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A healthy smile for years to come!

Throughout our life, teeth are exposed to various effects – both beneficial and negative. Negatively affecting them is food, improper care, irregular dental visits and other factors. Young people’s teeth are more resistant to various diseases, but in old age it becomes more difficult to avoid problems. This is primarily due to negligent attitude to the teeth, lack of proper treatment and prevention, as well as thinning of tooth enamel.

How to take care of teeth in old age
Due to natural aging processes occurring in a body, teeth in old age are exposed to various infections and destruction. At the same time, the gums and muscles of the oral cavity become weak, less saliva is produced, so the bacteria begin to multiply actively. In addition, drug treatment often has a very negative effect on the condition of teeth in old age.

Proper brushing of teeth
It shouldn’t be forgotten that daily observance of the rules of oral hygiene is the main guarantee of dental health in the elderly. Teeth are cleaned twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. The duration of this procedure should be at least 3 minutes.

Sometimes it is not possible to get to the hard-to-reach places with a toothbrush. In this case, you can use dental floss and special mouthwashes. In such a way you protect it from the multiplication of a variety of bacteria that facilitate the inflammation of gums. A toothbrush for the elderly should be changed every three months. Note that a toothbrush with a small head is much easier to use for the elderly.

Regular oral examination at the dentist’s
It is necessary to visit the dentist at least 2 times a year to check the condition of the teeth and oral cavity. Taking certain medications can lead to dry mouth, problems with the gums, weakening of the tooth enamel. And a dentist can give pieces of advice on how to avoid these unpleasant consequences.

Besides, if an elderly person uses dental prostheses and crowns, a regular visit to the dentist will help to monitor their condition and prevent the development of complications.
If there is a possibility, care should be taken to conduct professional oral hygiene, which allows removing dental deposit (dental calculus and plaque). This will not only provide prevention of caries and periodontal diseases, but, as numerous studies have shown, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Monitor your diet. Healthy diet – healthy teeth!
People in old age are particularly in need of vitamins and minerals. The most important element for the teeth, especially in the elderly, is calcium. Unfortunately, after the age of forty, it accumulates rather badly in the bones and is even washed out, increasing their fragility. Also in the elderly, the body needs vitamins D, A, C and others. With nutrient substances the body is nourished by healthy food, as well as by various vitamin complexes.

Try to eat a piece of cheese at the end of each meal. This product helps to maintain the strength of teeth, especially in old age.
In order to strengthen teeth and gums in old age, twice a day drink half a glass of water with two teaspoons of lemon juice (if you have no contraindications to this product!). After eating it is helpful to chew the cloves. This product also helps to strengthen teeth and gums in old age.

Try not to abuse sweet. Before you drink a cup of tea or coffee in the morning, eat a small piece of a solid food. Also a special benefit for teeth in old age brings a glass of pure water with a spoon of honey mixed in it. Such a drink can be consumed in the morning instead of the usual tea. With its help, you will get rid of the potential danger of developing a dental disease, and also be able to cure the already existing ones.

Elderly people should not mix too cold and hot food (for example, drink hot coffee immediately after eating the ice cream).
Sensitivity of gums to cold and hot can warn of the onset of a disease, a crack in a teeth or caries. Do not ignore these symptoms; do not hesitate to contact your dentist.

Rinse your mouth more often with water
Even if the elderly person no longer has own teeth, it is recommended to regularly rinse the mouth with water – this will help to prevent problems with the oral mucosa.

Observe the rules of denture care
Remember that when chewing food dental plate moves, so it must be fixed with special glue. Sometimes in the elderly who wear dentures, salivation increases. In this case, you can suck lollipops or menthol tablets.

After eating, it is recommended to remove dentures and wash them in warm water with soap, then rinse and use as directed.
Teeth in old age lose their strength, so they require additional care. With the help of special antibacterial tablets you not only eliminate the bacteria, but also get rid of bad breath. Dissolve one tablet in a glass of water and put the prosthesis there for 15 minutes.
Every day, treat the gums with a warm solution (one teaspoon of salt per glass of water).

Also you should perform every day massage of gums. Periodically remove the dentures, so that the gums can rest. Do not remove the prosthesis for more than one day, because the cheeks and lips can lose shape. Protect the prosthesis from overheating and mechanical damage.

To maintain healthy teeth in old age, you should regularly take care of the oral cavity and follow simple rules of hygiene.

Heat Stroke – How to Behave during Hot Season

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In summer, and sometimes in mid-seasons, people (especially senior people and children) run into increased danger due to high air temperatures and high humidity. This is especially dangerous when “heat waves” occur (a few particularly hot days in a row) and when the thermal load (a mixture of high temperature and relatively high humidity, or a very high temperature, even if the humidity level stays low) is significantly increased. Definition of the “heat wave” throughout different countries is the following: air temperature above 90°F for three consecutive days or more. A high thermal load will occur at a temperature of 86 °F in case if relative humidity exceeds 70%, or in a case of a higher temperature, even if humidity is lower.

Staying in the heat can lead to negative consequences of varying difficulty. The most dangerous consequences can be heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke happens if a person’s body cannot cool itself in hot weather: sweating is ineffective and body temperature quickly jumps, reaching sometimes 105.8°F and more within 15 minutes (!). Heat exhaustion is not as dangerous as the heat stroke, and is a consequence of staying in the heat during several days if a person does not drink enough water or other fluids.

High temperature is especially dangerous for elderly people. The danger increases even more if an elderly person suffers from excess weight, chronic diseases, takes certain medications, as well as in case of acute illnesses or dehydration being present at a person.

Recommendations as for preventing the adverse effects of sun exposure

The best way to protect yourself against the adverse effects of sun exposure is to prevent these effects. It is advisable to monitor weather forecasts and get prepared according to them. It is also necessary to pay attention not only to the air temperature, but also to the thermal load – a combination of air temperature and humidity.

• During the hours when the heat reaches its peak, it is strongly recommended to stay where the air conditioner works. If your home does not have AC, it is advisable to spend several hours in some public areas where the air conditioner works, and as little time as possible in the heat;
• In hot weather, a good practice is to draw the blinds or close the drapes to reduce the penetration of sunlight, but it is essential to ventilate the room. Closed blinds can reduce the penetration of heat into the apartment by about 80%;
• A cool shower (or bath) will help to cool the body;
• It is strongly recommended to wear light and only comfortable clothing;
• Try not to go out into the heat. A good option is to leave the house only in early morning and during the evening hours;
• During the hot weather rest is advisable. Do as little physical work and sports in hot weather as possible. In case you still need to do this, during exercise or work, needing with physical activity, drink 2-4 glasses of cold water and other soft drinks/liquids in a quantity which exceeds the recommended.

Please consult a doctor in such situations:

- If a person suffers from various cardiovascular diseases, some chronic illnesses, overweight, mental disorders, as well as in case of acute illnesses or dehydration;
- If a person takes medications acting on central nervous system (brain), such as sedatives, hypnotics, drugs for Parkinson’s disease, and medications for certain mental disorders. These drugs can increase significantly sensitivity to heat, which in its turn increases the risk of suffering from heat stroke.

The most dangerous consequences of staying in the heat are heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Heat stroke

Usually, when the temperature rises, the body cools itself by sweating, and does not allow body temperature to rise. However, in hot weather and with high humidity, sweat does not evaporate quickly, and the body is not capable of cooling itself. In this case, a heat stroke can occur – the most dangerous consequence of the heat exposure on the body.

Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to cool itself in hot weather: sweating is ineffective and body temperature quickly jumps, reaching sometimes 105.8°F and more within 15 minutes. This can cause severe consequences for the nervous system and can be manifested by a darkening of consciousness, confusion of consciousness or convulsions, as well as a violation of the work of other vital organs. If a person suffered from heat stroke is not immediately provided with assistance, this can lead to death or permanent disability.

The risk of suffering from heat stroke is increased in the elderly, in infants and children from birth to 4 years old, in people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, in people suffering from excess weight, in people suffering from chronic diseases, in people taking certain drugs, as well as in case of acute illness or in case of lack of fluid in the body (dehydration).

Symptoms of heat stroke

The following symptoms are typical for a heat stroke:
- the first signs are: general weakness, a feeling of stuffiness and a strong thirst;
- high body temperature;
- tachycardia;
- pulse exceeds 130 beats per minute;
- blood pressure drops sharply (further, with normalization of body temperature, blood pressure is restored);
- loss of consciousness;
- some people experience diarrhea and vomiting.

In the absence of timely help, a person’s condition worsens and develops more serious symptoms:

- delirium and confusion;
- disorientation;
- convulsions;
- hallucinations;
- cyanosis;
- gastrointestinal bleeding;
- a syndrome of hepatic insufficiency, accompanied by jaundice, encephalopathy and hypoglycemia;
- acute renal damage, accompanied by oliguria (decrease in the amount of urine) by changing the color of urine.

A heat stroke requires the provision of emergent medical care. Timely assistance will prevent the development of irreversible processes in the body of the patient and reduce the risk of death.

What to do in cases of suspected heat stroke?

If there is a suspicion of heat stroke, it is necessary to take quickly all possible measures to lower the body temperature of the person. If possible, the patient should be transferred to an air-conditioned room, wrapped in a wet sheet, in general all possible steps should be taken to cool the affected person. It is quite effective to wipe the affected person with ice or alcohol.

To normalize the activity of the hypothalamus, an ice pack should be applied to the scalp.

The main task of the first aid is to lower the patient’s temperature below 102.2 °F. When providing first aid, continuous rectal body temperature control is recommended.

And of course the affected person should be quickly delivered to the hospital.

Studies have shown that when there is no assistance to the heat affected person within an hour, irreversible processes begin in the body that affect the central nervous system, leading to disability of the patient, or to a lethal outcome.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAMINS IN SPRING

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Spring is the most magical time in the life of nature. When everything around wakes up and life, as if reborn, begins to open up in a whole new way: it gives us the sun, the warmth, the chirping of birds. At this beautiful time, everyone more than ever wants to enjoy life, dance, meet guests and find pleasure in a special, inspirational mood.

But unfortunately spring also brings one negative attribute – in spring usually our organism is weakened and needs vitamins replenishment.
That is why let’s talk about vitamins for the elderly, both men and women.

Aging is a natural process of the body development. With age metabolic processes are slowed down, protein biosynthesis is disrupted, the work of endocrine glands is weakened, the work of the body’s immune defense is disrupted, and atherosclerosis develops. The decrease in height, muscle atrophy, the appearance of wrinkles, changes in the vascular walls, heart muscle, bone tissue, changes in the digestive tract are all the result of the aging of cells.

Taking into consideration all these changes in the body of the elderly, special attention should be paid to nutrition, which must meet the following requirements: moderation, variety in food, using of foods and dishes that have easy digestibility, antisclerotic orientation of the diet, the food should be sufficient and relevant to the needs of the body, the content in it of Vitamins and minerals.

Vitamins are the same necessary for people of all ages. But as you know, aging slows down the oxidation-reduction processes, metabolism, and associated with this weakening of the functional capacity of organs and systems happens. Vitamins can accelerate the reactions taking place in the body, restrain the development of the processes observed with aging in elderly men and women. Their important role in preventing atherosclerosis and delaying its progression has been revealed.

What vitamins are elderly people lacking?

Constant fatigue, problems with skin and hair, frequent headaches and colds … Most likely, your already aged organism simply does not have enough vitamins.
Malnutrition for older men and women is much more dangerous for health than it seems at first glance. If the body loses certain vitamins, it begins to malfunction. At the first alarming symptoms, revise your menu and include in the diet foods that are rich in vitamins you need.

Vitamin A

Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency: increased fatigue, poor appetite, dull and brittle hair, seborrhea, dryness of skin and mucosae, poor eyesight, frequent colds and ARVI.

Include in the menu: red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, cabbage, greens, egg yolks, fatty fish, liver, butter, milk.
Vitamin A is fat-soluble, so vegetables should be eaten with sour cream or oil.

B vitamins

Symptoms: depression, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, constipation, upset stomach, poor appetite, rashes on the skin, dull complexion, hair loss and frayed ends, brittle and cracked nails, cracks in the corners of the mouth.

Meals: dairy products (cottage cheese, cheese, kefir, sour cream), meat, fatty fish, eggs, green vegetables (broccoli, celery, spinach), nuts and seeds, vegetable oil (olive, linseed, sunflower), dry brewer’s yeast.

Reduce (and better eliminate!) The consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, coffee and tea – they remove the B vitamins from the body.

Vitamin C

Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency: anemia, frequent colds, nosebleeds, weakening of tooth enamel, bleeding gums, dry and brittle hair, constant weakness and fatigue, depression, body aches, muscle pains, apnea.

Include in the diet: vegetables (leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage, bell peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, zucchini, green onions, carrots, radishes, radishes), fruits (citrus fruits, apples, apricots, persimmons, bananas, grapes), berries (rosehips, cranberries, raspberries, currants, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon), milk.

Vitamin D

Symptoms of vitamin deficiency: irritability, pressure surges, clotting disorders, muscle weakness, convulsions, sweating, pains in the lower limbs and joints, caries.

Necessary food products: mushrooms (chanterelles, porcini mushrooms, champignons), pork and beef liver, fish (mackerel, herring, flounder), cod liver, fish oil, fatty dairy products, egg yolks.
Try to walk more: vitamin D is synthesized in the body under the influence of sunlight.

Vitamin E

Symptoms: impaired vision, muscle weakness, a constant sense of fatigue, sudden mood swings, dark circles under the eyes, bleeding gums, pigment spots on the skin.

To include in the menu: nuts, seeds, vegetable oil (corn, sunflower, soy, olive), cereals, vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, potatoes, radish, onions, broccoli, spinach), fresh peas, dry beans, beef, liver, egg yolks, milk.

Vitamin K

Symptoms of deficiency: nosebleeds, bleeding gums, bruises, fatigue and weakness, constipation, prolonged and painful menstruation, anemia.

Include in the menu: vegetables (spinach, broccoli, green leaf, purple cabbage and cauliflower, cabbage lettuce and watercress, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes), beans, soybeans, cereals (wheat, rye, oats), eggs, meat, pork liver, chicken, cod.

Vitamin PP

Symptoms: poor appetite, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, bad breath, soreness of the gums, insomnia, headaches, redness of the skin, its dryness and dullness.

Diet: citrus fruits, berries (raspberries, blueberries, cherries, black currants), grapes, apricots, cabbage, tomatoes, pod-pepper, green salad, greens, buckwheat, dark chocolate.

Essential vitamins necessary for the elderly

It is established that in the elderly the need for vitamins is increased. First of all, this refers to water-soluble vitamins (C, P and the whole group B). These vitamins should be included in the diet of the elderly in full, because they have vascular-strengthening and antisclerotic properties.
Postponement of senility and prolongation of life are primarily associated with maintaining the normal state of the cardiovascular system.

Thus, nutrition of elderly people should be full and balanced. Particular attention should be paid to vitamin supply. It should be borne in mind that in elderly people, hidden forms of vitamin deficiency can also develop, associated not only with their small intake into food, but also with the development of any disease process, atherosclerosis and hypertension.
But even an ideal diet can not completely cover the physiological needs of the elderly person in vitamins and minerals. The only true solution is the regular intake of multivitamin complexes or vitamin-mineral complexes, as well as the inclusion in the diet of specialized vitamin-enriched products. It is considered appropriate to take such complexes throughout the year, regardless of the season.

DANCE TO STAY HEALTHY

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Dance belongs to those things that really can colorize the monotonous life of any person. Dance is good for the emotional state, psychological health and physical condition, together with feeling good and self-awareness in general. When you decide to add physical activity into your life, you try to choose something exciting and entertaining. And what could be more exciting than dances?

The dance with a good reason is called “a song of the soul” – the older a person is, the more meaningful are his or her movements, the more sense and experience it is possible to invest in the dance steps. Dance is a nonverbal way to express yourself, to process the accumulated problems, find new dimensions of the world. One should not also forget what a wonderful way to exercise are the regular!

Dancing is just a perfect way for people, irrespective of age, to keep themselves in a good shape. Dancing is not only fun and enjoyable, but also very good for health. In this article, we will tell you what kind of benefits can dancing bring to your body.

How useful is dancing for the general well-being?

- Dance protects our hearts
Dance is an excellent exercise for people who are living with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases. An Italian study has proved that people with heart failure, engaged in dancing as a kind of exercise strengthen their health, heart and improve their breathing. Their life-quality also improves significantly in comparison with those who are doing exercises on a stationary bike or treadmill.

- Dance helps to lose weight
If you attend dancing-classes regularly, they will definitely help to lose weight. The scientific research has shown that sportive aerobics based on dance movements, is as effective for losing weight and gaining of a good shape as cycling or running.

- Dance gives energy
Do you feel during the day, that you do not have enough energy? Dancing is one of the things which can help you regain it. Yet another scientific study found that weekly dancing can improve the physical condition and make adults more energetic.

- Dance endows with flexibility, strength as well as endurance
Ever and again dances require flexibility from you. Most dance classes are started with a warm-up, when people are doing stretching and suppling exercises. During the dance, you have to do your best to have all the muscle groups involved.
Dancing makes you stronger, causing the muscles to resist the weight of your own body. Many styles of dance, jazz and ballet among them, include jumps. In order to jump, your leg muscles need to be particularly strong.
It’s not a secret that dance can be called a physical exercise that is why it makes everyone more enduring. And what is endurance? It is the ability of muscles to work each time for more time without getting tired. If you’re dancing regularly, especially if you are doing some energetic style, you will be much more enduring.

How useful is dancing for the emotional state?

- Dance brings happiness
Dance is a special action which is enjoyed by any person. If you watch a dancing person, you will certainly notice a big happy smile on a dancer’s face. Smile and laughter while dancing is absolutely normal! That is because dancing provides an opportunity for real enjoyment of life and each other. Unlike other physical exercises, dancing has no age limit. A person irrespective of age can dance and take advantage of the benefits that this activity brings to his/her health.

- Dance saves from depression and de-stresses
It is proved that the dance can prevent mild depression and make a dancing person more self-confident. Depression is becoming increasingly common problem in teenagers and adults of various ages.
The research, published in the International Journal of Neuroscience, has proven that therapy that includes dance moves, not only helps to get rid of depression, but also helps to fight stress, since it regulates serotonin and dopamine levels in organism. Taking into account that dance has also a social aspect, it helps to get rid of feelings of loneliness, from which so many people in depression are suffering, and very often – elderly people living alone.

- Dance enhances the self-esteem
Dancing helps to become more self-confident. Each time you master a new movement, a wee bit of confidence is added to you and your mood gets better. And this increased self confidence extends to all areas of your life.
As we have already said, dance is a social action. Studies of specialists have proved that strong social relationships and communication with friends help to increase self-esteem and give a positive attitude towards life. Dancing gives you plenty of opportunities to meet other people. Sign up for dance classes and it will give you a chance to raise the self-esteem and make new friends. Considering that the physical exercises relieve tension and stress, dance will allow you to feel good in general.

How useful is dancing for the state of mind?

- Dance improves memory
Scientists have proved that dancing can improve memory and prevent dementia. Scientists have found that aerobic exercises help to prevent reduction in the hippocampus volume – the part of the brain responsible for memory. Hippocampus in a natural way diminishes during adulthood. This often leads to problems with memory, and sometimes to dementia.

- Dance helps to combat Alzheimer’s disease
A study involving elderly people, represented in the New England Journal of Medicine, enlightened the fact that dance frequently helps to prevent symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease along with some manifestations of dementia. Moreover, dancing makes people of any age smarter. This study also manifests that people having Alzheimer’s disease are capable to restore forgotten memories when dancing to familiar music.

- Dance makes people smarter
For centuries, books and other writings about dancing praised benefits of this activity for health, considering dance, as a rule, as a physical exercise. Today, thanks to the scientists, the benefit of dancing for the mind has been proved. The main quality of an intelligent person is the ability to make decisions. The ideal way to develop this ability – to get engaged in an activity that requires a constant fast (within seconds) decision making. Thus, to become smarter, it is enough just to work on your dance style, without having to remember the sequence of movements.

What is the best dance style?

There are many dance styles. Jazz, salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton, zumba, hip-hop, ballet, etc., all of which require different music. Each dance style is equally useful. Any dance gives an opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle. Dancing can help in many different things. All kinds of dance are equally effective, the main thing to choose the style that you prefer, and do it regularly, so that this pleasant activity brings benefit to the health.
During the scientific study the specific dances have been established, which have the most positive impact on the state of health of elderly people. These include: Waltz and Argentine Tango.

WINTER SPORTS: HEALTH BENEFITS

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If a person leads an active lifestyle, exercises or works out and takes care of health, the onset of winter does not mean for him or her the beginning of “winter slumber”. On the contrary, winter sports are an opportunity to diversify pretty much physical activity and even more – to improve health, and the old age is not at all an obstacle. Frosty fresh air, snow, sparkling in the sun, a company of good friends – what can be better for the pastime! Excellent mood and cheerful spirit will be guaranteed, but not less important is the impact of winter sports on health.

What an elderly person can do in winter

When it’s cold outside and the snow has piled up, then the only desire is to nestle cozily in a warm plaid in front of TV and drink hot tea with homemade pastry. But after a few winter months spent like this, you may suddenly find out that your health has deteriorated: some overweight appeared, your joints and spine start “reminding” constantly about their existence by aching pain, the blood pressure “jumps” from time to time and the heart “cuts didoes”. In order to prevent the progression of chronic diseases, and various degenerative-dystrophic changes in the body, a person, in adulthood as well, should try not to stay at home but to move as much as possible.

Winter provides excellent opportunities for this. This is skiing, sledding, skating, Nordic walking, or just walking in a snow-covered park. For a golden-ager the personal sporting achievements are not important and daily trainings are less needed. It is enough to get adequate physical exertion 1-3 times per week, which will provide a good mood, strengthen the immune system and improve health.

Skiing is traditionally very popular in many countries. Almost every elderly person is capable of taking a short walk at his or her own pace. Skiing is an aerobic kind of sports, i.e. implying the combination of the load on muscles with the intake of large amounts of oxygen. Already the first lesson has a beneficial effect on heart muscle and blood vessels: they are toned up, the blood flow normalizes. This improves performance of other internal organs too, strengthens muscles of legs, arms, abdomen, back. If an elderly person is skiing on a weekly basis, then by spring, he will feel both rejuvenated and healthier.

Sledding is another activity very useful in adulthood. Especially wonderful is when the whole family participates in it. During the down-run, coordination improves; literally every muscle is toned up, breathing quickens and deepens and the release of adrenaline happens.
Skates can be recommended to elderly people, if they previously had an experience of ice-skating, since the possibility of injury is pretty high. This kind of sports trains the muscles of the lower limbs, buttocks and abdomen, and also teaches people to quickly coordinate their movements.

In recent years, such sport as Nordic walking is gaining its popularity. You may be engaged in it both in summer and in winter. It is especially attractive because it does not require the purchase of expensive sports equipment, it is enough to buy just special sticks.

What is needed for winter sports activities?

In advanced age, it is important not to overwork and not to harm your health, so medical consultation before the physical activity is required. If you have a chronic disease, the effects of injuries and surgeries, degenerative disease at any stage, the question of the possibility of any exercise and physical activity is considered individually.

It is very important not to get excessive physical load at the very first activity, it should be increased gradually. Important is also the choice of clothes, always take into account the weather conditions. Sport suit has to be free cut, the fabric – water resistant, breathable and impermeable. You cannot stand on skis or skates right after eating, at least 2 hours should pass after it. On the cross-country skiing or sledding it is recommended to take a thermos of hot tea or mineral water without gas, to avoid dehydration.

Going in for any winter sports, it is important to monitor your health. There is no need to catch up with younger skaters or skiers, since the goal is not sporting achievements but systematic improvement of health. As soon as you feel severe fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath or pain, you must stop the activity.

With careful attention to yourself any winter sport will bring only benefits, cheerfulness and excellent mood!

10 TIPS ON HOW TO IMPROVE MEMORY IN THE ELDERLY

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Advanced age is frequently accompanied by impairment of the memory. This happens because of a general decline in brain activity related to the age, reduction of the excitability of nerve cells, connections’ disturbances between neurons. Unfortunately, the aging process cannot be stopped and is irreversible, but to keep the clarity of mind to the very old age is for the most part in our power. Let’s talk about how to improve memory in old age.

General rules

1. Healthy surrounding conditions. It’s simple – for a good memory you need healthy functioning of the brain, and for this in its turn, it is necessary each day to maintain healthy surrounding conditions of work and recreation. Namely:

· do not work on the verge of physical or mental overstrain;
· rest every day, every week, every year;
· daily walk in the air.

2. Regular physical activity. For the good brain function a good blood circulation is needed, for which it is important to exercise regularly, to keep the muscles of the body in good shape. During physical exercises blood circulation improves, and therefore, the brain receives more nutrients. It is also helpful to walk. Useful are also anaerobic exercises, they include jogging and strength training. With regard to the age, it is best to train under the supervision of a trainer. He will help to make the training program based on your medical condition, age, experience, and past diseases.

3. Proper nutrition. For the good functioning of the brain it is necessary to eat healthy. Thus scientists have determined that in the daily diet of an elderly person fatty acids omega-3 should be present (fish is rich in them). Blueberry juice also has a positive influence on brain. It is this berry which is the most rich in antioxidants. They have a beneficial effect on the body and slow down the degradation process. Glucose intake is also important. Doctors often prescribe to elderly patients special medications with high glucose content. This component is essential for the normal functioning of memory, but with age it becomes harder to absorb it from food, so it is better to take pills. Nootropics also help to improve blood circulation in the brain. But remember that any medical products should be prescribed only by a doctor.

Tips on how to improve memory in the elderly

Aside from exercise and a special diet, what else can be done to improve memory in the elderly?

1. It is important to “load” memory. Learning a foreign language, logic tasks solving, doing puzzles – all that makes the “brain work”, that is, to remember, recall, to think. Any activity where your head has to handle a large amount of information will work in favor of your memory.

2. During each hour of work it’s important to do short breaks. You can get up, walk around the room and do some physical exercises. Thus the brain will switch from one activity to another, and it would benefit its functioning.

3. It is necessary to try to avoid stress and emotional experiences, as they lead to a loss of nerve cells, due to which reduction in attention and memory impairment occur. Chronic sleep deprivation can be referred to as stress to the body. For a complete relaxation of the brain, it is very important to get enough sleep every day.

4. A personal organizer can also help with senile forgetfulness. Now in stores there is a great variety of notebooks of different sizes and colors. Any person will find something to his liking. It is possible to record in it all the important dates and schedule actings. This will allow to “unload the head”.

5. Reading books trains memory well, because while reading not only visual memory works, but also motor memory and logical, associative and abstract thinking develop. But to improve your memory it is important not just to read, you need to do it properly, with the retelling of what you’ve read, as best of all we train our memory at the time when we recall the read! It is useful during the reading to mark the details of nature and temper of the main characters, their habits and the like. After reading a book recall all the storylines. Such memory training will benefit.

6. The peculiarity of all genius people is attention to details, when meeting a new person they can immediately see a lot of small details and remember them. Brilliant people are people with a well-functioning head, it is indisputable. Therefore, to improve memory in the elderly, it is possible to adopt this method of talented minds and to try to learn to be more attentive. To do this, you should try to look at any chosen object carefully, noting the details of its appearance, and then try to reproduce the details in your memory. Make it your useful habit.

7. There is a useful exercise to improve your memory at any age – learning poems by heart. Choose any poet interesting for you and start learning all his works by heart. And then recollect at any time.

8. People have known already quite for a long that music lessons are incredibly good for improvement of brain function. In advanced age you can sing yourself when you are alone at home or join a choir, or start learning playing some musical instrument, or you can do all together at once. Rehearsals, learning new texts, music, mastering new skills, help the brain to receive the load, which has a positive impact on the state of memory.

9. Do not forget about the psychology. Positive attitude helps to cope with any task. Elderly people are more susceptible to depression then all the others, but depression also leads to deterioration of memory. Such attitudes, as: “I am too old to learn new things,” “I am, after 30 years (40, 50, etc.) is useless,” and so forth, not only lead to the undermining of self-esteem, but also indirectly lead to memory impairment. Therefore, it is important to set yourself up correctly. Believe that life does not end in old age, but is just beginning – children have grown up, the work is over, there is a pension, it is possible live for your pleasure!

10. At any age it is useful to master the techniques and methods of mnemotechnics (mnemonics) – a science of making things easier to remember by forming associations, replacement of memorized objects and facts for familiar concepts and ideas.

GETTING READY FOR AUTUMN

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HEALTH OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN AUTUMN

Autumn has already come, and the cold is just around the corner, which in our climate occupies quite a long part of the year. The so-called “golden autumn” passes quickly, and the rest of the time is dominated by mud, cold and slush. The sharp drop in temperature and frequent changes in barometric pressure may themselves cause serious deterioration of health, especially this appeals to elderly people with chronic diseases.

First of all, these factors affect the condition of elderly people with diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, disorders of musculoskeletal system and psycho-emotional disorders. The sharp fall of temperature causes a spasm of blood vessels, which can lead to a hypertensive crisis or angina attack. Atmospheric pressure drop causes hypoxia – low oxygen content in the body. This in its turn leads to a lack of it in the heart muscle and brain. People can feel heartaches and headaches, and in people who are prone to emotional instability, their psychological condition is deteriorating, and sometimes they face a real depression.

Elderly people who have diseases of the musculoskeletal system (osteoarthrosis, rheumatism), there are aching pain in the affected joints in places of old fractures or wounds, and even absolutely healthy people during this period often feel uncomfortable.

The cold leads to a reduction of immune system capacities: dramatically increases the number of acute respiratory diseases, chronic illnesses are aggravated.

Following our recommendations below will add some bright colors to your autumn:

• If during this period of the year you experience the exacerbation of chronic disease, you should consult your doctor and try to follow all his prescriptions and recommendations. Do not self-medicate.

• If your health and mood are heavily dependent on the weather, take care of yourself. Dress warmly in cold.

• Include in your diet herbal teas, which may include some brier, eat more vegetables and fruits, add some vitamin complexes with microelements.

• If the state of your health allows this, move more regardless of the weather – it enhances the metabolic processes in the body and normalizes blood circulation.

• Wear low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles. Remember that the fall is the main cause of serious injuries and death among the elderly.

• If you have a reduced visual acuity, try not to leave the house in the dark period of the day, to avoid injury.

• And most importantly – create for yourself and your family a good mood, it is a universal remedy against different diseases. Friendly and smooth attitude towards others, optimism and humor – all this contributes to a long and healthy life.

It is well known that negative emotions: resentment, fear, sadness, anger, grief, envy, hatred – are risk factors, approaching old age and shortening life, and vice versa, positive emotions – delight, joy – cause extraordinary rise of vital forces of an organism. Laughter is a sign of joy, cheerful mood and mental health. It favorably affects the lungs and regulates the metabolism.

Practice care and attention towards each other. Try especially after retirement, to organize the rhythm of life. Alternate feasible work with a reasonably organized rest.

• Much attention should be paid to sleep. Sleep is a vital human need. The duration of sleep should be such that after waking up a person should note good spirits and a burst of energy. A healthy and sound sleep requires a right regime of life: go to bed at the same time, dine without overeating not later than 2-3 hours before bedtime. Take a thirty minutes walk before the bedtime and do not watch too emotional television broadcasts, neither take tonic beverages such as strong tea or coffee before the bedtime.

Autumn of life is called the elderly age, and it is a very difficult season. But this time of life has its joy and delight. A person in this age moves into a new quality, he or she becomes a grandparent. And life begins to play with new colors, new, previously unknown feelings and joys, new worries and concerns, life takes on new meaning.

Stroke. General Information

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Stroke occupies one of the leading positions among diseases representing a mortal danger to humans. The problem is that in early stages it is quite difficult to recognize this disease. A little numbness in the arm, dizziness, being tongue-tied – few people will attach importance to these symptoms. Neither the patient nor his family can even know that at this time a brain disaster is happening. Meanwhile, the person’s life often depends on competent and immediate action of those who are close by. It is therefore useful to know the causes of stroke, its symptoms and the way to act in a critical situation.

At the situation with stroke literally every minute counts. Depending on how quickly and accurately people surrounding the patient find the way around the situation, depends not only on the possibility of further recovery but first of all the person’s life. Because of a stroke, millions of people die each year. And this disease spares nobody – neither men nor women, neither old nor young people.

Risk Factors
In recent years stroke “became much younger”. Cases of the disease in people aged 25-30 years surprise no one anymore. This is facilitated by a number of factors – from inheritance to bad habits. The main risk factors for stroke include:

• Arterial hypertension
• Increased level of cholesterol in the blood
• Alcohol abuse
• Constant stress
• Smoking
• Sedentary lifestyle, obesity
• Malnutrition (excess of salty, spicy, fatty foods)

In addition, more strokes are registered in the elderly. And if under the age of 60 years, men are susceptible to this disease more than women, after 60 years, the situation changes – women suffer from strokes more often. As for the adverse outcome, the death rate from stroke is higher among men.

The mortality rate in stroke is conditioned by the fact that the people, who were near, did not attach importance to suspicious symptoms, were confused and did not call an ambulance in time. And the precious minutes were slipping away, taking with them the chances of the person to survive. The mortality rate in strokes depends directly on how quickly the qualified medical assistance was provided

Each of us is exposed to stroke risk, and at any moment someone next to you might need an emergency. And if you know how stroke manifests itself, what to do if it happens, thus you can save the life of this person.

Important!
The sooner the medical assistance will be provided in stroke, the lower is the probability of death and the risk that the person will be for a lifetime confined to a wheelchair.

What is a stroke?
A stroke is a syndrome of acute cerebrovascular accident, which leads to the development of certain neurological disorders. In accordance with the genesis strokes can be divided into ischemic and hemorrhagic. The first one is caused by the blockage of cerebral vessel by thrombus or embolus, the second one is characterized by a rupture of the vessel. In both cases circulatory failure occurs and, consequently, the loss of a certain area of the brain tissue. Cells located in the midst of disaster, are often beyond repair. However, around this “dead” area there is a zone of reversible changes – for this area actually the struggle in the treatment of the patient is unfolding. And here every minute counts: the time during which the cells can resuscitate in the zone of reversible changes is only three hours after the stroke. It is essential to keep within this so-called “therapeutic window” to minimize the affected area.

How to recognize the symptoms of stroke
Stroke symptoms in most cases occur already in the first minutes of the disease. And everyone can recognize them. During the stroke the brain cells, deprived of normal blood supply, begin to die, that may manifest itself by the following symptoms:

• Sharp headache
• Severe dizziness, incoordination
• Weakness, numbness of the muscles on one side of the body
• Speech problems (retardation, smudging, complete inability to pronounce sounds)
• Blackouts, a sense of the blurred image, double objects, reduction of vision
• Confusion or loss of consciousness (usually short-time)
• Disorientation (confusion in the dates, the inability to determine location, the lack of in-touch capability, a person cannot recognize the loved ones)
• Hallucinations

Do not ignore the alarming symptoms, even if they were short-term. At the slightest suspicion of a stroke, for example, if a person stumbled several times for no reason, or just for a few seconds lost consciousness, use the rule of SSR:

• S – smile
Ask the person to smile. During the stroke muscle paralysis or paresis occurs usually on one side of the body, resulting in the curved smile – on the affected side the mouth will be downward-sloping.

• S – speak
Try to speak to the stroke victim, asking him to say any simple phrase, such as “It is raining outside.” During a stroke the speech is usually disturbed, it becomes incoherent or hindered.

• R – raise the arms
Ask the stroke victim to raise both arms up simultaneously. During the stroke one arm will fall or go sideways.

If doubts remain, ask the person to put out tongue. During a stroke it usually sinks down to one side. If the afflicted person has at least one symptom of a stroke – immediately call an ambulance! At the same time as accurately as possible, list all of the symptoms. Even if the signs of a stroke were short-term, and the afflicted person recovered quickly, it is important to convince him to seek medical help.

One should know that frivolous at first glance symptoms of a stroke almost in 100% of cases are indicative of serious brain dysfunctions. And this, in turn, can cause serious consequences that can chain the afflicted person to a bed or wheelchair, and even lead to death.

Sleep Disorder in Seniors

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As the saying goes – “Sleep is the best medicine”. And indeed it is. During the night sleep about 70% of the daily amount of a very important for the human body hormone melatonin is produced. This hormone of the pineal gland (epiphysis) regulates biorhythms, protects against stress, premature aging and even prolongs life. Sleep restores the body and the brain, during sleep our memory and blood pressure are regulated, immune functions are restored. Sleep disorders, especially in older people, significantly reduce their quality of life. Statistics show that 35% of seniors are experiencing problems with sleep deficiency. Thus in women (50%) the sleep disorders are met more often than in men (25%).

Some basic concepts of sleep

Sleep consists of two phases – rapid-eye-movement sleep (REM sleep) and non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREM sleep). During REM sleep, we process the obtained during the day information, “communicate” with our subconscious mind and see dreams. NREM sleep is divided into four phases. Falling asleep, people consistently pass all the phases of NREM sleep, then – REM sleep, then the cycle repeats.

Each cycle lasts about 90-100 minutes, and each duration of REM sleep increases, reaching in the morning up to 50 minutes. This is called sleep structure.

During the night, on average, five such cycles occur, and for the normal recovery of the body it is important for sleep not to be interrupted. However, with age, duration of sleep and its structure change.

Older people have the following sleep peculiarities:

• sleep in the elderly is discontinuous, fragmented;
• elderly often wake up at night and then have difficulty falling asleep, lying awake for about 30-60 minutes, and sometimes even more than an hour;
• elderly people go to bed earlier and falling asleep takes longer;
• sleep efficiency is reduced in the elderly (they are able to sleep only 80% of time spent in bed);
• senior’s sleep is more sensitive;
• biological clock shift with age: 50% of 70-year wake up before 7 a.m., and 25% – before 5.

All these are the normal age-related changes, and one should adjust to them. However, sometimes insomnia results from other causes, some of which are listed below:

- stress and psychological disorders;
- nutrition routine violation: late meals or overeating;
- drinking coffee or alcoholic beverages, as well as smoking;
- violation of the daily routine/sleep schedule;
- taking medications which may have insomnia as a side effect;
- periodic limb movement disorder, myoclonus or restless legs syndrome.

What can be done to prevent sleep disorders?

- Do not limit physical activity: a short walk before bedtime makes it easier to fall asleep.
- If you sleep poorly at night, do not go to bed in the afternoon. If you still feel tired during the day, it is better to sleep not more than two hours, and before 3 p.m.
- One of the most effective means in the fight against insomnia is a calm environment and fresh air. In such environment it is easier to fall asleep for any person, and especially for older people. You can sleep in the open air in the yard, in the garden, if there are conditions for this. It is good to sleep with an open window or window leaf: the flow of oxygen calms overexcited areas of the brain, and a person quickly falls asleep.
- For sleep to be normal, it is necessary to go to bed constantly at the same time. What is it for? If a person has a distinct schedule, timely rests and goes to bed always at the same hour, his entire body adapts to such a regime. At the time, when a person is used to get ready for bed, he already wants to sleep, he falls asleep quickly and soundly.
- Bright sunlight stimulates the activity of the organism, and the darkness, on the contrary, promotes sleep. In the elderly due to deterioration of vision (as a result of cataract, for example) the efficiency of the light exposure reduces, and thus the phase of wakefulness and sleep have less contrast. In this regard, experts advise to spend in the afternoon as much time as possible outside for the retina to receive enough light stimulation. In this case, darkness will promote sleepiness and quality sleep.
- Restrict fluid intake during the second half of the day, keeping its daily amount.
- Perform routine actions before bedtime. Make daily evening regimen (brush your teeth, wash, set the alarm clock) – this creates a good mood for sleep.
- Maintain a calm environment around yourself. The room where you sleep, should be dark, quiet, not hot and not cold.
- Bed – a place for sleep. And therefore do not use it for eating, reading, watching TV, and so on, that is, for those actions that are associated with an active lifestyle.
- Sleep is affected by many diseases: hypertension, gastric diseases, peptic ulcer disease, airways obstruction in case of problems with the lungs, chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency, renal and prostate diseases, accompanied by frequent urination, pain in the joints and spine. It is therefore important to control chronic diseases and keep them in a state of remission.
- Many medications taken by the elderly, affect the sleep structure. So sometimes you need to find an alternative drug.

With a wise attitude and care about their health every elderly person is quite able to establish a healthy, deep sleep.

Pet Therapy – a Wonderful Cure for Loneliness

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The help to elderly people cannot be accomplished without ensuring, first of all, a harmony in the soul of an elderly person. Pet can carry out the most important assistance to the elderly – to make them not so lonely, provide them with an extra incentive to existence, and give them their warmth and joy. Pets bring harmony and order into the emotional state of their masters.

Any pet, whatever it may be – large or small, and even a fish in the aquarium, as if connects to human energy, adjusting it to a positive mood. Each animal species has certain unique features; that is why their positive impact on a person has its shades and nuances, but the result of this interaction has always the most beneficial impact on an elderly person.

Sometimes there are such situations in life, when pets are the only friends for the elderly and lonely people. They fill their lives with meaning and care. Help to relieve mental and physical pain and suffering. Pets give their owners life energy.

Elderly people understand that the main and the best part of their lives is left behind. Their emotional tone is decreasing, and the physical condition is worsening. And this in its turn may lead to such a mental state, as depression. To avoid this, we need positive emotions, and in this our four-legged friends can help.

Animals have a natural ability to maintain a person’s emotional state. And remove the feeling of loneliness when you are not needed. This feeling appears because the majority of elderly people live alone, away from their children and grandchildren. And they need anything to fill in the lack of attention and communication. Animals will love devotedly their master and will constantly be near. And most importantly is that the elderly and lonely people will acquire a vital need to be wanted and needed by someone.

Pet-therapy or animal therapy

The origins of psychological illnesses treatment with the help of animals go back to the end of the 18th century, when the Yorkshire mental hospital began to use dogs for the treatment of patients. Even then, the clinic doctors have noted that animals had a positive impact on patients. In the course of therapy the reduction of aggression and frequency of episodes was noted in patients.

Today Canistherapy (dog therapy) and Felinotherapy (cat therapy) is widely used to improve the condition of children with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and other pathologies. The specialists observed the improvement of coordination, decrease of spasticity and significantly improved memory in children.

Communication with your pet has also a beneficial effect on the activity of a human brain, which helps to prevent or reduce many psychological disorders. Thus, in particular, during Alzheimer disease – communication with cats eliminates anxiety, which is so pronounced in this disease. A sense of great responsibility in relation to a pet, and taking care of the beloved one stimulates an elderly person to be active, which in its turn stimulates the desire to be healthy and to live.

How pets help to cope with depression and stress

With the approach of autumn, many people gain such kind of psychological disorder as “autumn spleen”. Causeless melancholy, gloom and other subdepressive states begin to exhaust us with the arrival of the first frosts. Often even quite healthy people can be difficult to force themself to get out of bed in the morning and do not frown during the day. If you are familiar with such states, physicians strongly advise to adopt a pet.
Pets live according to their own schedule, in which the emphasis of life corresponds to the daily cycle. Thus, a dog or a cat is sure to wake you up early and require a morning walk or feed. And it will be a good enough reason for you not lie in bed until noon.
Morning walking the dog helps to strengthen immunity, is good for the heart and helps to lose weight. If you feel a bit lethargic and inactive, a dog will teach you to be more cheerful, open and determined.

Equally effective cure for the blues Is communication with the cats. Did you notice that the Internet is full of videos with funny shots of the cat tricks and pranks? These animals are very curious, and having got a kitten in your home will be an endless source of funny events and situations. In addition, cats are curing the vain anxiety and excessive fatigue by the warmth of their body and the characteristic “purr”.

But not only dogs and cats are “home psychotherapists”. Other pets, such as aquarium fish, birds, rabbits, hamsters and even insects, are also doing an excellent job in fighting with stress and despondency.

Psychological observations allow the following conclusions: pets help people to cope with the problems they face, with stress, loneliness. They significantly improve the bad mood and give a great emotional support. And it does not matter who lives at a person’s home: a cat or a dog, a bird or a simple fish – any animal has a positive effect on the physical and psychological well-being of an elderly person. Daily contact with a pet reduces the risk of various diseases, as well as inspires the human soul with optimism and reliability.

Pets give their owners a hundred percent, selfless love and attention, no matter who is their master: a young boy or a very old man. Pets turn into the very best friends with whom you can talk and share feelings. Communication and interaction with the animal increases the level of serotonin in the brain, which increases the sense of well-being of the owner.

Take care of yourself and your pets, and stay healthy!