June is Brain Injury Awareness Month. How could your Awareness of Brain Injury Assist a Senior?

Falls are the leading cause of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) for seniors and are often missed or misdiagnosed; watch for these signs and symptoms if you know or suspect a senior has fallen or has a fall-related injury, such as a hip fracture.

Symptoms of Mild TBI

·         Low-grade headache that won’t go away - Getting lost or easily confused - Sleeping much longer than before or having trouble sleeping - Loss of balance or feeling light-headed or dizzy - Blurred vision - Loss of sense of taste or smell - Ringing in the ears – Easily irritated or listless

Symptoms of Moderate or Severe TBI

·       A headache that gets worse or does not go away - Repeated vomiting or nausea - Convulsions or seizures - Inability to fully wake up from sleep - Dilation of one or both pupils - Slurred speech - Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs - Loss of coordination - Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation

If you see any of these above symptoms in a senior that you know or suspect may have fallen, you should ensure that they receive immediate medical attention. Seniors taking blood thinners should be seen immediately if they have a bump or blow to the head, even if they do not have any of the symptoms listed above.

May is Foot Health Awareness Month; what should seniors be aware of?

Did you know that your foot contains 26 bones, which are held in position by hundreds of ligaments, tendons and muscles, making it a complex mechanism?

As a senior, you already have about 100,000 kilometres on your feet. But that doesn't mean it's too late for comfort. In fact, there are many things you can do to keep your feet in good condition. Try some of the following practices.

• Wear good quality running shoes or shoes designed specifically for walking. Poorly fitting shoes are responsible for a number of conditions, such as spurs, corns, calluses and fungal infections.
• Perform gentle exercises such as moving your feet in circles or up and down to help improve mobility, flexibility and circulation.
• Do calf-stretching exercises to reduce tightness in the back of the lower leg muscles. Lean against the wall and place one foot forward and one foot back; bend the forward knee and you will feel the calf muscle of the opposite leg stretch. Hold for 10 seconds. Change the position of your legs and repeat the exercise.
• Use insoles to add cushioning to the soles of your shoes. As you get older, the fat pad under the bones at the ball of the foot tends to get displaced forward and reduces the cushioning at the ball of the foot. An insole will provide some extra cushioning.
• Elevate your feet when you can and walk as often as you can. Compression stockings may be beneficial.
• Get involved in a walking program. Check with your general practitioner and then start a gradual walking program. Be sure to wear appropriate and comfortable fitting shoes.
• Treat any ingrown toenails. A podiatrist can painlessly clip away a segment of the nail to provide immediate relief or permanently remove the offending nail border. Treat any ingrown toenails. Keep the feet warm and dry to avoid fungal infections and reduced circulation.

Remember it is never too late to start taking care of your feet!

April is Parkinson’s disease Awareness Month; what can we do to increase our awareness?

One way is to educate ourselves and others on what Parkinson’s disease is and how we can recognize it when symptoms are presented in ourselves, our family or our friends.

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease. Movement is normally controlled by dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between the nerves in the brain. When cells that normally produce dopamine die, the symptoms of Parkinson’s appear.

Is Parkinson’s life-threatening?

Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder that is ‘life-altering’, not ‘life-threatening’. Although people do not usually die of Parkinson’s, they may be at an increased risk for developing life-threatening complications, like pneumonia or severe swallowing difficulties, once they have progressed to a highly advanced stage.

Is Parkinson’s hereditary?

No specific clues have been discovered as yet.

What is the average age of diagnosis?

Parkinson’s usually begins between the ages of fifty and sixty-five with an average age of onset of sixty years. In fact, 5 to 10 percent of people with Parkinson’s develop symptoms before the age of forty; this is called Young Onset Parkinson’s.

How many Canadians have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s?

According to statistics, there are nearly 100,000 people living with Parkinson’s in Canada. This number is expected to double by the year 2016 as Baby Boomers age.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms are tremors, slowness, stiffness, impaired balance, rigidity of muscles, fatigue, soft speech, problems with handwriting, stooped posture, constipation and sleep disturbances.

What can help manage the symptoms?

Medications, exercise, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can help manage the symptoms.

Can brain surgery cure Parkinson’s?

Surgery can ease some of the symptoms associated with the disorder, but cannot stop its progression.

How is Parkinson’s diagnosed?

There is no single test, such as a blood test, to determine whether a person has the disease. The family doctor should make a referral to a neurologist, preferably one who specializes in movement disorders.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; what should we be aware of?

Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. It’s as common in women as it is in men. In 2012, an estimated 23,300 Canadians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer.  Overall, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in men and women combined in Canada.
Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors

·       People age 50 and older

·       People who smoke

·       People who are overweight or obese, especially those who carry fat around their waists

·       People who aren’t physically active

·       People who drink alcohol in excess, especially men

·       People who eat a lot of red meat (such as beef, pork or lamb) or processed meat (such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs or cold cuts)

·       People with personal or family histories of colorectal cancer or benign (not cancerous) colorectal polyps

·       People with personal histories of inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)

Colorectal Cancer Prevention

·       Be physically active for at least 30 minutes, at least five days a week.

·       Maintain a healthy weight.

·       Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, quit.

·       If you drink alcohol, have no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman or two drinks a day if you’re a man.

·       Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains to help you get and stay healthy.

·       Eat less red meat and cut out processed meat.

With certain types of screening, this cancer can be prevented by removing polyps (grape-like growths on the wall of the intestine) if detected early, colorectal cancer can be more easily and successfully treated.

February is Heart and Stroke Month; what should you know about Stroke?

Stroke is a brain attack! Stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is cut off and brain cells die or become damaged.  The two main types of stroke are ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Both of these types of stroke result in a lack of blood flow to the brain, where a buildup of blood puts too much pressure on the brain.

Anyone can suffer from a stroke. Although many risk factors for stroke are out of our control, several can be kept in line through proper nutrition and medical care.

Some risk factors for stroke include the following:

· Over age 55  - A family history of stroke - High blood pressure - High cholesterol

· Excessive Alcohol Consumption- Smoking  - Diabetes - Obesity and overweight

· Cardiovascular disease - High Blood - Cholesterol - High Stress

Common symptoms include:

· Dizziness - trouble walking - loss of balance and coordination - Speech problems –Numbness

· Weakness - or paralysis on one side of the body - Blurred, blackened - double vision

·  Sudden severe headache

The good news is something can be done about stroke as it is one of the most preventable and treatable of all life threatening health problems. You can reduce your risk for a stroke by: having your blood pressure checked regularly by a health care professional, quitting smoking, reducing your weight if you are overweight, reducing your fat and salt intake, eating more grains, fruits and vegetables, and be physically active.

Within a few minutes of having a stroke, brain cells begin to die and symptoms can become present. It is important to recognize symptoms, as prompt treatment is crucial to recovery.  Major advances have occurred in stroke care over the past decade and we now have a number of highly effective treatments for stroke and programs to prevent stroke.

January is Alzheimer Awareness Month in Canada; what should we be aware of?

After reading many news releases related to January being Alzheimer Awareness Month in Canada, the message that I see being consistently put out there is for people experiencing signs of dementia, is to be diagnosed as early as possible. An early diagnosis is hugely important as it enables people with dementia to understand their condition and access treatments that could help relieve their symptoms.

After the age of 65 the risk factor of developing dementia increases by 50 percent every five years.To date, there are many forms of dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most common. Forgetfulness is the most known symptom of dementia, though this alone should not be cause for concern.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and degenerative disease and the most common early symptoms are:

—Frequent memory loss affecting day-to-day function, such as continually forgetting where you put things or what you were doing or why you were doing it.

—Disorientation of time and place, including getting lost even in familiar places or not knowing what month or year it is.

—Changes in personality or acting out of character, such as becoming suspicious, fearful or confused.

 It is important to see a doctor when you notice any of these symptoms as they may be due to other conditions such as depression, drug interactions or an infection. If the diagnosis is Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, your medical professionals and or your local Alzheimer Society can help.

If you or someone you know is experiencing problems with memory loss, make an appointment to see your doctor right away. Many visits to your Doctor are short and it may be difficult to think of all the things you want to ask or present. To help you prepare for you Doctors visit you may download a checklist by going to The Alzheimer Society of Canada link below.

http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/About-dementia/Diagnosis/Getting-a-diagnosis/Doctor-s-visits

How do I survive the Holidays if I have Diabetes?

The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year and “tis the season for social eating”. Tempting treats are everywhere. If you have diabetes, you know that the holidays can be an especially tricky time of year to manage.

With some careful planning and smart choices you can make sure that your holidays are both happy and healthy. Now that the season is upon us, here is a simple recipe you can follow to manage your diabetes:

• Have a healthy snack before going to a social event so you don't give in to cravings.
• Fill your plate will healthy things like fruits and veggies. Holiday favorites like pumpkin and turkey are also nutritious and delicious!
• Share a dessert, have only a small amount, or skip the whipped-cream topping.
• Bring a low-fat or sugar-free dish at the next holiday party you attend.
• Make your traditional holiday foods healthier. When baking, use less sugar in a recipe and increase the use of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and other sweet-tasting spices and flavorings.
• Use sugar substitutes to cut carbs and calories
• When you're out shopping, bring along healthy snacks like apples, carrot sticks, or nuts and avoid the food court.

Enjoy Yourself!
You don't have to let diabetes spoil your celebrations. Get caught up in the festivities. Savor time with loved ones. Remember that a little bit of self-control can help make sure that there are many more happy holidays to come for diabetics and their families.