Health Care

Countdown to Valentines Day

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The week kicks off International Random Acts of Kindness Week, when we're all encouraged to do the good deeds we know we ought to be doing the other 51 weeks of the year.

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation * https://randomactsofkindness.org/

Tuesday is the all-star Grammy salute in Los Angeles to Stevie Wonder. The show will be broadcast on CBS on Monday, February 16, a week from tomorrow.

"Stevie Wonder: Songs In the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute," at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles, February 10 at 7:30 p.m. PT http://youtu.be/bkMIjgKSIvE via @YouTube

How to sleep much better

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Chronic pain and insomnia are an unhealthy combination. According to the National Sleep Foundation, chronic pain disturbs the slumber of one in five Americans at least a few nights a week. Whether it’s from a bad back, arthritis, or headaches, chronic pain puts you in double jeopardy: the pain robs you of restful sleep and makes you more fatigued, and thus more sensitive to pain.

TO TELL THE TRUTH

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http://www.factcheck.org/

I will not let Detroit go bankrupt.
If you like your doctor, you can keep him. PERIOD.
It was because of a video on the internet.

Raising the debt ceiling is unAmerican
I promise 100% transparency in my administration.

I promise NO NEW TAXES on a family making less than $250K a year.

I will allow 5 days of public comment before I sign any bills.

I will remove earmarks from PORK projects before I sign any bill.

I will end Income Tax for seniors making less than $50K a year.

DRINKING ALCOHOL

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Does your drinking alcohol put you at risk? Guidelines for low-risk drinking are based on the average level of consumption that increases the chance of illness, injury, or death. Every human body is different but in general health risks increase at the following levels.
For men:

Excessive drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks in a short period of time, such as a 2-hour period, or

More than 14 drinks in a week.

For women and people 65 and older:

Excessive drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks in a short period of time, such as a 2-hour period, or

Antidepressant Risks

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Since the late 1980s, America and the world have been enjoying the benefits of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These antidepressants — fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro) — are among the world’s most widely prescribed medications. They are remarkably safe and effective. The range of their uses has expanded from depression to anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and many other psychiatric conditions.

HEALTHCARE MEASURES

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Consumers have a vast amount of information available to them at their fingertips by simply going online and doing some basic research. However, the time to choose the best hospital for you and your family is when you are healthy. When comparing hospitals, published reports can vary widely.

In an effort to help consumers gauge a hospital’s performance, there are multiple groups, nonprofit organizations and private companies offering ratings and comparisons.

ARE YOU PREPARING FOR AGING?

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According to research statistics compiled by Pew, over the next decade, more than 10,000 baby boomers will reach age 65. The aging of this huge cohort of Americans of which 26 percent of the total U.S. population are Baby Boomers will dramatically change the composition of this nation.

Currently, just 13 percent of Americans are ages 65 and older. By 2030, when all members of the Baby Boom generation have reached that age, fully 18% of the nation will be at least that age, according to Pew Research Center population projections. But don’t tell Baby Boomers that they are old. The typical Boomer believes that old age does not begin until age 72, according to a 2009 Pew Research survey. Also, while about half of all adults say they feel younger than their actual age, fully 61 percent of Boomers are feeling more spry than their age would imply. In fact, the typical Boomer feels nine years younger than his or her chronological age

Most folks are probably already doing a lot to ensure they stay in good health and are able to enjoy their golden years: eating right, exercising, getting checkups and screenings as recommended by your physician. But it also makes sense to have some contingency plans for the bumps in the road that might occur.

Adapt your home. Stairs, baths, and kitchens can present hazards for older people. Even if you don’t need to make changes now, do an annual safety review so you can make necessary updates if your needs change.

Prevent falls. Falls are a big deal for older people — they often result in fractures that can lead to disability, further health problems, or even death. Safety precautions are important, but so are exercises that can improve balance and strength.

Consider your housing options. You might consider investigating naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). These neighborhoods and housing complexes aren’t developed specifically to serve seniors — and, in fact, tend to host a mix of ages — but because they have plenty of coordinated care and support available, they are senior-friendly.

Think ahead about how to get the help you may need. Meal preparation, transportation, home repair, housecleaning, and help with financial tasks such as paying bills might be hired out if you can afford it, or shared among friends and family. Elder services offered in your community might be another option.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT...

Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry
Never sit around feeling sorry about circumstances or how others treat you. Instead, take responsibility for a role in life and understand that life isn’t easy or fair.
Don’t Give Away Power
Never allow others to control you, and don’t give someone else power over you. Don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because you are in control over your own emotions and have a choice in how to respond.
Don’t Shy Away from Change

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Useful Caregiver Services

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Being a caregiver for an ailing parent, spouse, child, or other loved one can feel like a lonely undertaking. It needn't, even if you don't have family nearby to pitch in. Help for caregivers is available from various organizations. Once you learn what's available, it may be easier to chart a less-demanding course toward meeting the needs of your spouse, relative, or friend.

Here are some types of services and professionals you might want to investigate.