Forever Young
January 27, 2010
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.
—Dylan Thomas
Q.I’m tired of taking this sitting down. What can I do to fight the aging process?
A: There’s nothing that will stop aging, but you know that. The most you can hope for is longevity with health. Here are some pointers from health professionals for a high quality of life. You may find these boring, but they work: [Read more]
Beating the Blues
December 31, 2009
Q. Is depression just a “normal” part of aging?
A: There are a lot of problems to face as you get older. There are losses of all kinds that can get you down. And feeling blue for a while is a normal part of living at any age.
But unrelenting depression is not normal. If you feel this way, you should seek medical attention. Most people get better if they treat their depression. [Read more]
Blurry Vision? See Your Doc
November 24, 2009
Q. I’m 70 and I’m starting to see a blurred area in the middle of my vision. Any ideas?
A: Have this checked immediately by an eye care practitioner. What you describe is a symptom of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.
The macula is at the center of the retina in the back of your eye. The retina transmits light from the eye to the brain. The macula allows us to perform tasks that require central vision, such as reading and driving. [Read more]
The Flu and You
October 29, 2009
Flu season in the northern hemisphere can range from as early as November to as late as May. The peak month usually is February.
However, this coming season is expected to be unpredictable because of the emergence of the H1N1 influenza virus, or swine flu. H1N1 has caused the first global outbreak—pandemic—of influenza in more than four decades.
There is concern that the 2009 H1N1 virus may make the season worse than a regular flu season. It is feared that there will be many more hospitalizations and fatalities this season. The 2009 H1N1 virus caused illness in the United States during the summer months, when influenza is very uncommon. [Read more]
Easing in to a New Home
October 29, 2009
One of the hardest changes to deal with emotionally and financially as a senior citizen is a move from one living arrangement to another. Whether needing to de-clutter and downsize, moving to more appropriate housing—such as assisted living or a nursing home, to accommodate disabilities—or conducting an estate sale or tag sale to raise funds, seniors and their families are often compelled to make transitions, often against their will. These moves involve many steps, but if planned in advance and done properly, the transition can leave both the seniors and their families in a better situation than before. [Read more]
Understanding Chest Pain
September 23, 2009
Q: My understanding is that angina is not as serious as heart disease. Is this true?
A: Angina pectoris—or simply angina—is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort usually caused by coronary artery disease. Angina is a sign that someone is at increased risk of heart attack, cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. If you get angina, you should get medical attention immediately.
Angina (pronounced “an-JI-nuh” or “AN-juh-nuh”) hits when the heart doesn’t get enough blood. This usually happens when there is a narrowing or blockage in one or more of the vessels that supply blood to the heart. [Read more]
Prepping for Long-Term Care
September 23, 2009
Q: What is long-term care insurance?
A: Long-term care insurance is custodial care insurance. It covers care generally not covered by health insurance or Medicare insurance. Long-term care insurance generally covers home care, assisted living, adult day care, respite care, hospital care, nursing homes and Alzheimer’s facilities. When home care coverage is purchased, long-term care insurance pays for home care from day one. It will also pay for a visiting or live-in caregiver, companions, housekeepers, therapists or private duty nurse. [Read more]
Tax Facts You Need to Know
August 26, 2009
I often get a lot of tax-related questions in my business. Here are the answers to some of the most common queries:
• For how many years do I need to keep tax returns? You should keep your tax returns from 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005. The IRS will usually only go back three years, and New York State will go back four years. If you practice fraud, they can go back seven years. Fraud entails understating your income by more than 25 percent, or taking fake deductions of more than 25 percent. The State of New York does not have any limitations. After eight years, the IRS destroys their microfilm records. You cannot get a copy of your tax return after eight years. [Read more]
Debunking the ‘Base Tan’
August 26, 2009
Ultraviolet rays, an invisible component of sunlight, can cause skin damage, cataracts, wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer. These rays also impair the skin’s immune system.
Ultraviolet, or UV, rays can hurt you on cloudy as well as sunny days. UV rays also bounce off surfaces of the ocean, sand, snow and cement.
One of the surest ways to reduce your exposure to UV rays is to stay out of the sun when it is the strongest. Those times in North America are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the late spring and early summer. [Read more]
The ABCs of UV rays
July 29, 2009
Q:There are lots of sunblocks out there with SPF numbers on them. What exactly do these numbers mean?
A. Sunblocks—or sunscreens—work to prevent the damage of ultraviolet (UV) rays, an invisible component of sunlight. There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB and UVC.
UVA is the most abundant of the three ultraviolet rays at the earth’s surface. These rays penetrate through the outer skin. Many of the UVB rays are absorbed by the stratospheric ozone layer, so there aren’t as many of these at the earth’s surface as the UVA rays. [Read more]
