Arthritis Most of us have heard of arthritis, however, did you know there are about 140 different types of arthritis? The most common are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout. The causes of the different types of arthritis vary, however, the thing they have in common is there is an inflammatory response in the joints causing swelling, pain, stiffness and joint damage. Arthritis can affect all age groups with the elderly being most affected, generally with Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis ![]() Osteoarthritis is caused by ‘wear and tear’ on the joints cartilage. Cartilage is on the end of our bones protecting our bones from damage, it act like a cushion. Over time the cartilage breaks down and may completely go. Injuries to joints often accelerate the breakdown of joint cartilage. It generally affects the feet, hands, knees, hips and lower back. Most people over 65 will have some osteoarthritis. ![]() Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system attacks the tissues of the body - in this case the linings of the joints. It also affects other parts of the body. There may be periods where the disease is active or not active and it may burn itself out after a number of years. It affects all age groups - in childhood rheumatoid arthritis is called juvenile arthritis Gout ![]() In gout uric acid crystals form in and around the joints, commonly around the big toe, and may move to the knees, elbows, wrists, and fingers. It causes excruciating pain and swelling. Uric acid is a by-product of digesting a protein called purine, which the body isn’t excreting. Being overweight, genetics, taking certain medications, sugary drinks, alcohol, eating too much liver, meat and seafood, and existing kidney disease may cause uric acid to stay in the body. An attack can come on suddenly. To prevent joint and kidney damage, it needs to be treated quickly. Treatments
The aim of treatment is generally to reduce the swelling, pain and damage to the joints. For more information: https://www.arthritis.org.nz/forms-of-arthritis/ https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/arthritis https://www.healthline.com/health/arthritis If you need help to get mobile, exercise or you need dietary advice our friendly physiotherapists and dietitians can help just contact us. Ph: (03) 377 5280 Email: [email protected] ![]() Food for a Healthy Heart It's never too late to look after your heart, improve your health, and get the most out of life. Here are some guidelines to help you choose the best foods for your heart: Fruit and Vegetables Have fruits and/or vegetables at every meal and for most snacks. Grains and Starchy Vegetables
![]() Protein – meat, poultry, legumes, fish, seafood and eggs
Dairy Products
Oil, Nuts and Seeds Drinks
General tips
If you are struggling to change your diet Therapy Professionals friendly Dietitian can help just contact us. Phone: 03 377 5280 Email: [email protected] ![]() Are My Elderly Parent’s Coping? As our parents move in to Shakespeare’s ‘Sixth stage of man’ many of us in our middle age are busy with our careers and bringing up children. We often take our parents for granted and forget they are ageing. If we see them regularly, we may not notice subtle changes or if we live elsewhere and rarely see them, we may get a shock at their decline between visits. Compounding this, most parents don't want to be a 'bother' and aren't good at telling their adult children they need help. It can be a shock to see our parents slowing down and not coping. We may have no idea how to deal with their changing state. Some of us respond by ignoring or minimising the situation, while others will behave more like a bossy parent. More often than not, even with the best intentions, we don't know when and how to respond. In my experience with my own mother and observing others it's best to start talking with your parents early in their retirement, and keep talking about all the different scenarios that may happen as they age, good and bad. For each scenario, find out the options for care or help and discuss these with your parents. Most importantly, find out what they want to happen in each case. It may help to start by arranging a power of attorney, and who will be responsible for their health, welfare and finances should they become incapable of making those decisions. A change in the ability to manage one’s affairs could happen suddenly after a health event, like a stroke, or slowly as a result of dementia. It’s best to be prepared. Become informed with your parents on how ageing may affect them and how they may look after themselves to extend their independence and enjoyment of life. There is plenty of information on the Internet to help with this. I suggest you look at local reputable resources. Regularly check in with your parents, and ask them if there is anything they are struggling with. If so, discuss alternative ways of managing the problem area. Be observant, and if you notice there has been a change in, say, the standard of house keeping, tactfully discuss this with them. Again, it is helpful if you've discussed at an earlier time how to manage these changes and how best to broach the subjects with them. ![]() Changes you may notice include, a drop in:
It is well worth having these hard conversations with your ageing parents as it helps take some of the stress out of their decline and allows you to more readily enjoy their final years. If your parents are struggling at home our friendly therapists may be able to help them maintain their independence. Just contact us at Therapy Professionals Ph: 03 3775280 Email: [email protected] ‘The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion; Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.’ William Shakespeare – As you like it. “The seven stages of man.” ![]() It's Mental Health Awareness Week 21 September – 27 September. Mental Health Awareness Week is run each year by the Mental Health Foundation and it's more timely than ever. This year's theme is Reimagine Wellbeing Together – He Tirohanga Anamata. It’s time to reflect on how we can all improve our mental health. The five ways to wellbeing guide Five Ways to Wellbeing is a set of five simple, evidence-based actions which can improve wellbeing in everyday life. Background The Five Ways to Wellbeing was introduced to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2009 as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, building on work done by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) for the UK Government. This paper aims to develop confidence in organisations and workers that their communication of the messages is supported by best practice, built upon good understanding of the evidence and reflects a consistent national approach. The Mental Health Foundation has commissioned a review of how the Five Ways to Wellbeing has been implemented in Aotearoa since 2009. Further information and practical tips on how to use the Five Ways is available on the website. Wellbeing The Mental Health Foundation believes one of the key aims of a democratic government is to promote the good life: a flourishing society where citizens are happy, healthy, capable and engaged. In other words, a society where people have high levels of wellbeing. Recent years have seen a shift away from a focus on illness alone, to more attention on wellness, both in policy and health practice. In a New Zealand context, this has included better integration of Maori and Pacific concepts of health, including holistic models such as Te Whare Tapa Wha and Fonofale. Illness and wellness are now considered to be more than simply two ends of a continuum, but separately operating dimensions. Five ways to wellbeing: For more information: www.mentalhealth.org.nz
Prevent the spread of cold and flu with regular hand washing In the mid 19th Century Ignaz Semmelweis and Florence Nightingale pioneered hand washing as prevention against the spread of infection. This simple practice revolutionised health care and public health. It is still as important today as it was then. Hand washing is the most effective means of preventing the spread of infection, including winter colds, and flu. Hand washing needs to be done before:
and after:
Hand washing is not just putting a little soap on your hands and running them under the tap. It requires soap that froths, cleaning all the surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds. The following 7 steps for good hand washing are: Step 1: Turn on taps; adjust water temperature to desired heat. Step 2: Wet hands under running water. Step 3: Apply soap to palm of hand (use a soap that froths up well) Step 4: Ensure contact of soap with all surfaces for at least 20 seconds, refer to the following: a) Palm to palm b) Right palm over left back c) Palm to palm fingers of hand and vice versa interlaced. d) Backs of fingers to e) Rotational rubbing of f) Rotational rubbing, backwards and opposing palms with right thumb clasped forwards with clasped fingers of right fingers interlocked. in left palm and vice hand in left palm and vice versa. versa. Step 5: Rinse hands thoroughly for about 20 seconds, as long as it takes to sing Happy
Birthday through twice. Step 6: Dry hands thoroughly with clean towel or paper towel. Step 7: Where possible turn taps off with elbows or paper towel (avoid hand contact with taps and door handles). NB Any broken skin areas should be covered with a dressing. Hand washing technique (Aycliffe et al, 1978, Lawrence 1985) “The Origins of You: how childhood shapes later life”
New book examines how childhood shapes later life. Jim Mora’s interview of Richie Poulson, one of the researchers of the longitudinal Dunedin study on human development and author of: The origins of you: How childhood shapes later life. To listen to interview click here It is very interesting and we recommend you listen to it ![]() Are you losing your mobility? As we age most of us want to keep our independence, this requires us to be mobile. The ability to get up and about with ease is essential for everyday life. How might you know if you are in danger of losing your mobility? To help, here are some early signs of immobility. They include:
There are many reasons why immobility may happen as we age, some common ones are:
The good news is in most cases we can improve our mobility by dealing with the underlying problem and doing regular strength and balance exercises. The sooner we start the better off we will be. Regardless of our age, regular exercise keeps us fit and makes us feel better. Being physically active strengthens the heart and lungs while supplying increased oxygen to the body. This nourishes and strengthens muscles and joints making them work more efficiently. The spin-off is you have greater mobility, feel more energetic, look better and possibly have more fun. If you or someone you know is showing signs of immobility our friendly Physiotherapists can help just contact us at Therapy Professionals. Ph: 03 377 5280 Email: [email protected] ![]() Prevention of Chest Infections - Top tips Environment Indoors
Hygiene about the house - look at your use of chemical cleaners. The Asthma Foundation recommends:
Outdoors
The following websites have extensive information about environmental factors and respiratory health
Positioning and Activity: Positioning
chair, changing position at night. Activity
swimming, blowing games (bubbles, whistles, straws). ![]() Feeding
![]() General Health
When unwell
![]() Oral hygiene and saliva Oral bacterial can cause chest infections, especially for people who have swallowing difficulties.
Therapy Professionals Ltd’s therapists can help many ways during illness. Please feel free to contact us for information and advice. Phone: 03 377 5280 Email: [email protected] Website: www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz ![]() Ageing and Unplanned Weight Loss Unplanned weight loss or malnutrition is more common in older people than any other age group. Regardless of age, unplanned weight loss can indicate a change health and wellbeing and should be checked out by your Doctor. As we age we may lose weight for a number of reasons, which will include some of the following:
Regardless of our age if we are losing weight and it’s unintentional see your Doctor to rule out any underling health problem. Other things you can do to maintain or increase your weight are:
If, after trying these suggestions, you continue to lose weight ask a Dietitian or your GP
about oral nutritional supplements such as Fortisip and Ensure. Remember, supplements don’t replace a good balanced diet they complement it. If you want some help with changing your diet our friendly Dietitian can help. Just contact us at Therapy Professionals. Phone: 03 377 5280 Email: [email protected] Website: www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz Stay on your feet - Be aware of your feet! Falling can be a big issue as we age. Once we’ve fallen a couple of times we start to fear falling and begin to do less and less exercise. Reducing our exercise means we loss muscle strength and our sense of balance making us more likely to trip and fall. If we want to stay on our feet there are a number of things we can do. We can:
These are just a few things, there are many more. For instance being aware of how you walk and step. Like all things, as we age, we can forget to lift our toes while walking, which may cause us to trip more easily. Follow the instructions below and improve your step and reduce the likelihood of tripping. The ankle/foot movements we do help to strengthen the toe–lifting muscles.
You can work these muscles all day. It’s simple! Just exaggerate your normal walking pattern - Heel/Toe Say ‘heel toe’ to yourself
Get the rhythm! Don’t trip! MAKE IT A HABIT Compiled for you by the Physiotherapists at Therapy Professionals Ltd. If you need some help to stay on your feet Therapy Professionals friendly Physiotherapists can help, just contact us on: Phone: (03) 377 5280 Fax: (03) 377 5281 Email: [email protected] Website: www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz |
AuthorShonagh O'Hagan Archives
July 2024
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