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DANCE TO STAY HEALTHY

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!

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.

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!

The Importance of Exercising for Seniors

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Physical activity is the way to health and longevity, especially when it concerns elderly people.

It is believed that with age many people have reduced activity. This may be due to age-related negative emotions and decrease in self confidence. The lack of physical and mental activity really accelerates the aging process, therefore it is for the benefit of all people to prevent or at least reduce the effects of aging. For this purpose it is certainly worth to sharpen our focus on physical training.

Is not hard to guess, that physical activity contributes to muscle tone, maintenance of the cardiovascular system, good mood and improvement of the quality of life.

Factors affecting the change in the life balance of elderly people

Unfortunately, the factors of aging every day have a negative impact on human health. Several factors are inevitable, and they cannot be affected, but some can be controlled or even minimized.

Behavioral factor of elderly people

- Maintain an active lifestyle. Use comprehensive training programs: strength / resistance, cardio/endurance, stretching/flexibility.

- Balanced proper nutrition including the most essential vitamins and nutrients. In particular, vitamin D is very important.

- Comfortable shoes. Shoes should not be too high (a negative effect on your posture) and heavy. Comfortable, lightweight, fitting shoes provide the best contact with the ground. Even walking barefoot (not everywhere of course) becomes an excellent help

- Pay attention to reception of medications. Individual side effects are possible. Always consult your doctor as for the impact of certain drugs.

Age-related biological factor

With age loss of vision, hearing and mental clarity is possible. There is a risk of arthritis developing and deterioration of the vestibular apparatus. You may experience the appearance of any chronic disease.

Studies show that many diseases and ailments that accompany the aging process, such as difficulties with movement, can be prevented by physical training. In addition, physical activity is an excellent way to improve the quality of life and make friends. Also, regular physical activity reduces the risk of the following diseases:
• heart disease,
• stroke
• diabetes
• osteoporosis
• arthritis,
• back pain,
• high blood pressure,
• some cancers, such as colon cancer.

As a prevention of the described above diseases can serve all the same exercises and training. A competent physical activity improves endurance, strength and immune system.

Exercises help to increase muscle strength and improve their tone, thus reducing the risk of accidental falls, leading to injuries. In addition, regular physical exercises develop flexibility, mobility, speed of movements, endurance improve cognitive abilities, memory, the ability to sound judgment, well-being and quality of life.
Physical training is also new acquaintances and communication.

External factors

Try to avoid the potential dangers that surround us in everyday life. That’s a minimum list of external factors:

- Winter time. The presence of ice on the roads
- Rooms with slippery floors
- Curbs and various roughness of the pavement
- The quality of lighting in the streets and indoors
- Escalators

The task of exercises is to adapt the body to everyday loads, regulate the cardiovascular, autonomic, neuromuscular systems, strengthen the musculoskeletal system, create a good mood. All exercises should be done with a smile and best of all to the music.

The most important point to be considered in training is a balance between physical exercises. For example, between normal walking and running. Understanding the balance helps to optimize the training process and avoid unexpected injuries. This is especially important for the elderly.

Each year, about 20 percent of people older than 60 years receive a variety of injuries. Fear of injury restricts people in physical activity. This fact, and the fact of biological changes in the body, changes in the environment and the difficulties of life forms certain stereotypes. But all this can be avoided through a balanced exercise (strength training, cardio, etc.).

Nowadays almost all gyms develop various special programs for seniors. But before you start any training it is better to consult your doctor concerning the possible initial physical loads for your body.

Remember, it is impossible to stop the natural biological processes, but it is completely possible to control them, staying active at any age. Physical activity is that little thing you can do for yourself at any stage of life.
As one very wise man said: “Help your body now and the body will help you in an old age.”

Day View Adult Family Home provides qualified and affordable services for seniors. Our trained staff understands the importance of exercises and we work to create positive environment for seniors’ training.

Heart Attack: Symptoms and Prevention

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The human heart is primarily a muscular organ. It performs many functions in our body, violation of at least one of them leads to serious disruptions in the whole body. Quite often many of us do not pay attention to the alarm bells of the heart, telling that it is just the time to start taking care of it. We work ourselves ragged, smoke a lot and laugh too little, worry too much about trifles and do almost no exercises or sports. So we can say about almost every resident of the modern metropolis. And that doesn’t do any good to our heart.

Most of the cardiovascular diseases begin with poor lifestyle and the gradual “clogging” of the arteries. Heart disease should be diagnosed by a doctor after a comprehensive analysis. However, the symptoms of these diseases should be known to anyone, even to people, who are very far from medicine.

A heart attack, which can very often be provoked by abovementioned, is known as a terrible disease, taking human lives. Heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, leads the list of causes of death. But what factors contribute to heart attacks and how to avoid it?

When the access of the blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, it does not get enough oxygen, part of the heart tissue begins to die, and there comes a heart attack.

Blocking of blood flow to the heart occurs because of the presence in the coronary arteries of sufficiently large blood clots, known as plaques. When the plaque blocks the artery, it blocks the path for blood to the heart. Without blood flow the heart doesn’t get oxygen and part of its tissues start to deteriorate, or even die.

The plaques may start to appear in coronary arteries already in childhood. Over the years the situation may worsen. By themselves, the plaque may partially restrict the access of blood to the heart, then angina starts – a disease that increases greatly the possibility of heart attack.

Let us consider the symptoms of a heart attack

The most typical manifestation of myocardial infarction is the appearance of pain. The pain may arise in the left half of the body, in the arm before forearm, in scapula, in the left side of the neck. It is also possible to feel pain in hands, in the lower jaw, in shoulder area, and in the upper abdomen. The pain is long-standing and can be squeezing, stabbing, burning and aching in nature.

Characteristic symptoms indicative of a heart attack, is the shortness of breath, which manifests itself even at minimal activity, and may also be felt at rest. This happens because of the fact that the heart does not receive the needed quantity of blood for its normal functioning. A person may also feel weakness. Sweating may increase greatly.

Attention should be paid to functioning of the heart also in case of increased fatigue. This feeling of fatigue may persist for several days, weeks without any special attention to be paid to it. A heart attack may also be accompanied with stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. In most cases, these symptoms are not associated with a heart disease, but one should pay attention to them, if they occur on the basis of normal food consumption and are not associated with the reception of poor nutrition. Sometimes a temporary loss of consciousness happens.

Heart attacks may be preceded by increased heart rate, which manifests itself in a form of rapid and disordered pulse.
Precursors of a heart attack can also be such conditions as anxiety, feeling of discomfort, insomnia.

People with diabetes, and / or those who are over 75 years may have “silent heart attack.” Such a heart attack is not accompanied by any pain sensations.

Reasons that increase the risk of heart attack

• Age: Age is considered one of the major risk factors. In men over 45, women over 55, the risk of having a heart attack raises a lot.

• Angina: a disease, which increases the risk of a heart attack. The major difference between a heart attack and angina is that having angina the patient will feel better within 15-30 minutes after taking the medication, and the patient having a heart attack will feel no improvement.

• The level of cholesterol in blood: if a person has increased cholesterol level, the risk of blood clots formation in the arteries increases. The clots can block the blood flow to the heart muscle, and this can lead to a heart attack.

• Diabetes: People with diabetes are unfortunately at a higher risk of development of a number of diseases and conditions, many of which contribute to increased risk of a heart attack.

• Diet: People consuming large quantities of animal or saturated fats has a higher risk of a heart attack.

• Genes: a person may inherit a predisposition to heart diseases.

• Heart surgeries: patients who had undergone a heart surgery have more chances to suffer from a heart attack.

• Hypertension (high blood pressure): the disease also increases the risk of heart attack, and hypertension itself can develop due to a lack of physical activity, overweight, diabetes, family diseases history and some other factors.

• Physical inactivity: people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, have much higher risk of heart attack than people who lead an active lifestyle.

• Previous heart attack: anyone who has had a heart attack, are to a much greater extent than other people at risk of heart attack.

• Smoking: people who smoke regularly, are also at risk of a heart attack.

• Excessive body weight (obesity)

Prevention

Is there any prevention of myocardial infarction or how to avoid it?
We can answer this question in the following way: something we are destined by nature (we can not escape from such risk factors as age and heredity), but there are a number of factors which we can influence, so that at least delay the time of the heart attack.

1. Control of body weight. In people who are overweight, the load on the heart increases, together with the risk of hypertension and diabetes development.

2. Regular physical exercise. Physical activity leads to the improvement of metabolism, and hence weight loss. It is proved that regular exercise lowers for 30% the risk of recurrent myocardial infarction in those who have suffered it. A set of exercises and the level of activity is chosen by your doctor.

3. Quitting the bad habits. Scientists have already long ago proved that smoking and alcohol consumption significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. In people who do not want to give up the destructive habits, the risk to have a recurrent heart attack increases twice.

4. Control of blood cholesterol levels. All people older than 45 are recommended to regularly monitor the parameters of lipid metabolism, as atherosclerosis is one of the major causes of cardiovascular problems.

5. Control of blood pressure as at arterial hypertension the load on the heart increases significantly.

6. Diet. It is recommended to limit consumption of salt, foods containing large amounts of cholesterol, and high-melting fats. The diet should increase the amount of fruits and vegetables containing fiber, vitamins and minerals, and seafood.

7. Receiving preparations containing acetylsalicylic acid. Aspirin is included in the standard of not only treatment of myocardial infarction, but also its prevention. For the selection of the optimal dosage and selection of a particular drug you should consult a doctor.

8. Avoid stressful situations and learn to manage stress.

Osteoporosis: Causes, Diagnosis and Prevention

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Osteoporosis is a disease, characterized by an advanced decrease of bone density, i.e. the amount of bone substance per bone unit volume. The chemical constitution of the bones does not change. Decreased bone density reduces their strength and increases the probability of fractures. Thus, about 70% of fractures in patients older than 50 years can be attributed to the consequences of osteoporosis. Over a lifetime, the bone tissue is constantly being regenerating, i.e. old tissue is gradually destroyed, resorbed and replaced with a new one. Osteoporosis is the result of an imbalance between the process of synthesis and destruction, which leads to a significant bone tissue mass reduction.

Reduced bone density leads to increased probability of fractures. A characteristic feature of osteoporotic fractures is that they happen even because of light loads. That ease of fractures is a major risk of having osteoporosis, as essential bone structures of a human body may be broken, such as the spine, hip. Fractures lead to immobilization of the patient, which in old age is fraught with considerable number of complications – from bed sores to the development of congestive pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. Few people know this fact, but osteoporosis is now the fourth most common cause of death – it gives way only to cardiovascular diseases, tumors and diabetes. And hip fracture is considered to be the main cause of death in patients with this diagnosis.

Risk Factors
All the risk factors are divided into two groups: controllable risk factors (they depend on the lifestyle and behavior and may be eliminated), and uncontrollable risk factors (which do not depend on a person).

1. Uncontrollable risk factors
- female sex (women are much more susceptible to this disease than men);
- race (Asian women have osteoporosis more often);
- age of 65 and above (with age, the probability of disease development increases significantly); – immediate family having osteoporosis and/or fractures which were caused by light load (injury) at the age of 50 and above (a genetic predisposition to this disease is very important);
- previous fractures;
- some endocrine diseases;
- early (including surgical) menopause;
- low body-mass index and/or low weight;
- low mobility (immobilization, fixation of the patient’s body or limb in case of injuries, significant weight of the patient, psychiatric disorders complicating the movement – all these states may be the causes of osteoporosis).

2. Controllable risk factors
– calcium deficiency (people at the age of 50 and above need about 1200 mg of calcium per day (but not more than 2500 mg));
- vitamin D deficiency (Our body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. Usually most people get enough vitamin D from staying in the sun for about 20 minutes a day. We also get it from some food (eggs, some fish, cereals…). At the age between 51 and 70 you need 400 IU, and over age 70 – 600 IU per day.) But you should be careful with using calcium and vitamin D supplements, as overuse of them may cause some side effects. Thus, better consult your doctor first, if you think that you get not enough calcium or vitamin D.
- smoking;
- excessive intake of caffeine-containing beverages and alcohol;
- low physical activity;
- predisposition to falling.

Patient can and must change all these factors to decrease the possibility of the development of such a dangerous disease.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis
It is quite difficult to distinguish this disease it early stages, though there are several signs of it. For example, changes in posture, pain in bones during the weather change, brittle hair and nails, dental decay. The most susceptible to this disease are the spine, hip, bones of the hands and wrist.

The first symptoms of osteoporosis can be pain in lumbar and dorsal spine during long-term static load (for example, sedentary work), leg cramp at night time, brittle nails, age-related declining posture, loss of height (due to reduction of the spine bones height), the phenomenon of periodontal disease.

Diagnosis of Osteoporosis
A particular deceit of osteoporosis is that it is delitescent for quite a long time and is diagnosed most often only after appearance of its complications – fractures. Modern medicine has a very effective method for the detection of osteoporosis in the early stages, when the reduction in bone density does not exceed 3-5%. It is called DEXA-scan or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. This test allows determining the bone density and predicting the risk of fractures.

Prevention of Osteoporosis
The prevention of osteoporosis should be started as early as possible. A huge role in the prevention of osteoporosis plays quitting such bad habits as smoking and alcohol overuse.
Physical activity and adequate load on all the bones of the skeleton is one of the major and very effective methods to prevent the bone tissue density reduction (osteopenia). Bone density is directly dependent on the physical load on the bones. The most rapid reduction of the bone mass is observed in astronauts in weightlessness and in people confined to bed.
Another important factor in the prevention of osteoporosis is the observance of Nutrition Hygiene. Sensible nutrition and balanced diet are essential for the normal functioning of the digestive system, proper metabolism, and strengthening of immune system. However, the main cause of osteoporosis is a violation of metabolic and hormonal processes in the body.

Special diet
For proper nutrition, first of all, you need to eat foods containing calcium and vitamin D. They can be found in the variety of dairy products (allergic people can use soy, goat or nut milk), fish, greens, cabbage, broccoli, nuts. Vitamin D is found in fish, fish oil, and eggs. In addition, sun also contributes to the production of vitamin D.

FALL PREVENTION FOR SENIORS

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Elderly people, especially women, fall quite often. And even a simple fall may cause serious injuries and fractures, which can seriously turn their life, lead to disability, immobility, dependence on others.

The sad statistics is the following!
• 60% of people older than 65 years have to stay in hospital as a result of the fall;
• 15-20% of them have fractures;
• 5-20% die from complications;
• 40% after discharging from the hospital lose their independence and become dependent on others;
But falls shouldn’t be regarded as something accidental and inevitable; we should try to prevent them.
Where the falls are most likely to occur?
50% of the cases happen at home, most often in bathrooms and bedrooms.
Nearly 80% of seniors fall without any witnesses, which deprives them of quick help.
Outside the house the falls of seniors are more likely to happen on icy sidewalks, wet pavements, while walking on icy pathways. Falling down outside the house without any witnesses of this, especially in the cold season, may lead not only to injuries, but also to hypothermia, and as a consequences of this – later development of pneumonia, urinary tract infections and other diseases.
One of the most serious and dangerous traumas caused by a fall of a senior is hip fracture. 20% of all hip fracture cases result in death from complications. Half of the seniors become incapacitated, requiring constant care.
A large portion of injuries after falling in seniors accrues to wrist fractures. The healing process takes up a lot of time, lasting from 6 weeks up to 3-6 months, and significantly restricts the ability of a person to self-maintenance.
The causes of falls among seniors may be divided into two large groups.
External causes.
External causes are related to improper organization of safe movement.
- uncomfortable shoes;
- inappropriate glasses;
- lack of mobility aids (canes, walkers);
- low home security.
Weather factors also play a significant part.
- icy or slippery pavement in winter, uneven surface of sidewalks, poor lighting, etc.
Internal causes.
The gait disorders arise at elderly and senile age, affected by neurologic and blood vessel diseases, the eyesight worsens, dementia develops. Taking some medication changes the state of vasomotor tone. The risk of falling especially increases when taking several medications simultaneously.
The risk of falling is high in people who stay in upright position less than 4 hours a day, as well as those who are unsteady when standing, who are overinhibited and depressed and those who are unable to stand up from a chair without using their hands. Age-related impaired visual acuity requires proper lens fitting.
Seniors, who often fall, should go through medical examination for exception of the following possible diseases:
- arrhythmia,
- seizure disorder,
- Parkinson disease,
- anemia,
- Weiss-Baker syndrome,
- transient ischemic attack.
Fall prevention should be performed in three main directions:
- arrangement of safe mode of life and housing;
- regular exercise to improve your muscle tone;
- checking for the side effects of the medicines you take and osteoporosis treatment.

Regardless of the factors causing the fall here are some tips helping to prevent it:
- regular physical exercises to strengthen muscles, bones and joints
- take away the things in the house, which may be conductive to falling
- keep necessary items in easily accessible places
- use non-slip flooring
- use bathroom handles and grab bars
- keep stairs and hallways well lit
- using medication, don’t forget to ask your doctor of its possible effect on the bones (if it can cause bones fragility)
- wear only comfortable shoes with non-slip sole.
And remember: it’s always easier to prevent the fall than to treat its consequences!

Sleep Tips for Elderly People

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Sleep is one of the most important factors not only for seniors, but also for younger people. It is very important for normal physical and mental functioning of an organism. Lack of sleep brings fatigue and a bunch of different health problems. For seniors it is very important to sleep on average 7.5 hours per night, but many of elderly people suffer from insomnia.
There are several things that can improve the quality and the ability of sleep that is vital for seniors.

1. Sun Yourself. Excessive sunshine increases the risk of skin cancer development, but sunbathing in moderation can bring only positive effect. Sunlight helps the body to produce vitamin D. This vitamin is known for keeping the bones strong.

2. Create an environment that ideal for healthy sleeping. Keep the room cool and dark. The bedroom should be used only for sleeping; it should be associated with rest.

3. Control senior’s napping time. It should interfere with the sleeping at night. All naps should take place early in the afternoon, not in the evening. At the same time naps should be short, not more than 40-45 minutes.

4. Do not drink a lot of liquids before going to bed. Seniors go to the restroom at night more often than younger people. You can control this process by limiting the intake of liquids.

5. Do not consume caffeine in the second part of the day. The same should be said about alcohol, no alcohol before going to bed.

6. Bedtime routine as in the childhood. It is very important for seniors to have a routine before going to bed. Half an hour is enough to prepare your mind and body.

Day View Adult Family Home provides qualified and affordable services for seniors. Our trained crew understands the importance of a good night’s sleep and we work to create positive sleeping environment for seniors. Our residents receive the rest they need.

What an Adult Family Home Should Offer?

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There are so many choices when it comes for choosing a special place for your aging parent. Day View Adult Family Home has been helping families by providing care to your loved ones.
Our todays’ conversation will be about the possibilities a high-standard adult family home should provide. First of all, daily life in such a home should be full of socialization and care. The facility should have all the amenities that make daily activities easier.
Breakfast is the beginning of the day and it’s good if it is served in a dining hall where residents can communicate and enjoy time together. Morning activities that follow breakfast should be of different kinds: outdoor activities, indoor games, reading, watching TV together with friends of alone in the apartment.
We encourage our residents to have walks outside; such outdoor exercises keep your loved ones in good mood and in physical form. Some adult family homes provide such services as taking its residents shopping or to the hair salon, to the bank, etc.
If any help is needed professional staff should immediately assist. An excellent adult family home provides care 24/7 and it doesn’t matter what kind of care is needed. Professionals should be here to help your loved ones.
The middle of the day starts with nutritious lunch. Several words should be said about food that is served. All the meals for seniors should be filled with vitamins, nutrients, give energy and strength for the whole day.
During the second part of the day many residents choose to visit their family and friends. We encourage them to do it, because it is very important to stay connected and not isolated. Socialization, by the way, helps to combat many diseases.
Those who choose to stay can have an afternoon nap or to enjoy their hobby.
Quality homes plan different meetings, invite speakers, interesting people or conduct different kinds of events. The life at a professional adult family home is not boring and full of events.
Usually evening is a family time. Family members come to visit their relatives and spend time with them, we encourage them to stay for dinner and talk to their loved ones. If you have any questions or propositions, we’d love to hear from you. Our goal at Day View Adult Family Home is to make your living here as comfortable as possible.