Helpful Health Hints

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

Here are some suggestions as one gets older, some of which I have not

seen previously:

" Next, get the right checkups. Among government-recommended

screenings:

—Blood pressure, at least every two years, more often if it's high.

—Cholesterol, at least every 5 years.

—Diabetes, if you have such risk factors as high blood pressure or

cholesterol, a diabetic relative, are overweight, or are black,

Hispanic, American Indian or Alaskan Native.

—A bone-density test for osteoporosis (search), for all women over 65

and any man or woman who suffers a fracture after 50.

—Colorectal cancer (search), starting at age 50 and repeated every

year to 10 years, depending on which test is used.

—Mammograms (search) every year or two for women.

—The PSA test (search) for prostate cancer is controversial; discuss

pros and cons with your doctor.

—Regular eye exams to check for cataracts (search), glaucoma (search)

and macular degeneration (search).

Don't forget immunizations. Everyone needs a one-time pneumonia

vaccination at 65 (search), sooner if they have heart disease or

other risk factors. Annual flu shots start at age 50.

An ongoing relationship with a primary care physician becomes even

more important at 60, says Hill. Someone who's cared for you for

years should notice declining health early, and can coordinate care

if specialists prescribe dueling drugs.

Then there's diet. Cutting fat and eating more fruits and vegetables

counters aging-slowed metabolism that makes shedding pounds harder,

says Brangman. Plus, roughage prevents constipation, another hazard

of aging. Strive for foods high in brain- and heart-healthy omega-3

fatty acids, such as fish. Ask your doctor if you need a vitamin, the

only way many older women get the daily 1,200 milligrams of calcium

and 400-600 international units of vitamin D needed for strong bones.

It's advice even for long-lived families, because lifestyle can trump

good genes, says the AMA's Hill: He needed heart surgery at 57

despite parents who were healthy at 90.

Finally, get a durable power of attorney (search) and advanced

directive (search) or " living will, " to help ensure your health care

wishes are followed should you become too ill to communicate them,

Hill stresses "

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,161588,00.html

Rodney.