IT MIGHT BE HOME WORKOUT TIME AGAIN In 2020 and into 2021, due to the pandemic, most of us shifted away from gym workouts to exercise at home or in open outdoor spaces. Since then, a significant number of us felt confident enough to resume our gym routines. However, with the resurgence of COVID-19, marked by new variants and increased hospitalizations, concerns are again on the rise. Some businesses and schools are once more starting to recommend the use of high-quality masks. Given these developments, you might find it safer—and certainly more convenient—to work out at home. However, exercising at...
WEIGHT: SO EASY TO GAIN, SO DIFFICULT TO LOSE I had my annual physical yesterday. Surprisingly, my blood pressure reading was only 128/75. Not so surprising was that I had gained 3 pounds in the last year and now my BMI was just under 25—the number that signifies being overweight. As I age, I’m not jogging as far or as fast as I did just a year ago, the same with my cycling. For me, this adds up to weight gain. I’m not alone: nearly 3 in 4 American adults are considered overweight or obese. And I’m certain you’ve read...
IS THERE AN E-BIKE IN YOUR FUTURE? E-Bikes, or electric bicycles, have a small electric motor that can assist a rider’s pedal-power or even propel the bike on its own. They’ve lately become very popular. Three years ago, I might see one e-bike out of 50 cyclists on the Ojai Bike Trail. Now it’s more like one out of four are riding e-bikes—including many seniors. E-bikes can provide older adults with increased mobility, the joy of cycling, and an opportunity for regular physical activity. However, due to the possibilities of age-related changes such as reduced balance, vision, and reaction time,...
SHOULDER STRETCHES Our shoulders are versatile—they allow our arms to reach over our heads, behind our backs and swing in full circles. But they’re also complicated—an estimated 25% of people are challenged with shoulder pain. While some injuries happen suddenly, damage usually occurs over time. Swimmers, tennis players, and golfers are especially prone to these injuries. For more info, please refer to my February 11, 2022 post Keep Shoulder Injuries at Arm’s Length. Stretching exercises can especially help keep your shoulders flexible as you age. Here are excerpts from the August 1, 2019 Harvard Medical School online article, 4 stretches...
LECANEMAB: THE NEW ALZHEIMER’S DRUG Lecanemab (brand name Leqembi) is the first drug that appears to slow the decline of memory and thinking of Alzheimer’s disease. After promising trial test results, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month granted full approval of the medication. The price of $26,500 per year is steep, but Medicare and Medicaid will probably cover its cost. Mayo Clinic Staff published an online article on June 9, 2023 giving the drug’s possibilities, Lecanemab for Alzheimer’s disease: An option for you? Here are excerpts: The drug lecanemab appears to slow mental decline in people with early...
HANDY EXERCISES FOR ARTHRITIC HANDS I continually come across articles relating to arthritis. Not surprising, since so many of us seniors are afflicted with it. Of course, you can take medications to lessen the pain, but I also favor exercises to help control it. On September 5, 2017, I posted a blog on Arthritis Exercise Programs, which gives general range of motion suggestions. Yet, I especially feel arthritis in my hands; typing on a keyboard, tying my shoes, even holding a toothbrush can be painful. You may also have arthritic hands since it’s estimated that 40% of us will eventually...
ORDERING PHARMACY DRUGS ONLINE IS RISKY BUSINESS I regularly shop at my local CVS for both prescriptions and vitamins. However, during COVID I would often order online—especially at Amazon. If you’re on Medicare, you likely have a prescription plan with a formulary list of covered drugs at reduced prices that you can fill at a network dispensary —including several internet pharmacies. The main benefit of ordering drugs online is the convenience of having them delivered to your home, but you can also sometimes obtain cheaper prices. Still, I had no idea that ordering drugs through online pharmacies is ultra chancy...
INTERNATIONAL INDIGESTION (TURISTA) Most of us are traveling again this summer with the pandemic in our rearview mirror. And faraway lands are once more popular destinations. Along with international travel comes the real chance of developing traveler’s diarrhea. When I was younger and more carefree in where and what I ate, I developed turista several times in developing countries: in Egypt where I ate a falafel from a street vendor; in Mexico where I drank an iced cocktail; and in India where I ate at a restaurant our guide had told us to avoid. But, even without foolish moves such...
DON’T LET A FALL SPOIL YOUR HIKE We—JoAnne, Charlie the dog, and I—spent the 4th of July weekend at Big Bear Lake, California. As part of the fun in the San Bernardino Mountains, we took daily hikes. We had magnificent views of the lake, saw faraway glaciers, and walked through vast stretches of pines and even a few redwoods. However, not paying enough attention to the condition of the trail on one of our descents, I took a fall. This resulted in several scrapes, lots of blood, but nothing life-threatening. JoAnne patched me up when we got back to our...
REDUCING OUR ALZHEIMER’S RISK Every few months I post on Alzheimer’s disease because of its considerable risk to us older adults: One in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s or another dementia; it kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. The recent issue of the Harvard Health Watch nicely summarizes ways to reduce our risk to this killer disease. Here are excerpts from the July 1, 2023 article by Mathew Salon, Executive Editor, Protecting Yourself from Alzheimer’s There is no cure, but there may be ways to reduce your risk Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia:...
