Issue Vol. 3 No. 8

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In This Newsletter
Introduction

Healthfully yours
Health Hints

Introduction***

The Doctor's Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter is written monthly, solely for information to help seniors, baby boomers and anyone who may have an interest in staying healthy, living a vigorous, active lifestyle and combating the aging process. It does not constitute the practice of medicine and is not meant to prescribe treatments. It is offered strictly as an educational aid. Any medical problems you may have, we recommend that you seek the help of your physician or other healthcare professional. Discussing your intentions with your doctor is always the proper procedure. The newsletter also includes know-how in the form of useful tips and links to more extensive material on the Internet. You may wish to share this newsletter by sending a copy to a friend, neighbor or relative and suggesting they subscribe to it.

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Healthfully Yours***

Mind Over Matter…

As the aging process advances, we find that forgetfulness can become more and more prevalent. Although this process is more apparent in our senior years, it can occur in much earlier years. Cortisol, a hormone that is released by the adrenal glands, plays havoc on the neurons in the brain that aid in normal memory reactions.

We are not addressing the conditions that may cause memory loss or forgetfulness due to chronic diseases such as Alzheimers, senility, multiple sclerosis, dementia, or traumatic head injuries.

Although forgetfulness and memory loss can start between the ages of 50 to 60, it will most often start around the age of 60 and on. Pursuing an active mental and physical lifestyle during these very crucial years can be the key to having a normal mental aging process, without the markedly apparent forgetfulness that can occur during the senior years.

Another very important fact is that memory problems will occur more often in those individuals who have lived a sedentary lifestyle than those who have lived a very active physical and mentally challenged lifestyle. The key to preventing forgetfulness during the senior years, therefore, is staying active during the early years, and more importantly the years between 50 to 60 years of age.

However, if you have lived a sedentary lifestyle during these crucial years, don't despair, it's never too late to start. Exercising your body will help your mental processes as well, and will be a big factor in eliminating much of the forgetfulness occurring during the senior years. Exercising your mind is equally important. Think of your brain being a muscle and the same old adage applies, “use it or lose it”.

Exercise increases the metabolic processes of the body that in turn increases the oxygen uptake. The increased oxygen in the blood increases the oxidation of the cellular activity in all of the body and of course the brain, and helps the body of riding itself of toxins. These processes play an enormous role in creating normal brain function.

Oxygen deprivation can be caused by many factors. However, again, we are discussing the average individual and not the oxygen deprivation due to chronic diseases. First and foremost are the toxic environmental air outdoors, and the air within our homes. The air within our homes is often found to be 50% more dangerous than the air outdoors. Because of this negative indoor air quality, it is often advisable to use air cleaners, especially in the bedroom. Spending at least eight hours nightly sleeping makes it more imperative that we have clean air quality.

A second cause can be the “junk food” that many people eat on a regular basis. This “junk food” is extremely low in oxygen content, and usually high in preservatives. Eating such foods forces the body to utilize its oxygen reserves to oxidize the preservatives and the lower amount of nutrients in such food. Other such foods are white flour, sugar, and caffeine. Decreasing the amounts of such foods will prevent the body from using the very important oxygen reserves. Smoking is another oxygen deprivation factor and should be put on top of the list.

Let's not forget another most important event that we are all prone to. That is “stress”. Stress may even be more important than the other causes we just spoke of. Stress causes the body to increase the oxygen needs of all the tissues. A point in fact is that when an individual is under great stress, the result can be hyperventilation. This is a bodily reaction for its need for more oxygen to carry on bodily functions.

The oxygen deprivation, will affect the brain before other organs are affected. Lack of oxygen in the brain affects its normal functions. Over a period of time, this lessened oxygen will take its toll, and the result will be memory loss and forgetfulness. How then can we prevent these insidious processes from causing memory loss and forgetfulness, as we grow older? Following the important reasons we discussed above makes it imperative that we change our lifestyle. Read how we best can prevent this unneeded sign of aging.

Health Hints***

1. Exercise is where we start. Find an exercise program that you find is comfortable for you. Most people will try one program, then another, and another and so on, then give up altogether. The rule of thumb is that if you stay with one program for 30 to 90 days, you will become dedicated to that program and stick with it. Personally I have gone through this trial and error period before I developed my own program. Simplicity was my goal and that is why I came up with the “Doctor's Senior Exercise” program.

2. After finding the exercise program that will build up the body physically, you need to exercise the brain as well. Reading books, magazines, and newspapers keeps the mind active. Doing crossword puzzles and even jigsaw puzzles can be challenging to the brain. Playing such word games as Scrabble â with others can be challenging

3. Keep a diary. Writing daily entries into a diary will help you recall past experiences and memories. Try your hand at writing shorts stories and poems.

4. Review your daily dietary intake. Instead of junk food snacks, substitute healthy foods. Carrot and celery sticks are satisfying and healthy. Fresh fruit and dried fruits are excellent. Nuts too are especially nutritious if not overdone.

5. Reduce your television watching of inane programs. Do watch news programs that will keep you well informed of current events.

6. Become involved in community affairs. Joining a community center is a great place to interact with others, keeping your mind active. Join a volunteer program to help others.

7. If you are taking medications for any reason, discuss with your doctor if any such medication can affect the brain causing memory loss. He or she may be able to change that medication for another.

8. Reduce any stress in your life. Try to deal with stressful situations in a positive manner.

9. Take some time out on a daily basis. Relax in a quiet room. Do some deep breathing exercises. Think of being on vacation at some beautiful beach or mountain resort and clear your mind of all distractions. Try to build a positive outlook on life.

10. One final word. If you smoke, “STOP”. It is never to late to reap the benefits of stopping smoking. Research by a Lung Health Study was published in the June 1 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiolgy. It reports that both men and women benefit from smoking cessation. However, women benefit more than men. The benefits are great, so there is no excuse to keep on smoking.

Doc Cane

Copyright, Disclaimer, and Trademark information Copyright 1997-2003 Emanuel M. Cane. All rights reserved. Except stated below, this material or parts thereof may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed by any means whatsoever without explicit, written permission from the author.

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