Wise as Salamon/Links

Suzanne Salamon, MD is chief associate of clinical geriatrics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Email general questions to mdeery@brooklinema.gov or call Maureen: 617. 730. 2743. These are excerpts. Read the full post in this month’s newsletter

OCTOBER: Osteoporosis describes bones that are weaker either because one loses too much bone or is not making enough bone. It is common. It’s diagnosed with a bone mineral density scan that’s painless. Prevention and treatment: calcium, vitamin D3, walking, stairs, dancing, tennis, yoga. Medication may be needed: pills, intravenous and injections.

SEPTEMBER: Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that spreads mostly through infected blood. This can come from sharing drugs, needles, sex with an infected partner and tattoos. Most people have no symptoms; other have jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea and fatigue. It can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis. Have a blood test if you had a transfusion/transplant before 1992, got a clotting drug before 1987, were born between 1945-1965, are on long-term dialysis, have HIV or abnormal liver tests.

AUGUST: Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by deer tick bites. Not all deer ticks carry Lyme disease. After the tick bites, it stays attached to the skin. Symptoms are often vague: fever, chills, sweats, fatigue, arthritis, headache and aches. Some people have a rash that looks like a bull’s eye. If Lyme is treated with antibiotics early, it is curable. Prevention is important: spray skin and clothes with repellent. Wear long pants and pull socks over pants. Check yourself for ticks and rashes after hiking and gardening.

JULY: Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes you to stop breathing. One symptom is snoring, long pauses in breathing, choking sounds and daytime fatigue. Risks: being overweight, a large neck, male, high blood pressure and family history. Some devices to treat can be fitted by a dentist like a mouth guard to pull the lower jaw forward and hold the tongue in place. A sleep physician or clinic can advise what’s best.

JUNE: The sun Too much can cause problems like photo aging (wrinkles, age spots). Use sunscreen of 15 SPF and higher. Between 10 am – 4 pm the sun is at its strongest. Skin cancer, melanoma, is often related to exposure. Some research suggests foods may help prevent cancer: carrots, squash, mangoes, spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, collards, tomatoes, watermelon, guava, apricots, milk, eggs, mozzarella. Wear a hat and sunglasses.

MAY: Allergies Pollen from grass, trees and flowers bring hay fever with runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and coughing. Most symptoms resolve as the season goes on but asthma can be worse. We are seeing more allergies now because we’re “too clean.” Try air purifiers and after gardening, wash clothes and hands and remove shoes.

APRIL: What does the thyroid do? It’s below your Adam’s apple with a big job affecting your heart, brain and general good health. Sometimes the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone which may lead to feeling cold or tired but often there are no symptoms. Sometimes there is too much hormone which may lead to feeling hot, nervous or weight loss but there may be no symptoms. A simple blood test can check if your thyroid is working.

MARCH: What can I do about itchy skin? Dry skin is common; it can be rough, flaky and cracked. If it’s sudden and new, it may be gall bladder disease, thyroid, kidney, or fungal impairment. Moisturizers should be used twice a day after bathing or hand washing. Thick creams like Eucerin, Cetaphil and Nutraderm and petroleum jelly, Vaseline and Aquaphor may help.

FEBRUARY: How important is calcium? We need calcium for muscles and bones. Low intake may lead to osteoporosis, weakened bones, which may make them more likely to break. Drink milk, eat yogurt and cheese. Other foods like soy milk, sardines, some cereals, broccoli and collards have calcium and it’s best to get calcium from food rather than pills. Our bones also need vitamin D, about 800-1000 IU daily.

JANUARY: Reporter Anne Tergesen of the Wall Street Journal writes – – Why Everything You Think About Aging May Be Wrong The myths: 1. Depression is more prevalent in old age – – 2. Cognitive decline is inevitable – – 3. Older workers are less productive – – 4. Loneliness is more likely – – 5. Creativity declines with age – – 6. More exercise is better

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Links from New York Times, Huff Post, New Yorker

Hoarder Dies After Floor Collapses, by Ed Mazza, Huff Po, June 16
First floor of CT home collapses, apparently under the weight of stuff

Seven Grandparent Skills You Don’t Have, by Shelley Emling, Huff Po, June 16
They actually talk to people

Judges With Daughters More Often Rule in Favor of Women’s Rights, Times, June 16
It turns out that judges with daughters are more likely to vote in favor of women’s rights than ones with only sons

The New and Improved SAT, by Nathan Burstein, New Yorker, April 16
Spelling and Grammar Count

For Diabetics, Health Risks Fall Sharply, by Sabrina Tavernise and Denise Grady, Times, April 16
Progress Report

Younger Skin Through Exercise, by Gretchen Reynolds, Times, April 16
Time Passes

A Number That May Not Add Up, by Jane E. Brody, Times, April 14
Weight Matters

Beans and Peas Lower Cholesterol, by Nicholas Bakalar, Times, April 14
Beans, not Chocolate

The Sixth Stage of Grief, by Joel Yanofsky, Times, April 11
Buying a Puppy

Sex as Exercise, by Gretchen Reynolds, Times, December 5
Or a few jumping jacks

Why a Brisk Walk Is Better, by Gretchen Reynolds, Times, December 4
Pick up the pace

Palliative Care, the Treatment That Respects Pain, by Jane E. Brody, Times, December 2
The vast majority of patients who need palliative care are not dying

The Power of a Daily Bout of Exercise, by Gretchen Reynolds, Times, November 27
Eat and run

In the End, It’s Not About the Food, by Corey Mintz, Times, November 26
Just a little

Think Like a Doctor, by Lisa Sanders, MD, Times, October 3
A Green Heart

What’s your ‘Fitness Age’?, by Gretchen Reynolds, Times, October 31
Exercise more, eat less

Dogs Are People, Too, by Gregory Burns, Times, October 5
What a dog thinks in an MRI

The Icing on the Cake, by Karen Stabiner, Times, October 2
Let them eat cake

A Youthful Glow, Radiating From Within, by Jane E. Brody, Times, September 30
You look mahvelous

Dietary Report Card Disappoints, by Jane E. Brody, Times, September 23
Still a long way to go

Sunday Dialogue: Medicare’s Doctor Fees, Letter to the Editor, by Greg Forzley, September 14
Readers suggest changes to how Medicare reimburses for care

A Family Says ‘Enough’, by Paula Spahn, Times, September 13
A Dilemma

Living Apart Together, by Constance Rosenblum, Times, September 13
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Getting While the Getting Is Good, by Jane Gross, Times, September 10
If you read only one story: Don’t Wait for a Crisis

The New Science of Mind, by Eric R. Kandel, Times, September 6
The Biology of Depression

Manson Whitlock, Typewriter Repairman, Dies at 96, by Margalit Fox, Times, September 8
Work works

Online Lessons in Dementia Management, by Judith Graham, Times, Sept 5
Caring and Coping

Seeking Longevity? Eat Real Food, by Andy Bellatti, Huff Post, August 22
Fruit, vegetables, fermented, fiber

High Blood Sugar Linked to Dementia, by Paula Span, Times, August 10
Even if you’re not diabetic

On Becoming an ‘Orphan,’ by Paula Spahn, Times, July 1
Profound Shift

When Aggression Follows Dementia, by Paula Spahn, Times, July 12
Heart Breaker

When Exercise Stresses You Out, by Gretchen Reynolds, Times, March 13
Hate it?

Eat Your Heart Out, by Gretchen Reynolds, Times, March 7
Your Heart

Postscript: Nora Ephron, by David Remnick, New Yorker, July 9
Greater than she knew

The 20 Million, by Mark Bittman, Times, June 12
Hardly eat

Gross Ingredients In Processed Foods , by Sarah Klein, Huff Post, May 14
Eat no meat

We Could Be Heroes, by Mark Bittman, Times, May 15
Eat less meat

The Disconnect: Why are so many Americans living by themselves?, by Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, April 16
Love story

Rise and Fall of Eight So-Called Healthy Foods, by Ryan Glasspiegel, thedailymeal.com, February 27
Red meat, eggs, butter, dairy

Nutrition: Options Play a Role in Healthier Choices, by Nicholas Bakalar, The Times, February 13
Food story

70 Year-Old Enquirer Designs an App for Gossip, by Amy Chozik, The Times, January 15
Nominated for a Pulitzer

The Fat Trap, by Tara Parker-Pope, The Times, December 28
“. . . The body continues to fight against weight loss long after dieting has stopped.”
Sad story

In the Body’s Shield Against Cancer, a Culprit in Aging May Lurk, by Nicholas Wade, The Times, November 21
“. . . if you purge the body of its senescent cells, the tissues remain youthful and vigorous.” Old story

For Beginning Runners, Advice Can Be a Hurdle, by Gina Kolata, The Times, November 14
“There is nothing like starting your Saturday morning being beaten by 75-year-old men and passed at the finish line by 8 year-old kids.” Running story

What Boomers Do Best (and how you can prosper after 50), by Julia Moulden, Huffington Post, June 12
Loud story

When the Roommate Has Four Legs, by Antoinette Martin, The Times, October 20
Buildings with pet-related culture in mind . . . Dog’s life

Redefining the Hot Dog, a Cart at a Time, by Jeff Gordinier, Times, August 9 “There are children in New York who have never eaten a hot dog.” Very sad story

When Are You Too Old to Exercise?, by Judith J. Wurtman, Huff Post, April 13
“The Miami Herald had a front page article about recreational baseball players who ranged in age from 69 (the baby) to 93.” Old story

How to Save a Trillion Dollars, by Mark Bittman, Times, April 12
“And we could do that by preventing disease instead of treating it.” Now that’s real money

The D Word, by Nora Ephron, Huff Post, 11/8/2010 “Of course, there are good divorces, where everything is civil, even friendly. . . In my next life I must get one of those divorces.” The D word