Leslie Newlife

Are You Suffering From a Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormones play a significant role in the human body, so much so that a small imbalance can result in a host of side effects that leave you feeling off. But how do you know if what you’re feeling is a hormonal imbalance or something else? Here are some symptoms to look out for, though it’s important to note that a followup with your doctor and blood work is the only way to confirm a diagnosis. 

Types of Hormones

There are several types of hormones in a person’s body, most of which are present in both men and women. Insulin, adrenaline and growth hormones are the main types. Insulin is produced by the pancreas as a means of regulating blood sugar, preventing it from getting too low or high. When this hormone is imbalanced, it can lead to a host of problems, including diabetes. 

When you think of adrenaline, you probably think of the feeling that you get during a fight-or-flight scenario. The truth is, it’s always present in the adrenal glands where it’s produced, then released into the bloodstream in times of stress. Overproduction of the hormone is more common than underproduction and can result in high blood pressure, palpitations, weight loss and excessive sweating. 

Manufactured by the pituitary gland, growth hormones are responsible for the body’s growth, particularly in children, where they help increase height. In adults, growth hormones are responsible for maintaining one’s body structure and regulating metabolism. 

Steroids are another type of hormone that occur naturally within the human body. They make use of proteins and help build up muscle tissue. Cortisol steroids are perhaps the most common and are produced by the adrenal gland, much like adrenaline. Others, including estrogen, androgen and progestagen are sex steroids and primarily function to support reproduction efforts and create gender differences.

What Causes Hormonal Imbalances?

There are a number of events that can result in hormonal imbalances. Some, such as Type 1 diabetes, puberty and menopause, are out of a person’s control, while others occur as a result of lifestyle decisions such as poor diet. 

There are more causes of hormonal imbalances in women — both natural and as a result of outside factors — than men. For many, simply undergoing hormone therapy is enough to restore balance. This can include Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, also known as BHRT. Hormone therapy can be administered in several forms including nasal sprays, capsules, creams and patches. 

Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances in Women

A hormonal imbalance in women can present in different ways, and not everyone will have the same symptoms. Some women experience hot flashes, weight gain or even thinning hair. Others have increased hair growth on the chest, neck, face or back, or suffer from indigestion and constipation. The most common type of hormonal imbalance in women is a result of estrogen production, either too much or too little, which is largely affected throughout the stages of menopause. 

For those brought on by lifestyle decisions, some of the symptoms may be reduced or eliminated altogether with weight loss, eating healthy and taking hormone supplements recommended by the best hormone doctor in Scottsdale or physician. 

Some studies even suggest that specific foods may help with alleviating symptoms brought on by menopause, like hot flashes — it certainly can’t hurt to try. However, for persistent signs, it’s always a good idea to speak with your doctor. 

Hormonal Imbalances in Men

Men are not exempt from hormonal imbalances, and many may stem from testosterone production. Naturally occurring causes include puberty and aging. Medical conditions associated with hormonal imbalances may include hypogonadism, or low testosterone, and prostate cancer. 

Like women, osteoporosis is one symptom. Other common issues include reduced sex drive, low sperm count, erectile dysfunction and reduced hair growth on the body. 

Treating Imbalances

There are two ways to treat imbalance symptoms: with medicine or natural remedies. There are different types of medications and therapies that doctors can prescribe. Seniors especially prone to osteoporosis and loss of muscle mass due to aging may benefit from prolonged hormone therapy according to studies. 

Natural remedies include eating healthy, taking supplements such as ginseng, red clover or evening primrose, along with implementing healthy habits like managing stress, avoiding sugary or pre-packaged foods, exercising regularly and maintaining healthy body weight. 

Hormonal imbalances affect millions of people, including up to 47% of women. Knowing the signs can help you pinpoint symptoms and determine whether it’s time to speak to a doctor. Look for a hormone specialist Maryland here.

Your Retirement: Restore Your Existing Home or Move to a Senior Community

You’re approaching your retirement age and now you face the decision of remaining in your existing home or moving to a senior community. Both are appealing options but may not be right for every circumstance. Here are a few pros and cons of each choice to help you decide. 

Mortgage-Free 

If your home is mortgage-free, you can live pretty well in your existing residence with only homeowner’s insurance and property taxes to pay out annually. On the other hand, moving, even with the sale of your existing home, may still make you liable for a small payment monthly. 

Repairs 

While you may not have a mortgage on your existing home, you will need to make repairs and do basic maintenance as required on an older home. Some items you will want to consider for long-term benefits that make a lasting impact would be roof replacement or foundation repair.  Along with all of the normal maintenance of lawn care, and up-keep. With a new home, you can expect a different type of investment, like decorating with window blinds and shades and maybe some new furniture.

Annual Expenses 

Depending on what state you live in, your property taxes can run into the tens of thousands annually. They can be just like having a second mortgage. And, in retirement, you’re basically living off your savings. Paying these high costs annually may be something that’s no longer affordable. In addition, some older homes have drafts and poor insulation that can cause higher than normal heating and cooling bills. 

Bring in Extra Cash 

Not everyone has substantial savings or a retirement account to live on during their golden years. If you need extra money to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, selling your home may prove beneficial. 

Down-Sizing 

Taking care of a large older home is a labor of love, but the maintenance and chore list can pretty much consume your day. Down-sizing and buying a smaller home, condo, or even moving to a retirement community will reduce the amount of work on your “honey-do” list. This frees up your time for more fun things like travel and pursuing hobbies. 

Will Your Home Sell 

If your home is in need of many updates, selling it may yield a return that’s far less than you anticipated. The cost of making the necessary changes can cost you a lot of your tucked away savings. Carefully weigh the cost of repairs vs. the return you might get when you sell. Typically you do not recoup your investment in your home dollar-for-dollar at sale time.

Single Level 

As you grow older darting up and down the stairs as you did when you were younger can cause you discomfort. Selling your large multilevel house and replacing it with a single level home or apartment will eliminate the need for climbing the stairs repeatedly. 

Familiar/New

There’s something comforting about living in the same home for many years. You raised children and had many social gatherings over the years. It’s also a place that your children love to stay when they come to visit you during the holidays. A new house doesn’t have any past history, however, you can create new memories in your retirement. 

Amenities for You 

A retirement community caters to older adults. Many communities have various amenities such as a weight room, swimming pool, clubhouse and a host of activities that can vary throughout the week. There’s activities, a beauty parlor, wellness centers and spas. Be sure to research each one carefully before selecting your favorite. Remaining in your home, you would have to drive to different locations in order to enjoy these same types of amenities. 

People Your Age 

When you move into a retirement community after you retire, you’re surrounded by people of a similar age. This means that you grew up in the same era, listening to the same music and basically lived a similar lifestyle. This sense of community is often lost when living in a single-family home in a neighborhood where you may be the oldest residents.

There are pros and cons to both selling your home or remaining in it through retirement. Weigh them carefully to see which one works best for you. 

5 Things to Consider with a Hearing Test

Despite how important hearing tests are, they’re not particularly integrated into our lives. If you were headed in for a hearing test, you might not know what the process has in store. That’s why we’ve made a shortlist of five things to keep in mind during a hearing test.

  1. The process of a hearing test

The average hearing test takes about 10 minutes – a pretty quick ordeal for such an important procedure. It will usually start like any other doctor’s appointment, with the hearing specialist asking you a couple of questions.

Afterwards, they’ll take you into the examination room, and you’ll undergo a few procedures. These can vary based on your answers to the specialist’s questions, as well as the resources they have on hand.

 

  1. Are there different kinds of hearing tests?

The most common procedures are an audiogram (listening to noises and responding), an otoscopy (peering into the ear with a concentrated flashlight), and a tympanometry (a probe being inserted into the ear canal).

A tympanometry is the most intrusive of these procedures, and even then, it won’t hurt or feel as bad as it sounds. Depending on the course of the appointment, you may have to go through any combination of these, but like we said, it will never take too much time out of your day.

  1. How much do they cost?

Maybe this is the real reason you or your loved one haven’t considered a hearing test. You might be noticing hearing loss, but you can still hear almost everything, so why spend the money on a hearing test?

Well, this is because hearing loss can be a precursor to (or a symptom of) a larger issue. Even if it isn’t, if left untreated, hearing loss can lead to some serious physical and mental health concerns.

A hearing test can cost up to $250 dollars without insurance. If you have insurance, then hearing tests are usually covered, but it’s always worth checking with your provider.

  1. Are they different for the elderly?

When testing the hearing of the elderly, the process is largely the same as what we listed above. However, in patients with cognitive impairments – like dementia – they may need to be re-instructed on the rules of the test.

If they’re having a lot of difficulty, the audiologist may change the response needed to one that engages the patient more. This could be getting them to raise their hand or saying “yes” out loud when they hear the sound being played in the headphones. This may make the test a bit more hands-on than regular tests, but the mechanics are the same.

  1. Are online hearing tests a good substitute?

While looking around, you may have found a multitude of online hearing tests and thought “why would I go in to get a hearing test when I can just get one online?”

Well, that’s a fair thought, since it could save you the trip, but is it really a fitting substitute for an in-person hearing test? Well, no, not really. It can serve as an adequate check to see if your stereoscopy (hearing the same volume in both ears) is at a good level.

In reality, it’s not even close to a real hearing test. Real-life hearing tests are standardized, and don’t rely on your headphone or computer quality to gauge your hearing level. Nothing beats the real thing!

3 Tips for New Home Caregivers

Becoming a caregiver is often a sudden reality for children. They’re tasked with stepping up and meeting their parents’ needs when their health starts to deteriorate. If you find yourself in this position and don’t know how to take on your new role, read through these tips for new home caregivers.

Keep a Daily Journal

To cut down on the overwhelming nature of daily life, keep a journal of what they do every day. A notebook or online record proves beneficial as you compile all their medication information, exercise logs, doctor’s appointment notes, and more. Particularly when your parents’ memory isn’t strong, a journal is a helpful tool for concretely recording what they’ve done so you can check later.

Be Thoughtful of Senior-Specific Hazards

Memory-Loss Complications

One very important tip for new caregivers is to keep in mind little-known hazards that seniors encounter. For example, if your mother or father usually cooks for themselves but their memory is going, it’s more likely they will accidentally leave on a stove-top burner or other appliances. You can check them afterward or install automatic shut-off mechanisms to prevent a fire or other issues.

Technological Complications

Another aspect you should think about is their technology use. In a technologically connected world, it’s easier than ever to deceive an elderly person over the phone or internet into giving away money or information. Keep tabs on their device use and be active about blocking phone numbers that seem like scams. Also, electromagnetic interference poses its own dangers. Be aware that EMI from cell phones and other electrical devices sometimes disrupts seniors’ sensitive and necessary medical equipment, such as their pacemakers.

Learn How to Effectively Communicate Their Needs

Your most important role apart from sustaining your parents is your advocacy for their needs. Make sure to keep careful records of their medical history, use your journal of daily activities to provide details to the doctor during appointments, and characterize your parents accurately. Though your days may be frustrating as you care for them, be intentional about your objectivity—health-care providers depend on you to know how to treat your mother or father. It’s also important to communicate well so other family members can get a good picture of how your parents are doing. Always remember that there is help. Rather it’s in-home care for a few hours to some social time at an adult day care center, to a short-term respite stay at a community, you deserve a break sometimes and these things are there to help.

Important Retirement Dates to Know

Planning for retirement is too often something Americans do way too late. This causes many people financial distress in their later years. Ideally, financial planning for retirement would begin when a person lands their first full-time job. This happens in the late teens or early 20’s for most people. Unfortunately, at that young age, retirement seems like a problem in the distant future, so many people don’t assess their retirement needs until late into their adult years. When you approach your 50’s, you should start looking into your options, needs, and important deadlines for getting into programs you may be eligible to participate in. This guide will take you through the most important retirement dates to know—although retirement is a personal decision, it depends significantly on governmental regulations and rules.

First important retirement milestone: Age 59 and a half

Your first major retirement milestone comes on your half-birthday when you’re 59. At 59 and a half, you can start withdrawing from your retirement accounts without a penalty. You are technically allowed to take money from your accounts prior to age 59 and a half, but there is a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty for doing so. This year is the first one where you won’t be penalized for removing funds.

Tip: Hold off on taking from your retirement accounts for as long as possible. The longer the money remains in the fund, the more it will grow, and your retirement fund will last longer.

Don’t miss the Social Security sign up: Age 62

When you turn 62, you can sign up for Social Security and start receiving payments. You will not receive full payments until you turn 67, but until that point, you can opt to receive payments at 70 percent of your full retirement amount.

Tip: You don’t have to sign up to receive Social Security at age 62. If possible, wait until your full retirement age to sign up so your checks are at their full amount and last longer.

Enrollment eligibility for Medicare begins: Age 65

Medicare is tricky, as it has deadlines to sign up by to avoid penalty fees, ineligibility, and additional costs. Many people who retire assume they’ll automatically enroll in Medicare, but that is one of many common misconceptions about Medicare that people hold. If you miss your enrollment deadline, you’ll suffer the penalty of 10 percent of your monthly premium—regardless of if you missed the enrollment period by a month or a year.

Full retirement kicks in: Age 67

For everyone born after 1960, the full retirement age is 67. This is when your full eligibility kicks in for Social Security benefits. This means you’ll begin to receive payments that are 100 percent of your Social Security benefit.

Make sure you take full advantage of these programs and other that will help you pay for your retirement living and care in your senior years.

How to Plan the Perfect Senior Living Menu

Menu planning is an important task for professionals working in the senior living industry. In a senior living home, careful attention must be paid to the kind of food that is being served to the residents. It is important for the management staff to make sure that all residents consume their minimum daily nutrition requirements. However, planning a menu is much easier said than done. There are a variety of factors that need to be taken into account during this process. Here are some key factors that should be taken into consideration:

Costs

The preparation and serving of food is a large cost for most facilities. A monthly budget and menu planning are key to staying on track financially. Using tools such as shopping lists and production sheets are excellent ways to cut back on waste and excess spending. It is possible to create a balanced and healthy menu, but only if limits are set and planning is done beforehand.

Variety

Variety is another key factor to take into consideration while meal planning for residents in assisted living homes. The majority of people will grow tired of foods that are repeatedly offered, which could potentially lead to decreased meal satisfaction and eating altogether. Therefore, a menu for a senior living facility should be diverse while still incorporating resident favorites. Different types of food, cooking methods and seasonal options are great ways to increase variety.

Main Food Groups

Understanding the five main food groups is important before planning the perfect senior living menu. Incorporating a variety of different types of food may add balance to a meal. The five main food groups are:

  • Dairy products
  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Grains
  • Protein foods

One may argue that there is a sixth food group: sweets and fatty foods. While these types of foods are recommended in moderation, it is important to add these items to the menu on occasion to maintain resident satisfaction. By incorporating a variety of food groups, it will be easier to ensure that residents are consuming adequate nutrients to provide the energy that they need.

Incorporate the Residents

If circumstances permit, it may be a fun idea to incorporate residents on menu planning decisions. Collecting ideas of favorite meals, things they would like to try and things that they absolutely will not eat can give guidance and assistance to those that may find themselves in a rut while creating a menu. Also, seniors may feel more inclined to eat if they know that they have a voice with what happens in the kitchen.

Seasonal Rotating Menus

Weekly rotating menus are a great way to simplify while still having enough variety to keep the menu interesting for residents. For example, Grove Menus runs on a 5 week rotating schedule. Another option Grove Menus offers is to update menus according to season. While most facilities choose to have two cycles per year (spring/summer and fall/winter), it is also possible to update to four cycles per year (a new menu for each individual season).

 

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4586549/

https://www.grovemenus.com/menus-for-assisted-living-facilities

How Seniors Can Do More to Protect Their Health and Well Being

Being concerned about your well-being isn’t just something you do in your early years of life. Rather, it’s more important than ever to protect your health and well-being going into your senior years as your body takes longer to rebound from illnesses. Here are five different suggestions that you can implement to protect your health in your golden years and beyond.

Discover Suitable Exercise Programs

Exercise programs will change with your physical abilities over time. While you may have enjoyed a rigorous exercise program while you were in your 20’s and 30’s, you may need to opt for a less strenuous program that’s easier on the joints. Physical fitness activities that are more suitable for seniors include water aerobics, Pilates, yoga, and resistance band workouts. These types of programs tend to take it much easier on your joints and muscles.

DNA Testing For Disease Predisposition

As DNA testing is becoming more widely utilized in average medical practices, it’s something you should consider an advantage to your well-being. By using DNA testing to uncover genetic health risks, you can better ensure that you get regular testing for conditions that you are more at risk for. You should talk with your doctor about getting DNA testing and follow up with what your test results show. This way, you can get the right exams scheduled to ensure that you stay healthy.

Make Regular Plans For Socialization

After retirement, you can find yourself at home with not a lot of tasks to accomplish. Getting out and scheduling social interactions is a must for your well-being. You want to ensure that you make regular meetups throughout the week so that you’re accountable for going somewhere. It will make such a large difference in your life when you have other people that you can talk with regularly instead of just sticking to being at home alone.

Be Mindful Of The Weather

There’s a reason that seniors will opt for staying home on those cold winter days. The weather can wreak havoc on your body and avoiding extreme temperature changes is a great idea to ensure your overall well-being. Older adults should be mindful of the risks of cold weather and properly prepare. Whether that means rescheduling appointments when extremely cold weather is to hit or simply wearing adequate clothing to ensure you stay warm, be mindful of the weather to ensure your good health stays around.

Schedule Regular Exams

As you’ve learned above, your health becomes more precious as you get older. Your body can’t react to heal itself as quickly as it once did when you were in your prime. Therefore, it’s important that you schedule regular health exams to ensure that you’re staying on top of issues before they get out of control and hard to fight. This includes not only physical health exams by your family physician but also eye exams, hearing exams, dental exams, and so forth. Preventative care is the key to ensuring that you stay healthy way into the future.

In your senior years, you need to be more mindful of your overall health. You can’t bounce back from diseases and conditions as quickly as you could when you were younger. The above five tactics are great suggestions to help ensure that you stay at the top of your physical health for years to come. Protecting your well-being should be number one on your list of priorities as a senior citizen.

3 Tips for Staying Active After Retirement

Retirement is full of opportunities. There are new people to meet, hobbies to try, and life to live. A healthy, active lifestyle can help you make the most out of every day. Establishing an exercise routine can be daunting no matter where you are in life, but the payoff is more than worth it. From walking every day to joining groups in your retirement community, here are three tips for staying active after retirement.

A Little Bit Goes a Long Way

An active lifestyle doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym every day. Even just a bit of light activity every day can improve your health. Walking and stretching daily helps get your blood flowing and boost your energy. When you add a little bit of activity to your routine, you build your strength and endurance, making it easier to do more intense exercises down the road. Most importantly, though, you’ll have the energy to pursue your interests and fill your retirement with the things you enjoy.

Take Care of Yourself

No matter how you exercise, you must take care of your health every step of the way. Staying hydrated is key, drink plenty of water and other healthy drinks. If you exercise outside, wear sunscreen or layers when appropriate. You know how important it is to wear skin protection against the sun when you’re young. Now it is all the more important. Always put on broad-spectrum physical sunscreen before you go out. And carry a travel-friendly bottle everywhere with you so you can reapply outside anytime. The moisture, sweat, and wiping your face gradually strip off the sunscreen on the skin, so you need to slather it again to have a full-time sun shield. Invest in quality workout gear, like a durable pair of shoes or compression gear to provide support and comfort as you work out. You should also work a few rest days into your routine, especially if you’re doing more intense exercises like cardio or strength training.

Make it Social

One of the best tips for staying active after retirement is to do activities you enjoy with people you like. Don’t be afraid to try something new if it interests you. Look for yoga groups, dance classes, or sports teams in your retirement community. Find people with similar interests and try working out with them a couple times a week. By making your workouts a social activity, you help maintain your mental and emotional wellbeing—as well as your physical health.

What to Do Before an Estate Sale

It’s tough to watch your parents get older. Role reversals can happen in the blink of an eye. For example, you may need to start taking care of your parents when you’re used to them taking care of you. One thing that can make the transition a little easier is moving your parents out of their home. Consider moving them into a nursing home if needed, or perhaps they could even live with you. Before you decide on either option, you must first move your parents out of their home. It’s a good idea to have an estate sale before this, because they’ll most likely need to get rid of a lot of stuff. This guide will tell you what to do before an estate sale so the process is less overwhelming.

Get Appraisals Beforehand

Everyone should get their items appraised before an estate sale. You need to have professionals look at your parents’ stuff before you decide if you want to sell it. For example, take all your mother’s antique jewelry to a professional jeweler. They can determine the value of the antique pieces. From there, you can decide whether you want to sell it to the experts, put it up for sale at the estate sale, or if you want to keep it yourself. It’s crucial to get things appraised, so you know how much everything is worth before the big day.

Set Minimum Prices

It’s essential to set minimum prices for every item at your estate sale. You need to be firm with your pricing. If you don’t, people will capitalize on your kindness and try to rip you off. Make sure every piece that’s up for sale is clearly marked. Also, ensure that all attendees know you have a minimum price in mind. Sure, it’s okay to negotiate. However, you can’t let items go for much less than they’re worth. Then, you won’t make any money—and it’s so important to have extra cash as your parents get older.

Advertise Your Estate Sale

You need people to show up to your estate sale. If no one comes, the whole thing is for nothing. For people to show up, you must advertise as much as possible. Post about the estate sale on social media. Ask your nieces and nephews to spread the word on their profiles, too. Also, make fliers to place around areas in the neighborhood. Hang them in your local libraries and tiny cafes. The more vocal you are about your estate sale, the more money you’ll make when it’s all said and done.

It’s hard to realize your parents need help. However, there comes a point when you must admit that it’s necessary. Holding an estate sale will help you finance the next point in their lives. You’ll need additional funds to help pay for care. So please, talk with your parents and see which of their items they will part with. Then, organize an estate sale so you all can begin to plan for this newest chapter in your lives.

Steps to Keep Walking as You Age

Aging presents a number of challenges, both physical and mental. However, there are a host of actions you can take to prevent loss of mobility and stay independent. Here are some steps that will keep you up and walking with confidence.

Perform Stretches

One of the common effects of aging is loss of flexibility in the feet. Often, elderly people experience impaired dorsiflexion. This means that their toes cannot bend upward, making walking difficult. The positioning and stiffness of the toes may also result in a great deal of pain. By stretching the area with the aid of hands or picking up marbles with your toes, you can strengthen them so that they can move more normally once again. If you live in an assisted living community, you can most likely receive help in performing these stretches from the staff there.

Exercise Your Legs

You may find that your legs themselves are also weaker or unbalanced as time goes on. This is where exercises are helpful. As an example, you can improve your leg strength and balance by leaning on one leg, then raising the other leg up sideways and attempting to balance in that position for several seconds. Besides your legs, your core plays a fundamental role in your balance while walking, so you should do exercises to build it up as well. At a basic level, you may twist your torso from side to side or lean on each side by lowering one shoulder and holding the position before switching. As your core becomes sturdier, you may move up to bridges and crunches.

Get a Form of Support

After much time spent stretching and exercising your legs, walking may still not seem as easy as it once was. Because of this, you should look to a form of external support to aid you as you walk. This will allow you to adjust to differences in your body and provide an extra measure of safety and security. Learn how to safely use your cane or walker, then with the image of the proper movements in your head, walk a short distance indoors. Slowly increase your time and distance until you can walk with more ease. Walking is an excellent way to stay limber and vibrant, retaining independence no matter what your age.

If you find yourself or a loved one struggling with walking, balance, and other mobility, consider physical therapy or rehab. services.