injuries from shoveling snow or slips and falls, follow this advice:
* Stretch before you start, just as you would if engaging in a workout.
* Shovel while it's still snowing and shovel repeatedly throughout the snowfall. That way, you're not trying to move a large amount of heavy, wet snow when the snowfall is over and the accumulation greater.
* Use a small shovel - a large one may tempt you to overdo it - and let the stronger muscles of your legs do most of the lifting and pushing work. Bend at the knees to avoid excess strain on your back.
If you do overdo it and wind up with some aches and pains, turn to hot and cold therapy to soothe sore muscles.
Other outdoor dangers
Raking leaves, shoveling snow, even sitting for long hours in the cold on stadium bleachers watching a football game - all can put undue strain on your neck and shoulders. When performing outdoor physical activity that could strain your neck, be sure to take regular breaks, and let your strong leg muscles do as much of the work as possible. If you're sitting for long periods in the cold, dress warmly in layers and be sure to protect your neck with a warm scarf. Shift position often, standing up when possible, bending forward and gently stretching your neck, arm and shoulder muscles to avoid stiffness.
Hot and cold therapy can also help alleviate neck pain if you do end up straining muscles. IMAK's Hot/Cold Neck Support allows you to put the therapeutic effects of heat or cold directly on sore neck muscles. A microwave-safe gel pack can be heated or chilled as needed.
Finally, be aware of the risk and dangers of inclement winter weather. Slips on ice and frostbite from snow send thousands to emergency rooms every winter. If you must walk on ice, take measures to ensure your footing is good, such as using special cleats that attach to your shoes or wearing thick-soled snow boots. Never shovel snow, play in snow or spend time outdoors in snow unless you are appropriately dressed in warm layers, including hat, gloves and warm boots.
With a few precautions and the right therapy, you can enjoy winter months free of the aches and pains associated with colder weather.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
