Walking Fitness Over Fifty - It's not how fast you walk but how far you go that counts when it comes to fitness over fifty. Walking is good not only for your physical health but for...
Teaming Up With Your Healthcare Professional to Stay Healthy in Your Later Years
You can have power over health decisions if you stay informed and partner with your healthcare professional regarding medical decisions. Here are some examples of questions you can have prepared ahead of time for when you have healthcare appointments.
Ways to Be a Great Grandparent – And Stay Young - Bring out all of your old stories. Unlike their parents, your grandchildren have never heard them before and will be excited to hear about your childhood...
How often should I have physical examinations and screening tests?
(if a female) Is hormone therapy right for me?
What daily vitamins, minerals or other supplements should I take?
Are there any dietary changes that will improve my health or that will meet the needs of my body systems?
What Not to do When You Want to Achieve Healthy Aging - Some people thrive on lists of things to do. Here is a list of things not to do when you want to achieve healthy aging.
How can I maintain a good weight and what is my ideal weight for my age, sex and height?
What is the difference between normal aches and pains and the two forms of arthritis?
What are my health risks?
What exercise is the best for me and how often should I exercise?
How can I monitor my health at home?
What the Mayo Clinic Says to Expect About Aging - Your heart becomes less efficient at pumping and your blood vessels lose their flexibility. Eventually this can turn into high blood pressure or heart...
What steps can I take to stay healthy and live longer?
What informational pamphlets are available regarding my health needs?
What other health information sources are available to me in my community or through my healthcare network?
Preparing for your medical appointments by having your questions ready is one way to team up with your healthcare professional. Another is to keep a medical journal of any symptoms you experience or any reactions to medications you take. If weight management is an issue for you it may benefit you to keep a food diary for a month. Record all that you eat and drink (meals and snacks) including any water you drink, so that you can discuss your eating habits and how they affect your weight management, the next time you have an appointment.
When Driving Is a Risk - You cannot put an exact age on when you should stop driving, since everyone ages at different rates. However, persons over 65 years in age are more likely...
During medical appointments insist on being able to take an active role regarding medical treatments or procedures. Insist on being told what the options are when facing any type of medical or surgical procedure. Discuss all pharmaceutical treatments and ask about known side-effects that you may experience while taking all medications. Remember to ask about any possible interactions between new prescriptions and current medications.
Women Turn Back the Clock with Vitamins - If what you are eating is not providing your body with what it needs, the cells start to produce higher amounts of free radicals. Free radicals are highly...
When faced with therapy (physical or occupational) discuss alternatives, length of therapy sessions and how intense the therapy will be. Ask about any expected pain that you may experience and what medications can be taken before, during or after treatment sessions.
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Do your homework before your medical appointment. If you know you will be examined for a certain procedure or screening it may be in your best interest to look up information in the library or online. Just be careful to check to be sure the information you gather is from a reliable source that you can trust to be accurate and unbiased. There are many health magazines for persons over 50. There is also an excellent organization for those who are 50 or older called AARP.
AARP's slogan is "The power to make it better." Membership has many benefits the least of which is that you have a mighty membership that wields a powerful sword should there be a healthcare issue that threatens your age group. The organization is a powerful source of information about financial, healthcare, family, home, legal issues, travel details, and topics that are relevant for you. Joining this or other age-related organizations can increase your awareness of what can help you to age gracefully and in good health.
© Information Warehouse 2007
All articles on this site are for information only and should not be treated as medical advice.
If you experience any symptoms, consult a medical professional.