For some reason, having to blow out more candles on a birthday cake becomes a dreadful event each coming year. Maybe it’s the breathlessness we fear that might envelope us after wiping out all 50 candles, or the overwhelming sight of candles making up the entire cake topping. Yet just like how the candles are an inevitable reminder of those dwindling years, so are graying hair and blurring sight. Sometimes, even our bones crack mockingly, soundly reminding us of our dying youth. Ah! The signs of old age.
I’ve recently been obsessing about my own health, thanks to a frightful encounter with the mirror, when I noticed patches of my scalp, almost naked from hair, staring rudely back at me. It then dawned on me, that this was just a noticeable part of me that was aging. For all I knew, I could be wrinkling up inside! Be it for vanity or health purposes, I decided to embark on a healthier lifestyle. I started scouring through blogs and articles on health-related issues and what a comfort it was when I chanced upon an article by the New York Presbyterian Hospital, crying out “Message to Elderly: It’s never too late to prevent illness!” Just what I needed to hear.
While it had been discovered that majority of old people suffer from diseases like osteoporosis, or diabetes, cataract, sometimes even dementia, it doesn’t mean we’re doomed to a sad, live-out-of-the-tube life. In fact, there are ways we can enjoy those gray bits of hair and that wise-looking wrinkled face as much as we did our youth.
Remember back in the days when we were full of life, and mother’s nagging to down that glass of milk seemed like such a redundant chore? Well, for those of us who have been obedient, it might have saved us from developing the breakable bone disease, osteoporosis. What’s more, it has been proven that women are at a far more greater risk of succumbing to this illness because of the changes in estrogen level while leading up to menopause. Thereafter, they lose bone at an even higher rate, possibly 2 to 5% per year, after menopause. But this isn’t just a girl thing, as men are equally prone to this “silent disease”, though they tend to develop it later. The funny thing is, this is the one disease where those of a smaller body frame are at a higher risk of having their bones crack under their weight.
So for those of us who ran away from ‘milk-time’, how do we deal? Your bones determine how you stand up to the world. So exercise regularly to work those muscles that will maintain bone density and strength, even if it’s just a 10-minute walk in the park. Sit up straight if you don’t want to be mistaken for the hunched-back of Notre Dame. Fill yourself with vitamin d – an absorbent for calcium, and have a diet rich in calcium. You’ll see how grateful your bones will be for pampering them.
But don’t let it end there. Give your eyes some pampering too. After all, they get tired too after having seen the world for, what fifty years? So don’t be too harsh on them or yourself when they get a little blurry, or swell a little. Take it to the doctor’s where they’ll get some tender loving care and be given immediate attention. And while the sun may be a good thing, you wouldn’t want your eyes to be exposed to the glary light. Put on some shades, give your eyes a wash every now and then, and infections like conjunctivitis can be delayed, if not prevented. But if you experience a significant vision loss, a cataract surgery might just let you see the world through new eyes. Remember early detection can save you all the hassle.
This reminds me, just the other day while looking for something to while away my time, I came across this movie on the Hallmark channel. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, it’s called “More Than Meets the Eye”. It’s a story about a 32-year-old woman who teaches at a school for the blind. In a stroke of tragedy, she succumbs to blindness because of a muscular degeneration, and her luck spirals down when her husband dies soon after leaving her to care for their young daughter all alone. The story is moving and captivating all at once, and tells of the capabilities within each individual. I was awed just watching her strength and willpower to survive. Here’s the trailer of the movie to get you guys hooked on it:
http://www.joanbrock.com/more_than_meets_the_eye_movie_update.htm
And did you know that another notorious illness among the elderly that promotes eye problems is actually diabetes? In fact, according to a study by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness among adults, and what’s more, those with diabetes are 25 times more likely to become blind than those without it. Worse still, diabetes tend to strike more, those who are 50 and above. Because as you age, your body’s immune system goes down and its capacity to produce the important metabolic catalysts diminishes.
However, all’s not lost. There are loads of therapies and products available to treat diabetes among the elderly. But the minute you experience symptoms like fatigue, weakness, or if anyone in the family has diabetes, seek medical attention! Most importantly, follow a diabetic food pyramid religiously, and adopt good eating habits. We are after all, what we eat.
So there, growing old means accepting life’s many challenges, and embracing it. No matter what comes our way, there is no reason not to wake up with a smile and a raring attitude to face the world. Let’s all age gracefully then, shall we? Do catch the movie when you have the time. I hope it inspires you as much as it did to me. Happy watching, all of you!
Till next time. Have a wonderful week ahead.
I’ve recently been obsessing about my own health, thanks to a frightful encounter with the mirror, when I noticed patches of my scalp, almost naked from hair, staring rudely back at me. It then dawned on me, that this was just a noticeable part of me that was aging. For all I knew, I could be wrinkling up inside! Be it for vanity or health purposes, I decided to embark on a healthier lifestyle. I started scouring through blogs and articles on health-related issues and what a comfort it was when I chanced upon an article by the New York Presbyterian Hospital, crying out “Message to Elderly: It’s never too late to prevent illness!” Just what I needed to hear.
While it had been discovered that majority of old people suffer from diseases like osteoporosis, or diabetes, cataract, sometimes even dementia, it doesn’t mean we’re doomed to a sad, live-out-of-the-tube life. In fact, there are ways we can enjoy those gray bits of hair and that wise-looking wrinkled face as much as we did our youth.
Remember back in the days when we were full of life, and mother’s nagging to down that glass of milk seemed like such a redundant chore? Well, for those of us who have been obedient, it might have saved us from developing the breakable bone disease, osteoporosis. What’s more, it has been proven that women are at a far more greater risk of succumbing to this illness because of the changes in estrogen level while leading up to menopause. Thereafter, they lose bone at an even higher rate, possibly 2 to 5% per year, after menopause. But this isn’t just a girl thing, as men are equally prone to this “silent disease”, though they tend to develop it later. The funny thing is, this is the one disease where those of a smaller body frame are at a higher risk of having their bones crack under their weight.
So for those of us who ran away from ‘milk-time’, how do we deal? Your bones determine how you stand up to the world. So exercise regularly to work those muscles that will maintain bone density and strength, even if it’s just a 10-minute walk in the park. Sit up straight if you don’t want to be mistaken for the hunched-back of Notre Dame. Fill yourself with vitamin d – an absorbent for calcium, and have a diet rich in calcium. You’ll see how grateful your bones will be for pampering them.
But don’t let it end there. Give your eyes some pampering too. After all, they get tired too after having seen the world for, what fifty years? So don’t be too harsh on them or yourself when they get a little blurry, or swell a little. Take it to the doctor’s where they’ll get some tender loving care and be given immediate attention. And while the sun may be a good thing, you wouldn’t want your eyes to be exposed to the glary light. Put on some shades, give your eyes a wash every now and then, and infections like conjunctivitis can be delayed, if not prevented. But if you experience a significant vision loss, a cataract surgery might just let you see the world through new eyes. Remember early detection can save you all the hassle.
This reminds me, just the other day while looking for something to while away my time, I came across this movie on the Hallmark channel. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, it’s called “More Than Meets the Eye”. It’s a story about a 32-year-old woman who teaches at a school for the blind. In a stroke of tragedy, she succumbs to blindness because of a muscular degeneration, and her luck spirals down when her husband dies soon after leaving her to care for their young daughter all alone. The story is moving and captivating all at once, and tells of the capabilities within each individual. I was awed just watching her strength and willpower to survive. Here’s the trailer of the movie to get you guys hooked on it:
http://www.joanbrock.com/more_than_meets_the_eye_movie_update.htm
And did you know that another notorious illness among the elderly that promotes eye problems is actually diabetes? In fact, according to a study by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness among adults, and what’s more, those with diabetes are 25 times more likely to become blind than those without it. Worse still, diabetes tend to strike more, those who are 50 and above. Because as you age, your body’s immune system goes down and its capacity to produce the important metabolic catalysts diminishes.
However, all’s not lost. There are loads of therapies and products available to treat diabetes among the elderly. But the minute you experience symptoms like fatigue, weakness, or if anyone in the family has diabetes, seek medical attention! Most importantly, follow a diabetic food pyramid religiously, and adopt good eating habits. We are after all, what we eat.
So there, growing old means accepting life’s many challenges, and embracing it. No matter what comes our way, there is no reason not to wake up with a smile and a raring attitude to face the world. Let’s all age gracefully then, shall we? Do catch the movie when you have the time. I hope it inspires you as much as it did to me. Happy watching, all of you!
Till next time. Have a wonderful week ahead.
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