Wise as Salamon’s Health News

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. 2790. These excerpts have been edited. Read the full post in this month’s newsletter along with past columns at https://www.brooklinema.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=37

JUST OUT! Dr. Salamon’s columns are in a new book: “Ask a Geriatrician,” filled with good words on good health. Copies are available at the Senior Center. For more information, please call 617. 730. 2777

DECEMBER: Where do things stand now, and in what ways has it impacted the lives of health professionals treating patients with COVID? Events related to COVID still are happening so rapidly that it’s good to slow down and take a “trip through memory lane” to think back over the events that have changed the world in such a short time and the miraculous response that continues to evolve. Let’s go through a timeline of events.

OCTOBER: What is sciatica? It is a pain that can travel down each leg though it usually only affects one side. It occurs when something compresses part of the sciatic nerve like spinal stenosis or a herniated disc. People who sit for a long time are more prone. Treatment: ice for a couple of days. Can be followed by heat.

SEPTEMBER: Do I need a flu shot? Last year’s flu season was one of the lightest. It is possible to catch the flu after you are vaccinated however it reduces the severity. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot. Flu vaccine is recommended for everyone older than 6 months. The best time to get the shot is the end of October and early November. The CDC says it is okay to get the Covid vaccine and the flu vaccine at the same time. (!)

AUGUST: I got both shots. I’m 88, is it safe to leave the house? Yes, and always have your mask. If you’re outside, you are most likely safe. Mass has a high rate of vaccination. Wear the mask inside. We don’t know yet about booster shots.

JULY: Still hot! You may be more susceptible to the heat with heart and kidney issues, blood pressure, alcohol, over or under weight, and medications. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are uncommon but worrisome. Get to a cool place, drink, put your feet up. Heat stroke needs immediate medical attention.

JUNE: It’s hot! Symptoms of dehydration can be: dry mouth, muscle cramps and nausea. Severe dehydration is called heat stroke and often requires hospitalization. Imbibe: water, popsicles, fruit especially melon, tea, coffee, Gatorade, lemonade.

MAY: What is aortic stenosis? As we age, the valve becomes narrow and doesn’t open fully to let blood pass through. This causes blood to back up. Stenosis means narrowing. Causes: calcium build up, birth defects, rheumatic fever, and radiation therapy. Treatment: drugs and/or surgery.

APRIL: How can I prevent diabetes? Diabetes is caused when sugar and fat cannot be absorbed. They stay in the blood causing blood sugar to rise. Common risk factors: family history, being overweight, some medications, and age. Symptoms: thirst, urinating often, yeast infections, skin problems, weight loss, and dry mouth among others. To treat diabetes, it is important to maintain a normal weight and get daily exercise. Without treatment, there is the possibility of damage to the eyes, kidneys and the development of neuropathy.

MARCH: It’s your annual physical. Ask about: Blood pressure, cholesterol, bone density, colonoscopy, vaccines (flu, DTAP, shingles), hearing, BMI, depression, vision. Checkups work.

FEBRUARY: How common is lung cancer? Lung cancer is the most common cause of deaths from cancer in the world. The most common cause is smoking. It can lie dormant for years and suddenly start to grow. Symptoms: cough that doesn’t get better, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, chest pain, hoarseness, weight loss, bone pain, headache. Diagnosed by chest x-ray and CT scan. Biopsy may be followed by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy. Treatments are so much more effective now. It is important to diagnose and treat early.

JANUARY: Should I see a cardiologist before or after a heart attack? If before, what symptoms should I look for? Chest pain, or angina, is a common reason. It can be caused by a blockage, which narrows the arteries so much that blood and oxygen can’t get through, especially during physical activity. The doctor may order an EKG, stress test, ultrasound or cardiac catheterization. Other symptoms: pressure, squeezing, heaviness in the chest; pain or pressure in your neck, jaw, back or arm; paleness, cold sweat, or rapid and uneven heartbeats; difficulty catching your breath.

DECEMBER: What do we need to know about the vaccines? So far, the vaccines require two doses, 3-4 weeks apart. We don’t know if the vaccines reduce the risk of getting the virus, or they keep us from getting sick and we can still be carriers. We also don’t know how long protection lasts. There is no evidence the vaccines are unsafe. Health care workers will be offered the vaccine first. If you have had the virus, still get the vaccine. Keep wearing masks, distancing and washing hands.

NOVEMBER: I am tired when I go to bed but then I cannot sleep. As the sun rises, I fall asleep and cannot get up until noon. Do you have suggestions? As we get older, our sleep may change. Insomnia may result from stress, depression, anxiety, medications or health problems. Alcohol, the computer, pain, lack of exercise, snoring, and sleep apnea may cause sleep problems.

Turn off the TV and computer an hour before. Read a book or an electronic device that doesn’t have a light source. Wear ear plugs to block snoring. Get aerobic exercise like walking, dance and golf during the day. Talk to your doctor about melatonin. Short day naps are okay. Avoid alcohol and caffeine late in the day. It is common to have short periods when we have trouble sleeping but it usually passes.

OCTOBER: Asked and answered by Suzanne Salamon – What is it like to have my 98 year-old mother move in with us?

My mom, Lilly, is as tough as they come. Two months ago, she fell. Incredibly, she is pretty much back to herself. We rented an apartment for her, four minutes from our home. She spends hours online; Google is her best friend. When I ask her how she feels about her new stage of life, she said: “I am the luckiest person alive.” (Read the whole story here in the November 2020 issue: https://www.brooklinema.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=37 Page 4)

SEPTEMBER: What is Telehealth? Meetings between patients and doctors by phone, computer or smartphone. Have your questions ready along with a list of medications and be ready to write instructions and suggestions. A blood pressure machine at home is handy particularly if your medications are being adjusted.

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New York Times, Huffington 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Fat Trap, by Tara Parker-Pope, The Times, December 28
Sad story

In the Body’s Shield Against Cancer, a Culprit in Aging May Lurk, by Nicholas Wade, The Times, Nov 21
Old story

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