Archive for Health & Fitness
Over 50 – Then You Just Gotta Dance
Posted by: | Comments
If you are looking for a fun way to get and stay fit you gotta dance. The chances are even if you haven’t danced in a very long time there was a time when you probably did at one time. The fashions may have changed quite a bit, and there may be some dances that you don’t recognize but that’s okay, it’s still a lot of fun.
And if you think you’re too old to learn to dance think again. Just watch the movie clip below and you will see it’s never too late. These seniors are great and they are having fun and staying young physically and 
mentally. Did you know that dancing is one of the best exercises for your brain? When you dance you are have to think and coordinate and move your body at the same time, plus the music and general enjoyment aspect of it makes it a perfect activity at any age.
A lot of people are intimidated about learning but even the learning can be fun. And if you want to meet new people take some dance classes. Remember others are probably going to be there for the same reason that you are.
Whether you like ballroom, Latin, swing, jazz, country, line dancing or square dancing it doesn’t matter, the thing is just pick something and get started. Dancing is a time when some people feel that they can really let themselves go. If your over 50, especially over 60 you will surely remember the music of the 50s and 60’s just get some of your favorites of that era that and you will soon get your feet tapping and be in the mood to dance.
Keep on Dancing
Dancing is one of my very favorite things to do. I danced a lot when I was younger then didn’t dance for years until after I turned 50 when I took lessons. Taking up dancing again was the best thing I could have done, I met some great people and just had the time of my life.
Don’t tell me you don’t want to give it a try once you see these seniors from the movie ‘Gotta Dance’…Enjoy!
Over 50s-Senior’s with Addictions.
Posted by: | Comments
Addiction treatment has risen in the over 50s age group. It is a real problem and often difficult to detect especially when it is drug addiction from medications prescribed from the doctor. When we 
hear about drug and alcohol addiction we don’t tend to think of the seniors. Pain killer addiction is described to be the hidden addiction.
Many of the seniors started drinking and using drugs before the age of 25 and continued over the years, which has lead to it becoming an addiction in their senior years.
When it comes to medication as we age there are a number of things that people get prescriptions for including insomnia, pain, anxiety and depression. Seniors don’t tend to use street drugs but a large number will use prescription drugs as mood altering drugs and like any drug or alcohol once they lose their initial affect they take more and more to get the desired effect.
One disabled senior that I know of had been getting prescriptions for many years for both herself and her husband. As well as taking the drugs, she had been stashing them away. Sometimes she would overdose herself, and more than once the paramedics would have to come to bring her out of the almost unconscious state.
Because she already had some serious medical issues the family thought that her passing out and other odd behaviors were related to her health condition. It was a very long time before the family realized what had been going on. They would never have considered the fact that their mother was actually addicted to the drugs and was overdosing. Had they realized sooner they could have got her the drug addiction counseling that she required. Read More→
The Importance of Personal Mobility for Over 50s and Any Age.
Posted by: | CommentsAs we reach the over 50 age group we become much more aware of the fact that we are really aging. We start to think of what our future holds as an older person, as a senior. We become more aware of our personal fitness level and health, or lack of. As we see those older than us walking with walkers and on mobility scooters we are constantly reminded that the next 10 to 20 years or so could hold some major changes and challenges for us. Challenges that we would prefer to avoid as long as possible. We want to maintain our freedom of independence and mobility to be able to continue to do the things that we have learned to take so much for granted.
Staying mobile is such an important part of our existence. Even the disabled are able to be mobile with the assistance of modern wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walkers that were not as user friendly or easily available to generations before us.
Obviously we want to avoid having to rely on anything but our own body to get us around for as long as possible, so we have to look after it. Exercise is a crucial part of staying fit and active, but sometimes even regular exercise doesn’t guarantee that we won’t need assistance at some time in our life.
Think of the freedom that devices like the mobility scooters have given to many that would otherwise have been confined to their home, or be dependent on others to take them out. They are able to get around do their own shopping and keep appointments giving then the independence that we all want and need. Read More→
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices Over 50
Posted by: | Comments
Can you believe how fast time goes by and before you know it you are at some major milestone in your life? Perhaps you’ve just turned 50 or even 60 years of age and realize that maybe you 
haven’t taken such good care of yourself, and now it shows. To make matters worse it’s not just that it shows; you also feel it too. You know that you should be in better health and shape than you are.
We do tend to take our natural good health and fitness level for granted when we are young but by not taking care we pay for it later. Even some of the greatest athletes and fitness fanatics still have problems from the over use of joints so we shouldn’t beat ourselves up too much for not doing better. The thing is it’s never too late to make some changes to improve our life.
Some of the issues we face with being 50 plus is joint pain; it maybe from arthritis or old injuries, high blood pressure, and often high cholesterol, not to mention that we are not as flexible any more. When we feel pain and discomfort the last thing that we feel like doing is exercising, and yet it’s something that can really help build our stamina and strength and have us feeling younger and more fit.
I know from personal experience that having arthritis in my knee has at times made me feel 10 years older than I am. I used to dance (a lot) then I started getting knee problems so felt forced to quit. I missed it terribly and got to the point that I didn’t dance at all for quite a while. When you have pain its so much easier to not do something than suffer the discomfort.
When you stop exercising the chances are you will gain weight, which may lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even diabetes for some. Besides this you are not doing the things that you get pleasure out of, so it becomes a downward spiral. The one thing you don’t want to do is quit and give into it. You need to figure out a way to give your body what it needs so that you are still be able to enjoy life to the fullest. Read More→
Keep Your Brain Active
Posted by: | Comments
Most of us know the saying “if you don’t use it you lose it”. This certainly applies to your brain so it’s really important especially as we age that we keep an active mind. When we were younger attending school and university then going into the workplace, and bringing up children our brains automatically kept active. When we leave the workplace and maybe spend a lot more time on our own and don’t really have to think about too much it’s easy to let your brain rest to the point it can almost become stagnant.
There’s a tremendous amount of talk about dementia and Alzheimer’s and like anything else that causes ill health and discomfort we want to do our very best to not be affected by these diseases. 
Most of us tend to think that dementia will only affect the elderly when in fact it can affect people in their 40s. It’s just as important to exercise our minds as it is body.
Staying alert is extremely important especially for those that drive. We all want to keep our independence for as long as we possibly can. Driving a car is a big responsibility and a major source of independence for many of us. One that we never want to give up. If you happen to live in an area with an excellent public transport system giving up your vehicle may not be as big a sacrifice. For those living in more rural areas with little or no public transport that totally rely on driving themselves where they need to go it would be very difficult. Read More→
Aging and Arthritis
Posted by: | Comments
Aging and Arthritis
Many adults are not only facing aging but also arthritis. The aging process can’t be stopped but it can be slowed down by practicing good healthy habits. But sooner or later for many, arthritis will become evident. While there are many ways to disguise and cover the aesthetic looks of aging, skin imperfections etc there is little that we can do to cure arthritis.
Arthritis is the result of the growing years where joints are now suffering from pain. This is because the cartilage that is seen in between the bones is breaking down. Like the aging process, there are some things that we can do to prevent our bones from too much damage, pain and immobility.
While arthritis is very common in seniors, and a sure sign of getting older this is not the only age group that can experience the pain and discomfort of arthritis. Arthritis can be encountered during younger years and often even in children.
There are a number of preventative measures that you can practice with aging and arthritis. Exercise and healthy nutrition is always beneficial to you regardless of age, exercise is the best prevention for Arthritis. Keeping your body moving and agile can keep you feeling more in control and comfortable. Keep active as you age. Have hobbies and interests where you are using your hands such as painting, drawing, or play an instrument like the guitar or piano. These are good ways to keep your hands mobile. Playing golf and swimming are also great for physical exercise and favorites with seniors.
Staying healthy when you are still young by eating and drinking healthy foods and milk can build up great skin and bones. Foods that are nutrient-rich can keep your skin glowing and fresh. Milk can make your bones stronger.
One of the most important things you can do is to educate yourself about Aging and Arthritis.
Arthritis is common in fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, jaw, hips, knees and toes. Read More→
Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia-Keep your Brain Active
Posted by: | Comments
By Shirley Price
You may have noticed recently that there has been a considerable amount of talk about dementia and Alzheimer’s in the news. With such a huge aging population this is obviously a global concern. I read that every five minutes there will be a new case and that and this will increase to every two minutes within the next 30 years. It was also stated that we need to prepare for the tidal wave of dementia.
Alzheimer’s doesn’t always wait for old age
If someone in your life has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s you know only too well the devastating effect this has on families. Most of us tend to think that only
Reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and Dementia-Keep your Brain Active
the old will be affected by these conditions as dementia generally takes a grasp after the age of 70. This is not always the case as early dementia can start around the age of 45years. A few months ago I met a lady who is in her early 40s. She had moved from another country with her husband who is in his later 40s. What was to be an exciting new life for them soon turned into a nightmare! Not long after their arrival her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Within about a year his condition had deteriorated to the point that she felt that he was already gone. He was in a special care facility and didn’t even know who she was.
Maintain a Healthy Mind
Keeping our mind active and alert as we age is just as important as taking care of our bodies by eating well, exercising and staying as healthy as possible. Having mental stimulation and a mind that’s kept active will help to keep your brain fit. Many do so by doing crosswords, reading, learning new skills, and by being involved with their hobbies and interests. Also there are a number of brain exercise programs available like the Posit Science Brain Training Software which will help you or your loved one to focus better, remember more and think faster.Train Your Brain Clinically Proven Brain Fitness Programs from Posit Science
Take responsibility for your brain health
We don’t know for sure if we will be affected by dementia because there are a number of factors that come into play. Lifestyle and genetics are sure to play a big part so we need to take some responsibility for our own mental health and wellness. Early detection of this disease can slow the process down and help lead to a better quality of life. Read More→
To Good Health in Your New Year
Posted by: | Comments
By Shirley Price
It’s the end of another year and I have to admit that I haven’t done a number of the things that I intended to do this year. Even though I know the value of having a somewhat balanced life I have not followed my own advice this past year. Some years work out better than others, especially when we pay attention to what we are doing.
I constantly tell the people that I work with that it’s important to have balance in life, to make sure that they take care of the their health, eat well, exercise, participate in life, have hobbies and interests, continued education, spirituality, enjoy family and friends, have fun, and take care of their finances.
Well, I did some of the things that I suggest above, however, if I were to give myself a score it would have to be 4 out of 10, that’s pretty poor. I spent so much time sitting in front of my computer working day after day for way to many hours that I neglected my own health and fitness. It’s so easy to do this and it doesn’t take long for it to become a habit. I’m by no means an exercise fanatic but I do know it’s important to keep moving. Even many of the usual everyday activities that seemed to have helped to keep me fit in the past came to a halt.
There was a time not too long ago when I would go dancing three times a week. I didn’t realize then how much difference that made to my fitness level. Then to become so inactive for most of the year it’s amazing how different it can make you feel, and not in a good way. Without activity it doesn’t take long to lose your muscle tone and find that your stamina is just about zero. Read More→
Keeping Fit in Retirement
Posted by: | Comments
Shirley Price
Both cardiovascular and aerobic exercise is important. Aerobic exercise is instrumental in the prevention of Type 2 diabetes, while reducing cholesterol. With all of these activities, it is important to be in tune to what your body tells you. If there is anything you are concerned about – talk to your doctor first. Don’t forget – the hardest part of any exercise regimen is the first couple of weeks. Once you choose something that you think will be a good fit for you, stick to that routine, and before you know it you will have a new and healthy habit.
Not only does getting and staying fit help your physical health, but it can have wonderful benefits to your mental health as well. The mind-body connection is strong, so prepare to reap the benefits of a regular exercise routine – more energy, better sleep, and it’s a great way to ward off depression. Staying active makes for a healthy person, from the inside out. Exercise lowers stress hormones and increases endorphins, which are your natural ‘feel good’ chemicals. As they’re released during exercise, you get the benefit of having your mood boosted in a natural way. Exercise also helps your body to release adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine, which also help you feel good. We were designed to move! Read More→
Light Therapy for the Winter Blues
Posted by: | Comments
By Shirley Price
Light therapy is help for the mind.
Do you find that you want to hibernate during the darker colder days of winter? Do you feel depressed and lack concentration and feel irritable? You may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Many people find that light therapy is very advantageous to them. While light therapy is used for a number of mental issues most of us will be more familiar with its use for SAD.
If you are a woman you will be more likely to suffer from SAD as opposed to a man. Also, the farther away from the equator you reside the higher your risk to seasonal Affective disorder. This condition can start during the fall months and not dissipate until spring arrives. It can become an annual condition for many and can affect people at varying degrees from mild to severe symptoms.
Is it any wonder that we like to take off to tropical climates during the winter months? Many of us don’t have that opportunity for one reason or another so we need to do what we can to survive those dark dreary days. Sun light makes us happier as it increases the serotonin in the brain. During the gloomy season we are deprived of this. The light therapy supplies us with some of that need we have and helps us to be able to cope with the winter blahs. Read More→
