Senior News

REDUCE YOUR CHOLESTEROL
Foods with soluble fiber are the best foods for reducing your cholesterol because the fiber dissolves in the blood stream and carries cholesterol out of the blood. Foods with soluble fiber include vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, onions. Just about every fruit and vegetable is good a good source of cholesterol.

Be sure to eat the skins of both vegetables and fruits because they contain the most fiber. Recommended daily dietary fiber is 25 grams. Legumes, whole grains and nuts all supply soluble fiber. Barley has the greatest impact on cholesterol. And almonds are probably the most important nut. Unsalted and not roasted, almonds are high in monounsaturated fats such as those found in olive oil. Soy proteins are also great. You can use tofu in burgers, shakes or sauces. Ground cinnamon, too, is a powerful spice that can lower cholesterol. And flaxseed meal, also potent, can be added to a wide variety of foods.

Basically 50 percent of your cholesterol is determined by diet. Small changes in eating habits can make a big difference. Take little steps toward better heath and it will pay off in miles!

NIH Launches Unique Effort to Advance Study of Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Disorders The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announces awards to eight academic research centers to conduct collaborative studies of urologic chronic pelvic pain disorders by looking for clues outside the bladder and prostate. The total research investment for the five-year project is estimated to be up to $37.5 million. "The launch of this novel research effort is an excellent example of NIH’s commitment to encouraging translational research," said NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. "It also illustrates NIH’s leadership in furthering innovative approaches to discovering effective new therapies to help our patients." The Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network includes six Discovery Sites that will conduct the studies and two Core Sites that will coordinate data collection, analyze tissue samples, and provide technical support. The Discovery Sites are at: Northwestern University, Chicago; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of Iowa, Iowa City; the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; the University of Washington, Seattle; and Washington University, St. Louis. Core Sites are at the University of Colorado, Denver and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. The MAPP initiative is unusual in requiring investigators to conduct highly collaborative research of the most common urologic chronic pelvic pain syndromes from a broadened systemic perspective. This is a major shift from earlier organ-specific research on the two most prominent urologic chronic pelvic pain disorders, interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. "The MAPP Network’s expanded scientific approach will address many persistent questions about urologic chronic pelvic pain," said NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D. "Knowing whether there are risk factors common to all the disorders and whether clinical profiles can be identified for each will provide invaluable, fundamental information for developing treatment strategies." The innovative shift in research focus represented by the MAPP initiative is supported by recent epidemiological studies showing that interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome are frequently associated with other chronic pain disorders such as fibromyalgia (chronic pain of unknown origin), chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome. These latest findings suggest the possibility of common underlying disease processes in these chronic disorders. "The bladder was assumed to be the origin of the interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome symptoms and the prostate was assumed to be the source of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptoms," explained Leroy M. Nyberg Jr., M.D., Ph.D., the NIDDK urologist heading the program. "However, in spite of intense study funded by NIDDK, no organ-specific cause has been identified for either disorder." The MAPP research effort is expected to lead to critical new insights into the underlying causes of urologic chronic pelvic pain. Widening the scope of research will be bolstered by the perspectives of project leaders not normally involved in urologic pelvic pain studies, but who have expertise in relevant scientific disciplines. This will expand the context in which research into interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome occurs and will encourage a more comprehensive approach to understanding chronic pelvic pain. Scientists at Discovery Sites will conduct individual and collaborative multi-site research projects, supported by each Core Site. An important first step in these studies will be the careful and extensive phenotyping (clinical characterization) of the men and women participating in the studies. The Data Coordination Core (University of Pennsylvania) will provide overall administration and coordination of multi-site research studies and perform data analyses. The Tissue Analysis and Technology Core (University of Colorado) will bank, analyze, and distribute biopsy, serum and urine samples. Tissue analyses will help in the search for biomarkers, important in screening for diseases and for monitoring treatment outcomes. The Colorado Core Site also will perform genomic and proteomic tissue expression analyses which may lead to new treatment approaches and help predict which patients may respond to these treatments. In addition to initial collaborative projects by the Network, MAPP investigators will be invited to propose ancillary research projects to further the goals of the collaborative study group. Proposals will be reviewed for scientific merit and feasibility by an external Scientific Advisory Committee. For more information on the MAPP Research Network, visit http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Research/ScientificAreas/Urology/MAPP. NIDDK conducts and supports research in diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutrition, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. Spanning the full spectrum of medicine and afflicting people of all ages and ethnic groups, these diseases encompass some of the most common, severe, and disabling conditions affecting Americans. For more information about NIDDK and its programs, see www.niddk.nih.gov. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

 

 

Any time there is a heat advisory or the heat index reaches above 100 degrees, seek shade and avoid dehydration. Drink plenty of fluids and stay indoors during the middle of the day. Be particularly wary if you are taking blood pressure medications. Watch out for heat exhaustion during physical activity, and during a heat advisory  check on your older family members or friends. Make sure they consume plenty of fluids. If they do not have air conditioning, move them to a cool environment. Being cautious and careful can prevent serious complications Heat can be deadly!

 

Jean McCurdy Ms New York 1999 and  Diane Shapiro MS Arizona 2001 run the booth for Alzheimer's Association & Ms. Senior AZ Pageant 2008 at the Women's Expo 2007 April 14, 2007

 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's disease

 Memory loss that disrupts everyday life is not a normal part of aging. It may be a symptom of dementia (dih-MEN-shuh), a gradual and progressive decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's (AHLZ-high-merz) disease, a disorder that results in the loss of brain cells. 

This checklist of common symptoms can help you recognize signs of Alzheimer's disease.

 1 Memory loss

2 Difficulty performing familiar tasks

3 Problems with language

4 Disorientation to time and place

5 Poor or decreased judgment

6 Problems with abstract thinking

7 Misplacing things

8 Changes in mood or behavior

9 Changes in personality

10 Loss of initiative

 

How do you know it's a stroke?

by Sharon Siewert, RN, BS, CCRN, Director of Neurosciences John C. Lincoln Hospitals

 With all the recent attention on strokes in wake of the health of U.S. Senator Tim Johnson from South Dakota, we thought it would be useful to let people know how to recognize a stroke.  Rapid medical care can make the difference between a lifetime of disability and a good recovery.

 A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted.  This can be caused by a blood clot or by a burst blood vessel, either of which impairs the brain’s ability to function. Think of a stroke as a “brain attack.”

 We all know how important it is to get immediate treatment for a heart attack. We need to understand it’s equally important to get immediate treatment for a brain attack.

 Strokes are the third most prevalent cause of death, the leading cause of adult disability and affect 700,000 Americans every year. Rapid medical treatment — started less than 3 hours after onset of symptoms — can save many stroke patients from a lifetime of disability.

 That makes knowing a stroke’s signs and symptoms critically important.

 Think “FAST.”  

(F) Face: Does it droop on one side? Can the patient smile and show all teeth?

(A) Arms: Are they equally strong? Can the patient raise both arms and hold them up?

(S) Speech: Is it slurred or garbled? Can the patient speak normal sentences?

(T) Time: Don't waste it!  If the patient has any symptoms of stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately!

 Who is at risk for a stroke?  

• Anyone who has had a “mini-stroke,” the temporary loss of ability to speak or paralysis on one side of the body.

• Those who've had mini-strokes are at high risk for a major brain attack.

• Anyone who has high blood pressure

• Anyone who is diabetic

• •nyone who smokes  

Remember: If medical treatment can be started in time, within three hours of the onset of symptoms, a “brain attack” patient has a much better chance of a good outcome. Do not hesitate to call 9-1-1.

Caring For Caregivers

First Annual Caregiver Awards, honoring caregivers valley wide   Click here to nominate a caregiver NOW! ( Please be ready to cut and paste your essay) November is National Family Caregiving Month. It’s a special time to thank and support caregivers and those who support them.  The Caregiver Resource Institute will be recognizing four outstanding caregivers in the community and one caregiver of the year honoree.  The selections will be led by the board of directors and the gala committee of the Caregiver Resource Institute from nominations received by the public. The 2007 caregiver award recipients will be announced at the annual Caregiver Gala on Saturday, November 17, 2007.    Click here to nominate a caregiver and for more details  Caregiver  Gala: In the Mood  Saturday, November 17, 2007 Sun City Grand Sonora Plaza - Grand Ballroom Surprise, AZ  Attire: Evening Wear .Swing was in and the "cool cat" sounds of Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters were being heard in ballrooms and nightclubs everywhere. Click here for more info