One test for Covid and flu
Is it Covid or the flu? Now nine at-home tests can detect the coronavirus and influenza at the same time. Many of the tests, which can be sold over the counter, were just approved in the spring. The combination tests look and work a lot like traditional at-home Covid tests. They’re easy to use and fast, often delivering results within 15 minutes. Most are slightly more expensive than regular Covid tests, around $30 for a pack of two, though they may not be covered by insurance.
Are you at risk of severe flu?
Flu infections have started picking up here in Georgia. For many, the immune system can clear flu symptoms in about a week. But, for others, it can lead to severe illness, hospitalization or even death. Flu causes up to 710,000 hospitalizations and 51,000 deaths every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These factors put people most at risk of severe health outcomes:
- Age. Young children and older people are consistently hospitalized with the flu at the highest rates because their immune systems are less robust.
- Lung diseases. In adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the body can have a harder time clearing a bout of flu. An infection can also further inflame the airways, making it even more difficult for patients to breathe.
- Obesity and chronic metabolic diseases. Excess weight can make it more difficult to take the deep breaths needed to clear an infection from the lungs. In patients with diabetes, a bout of flu can make blood sugar levels hard to control.
- Heart disease. About half of adults hospitalized with the flu have heart disease, according to the CDC. Studies have shown that flu increases the risk of heart attack and stroke in those with cardiovascular disease.
- High blood pressure. In the two most recent flu seasons, about three-quarters of patients older than 65 hospitalized for flu had high blood pressure. For people with hypertension, a flu infection can put even greater strain on the heart.
- Vaccination status. Flu vaccines significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization in children and adults by about a third. Yet flu vaccination has been dropping in the U.S. Slightly less than half of Americans six months and older received a flu vaccine last year.
America’s falling epidemic
Whether it’s Jay Leno or Nancy Pelosi hitting the ground, falls are making the headlines. They are happening more frequently to not only famous seniors but those of us not so famous. More than 1 in 4 people over age 65 fall each year, resulting in 3.6 million ER visits and 1.2 million hospital stays. Nationwide, 41,000 older Americans die from falls annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the number of falls increases by about 1.5% every year.
Researchers suggest more investment is needed in terms of education and prevention. CDC operates a program known as STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries), which is a screening tool for healthcare providers to assess patients’ fall risk factors such as a history of falls, vision problems, inadequate vitamin D intake and foot problems. In one common test, the patient must get up from a chair, walk 10 feet, turn around, walk back and sit down. If this takes more than 12 seconds, they are deemed to be at risk for a fall.
Federal legislation has been introduced to make fall-risk assessment part of Medicare’s annual wellness benefit for all seniors. In the meantime, the National Council on Aging advises older Americans to take a free online risk survey and then follow the recommendations to avoid a fall. These include reviewing your medications, adding night lights, installing grab bars, getting rid of scatter rugs and when needed, using a medical alert system.
Another risk for falling
AARP recently published an article that highlighted the risk of falling because of multifocal lenses such as progressives, bifocals or trifocals. Studies have shown that those wearing multifocal lenses are twice as likely to suffer falls than those wearing single-vision lenses.
The reason is that multifocal lenses make it harder to see the ground below so the wearer may miss the bottom step or trip over an unseen obstacle. Professional advice encourages two pairs of glasses, with single lens glasses for walking. For those who don’t want to hassle with two pairs, the advice is to “drop your chin,” when walking on stairs or uneven surfaces so that you’re looking through the upper portion of the lens, which allows for distance focusing.
Sciatica – ow!
Sciatic pain can feel worse than it is. Usually, it’s an irritation of the sciatic nerve rather than damage to the nerve, and there are steps you can take to relieve it, according to Harvard Medical School experts. Pill-free approaches include:
- Stay active. Don’t take to your bed because part of lower back pain is muscle related. If you don’t move, they tighten up.
- Modify activities. Do only what you can tolerate. Lighten that basket of laundry or rest a foot on the lower cabinet while washing dishes as that takes tension off the nerve.
- Stretch. You can try touching your toes to stretch back and leg muscles or try some yoga poses – cat/cow is especially effective.
- Use hot or cold therapy. It varies from person to person; heat loosens muscles and cold can tamp down inflammation. See what works for you.
- Relaxation. Staying relaxed is an important part of controlling both acute pain and chronic pain. All pain is processed in the mind; calming the processing center may decrease the perception of pain. Breathing exercises, meditation, yoga or tai chi are useful.
These over-the-counter remedies can help also:
- Oral painkillers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and pain but get your doctor’s recommendation for dose and frequency. Too much can cause serious problems. Tylenol is less effective but also less risky.
- Topical painkillers. Applying topical NSAIDs can bring relief as can other topicals with anesthetics such as lidocaine; pain signal interrupters such as menthol or capsaicin, or arnica gel, an herbal remedy with anti-inflammatory properties.
- Turmeric supplements. This spice contains curcumin, which appears to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
A typical flare-up lasts from a few days to a week or two; if it’s not improving, it’s time to call your doctor.
New Approach to Lower Back Pain
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common cause of lower back pain in many older adults. Now, a study out of the University of Florida is showing that a minimally invasive procedure, known as mild®, provides pain relief and improved physical function for at least a year.
The study followed 136 men and women between the ages of 16 and 89 who underwent the mild® procedure (Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression). It is designed to reduce pressure on the spine by removing part of a thickened ligament. Unlike traditional spinal surgery, mild® doesn’t require general anesthesia, large incisions, or extended recovery time, making it a safer option for many older patients.
Patient-reported pain levels dropped dramatically within the first month after the procedure. Although the pain relief lessened over time, the 12-month follow-up still showed marked improvement compared to baseline levels. In addition, more than 65% of patients reported better physical function throughout the study, with no decrease in mobility or quality of life. John Schieszer
Five of the best exercises for seniors
Regular exercise can improve your mood, boost your ability to fend off infection and lower your risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and colon cancer. These five activities are some of the best exercises you can do to help you get in shape and lower your risk of disease, according to experts from Harvard Medical School.
- Swimming. The buoyancy of the water supports your body and takes the strain off painful joints so it’s great for people with arthritis. Research has found that swimming also improves your mental state. Water aerobics is another option.
- Tai chi. The Chinese martial art that combines movement and relaxation is good for both body and mind – it’s been called “meditation in motion.” Tai chi is particularly good for older people because balance is something we lose as we get older. But take a class to learn the proper form.
- Strength training. If you don’t use your muscles, they will lose their strength over time. And muscle helps burn calories. Form is important as you can hurt yourself so get some instructions before you start. And start light, then increase by a pound or two after a couple of weeks.
- Walking. Simply walking is a powerful way to stay trim, improve cholesterol levels, strengthen bones, keep blood pressure in check, lift your mood and lower your risk for several diseases. Get a well-fitting, supportive pair of shoes and start walking for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time until you’re walking 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week.
- Kegel exercises. These exercises are important because they strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder. Strong pelvic floor muscles can go a long way toward preventing incontinence. Many women know about Kegels, but these exercises can benefit men too. Simply squeeze the muscles you use to prevent yourself from passing urine or gas. Hold two to three seconds, then release and be sure to fully relax the muscles after contraction. Repeat 10 times and try to do four to five sets a day.
A local walking club
Sometimes it helps to have encouragement to exercise from a group. Southeast Striders Walking Club walks in and beyond Athens for what they describe as “Fun, Fitness and Friendship.” The club is an affiliate of America’s Walking Club. Trail masters develop safe and interesting 5 and 10-kilometer walk events, which are open to anyone. For more information: https://southeaststriderswalkingclub.org/
Worried about your eating habits?
If the new year has you thinking about turning over a new leaf when it comes to changing unhealthy eating habits, consider Overeaters Anonymous (OA). This is a community of people who support each other to recover from compulsive eating and other unhealthy food-related behaviors through a 12-step program.
There are two local groups: one meets at the 24th Street Club at 150 Collins Industrial Boulevard both in person and by Zoom on Tuesdays at noon. For a link, text Trish at 678-736-3697. The other meeting is on Saturdays at 10:30 at Covenant Presbyterian Church at 1065 Gaines School Road; it’s a hybrid meeting also; for a link, text Cathleen at 706-224-4919.
