Aging Baby Boomers - How to Keep Us Healthy and Safe

Of course I'm referring to our vision changing as we age. I remember when holding the paper at a distance just didn't work anymore and I broke down and bought a pair of reading glasses to wear with my contact lenses. (I wasn't just near-sighted, I was far-sighted as well!) Now I keep a pair of reading glasses in every room of the house.

According to this article from Aetna InteliHealth, this is a natural part of aging that happens as a result of the lenses in our eyes becoming inflexible. This condition is called presbyopia and you can recognize it from the following symptoms (taken from the same article):

• Words appear blurred at a reading distance that used to be comfortable.
  
• Reading material or other objects must be held farther away from your eyes to gain clarity or see details.
  
• Brighter light is needed to see clearly (bright light constricts the pupils, which changes the focus of the light on the retina).
  
• You have difficulty reading late at night, or when you are tired or stressed.
  
• Your eyes become uncomfortable, or you become tired or drowsy when doing close work because of the strain of eye muscles working to change the lens shape.
  
• You may have headaches as a result of muscle tension.

If your eyes are starting to play these middle-aged tricks on you, it's probably just a normal process, but visit your eye professional to be sure. My eye doctor told me that it was perfectly fine for me to use the inexpensive reading glasses that are so readily available these days, but he also prescribed wonderful new glasses for me with a graduated lens that handles my extreme nearsightedness at the top, enables me to see the computer at a middle distance, and allows me to easily see to read that small print again through the bottom of the lens. Bifocals aren't ugly anymore!

It could be arthritis causing those aches and pains. While there are over a hundred different types of arthritis, the occasional aches and pains that tend to surface as our bodies age may well be osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease. Over time, the cartilage in our joints breaks down, or degenerates, and the bones begin to rub together, causing us pain.

Degenerative joint disease affects some people more than others, and affects some people at a much younger age than others. Athletes who have overused their joints or sustained repeated sports-related injuries may begin to feel the effects at a young age. Obesity and heredity are two other factors that can cause the joints to wear and ache.

Taking care of our bodies by maintaining a healthy weight, getting proper exercise, and taking in adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium can help in preventing degenerative joint disease. The aches and pain can be managed with over-the-counter medication, and there are other treatments for more severe cases. Always consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis before taking any medication.

To find out more about degenerative joint disease and other forms of arthritis, read this article from Aetna InteliHealth.

While aching bones and joints are one thing, bones that are brittle and break easily are another thing, something everyone should know about called osteoporosis.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation: "Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures, especially of the hip, spine and wrist, although any bone can be affected."

Osteoporosis is not just a disease of old age but can strike at any age. There are many risk factors for osteoporosis, but a few of those that should be of concern to Baby Boomers are: being female, being thin or having a small frame, a positive family history, particularly in a first degree relative, estrogen deficiency as a result of menopause (surgical or natural), low calcium intake through the years, an inactive lifestyle, cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol use.

Want to know three things you can do to help prevent osteoporosis? One, eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Two, live a healthy lifestyle with no smoking and minimal alcohol use. Three, perform weight-bearing exercises on a regular basis.

For much more information, more than we have room for here, visit the website of the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

We've all done it, charged into a room, set on a mission, then stopped short in our tracks trying to remember what in the world we came in here for. Gosh, I hate when that happens! But does that mean I'm just distracted? Forgetful? Or am I developing dementia or, worse yet, Alzheimer's disease?

Chances are if we give it a minute or retrace or steps we'll remember what it was that we temporarily forgot, but sometimes memory loss is not to be taken lightly. A little occasional memory loss really is a normal part of aging. I like to think that my brain is just so full at this point in my life that it takes longer to retrieve those memories, and that really is something that happens as we get older.

But, could it be dementia? Dementia is a more severe form of memory loss that is accompanied by other symptoms as well as a result of changes in brain function. According to Aetna InteliHealth, dementia symptoms may include asking the same questions repeatedly, becoming lost in familiar places, getting disoriented about time, people, and places, and neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition. Read more about dementia here.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is something everyone has heard of and we all know about the heartbreak of AD, but there's still a lot left to be learned. The exact cause is not yet known, but age, family history, and genetics all play a part. Early symptoms of AD include not being able to recall new or recent memories, and difficulty learning new information. In the middle to late stages of AD, delusions or hallucinations may occur, as well as aggression or wandering. Medications are available, and new ones are being developed, to help treat or even slow the progression of AD.

Again, a medical professional should be consulted to help evaluate any suspicious memory loss. If dementia or Alzheimer's is diagnosed, a strong support system is helpful and even essential.

Educating yourself now about memory loss is important so that you can know what to expect as you or your loved ones age.

Old fashioned candy from the 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s... still available after all these years. What a great gift for any occasion! (Just click on the balloon.)

At our age, we baby boomers may be on either the giving or the receiving end of caregiving. Our parents are aging and oftentimes we find ourselves put in the position of being their caregivers. At the same time, some of us have developed medical or other conditions that require us to have a caregiver, or at least to have a little help around the house.

I just learned about a company called A la Carte CARE, a local business in Pickerington, Ohio, which provides care and assistance for seniors or other adults in need of services from companionship to light housekeeping and even light computer skills. What a wonderful idea! With the growing population of senior citizens, it seems to me that similar businesses might be popping up everywhere in the next several years.

Local, publically-funded Area Agencies on Aging also provide services such as Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors in many communities across the nation. If you or a loved one needs assistance, be sure and look them up.

Losing our self-sufficiency and having to depend on someone else to help us with our activities of daily living could prove to be a devastating time for many of us. I am very thankful there are people who have the gift of mercy and are able to care for others. I hope I don't need their help for a very long time, but it's good to know that they're around.