Prostate cancer has many physical symptoms, but the most crippling ones can relate to the emotional effects of accepting the diagnosis. Despite what the medical prognosis is, seniors can overcome the emotional effects that come with the disease in 6 steps.

1. Embrace knowledge – knowledge really is power, so research the disease, the symptoms, and the treatment options so you know exactly what to expect from it. At a time when you might feel hopeless, this can help you regain a sense of power over the situation
2. Accept support – you don’t have to do it alone; accept support from family and friends to the degree that you’re comfortable with and form a united front against the disease. You can even join a support group for other seniors with similar struggles
3. Recognize your partner’s struggles – even if you have the disease, your partner is suffering almost as much at the time of diagnosis. Don’t shut her out; try to get through it together
4. Don’t let it affect your masculinity – many men fear prostate cancer because it can mean loss of sexual function. Not all options lead to this, so do your research so you can make an informed decision. Also know that whatever happens, you aren’t less of a man, and no one who loves you would ever think that!
5. Be honest – don’t hold back; recognize your physical symptoms and share them with your doctor. Also don’t hesitate to let him/her know if you want a second opinion form another Houston doctor, or if you’re uncomfortable with a treatment option
6. Keep pushing forward – no matter what happens, don’t accept defeat. Keep things going, never stop looking for knowledge, and never allow anyone else to make decisions for you as long as you’re able

Via: Prostate Cancer Institute

Bio-Medicine

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Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugar Land, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215.

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Sugar Land, Stafford, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

Home Care Houston Northwest serving older adults in Humble, Katy, Spring, Cypress, and Tomball - call 281-440-5160.

As we get older, we often notice that our blood circulation changes; with age, we might find that we have swelling around our feet or ankles, or bruise much more easily than we used to. But, for Houston seniors, the effects of poor blood circulation can be far more severe, and there can be grave consequences.

The Effects of Poor Blood Circulation:

• Effects upon the brain – poor blood circulation can impact the brain causing fatigue, dizziness, memory loss, and frequent and unexplained headaches
• Effects upon the heart – poor blood circulation can have an impact on the heart, causing inability to perform simple aerobic activities like climbing stairs without breathlessness; high blood pressure and cholesterol, and chest pain can be other symptoms
• Effects upon the liver – symptoms of poor blood circulation in the liver can include lack of appetite or unexplained weight loss, and changes in skin tone
• Effects upon the kidneys – poor circulation to the kidneys are typically the result when there is swelling of the hands, feet and ankles. Other symptoms can include fatigue, altered heart rate and rise in blood pressure
• Effects upon the limbs – with poor circulation, cramps in the limbs, numbness and varicose veins can appear as symptoms

Preventing or Improving Poor Circulation

There are some simple techniques that Houston seniors can use in order to help prevent and improve poor blood circulation, which include the following:

• Take cayenne pepper powder or capsules to improve circulation and increase metabolism
• Take ginkgo balboa capsules which have a direct impact on blood circulation
• Exercise to circulate oxygen through the blood stream and improve blood circulation
• Lower intake of saturated fats in a diet and increase intake of vitamin-rich nutrients such as fruits and vegetables

Sources:

1. Ezine Articles
2. Suote101

Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugar Land, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215.

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Sugar Land, Stafford, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

Home Care Houston Northwest serving older adults in Humble, Katy, Spring, Cypress, and Tomball - call 281-440-5160.

Hypertension is known as the ‘silent killer’ amongst American seniors, because for many Houston older adults, the potentially fatal illness can go undetected. As a result, when a diagnosis of primary hypertension is made by a doctor, it’s crucial that seniors make adjustment to their lifestyles in order to reduce their blood pressure and make sure that it doesn’t harm their health. While medication can help reduce blood pressure, there are more favorable natural methods that seniors can use in order to make their health a priority.

• Aerobic Exercise – this is an easy way to reduce blood pressure. Whether it’s beginning a routine fitness regimen or making simple changes, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking father from the entrance to a store to walk a little bit further
• Lose weight – blood pressure and obesity naturally go hand-in-hand, so in order to lower blood pressure, start losing weight!
• Diet plan – seniors with high blood pressure should not only reduce the calories in their diet in order to help with weight loss; but they should also change their diet so that it’s low in saturated fats and rich in fruits and vegetables chalk full of nutrients
• Reduce sodium intake – sodium intake should be no more than 2,400 mg per day, so seniors should cut sodium down in their diets by avoiding especially salty foods. Sodium can exasperate high blood pressure or make symptoms worse
• Quit smoking – those who smoke can make high blood pressure much worse and potentially deadly. Inhaling smoke damages blood vessel walls and hardens the arteries

Before implementing any of the following tips in their life, seniors should talk to a doctor about safe methods to reduce blood pressure, incorporating the above, based on their health and fitness level.

Sources:

1. Suite101

Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugar Land, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215.

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Sugar Land, Stafford, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

Home Care Houston Northwest serving older adults in Humble, Katy, Spring, Cypress, and Tomball - call 281-440-5160.

Home Instead Senior Care Houston & Bay area Texas helps elders enjoy home and independence. Call us today at (281) 484-0200.

Vitamin D Deficiency Can Lead to Depression in Seniors  By Jean-Marc Mira from the Home Instead Senior Care Houston & Bay Area, Texas.

Q. I’ve noticed that my 79-year-old dad, who has been widowed for nine years, seems depressed lately.  He’s always had lots of friends and a great social life.  I just can’t explain this.  Can you?  

Please encourage your father to get a physical.  There are many reasons why he might be experiencing depression including illness or medication imbalance.  But only his doctor will know for sure. 

Here’s one interesting study that found older adults with low blood levels of vitamin D and high blood levels of a hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands may have a higher risk of depression. In fact, symptoms of depression in about 13 percent of older individuals have been linked to vitamin D deficiency, according to the report from the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Blood vitamin D levels were 14 percent lower in individuals with major and minor depression compared with non-depressed participants, according to the study. The findings may be important to patients because both low blood vitamin D levels and high parathyroid hormone levels can be treated with higher dietary intake of vitamin D or calcium and increased sunlight exposure.

Since your father is widowed, perhaps he is getting to a point in his life when he might value and benefit from a little extra help around the house.  Or a friend to accompany him to doctor’s appointments or social events might provide a boost as well.  How about someone to help him with groceries, errands and other transportation needs?  Or perhaps he would like a companion who can assist with medication reminders?

He can have all of that support with a CAREGiver from Home Instead Senior Care Houston & Bay Area.  CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured and may be just what your dad needs to help him through this difficult time.  CAREGivers also provide peace of mind for family members when they can’t always be there to help their loved ones.  A second set of eyes could be just what you need as well to help put your mind at ease about your father.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care Houston, Clear Lake, Pasadena, Friendswood, Webster, Baytown, Pearland contact Jean-Marc Mira at (281) 484-0200 or visit Home Instead Houston.  For more about the Vitamin D study, log on to http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2008a/0505.dtl