Healthy Aging: Body, Mind & Spirit

Loneliness, the American epidemic

We live in a society where we may feel overly interconnected, and yet completely isolated. Loneliness permeates many peoples’ lives, and yet we rarely talk about it.

Whether you’re young, old, a college freshmen, recently divorced or widowed, married, a parent, or not, we, as a nation, are now lonelier than ever.   Blame our culture, the economy, the need to work two jobs, long commutes, suburban sprawl, or urban anonymity.  Maybe it’s just too much television, or the Internet.

A comprehensive study published in the American Sociological Review in 2006 found that Americans are far more socially isolated than just two decades ago, with a quarter of respondents saying they have no one to confide in.   That number actually doubled in two decades, from 10 percent to 24. 6 percent.   And it isn’t just people living alone.   Married people can be lonely, or young people with cool jobs living in crowded apartments can be just as lonely or socially isolated.

Now Emily White has written Lonely: A Memoir where she discusses the most taboo of subjects — loneliness — and how she, a successful Toronto environmental lawyer, endured an intense bout of it between 2002 and 2006 before it lifted.

In her book,  Ms. White not only documents her own journey, but delves into the state of research into loneliness — including the possibility of a genetic component which makes some more prone to it than others.    She also quotes University of Chicago psychologist John T. Cacioppo, who argues that our brains have become hard-wired to need regular contact with others to survive.

Dr. Cacioppo, who has conducted more than 30 years of research into the subject, is the author of  Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection, which braids neuroscience, social psychology and cognitive science into a highly integrated thesis,  that nature is connection — and we ignore loneliness at our peril.

I have vast experience with loneliness, and have often wondered if others felt the way I did.  I have been single most of my adult life, finding few friends I could really trust or feel close to.   Then when I got divorced and lost my job in the early 2000′s,  I learned what lonely was all about.  My few friends had families and went to work everyday.  I had no job to go to.  Loneliness and depression were my constant companions.

I think most of us can distract ourselves from our loneliness with family and jobs and general busyness for so long, but eventually we need to acknowledge our own needs and admit that we truly do need support and caring in our lives.  It is essential that we feel deep inside that we deserve love.  Then we are properly prepared to go out and find exactly the kind of connectedness we desire.

I wrote about my own intense bout with loneliness, and how I found solutions for myself in my book:  Midlife Magic: Becoming the person you are inside. I found I needed to admit my own needs to myself, and then go out and fill them.   Please contact me directly to acquire the Workbook that accompanies my book:  MidlifeCrisisQueen@gmail.com

Alcohol and Aging

Want to age well?   Time to stop drinking then!   Or at least cut back.   Researchers in Italy say alcohol may be linked to cellular aging, and not in a good way.

Lead author Dr. Andrea Baccarelli of the University of Milan,  has found that alcohol may accelerate the shortening of regions of DNA found at the end of chromosomes — known as telomeres.

“All the cells in our body have a biological clock in telomeres.”  Baccarelli and his colleagues measured serum DNA among 59 participants who abused alcohol — 22 percent consumed four or more alcoholic drinks per day — as well as 197 participants with varying alcohol consumption habits.

The two groups were similar in age, diet, exercise, stress and other factors affecting telomere length, but the heavy drinkers had telomere lengths nearly half as long as those who did not abuse alcohol.

“The decrease we found in telomere length is very sharp, and we were surprised to find such a strong effect at the cellular level,” Baccarelli said.

Telomere shortening is thought to increase cancer risk and the researchers speculate that those with shorter telomeres due to alcohol would have an increased risk of cancer.

The findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 101st annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Do phospates accelerate the aging process?

Besides the toxic sugar (high fructose corn syrup) levels in pop, here’s another reason to kick the soda habit!

New research published online in the FASEB Journal shows that high levels of phosphates may add more “pop” to sodas and processed foods than once thought.   Researchers found that high levels of phosphates accelerate signs of aging. High phosphate levels may also increase the prevalence and severity of age-related complications, such as chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular calcification, and can induce severe muscle and skin atrophy.

“Humans need a healthy diet and keeping the balance of phosphate in the diet may be important for a healthy life and longevity,” said M. Shawkat Razzaque, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Medicine, Infection and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.   “Avoid phosphate toxicity and enjoy a healthy life.”

“Soda is the caffeine delivery vehicle of choice for millions of people worldwide, but comes with phosphorous as a passenger,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal. “This research suggests that our phosphorous balance influences the aging process, so don’t tip it.”

Leading trade industries disagree with these findings.

Do you have thyroid problems?

They can be quite common as we age.   The thyroid gland is the one that controls several different parts of the body’s functioning, and can impact different aspects such as metabolism, weight, energy levels and even depression.

Imbalances or problems relating to thyroid can be responsible for heart disease, obesity, sexual dysfunction, hair loss, depression, anxiety, infertility and other health hazards. One or more of the following symptoms may be a sign that you may have thyroid problems:

Weight changes may be the clearest indicator of  a thyroid imbalance. Someone who eats right, exercises and still experiences weight gain or finds difficulty in losing weight in spite of their best efforts may have hypothyroidism. Changes in weight could be due to hyper- or hypo-thyroidism.

• Feelings of fatigue without too much exertion, or finding a full night’s sleep to be insufficient, or even insomnia could be the sign of a thyroid imbalance.

• Recurrent anxiety, depression or panic attacks could be the sign of a thyroid disorder, particularly if the condition is not improved with therapy or medication.

• If a person finds that they have high cholesterol levels that are not responsive to restrictive diet, exercise, or even resistant to medication, could be an indication of an underlying thyroid problem.

• Did you hear of people in your family (particularly the older people) having goiter or glandular problems? If so, this could mean that you have a family history of thyroid. This increases your chances of having thyroid problems and developing issues with thyroid yourself.

• Women may find that their periods seem heavier, closer together, and more painful than they were earlier. This could mean that they have hypothyroidism. If on the other hand they find that periods are lighter, irregular or have longer cycles, they could be having hyperthyroidism. Infertility could be associated with thyroid problems as well.

• Bowel problems such as constipation may have its roots in hypothyroidism, whereas IBS or diarrhea is seen to be connected to hyperthyroidism.

• Hair loss or otherwise unexplained skin changes could be due to thyroid. Hair could become coarser, more brittle and dry, whereas skin could become more scaly, thick and dry.

• Swelling or enlargement of the neck area or a change in your voice could also be symptoms of thyroid disease.

• Thyroid problems could also cause pain in the muscles and joint aches. Carpal tunnel syndrome could also result from thyroid problems.

GET YOUR THYROID CHECKED TODAY!

More evidence linking sugar and heart disease

I’ve been talking about this for the past few years.    If you don’t believe me, then go see what the American Heart Association is saying now!

Essential Information on Menopause

I was recently mailed a fun, informative set of DVDs, whose purpose is to inform you and your family about what can be expected when peri-menopause and menopause arrive in your life.

Created by Dr.  Tara Allmen, MD, a National Certified Menopause Practitioner, Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and Fellow of the American College of Ob-Gyn,   Menopause in an hour is a quick, efficient compilation of the latest info. on dealing with menopause through lifestyle changes, OTC supplements, or prescriptions like estrogen patches.

Here she shares the latest research on what works, what doesn’t, and what to do when you feel truly desperate!  In the DVDs, Dr. Allmen herself explains what midlife women go through and what their spouses, partners, friends and family members can do to help minimize the effects.  Watching these videos takes a lot less time than reading a medical book or articles on the Internet, and costs only $20 – about the cost of a co-pay.

For those who don’t have health insurance and no access to specialists, as well as those who feel bombarded with information from everywhere and don’t know what to believe, I can highly recommend these DVDs for you and your family.

Dr. Allmen’s top recommendation for reducing the symptoms of menopause is to share in regular exercise.  This finding is supported by a study discussed at the recent American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention Conference in San Francisco, where a physician’s longevity study revealed that being physically fit doubles your chances of living longer.

Here’s Dr. Allmen’s prescriptions for “Living a Loving Lifestyle”:

1. Get moving: Weight-bearing exercise is a key component in preventing osteoporosis, in addition to aerobic exercise to maintain a healthy weight and reducing the risk of age-related illness.
2. Eat more: Consume more whole, unprocessed foods including whole grains, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and lean protein.
3. Eat less: Cut back on processed and fried foods, sugary snacks and empty calories.
4. Dive into water: By making water your thirst quencher you can avoid the hidden calories in bottled drinks, and artificial sweeteners and caffeine that could contribute to insomnia.
5. Live, Love, Laugh: Studies show that a life filled with purpose, social connections and community support contributes greatly to overall health and vitality.

Just to be perfectly clear,  I was not paid for this recommendation.  I found these DVDs to be delightful and extremely informative.  I want everyone to have access to the best possible health and medical information when they need it, regardless of health insurance status.

When I started menopause I had no insurance, because I had just lost my job.  This information would have been invaluable to me at that time!

Don’t we all wish we could get menopause over in ONE HOUR!!!!

Is weight loss recommended as we age?

In our 40s and 50s, weight loss seems to be the highest priority for health, but what about when you’re in your 70s?

For decades, there has been a belief that weight loss in the elderly is dangerous.  However, some U.S. researchers now say they have refuted the notion intentional weight loss is harmful to seniors.

Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., found far fewer deaths — half the number — in the group of participants who exercised or modified their diet to lose weight, compared to the group who did not intentionally try to lose weight.

“It was an unusually strong and surprising finding,” study author M. Kyla Shea said in a statement. “Our data suggest that people should be concerned about addressing obesity-related health problems as older adults.”

The study, published online in advance of print in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, not only ruled out risk due to intentional weight loss, but also suggested a mortality benefit to increased exercise and weight loss.

Shea and colleagues re-analyzed data from a 1990s study of 318 community-dwelling adults age 60 and older with knee arthritis, enrolled in a trial assessing the effects of intentional weight loss on physical function, and also checked to see if the study participants were still living eight years later.

Here’s some healthy aging tips from AARP

Here’s a few diet guidelines to keep you fit as a fiddle as you age…how fit is a fiddle anyway???