Eating a Diet Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids Might Fight Against AMD

Don't go out and purchase omega-3 supplements yet.

More studies need to confirm that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids appears to protect seniors against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a serious eye disease that can lead to severe vision impairment or blindness.

In just a one year analysis covering nearly 2,400 seniors 65-84, "those who had advanced AMD were significantly less likely to consume high omega-3 fish and seafood," according to study lead author Sheila K. West of the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Fatty Fish Helps With Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There may be help for older people with a risk of serious age-related vision loss. Recent studies have suggested that those who eat fatty fish at least once a week may lower their risk--as much as 60%--from getting advanced AMD (age -related macular degeneration) than those who ate less than one serving of fish per week.

Ingesting omega-3 fatty acids commonly found in oily fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel may prevent or delay the progression of AMD (age-related macular degeneration).

Of course, other factors such as sex, race and smoking habits increase the probability of getting AMD.

Speak to your ophthalmologist about your "dietary options."

For more on macular degeneration, visit 50somethinginfo.com

Health and Fitness Tools

The RealAge panel of doctors and scientific experts helps you look, feel and be many years younger by providing personalized health information and management tools.  My favorites are the interactive health assessments.  

Get information about food and nutrition, exercise, skin, stopping smoking, losing weight, gastrointestinal relief and men's and women's health. Find the best pain reliever. Prevent disease.  Improve your moods and stay sharp.   

Incontinence Plagues Boomers and Seniors

We were with our cousins at an Idaho resort. Some boys were eying our teenage girls.  They asked to join our volleyball game.  And so the mating dance began.

The young men displayed their athletic prowess by leaping at the ball as it inched past the net. They flew to different sides of the court to return the lobs.

Then one cousin recklessly slapped the ball.  But instead of neatly falling to our side of the court, the ball took a detour towards the lake footsteps away.

The suitor bolted for the ball and unceremoniously plopped (arms and legs flying) into the frigid water.

Our cousins were so hysterical that one bashfully made her way back to our room, leaving a trail of pee along the way.

If you're having trouble "holding it," maybe it's time for you to see a urologist.  

Back Pain: Nagging Discomfort

I gave in and went to Dr. C, the orthopedist. The sleepless nights, the pain getting out of the car, even the discomfort rising out of my chair (where I spend most of my days working on my website) finally got to me.

Good news. It was muscle, not bone-related. So Dr. C recommended that I take one of several over-the-counter medications for the pain and see a physical therapist or chiropractor. He also said I could check out "Patient information" on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. What a nice resource!

To begin, follow the directions to enlarge text size because you practically need a magnifying glass to read the information.

Select the part of the anatomical display of the body where you are having problems and you will find ways you can get relief.

There's a safety alert about the ways to prevent falls, the plight of more than 11 million senior citizens each year.

The site has a specific section for seniors which covers topics such as arthritis, osteoporosis, prevention and safety, wellness, and the role of complementary medicine in treating orthopedic disorders.

Honestly, folks, this site is packed with useful information. Don't miss it.

When You Can't Be There to Help: Home Health Aids

I met with "Wedding dance lady" the other day for lunch.  She told me about her mom who had open heart surgery.  WDL thought her mother was suffering from some dementia since the operation.  She was concerned at the moment that mom was getting confused about her medications.   

Luckily I could dip into my cache of suggestions and came up with the following:

There are many medication aids available, such as pill organizers as well as pill box timers and clocks.

Should WDL want "human" monitoring, she can enlist the help of a reminder call service, the internet and television, or motion and other sensors combined with video phones and telemonitors.  

Nothing takes the place of diligent caregiving.  But when distance and time interfere, it's nice to know that there are products and technology to lend a hand.

COPD, a Smoker's Disease

The doctor repeated words like "COPD" and "Emphysema," foreign terms to our ears.  So I looked them up.  COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.   By 2020 it will move up to the third leading cause of death.  About 1/2 of the 32 million who currently have it are unaware they are afflicted with it.

"24/7.  Oxygen for the rest of her life," he says.  

"But why?" we ask.  

"She used to smoke." 

"Yes, but she hasn't so much as touched a cigarette in years!"

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I've known her for 44 years.  I remember our warnings.  I remember the grandkids finding cigarettes under cushions, in drawers, and other hiding places and tossing them into the toilet or the trash.  By that time the dangers of smoking were clear.  You only had to look at the warnings on the packages or up on the billboards.

Our pleadings mattered little.  

Until she contracted pneumonia.  The doctor said, "Stop smoking" and she did.  Cold turkey. No weaning.  No cigarette substitutes.  We were amazed at the willpower.

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It seems like smoking has been a non- issue for so long.  Now we need to open our eyes to its future consequences not only on a family member but  on my husband and his brother who innocently breathed in clouds of second-hand smoke.