Health Info & Resources for Seniors
Conquering Winter Blahs
Now that the leaves are down and the days are shorter, it is often hard to get motivated to think about exercise, let alone work on our food choices. We seem to want to hibernate and reach for comfort foods. Unfortunately, with our human makeup, this combination only leads towards gaining weight and becoming less flexible.
Hospitals Offer Resources to Develop Your Interests
Pursuing a new interest, skill or activity is a great alternative to making – and breaking – New Year’s resolutions, but where do you start? In addition to colleges, universities and senior centers, consider visiting the website of your local hospital. “Many hospitals and health centers offer programs to help members of the community improve their mental and physical health condition, as well to become better educated about health-related topics,” said David Yanoshik, associate vice president, marketing and public relations, St. Luke’s University Health Network. “For example, St. Luke’s lists many of these programs on the home page of its website. Just visit, sluhn.org, scroll down to the Event Calendar and click on ‘view all.’ It’s very easy to find something that might interest you.”
Endovascular Surgery Saves Lives and Limbs
A ground-breaking advancement in surgery occurred in 1990 when a pair of Argentinian surgeons successfully repaired a large aneurysm in the artery of a 70-year-old man’s abdomen. What made this surgery so significant is they reached the aneurysm by making a small incision in the patient’s groin, threading a wire to the aneurysm and opening a graft inside the vessel diverting the blood flow away from the aneurysm. This restored the patient’s blood flow to the legs and prevented the risk that the artery would burst, causing him to bleed to death.
A Study of Loneliness, Isolation and Remedies
Loneliness and Social Connections
AARP conducted a national survey of adults 45 and older to gauge the extent of their feelings of loneliness and isolation. Additionally the study made recommendations for coping with loneliness.
When To Go To The Emergency Department
In recent years we’ve heard about the importance of not going to an emergency room unnecessarily. Although sometimes it’s obvious that you need emergency care, other times it may be less clear. When deciding whether to visit your nearest emergency room, Rebecca Pequeno, MD, Chair, Emergency Medicine, St. Luke’s University Health Network, suggests you first ask yourself how quickly does the person in distress need help? If someone’s life is at risk or they could be permanently disabled, don’t hesitate, call 911 immediately. Examples are chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms, heavy bleeding, and a fall where the person can’t get up or is unconscious.
Diabetes and Wounds: A Dangerous Combination
Wound Care Specialists Can Help You Heal
“People with diabetes are at risk for developing hard-to-heal wounds that can cause serious infections”, says wound care specialist Steven Bowers, DO, Network Medical Director of Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at St. Luke’s University Health Network. “Diabetes and wounds are a dangerous combination” Dr. Bowers says. “Left untreated, wounds can become infected. These infections can be quite serious and can result in amputation or even death.”