Older adults should be very aware of Kidney health. It has been found that kidney health is in direct correlation with longevity. Researchers have found that Cordyceps Sinensis a Chinese traditional medicine that is made from a mushroom and has been used for over 1200 years, can be the key for maintaining a healthy kidney. This Medicine can help prevent unhealthy side effects such as fatigue, joint and back pain, impotence and high blood pressure. More here and here
A new study shows that air pollution in the United States is decreasing, and in result the life expectancy of Americans is predicted to grow. Harvard School of Public Health researchers have correlated longer life spans with lower amounts of air pollution. The Harvard School of Public Health study’s lead author Andrew Correia, a doctoral candidate in the department of biostatistics, stated “Despite the fact that the U.S. population as a whole is exposed to much lower levels of air pollution than 30 years ago because of great strides made to reduce people’s exposure, it appears that further reductions in air pollution levels would continue to benefit public health.” Researchers also found that being exposed to small particles with a diameter up to 2.5 micrometers, can be affiliated with cardiopulmonary disease and death. More here
According to a recent survey conducted by Aon Hewitt, of nearly 450 private and public sponsors representing 5.8 million retirees, six out of ten companies have or are currently reviewing and revising their current group health coverage plans. Experts claim this is largely due in part to recent changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and that exchanges may produce cost savings for retirees that can run from $500 to $1,000 per year. Many employers are allowing private firms to step in, thus taking themselves out of the equation. “Money goes a lot further in the individual market,” says Kenneth Sperling, Aon Hewitt’s national health care exchange strategy leader. more here.
An Emory University expert claims that most older adults overuse daily vitamins and supplements. Making simple diet improvements can help obtain needed nutrients, although it may be difficult for older adults with reduced appetite to receive their required amount of nutrition by diet alone. According to Donald B. McCormick, PHD, an Emory professor emeritus of biochemistry and the graduate program in nutrition and health sciences at Emory says “A lot of money is wasted in providing unnecessary supplements to millions of people who do not need them.” more here.
A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal states that compounds in grapefruit can dramatically change how certain drugs react in the body. The number of drugs that carried severe side effects when mixed with grapefruit has more than doubled in the last four years. David Bailey, a pharmacologist at the Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario explains how the mixture of grapefruit juice and certain drugs have proved to be very serious, causing what has been described as an overdose effect. A clinical trial that Bailey and his colleagues preformed found 85 drugs that can interact with grapefruit juice, Lipitor, a common cholesterol reducer is among the 85 drugs. more here.
A large majority of American retirees say they’d prefer to continue to live in their current home over moving into a traditional senior community, according to a report from the Urban Land Institute titled Housing in America – The Baby Boomers Turn 65. The report says there are now three generations of Americans over the age of 65 and their preferences and outlook on housing options is vastly different than it has been in the past. Though most seniors express a desire to stay where they are, current retirees who do move are increasingly moving to cities and suburbs where they can be close to their children, public transportation, and health care. More here and here.
Danish researchers have found four signs of aging that may signal poor heart health and a higher risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease. The research followed 11,000 men and women over the age of 40 for 35 years and discovered that those who had a receding hairline at the temples, baldness at the crown of their head, earlobe crease, or fatty deposits around their eyelid were 57 percent more likely to have a heart attack. Fatty deposits around the eyelid were the strongest predictor of heart trouble. Anne Tybjaerg-Hansen, MD, of the University of Copenhagen, said looking old for your age is a marker of poor health. Individuals in their 70s were at highest risk. Participants over the age of 70 who exhibited three of the four signs of aging had a 40 percent increased risk of heart disease over the next 10 years. More here.
Ginger has long been known for its health benefits, which include everything from helping with digestion to fighting the growth and spread of both colorectal and ovarian cancer. But ginger also has anti-inflammatory properties which can benefit people suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. A recent study from the University of Miami found individuals who were given a highly concentrated ginger extract experienced a 40 percent reduction in pain and stiffness in their knee joints. Adding grated ginger to salads and stir fry is one way to increase your consumption, though there are also supplements and powders available. More here and here.
A study aimed at determining how many years of life were gained based on the level of exercise an individual engaged in after the age of 40 has found that leisure-time physical activity is linked to life expectancy. The research, led by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health, looked at data on more than 650,000 adults over the age of 40 and found that people who got the recommended level of physical activity lived 3.4 years longer than those that didn’t and individuals who reported getting twice the recommended level of exercise increased their lifespan by 4.2 years. Generally, the more activity a person reported, the longer their life expectancy. More here.
Surprisingly, research has shown that poor health isn’t a reliable indicator of a person’s level of happiness. And now, a new study from George Mason University adds to the evidence that even people with life-threatening diseases often report being as happy as people in good health. The study, which surveyed 383 older adults, found that other than individuals who suffer from chronic conditions that interrupt their daily lives, people generally adapt to their health problems, regardless of the severity. Research Erik Angner, PhD, says his is the first study to measure the amount of disruption associated with different health conditions. More here.
