Top Ten Health Resolutions of 2009 for Those over the Age of 40. (taken from content written for Associated Content)
60 may be the new 40, but that’s no reason to take a lackadaisical attitude about your health in your 40’s. Here are ten resolutions you should consider making and keeping in 2009.
- Schedule an eye exam.
Aging does a number on one’s vision. Older persons often experience difficulty in seeing at lower light levels, increased sensitivity to glare, inability to discriminate colors, poor contrast sensitivity and decreased acuity. A visit to the ophthalmologist can compensate for some of these age related effects with corrective lenses. In addition, older eyes in general are more susceptible to common age-related diseases, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. All of which can lead to blindness. A check-up can detect if you exhibit any signs of these condition. Check out this website from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, http://www.geteyesmart.org/know/screening.cfm 9. Go to the dentist. Teeth are meant to last a lifetime. In addition to brushing your teeth after every meal and flossing daily, you should get your teeth cleaned twice a year. You should also schedule a visit with your dentist annually for an oral exam to screen for oral cancer which has an increase in incidence after the age of 40. Oral cancer is usually painless and the prognosis is generally good if it is caught early. To lower risk of developing oral cancer, stop smoking, stop using snuff or chewing tobacco and drink alcohol in moderation. Here’s a link to a valuable resource on oral health: http://www.4woman.gov/pub/the-healthy-woman/oral_health.pdf and http://www.ada.org/public/topics/oralsystemic_gumdisease.asp 8. If you don’t have a primary care doctor. Get one. If you do have one, it’s time to schedule a visit. Although an annual exam with blood tests is not recommended until age 50, it’s good to develop a relationship with a primary care provider now especially if you have a family history of diabetes, heart disease or cancer. At the age of 50 or above, your physician will want to perform some blood tests including a complete blood cell count, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol to name a few. A colonoscopy is also recommended for adults above the age of 50. Women should also have an annual mammogram (starting at age 40) as well as a pap smear to detect for cervical cancer and a bone density test to evaluate for osteoporosis. For men, your physician will want to perform a digital rectal exam to detect an enlarged prostate as well as a PSA (prostate specific antigen) are also tests that your doctor will want to perform. Most authorities state that annual screening should start at age 50, however for those with a family history of prostate cancer and for African-American men, screening should start at age 45. Lastly, for both men and women, take this opportunity to ask about any new moles that may have cropped up as well as old ones that have changed in appearance. For information on cancer screening, click here: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/cancer/treatment/prevention_detection/screening_guidelines.aspx 7. Make a living-will. Assign a power of attorney. The time to think about what you want to happen when you are ill is when you are healthy. A living will just does that: it puts forth in writing what you want done in the event that you are incapacitated and unable to speak for yourself. Also make sure to designate someone to be your power of attorney in the event that you are unable to represent yourself. Don’t make your living will a secret. Take the time to have a conversation with your loved ones to share with them your beliefs and desires. For more information, click here: https://www.stjohn.org/HealthInfoLib/swArticle.aspx?1,530 6. Consider long-term health insurance. The cost of nursing home or long-term home health can run as high as 60,000 per year. Many insurance companies do not cover this cost or will only cover a small fraction of it. Entire nest eggs have been cracked open from this expense alone. Review whether or not long term care insurance makes sense for you and your family at this website:http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/ltc/guide.htm 5. Start a personal health record. Make it easy for your doctors to take care of you as well as reduce costs that can occur from duplicate tests. Organizing your health care records can also be helpful for your family if you are ever incapacitated and unable to communicate. Don’t let your spouse or family members guess what medication you take and what health conditions you are under treatment for. Do yourself a favor, right after you read this article, go to the medicine cabinet and write down every medication you take, the dose, and how often you take it. Whenever you see the doctor this year, ask for his/her business card and put it all down in the same notebook. Tell your loved ones and power of attorney where this information is kept. More information can be found here on what information to gather: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1227547/why_you_should_create_a_personal_health.html?cat=5 4. Stop paying more for your medication. If your insurance company does not have a prescription plan, consider getting one through Association of Retired Persons (AARP) or Automobile Association of America (AAA). Also, Walmart as well as other major retailers sell generics for as little as $4. For a list, check out this site: http://www.ncsl.org/PROGRAMS/HEALTH/generic$.htmFinally, if you do have a prescription plan, see if ordering your prescriptions through the mail results in any savings. The top three on this list should be no-brainers. If you smoke, quit. For resources to help you break the habit, try this: http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/index.htmlIf you are even 5-10 pounds overweight, start a plan to lose the extra pounds. There are more online resources to help you lose weight than the number of pounds you wish to shed. But to name one, I reviewed a website by the USDA (US Dept of Agriculture) here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/174138/an_online_dieting_and_healthy_eating.html?cat=51And lastly, start walking. The health benefits of exercise are innumerable not only for your physical health but for your mental health as well. Starting an exercise program can be as simple as recruiting a friend for a stroll around your neighborhood or mall. To get the maximal benefit from a walking program, keep up a brisk pace. Walk as if you were walking for your life.