Tag Archives: vitamins

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.

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.

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.

Hypertension. Causes, symptoms and treatment.

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Hypertension is permanent or occasional elevation of blood pressure. It’s an insidious disease. High blood pressure often doesn’t have any symptoms, but it slowly affects the heart, brain, kidneys. The disease informs about its presence by headache, dizziness, tinnitus, short term heartache and rapid heartbeat. Also the following symptoms became possible: faintness, shortness of breath, rapid fatigability, unprovoked nose bleeding.

Normal blood pressure is considered to be 120/80 mmHg. Identification of hypertension is possible only by regular blood pressure measurement, because there can be just single jumps in pressure, for example, during physical activities, emotional experiences or after alcohol ingestion. It is important to know not only the blood pressure readings, but also how quick the blood pressure comes back to normal.

After age 40 the vasoconstriction happens, the vessel wall elasticity decreases, which contributes to hypertension. At a young age the increase in arterial blood pressure is possible on the background of diseases of endocrine glands, lungs and kidneys, as well as during the pregnancy period. The risk of hypertension increases if your immediate family members or you suffer from diabetes. Permanent neuropsychic overstrain, stresses and lack of sleep facilitate the hypertension development. Excessively salty and fatty food, smoking and alcohol abuse also raise the blood pressure. Overweight people and people with sedentary lifestyle often suffer from hypertension.

You should pay a close heed to the changes in the state of your organism, and it is recommended to measure the blood pressure at the first signs of the disease. If you noted a repeated rise of pressure, doctor’s appointment is plainly required for you, as the selection of preparations is strictly individual, and is performed on the basis of a complete diagnostics of your body.

There are some risk factors, which may cause the complications in the work of cardio-vascular system.

The following risk factors are emphasized:

1. Age. Men older than 55, and women older than 65 years.
2. The cholesterol content – total cholesterol above 6,5 mmol per liter.
3. Cardiovascular diseases in the patient’s relatives.
4. Diabetes.
5. Smoking.
6. Sedentary lifestyle.
7. Corpulence.

The risk factors are divided into two groups. The first group comprises the risk factors, which can be eliminated with doctor’s help or by your own efforts. These include diabetes, increased cholesterol, smoking, etc. The second group comprises age, genetic predisposition.

Long-lasting hypertension aggravates the cardiac performance, heartbeat increases, pulse quickens, the heart enlarges.

Besides hypertension, the increase of blood pressure may be caused by kidneys disease, malfunction of thyroid gland, structural heart defects, constriction of aorta (coarctation), etc.
Symptoms of Hypertension
Principal symptoms:

· headache;

Headache occurs more often in the occipital region, but also in temporal and parietal regions. The pain increases with mental and physical activity. Particularly severe pain accompanies the hypertensive crises.

· pain in the region of heart;

Constricting pain, long-lasting dull pain or sometimes short-term lancinating pain in the region of heart are possible in the people with hypertension.

· palpitation;

· tinnitus;

· seeing spots;

· dizziness.

Hypertensive crisis

Hypertensive crisis is a sudden short-term manifestation of hypertensive disease. The reason of hypertensive crisis is the interruption of arterial pressure regulation mechanisms, accompanied by an increase in arterial blood pressure and disorder of blood circulation in internal organs. It originates from the alteration of psychoemotional state, using a significant amount of salt in food, abrupt change of weather conditions. Hypertensive crises are often a result of the absence of hypertension due treatment. The danger of hypertensive crisis lies in the fact that it can exacerbate the existing heart and brain diseases.

Symptoms of hypertensive crisis:

· headache;
· precordialgia shooting up the arm and scapula;
· dizziness;
· faintness.

Complications of hypertensive crisis:

· myocardial infarction,
· acute cerebrovascular disorder,
· pulmonary edema,
· cerebral edema,
· lethal outcome.

Hypertensive crises are much more common in women.

Treatment of hypertension

The treatment of hypertension is mainly focused on normalization of blood pressure. The disease treatment is a complex one. One group of preparations is oriented to reduce the blood pressure. Vasodilating and diuretic preparations are also used. Sedative (obtundent) medical preparations are due in no small part to treatment. The selection of medication is strictly individual and will depend on the patient’s condition. The special diets focused on decrease of salt and liquid consumption are selected for people with hypertension. Alcohol is forbidden for people with hypertension disease as well.

Leeches are also used for hypertension treatment – hirudotherapy.

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.

Do Vitamin D Supplements Reduce Risk of Falls?

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When people are getting older, falls become very common thing to many of them. What should be done to prevent dangerous falls among elderly age group? Below you will find important research information that will surely be helpful.

The results of the recent studies, which can be found in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, show that elderly people who took Vitamin D supplements daily had 72% fewer falls than those who didn’t take them. Scientists say that the needed and the most effective daily dose is 800 IU.

Other researches show that about half of the adult home and nursing home residents have at least one fall every year. Vitamin D and Vitamin D supplements help to strengthen the musculoskeletal system and save seniors from falling.

It’s should be noted that daily dose of Vitamin D for seniors, which is recommended by government, is 400 IU. If you think about taking bigger dose, we recommend consulting your doctor first.

Scientists agree that the safest way to receive vitamin D is to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. At an average, people need 25 minutes of the sun shining on the face and hands to synthesize 2000 IU. If your skin is light, 15 minutes are enough for you.

We should also remember that our body synthesizes only the amount of vitamin which is needed, that’s why it is impossible to suffer from vitamin toxicity from the sun.