Hit the Beach

Your Body on the Ocean

Few things are more relaxing than a dose of sun, sand and sea air—and there is plenty of research to prove it.  Here’s how a day at the beach soothes your body and mind.

©     Lungs—Salty air has been shown to reduce lung inflammation, helping relieve asthma symptoms.  Many patients with lung diseases have also reported less coughing and sinus pressure when exposed to sea air.

©     Skin—Sea salt helps restore skin’s protective barrier, which seals in hydration longer, keeping skin smooth and softer.

©     Brain—A view of the ocean lowers stress, according to researchers who found that the more “blue space” you see, the calmer you feel.

©     Heart—If the water is a little chilly, take a dip anyway.  Plunging into cold ocean water improves circulation.

©     Joints—Swimming in the sea can ease pain of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, possibly due in part to the inflammation taming effects of soaking in salt water.

Check Up for Your Medicine Cabinet

Checkup for Your Medicine Cabinet

1.       Check your expiration dates—Prescription medications have expiration dates on their original containers, but your pharmacist is required only to put a “Discard by” date on the bottle.  This date is usually 1 year from the date the Rx is filled.  Certain meds should never be used beyond their expiration dates: oral nitroglycerin, insulin inhalers and Epipens. 

2.      Know the dangers of common painkillers—Some analgesics including Advil and Aleve can trigger a heart attack or stroke.  Ibuprofen and naproxen can also increase bleeding risk and bump up blood pressure.  Studies show that acetaminophen can cause liver damage, especially when taken with alcohol.  If your physician has prescribed powerful opioid medications, such as OxyContin or Percocet, follow their orders strictly on dosage and frequency.

3.      Beware risky herbals—Herbal supplements can interact with certain prescription medications, causing dangerous side effects.  St. John’s wort can interfere with statins and high blood pressure medications.  Ginkgo and ginseng can interact with blood thinning meds and increase risk of bleeding.  Kava has been shown to cause liver damage.

4.      Don’t overdose on everyday vitamins—Watch daily limits on Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Vitamin C.  Taking too much of these everyday vitamins can have different adverse side effects.

5.      Cut back on Allergy and Sleeping Pills—Studies have shown that those who take certain insomnia and allergy medications long term—including such products as Benadryl and Nytol—are more likely to have problems with memory and decision making, plus have a higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Touching Hearts Senior Care is the gold standard when you consider selecting a home care provider.  Call us today at 251-445-4204 to schedule your free assessment.  Or visit us online at www.touchingheartsseniorcare.com.

The Future is Coming...Are You Ready?

Preparing for the Future

I met with a prospective client recently.  She is a widow who had spent 20 years collectively being a caregiver for her mother, her husband and her sister.  She is an independent woman who manages her own home and is a member of a women’s group that meets monthly.  Typically, this is not the type of person who needs caregiver services.

After talking with her, she expressed to me that she might need our services in the future with an upcoming eye surgery and possible knee replacement.  I was extremely impressed that this person has the forward thinking of what she might need for the future.  I speak with many people regarding our services and the many programs we have available.  These include caregiver services, case management services and dementia education.  So many people after hearing my presentation reply to me, “We don’t need that right now.”  As I fully understand and agree with this reply, I continue to think about how many prospective clients contact me when they are in a crisis.  They are overwhelmed by the amount of information and the decisions they have to make, all the while dealing with crisis at hand. 

I know we all hear about the importance of planning for our future.  Financial planning, insurance policies, and healthcare are all important areas to consider when we consider our quality of life in our later years.  I believe that those who address these issues before they are upon them, have a more seamless transition than those that do not.  Just some food for thought!

Tracey Eldridge is the Community Liaison for Touching Hearts Senior Care.  To contact Tracey, email tracey@touchingheartsseniorcare.com.