Prepare For Your Visit
It is easy to feel overwhelmed about what to do to keep your body and mind healthy once your over the age of 50. Whether your in good health or managing an ongoing condition,this blog can help.
In Good Health?
1 Am I up to date on all the recommended vaccines?
2 Do I need to schedule any preventive screenings?
3 What can I do to improve my eating and exercise habits?
4 How do I make sure I am getting all of the nutrients I need? Do I need vitamins or supplements?
Managing A Chronic Condition?
1 Is there anything more I can do to manage my condition?
2 Do you have any tips for helping me remember to take my medicine?
3 What can I do to improve my eating and exercise habits?
4 What else can I do to stay healthy as I get older?
Working With Your Doctor
Make the most of your checkups in 3 easy steps.
1 Plan Ahead – Make a list of what you want to ask your doctor and bring it to your visit.
2 Share Everything – It is hard to know what is a normal part of aging and what might be a sign of a condition that needs treatment. So tell your doctor about any change in how you feel – even if it does not seem important.
3 Get Personal – you may feel embarrassed talking about things like sex,going to the bathroom or how much alcohol you drink. But your doctor cant help you if you do not open up. Remember that your doctor is used to talking about these things. He or She is there to help you, not to judge you.
How Vaccines Work
While checkups and screenings help your doctor find problems early,vaccines can help keep you from getting a certain disease in the first place. When your older, things like the flu and pneumonia can be more serious even life threatening.
When germs enter your body , your immune system makes antibodies, special proteins that find and attack those germs. After the attack, these antibodies stay in your bloodstream. If the same germs enter again,the antibodies can often fight them off before you feel sick.
A vaccine gives you a weakened or dead form of certain germs. These germs are not strong enough to make you sick,but you still will make antibodies to fight them. For Example, vaccines that prevent pneumonia give you a dead form of the germs that cause pneumonia, so your body will make antibodies to fight them.
Not sure if you need vaccines?
Ask your doctor to go over this next lesson with you.
Vaccines
Your doctor will recommend vaccines based on your health,medical history, travel, whether you have allergies and other factors. The fallowing vaccines are recommended by the CDC center of disease control and prevention for adults.
Influenza- 1 dose every year.
Tetanus,Diphtheria, – Substitute T-dap once – then TD booster every 10 years
Pertussis,
Varicella ( chicken pox) – 2 doses
HPV for women - 3 doses
HPV for men - 3 doses
Zoster (shingles) – 1 dose
Measles,mumps, rubella, (MMR) – 1-2 doses depending on indication
Pneumococcal (PCV13) – 1 dose
Pneumococcal PPSV23 – 1 or 2 doses depending on indication.
Managing Medicines
1 Know how your medicine treats your condition and why it is important not to miss a dose.
2 Understand how and when to take it.
3 Get your refills before you run out.
4 Tell your doctor about side effects. Do not just try to live with them or avoid taking your medicine.
5 Talk to your doctor before you stop taking a medicine – even if your feeling better.
6 Take every dose. To help remember: use sticky notes , cell phone reminders, a pillbox or a medicine tracker.
Tell your doctor how often you miss your medicine and why. Costs too high? Side effects? Too much to remember? Does not seem to work? Be honest so your doctor can help.
Please note: Tell your doctor about all prescription drugs,over the counter medications, vitamins and supplements you are taking – even if they seem harmless. Bring a list of all of your medicines to your check ups, or put them into a bag and bring them along with you. Ask your doctor if they are safe to take together.
Stay Safe
As you age , your risk of falls, car accidents and other injuries increase – and a broken bone can lead to more serious health problems. But easy steps can help keep you safe. To prevent falls.
1 always wear glasses if you need them. Be extra careful when you get new ones.
2 get enough sleep, and tell your doctor if a medicine makes you tired or dizzy.
3 stand up slowly to keep your blood pressure from dropping.
4 wear low heeled shoes with rubber, nonskid soles. Avoid wearing just socks or slippers with smooth soles.
5 Be very careful on wet or icy ground. Spread salt outside your doors in cold weather.
6 When Driving tell your doctor if you notice any changes in hearing,eyesight, or how quickly you react to things. And keep up with all your checkups.
7 Pick routes you know well when driving.
Eat A Healthy Diet
How – Do not think diet. Instead , create a healthy eating routine you can stick with. Each week , try one of these tips.
1 Choose whole grains for most of your bread.
2 Add a mix of fruits and vegetables in different colors
3 choose healthy sources of protein , like seafood , lean meats , eggs, beans, nuts , and low fat products.
4 avoid adding salt to your food, buy foods that are low in sodiom.
5 limit foods with trans and satuated fats , high cholesterol or added sugar.
6 pay attention when your eating , and eat slowly.
7 fill a water bottle each morning and sip it throughout the day.
8 ask your doctor if you should try to take any vitamins or supplements
Keep your body active.
Regular physical activity can help fight against everything from diabetes to heart disease. It also helps you move easier,reduces your risk of falling, manage stress, live on your own longer , eases depression , and keeps your brain sharp.
How – work with your doctor and create a plan that is safe for you. Start slowly and work your way up to a routine that includes these four types of activities. Aerobic, strength, balance and flexibility. If you have trouble with an exercise plan ask a friend to join you.
Top 10 healthy habbits
1 keep your mind active
2 maintain a healthy weight
3 Limit Alcohol consumption
4 get enough sleep
5 Manage stress
6 practice bladder health
7 keep up a satisfying sex life
Please note: Talking to your doctor about everything that was mentioned in this blog is not a bad idea and may help you even more as you age healthy. Be safe...
