Devices To Monitor Your Vitals Are Getting Better, And Cheaper Over Time

A man and woman are doing exercises together.


Electronic devices like a FITBIT or Apple Watch have been on the market for a long time but they continue to get more inexpensive and add features.  This has attracted a number of new entrants into the market such as new designs of a blood pressure monitor which can range in cost from $15-$100.  Before buying one, measure your upper arm and choose a model with an arm cuff that fits.  Avoid wrist and finger monitors which are less accurate.  For more information, go to the American Medical Association’s website at www.validatebp.org.  There are also low-cost oxygen monitors which tend to range from $20-$300.  A pulse oximeter uses light beams to pass through tissue and measure your oxygen saturation level.  In addition, check out Heart Rate Monitors which go from $200-$300.  There are two types—those that strap onto your chest and those you wear on your wrist.  The chest models are typically more precise but the wrist monitor is better suited for everyday use (AARP The Magazine, February/March 2022, page 24).

Researchers Say We Should Eat More Cheese

A piece of cheese sitting on top of a table.


Believe it or not, full-fat dairy has been linked to a reduced risk of obesity.  That may be due in part to the satisfying creamy fats that reduce the desire to snack later on.  But be sure you also eat some of the good fats like foods high in Omega-3 fatty assets like Salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna.  Olive oil may reduce dementia risk by flushing out the proteins that gum up communications channels between brain cells (AARP The Magazine, March/April 2022 Issue, page 38).

 

Medical Research Radically Changing In Online World

A woman with grey hair sitting in a chair.


For years medical researchers have used the online world to recruit remote study participants, search for relevant studies and get other data points.  But now, with machine-learning a hot topic, researchers are turning to social media posts to improve patient care.  Machine learning algorithms can cull social media postings to get insight into patient experiences which might not otherwise be disclosed.  “Collecting abundant social media data is cost-effective, does not involve burdening participants, and is available in real time,†Graciela Gonzalez-Hernandez, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, told The Wall Street Journal .  One recent study, for example, analyzed social media posts about a drug called buprenorphine, which is used to help opioid users from going through withdrawal.  The study showed a concern among Reddit subscribers that the drug would cause extreme withdrawal symptoms—known as precipitated withdrawal—for people who had used fentanyl, a drug that is often mixed with heroin and is helping fuel the opioid crisis.  Many of the social media posts showed frustration that their doctor did not understand precipitated withdrawal.  This is information which would likely not come out, particularly if the study was focusing on questioning doctors about their patient’s reaction to withdrawals.

 

Monterey, CA Join A Healthcare Professional From Community Hospital Of The Monterey Peninsula For A Walk For Health

A group of people doing different exercises together.


Join Karen Egy, PsyD, Psychologist from CHOMP on a monthly stroll in Laguna Grande Park at 1249 Canyon Del Rey Boulevard in Seaside for a walk in the park on Saturday, May 21 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. and learn why physical activity doesn’t have to be hard.  Walking boosts physical health, mental well-being, and can help manage serious health conditions.  The 30 minute walk will be held monthly and you can learn more about improving your health from CHOMP health care professionals who will lead and educate you along the way.  Register at www.montagehealth.org/walkforhealth.

Monterey, CA CHOMP Holding Online Lecture About Mental Health On May 19

A black and white logo of the community hospital of the monterey peninsula.


Montage Health’s Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) is holding an online lecture called “Breaking the silence, A stigma-free approach to mental health for those suffering and those providing support.â€Â  Hosted by Karen Egu, PsyD, Psychologist and Danielle Genora Dollinger, PsyD, Psychologist (both from Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula Behavioral Health Services) you will learn:

How to bring mental health awareness to everyday life;

Ways to reduce stigma;

How sleep, diet, and physical activity contribute to mental health resilience; and

What resources are available.

Registration at www.montagehealth.org/lecture Is required for the lecture which will be held on Thursday, May 19, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.  A link to the meeting will be emailed the day before the lecture.

Carmel, CA Seniors Should Exercise More To Ward Off Heart Disease

A group of people doing different exercises together.


At Family inHome Caregiving, we stress that seniors should get the proper amount of exercise, plenty of social interaction, and eat a healthy diet.  Many of our clients are in their 90’s and some even over 100 and most have led very healthy lives which resulted in their longevity.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week.  Just over 20 minutes of brisk walking each day can get you there.  “But changing it up could have more benefits,†Jordan Metzl, M.D., a sports medicine specialist at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery, told AARP The Magazine (April/May 2022 Issue, page 35).  “Doing a variety of activities, particularly as you get older, will challenge your body, lead to greater fitness and help you avoid injuries.  He advises swapping in alternatives, such as weight training, swimming or biking, and yoga.

Monterey, CA Food Banks Getting Squeezed As More Seniors And Low Income Households Cope With Inflation

A table filled with lots of food and candles.


Food banks are struggling to meet growing demand as inflation hits a 40-year high and seniors on a fixed income and other low-income households turn to Food Banks and other charities to help cope with their strained budgets.  The price of food at the grocery store rose 10% in March compared to March of 2020, while food prices in restaurants were 6.9% higher than in March of 2021, according to the Labor Department’s most recent consumer-price index.  “You will continue to see folks come into food banks who are seniors, who are undocumented individuals, and persons who suffer from disabilities,†Allison Korn, the director of the Food Law & Policy Clinic at UCLA, told the Wall Street Journal.  Please support Dorothy’s Place, Meals on Wheels, Monterey Food Bank, United Way and other local charities that help feed the poor and homeless.

Health Tip : Floss Your Teeth At Least Once Per Day!

A dentist is examining the teeth of a patient.


Staying healthy and having a good diet is one area to focus on, but another is oral health.  Not taking good care of your teeth can result in infection, gum disease, and other issues which can have a negative impact on your health.  According to the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study, untreated oral diseases caused people ages 50-74 worldwide to suffer a collective 8 million years of life “with disability†in 2019.

Monterey, CA Seniors Without A Regular Exercise Routine Should Walk More

A man and woman are doing exercises together.


At Family inHome Caregiving, we stress that seniors should get the proper amount of exercise, plenty of social interaction, and eat a healthy diet.  Many of our clients are in their 90’s and some even over 100 and most have led very healthy lives which lead to their longevity.  It’s difficult at that age to develop an exercise routine, but if you don’t have the energy, try going for long walks.  You can go to the beach, many of our public parks, or just walk around the neighborhood.  You might even make some new friends.  Being sedentary, with low overall fitness, raises your mortality risk as much as or more than smoking, high blood pressure and heart disease.  An analysis of studies on people ages 54 to 65 found that binge-watching TV for four plus hours per day may make you 35% more likely to develop blood clots in the thigh and lower leg.

Eating Salmon And Other Foods High In Omega 3 Better Than Taking Supplements

A white plate topped with fish and greens.


The Mediterranean Diet has been shown to increase longevity and reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack and high cholesterol.  It’s high in Omega-3 rich foods like salmon and other fresh fish as well as nuts and seeds, and avoids a lot of red meats.  Some people think that just taking a lot of vitamins and supplements can ward off many diseases.  But the truth is, eating a healthy diet high in Omega-3 and other things that ward off disease is better than simply taking fish oil and other supplements.  A 2020 JAMA study of more than 13,000 people with high heart disease risk with an average age of 63 compared groups taking Omega-3 and a placebo.  There were no benefits found from taking the fish oil.  Another study in 2019 which analyzed 127,000 people showed that taking Omega-3 supplements derived from fish oil reduced the risk of death from heart disease as well as heart attacks.  So the jury is still out on this topic but you should definitely focus on eating more fresh fish like salmon.