INDEX planning for later life staying fit
Good living, laughter and friends are key to staying energetic and optimistic, as these residents at Rockdale in Sevenoaks would testify
at any age Vascular
Health
health, there are plenty of simple things we can do. For instance, Dr Sarah Schenker, Nutrition Scientist with the British Nutrition Foundation, suggests foods to maintain a healthy heart. An easy step to take, she says, is to replace butter on bread or toast with one of the easily available spreads that reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood to reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes. Opt for a brand containing plant stanols or sterol esters, which are natural plant- derived substances. Other foods that are ‘heart friendly’ include green vegetables, such as broccoli, peppers and Brussels sprouts, oily fi sh such as herring, sardines, salmon and mackerel, nuts, seeds, berries, fl ax seed oil, tofu, soya milk, garlic, avocados, sweet potatoes, mangoes, oranges and melon.
W Cutting down on salt is
effective in helping to lower
www.indexmagazine.co.uk
hen it comes to keeping
ourselves in the best possible
blood pressure and risk of stroke, so check food labels for salt content.
More Top Tips for a Healthy Later Life
• Exercise such as gardening, playing tennis or bowls can be just what the body needs to stay supple. Yoga and exercise classes can be good too and seeking the company of others is a good way to avoid isolation, loneliness and depression. • If you smoke and want to give up, ask your GP or pharmacist to get advice and support. • Socialise with others and get involved in a local volunteer group. Your skills are still valued, and can help local organisations such as Age UK. • Stay positive! Research shows that having a positive outlook to later life and the changes it brings helps you stay healthy and live longer than those who only see the negatives. Meeting new friends and trying new activities is a great way to begin. • Get regular health checks and attend invitations for a fl u jab, Diabetes, eyes, blood pressure check ups and cancer screening.
Gabrielle Stapleton looks at the simple steps we can take to help us stay as healthy as possible as we grow older
If you have trouble with mobility or travel let the surgery know and arrangements can be made for transport. • Protect your eyes and ears with free NHS sign tests if you are eligible. • Avoid excessive exposure to the sun. While it’s good to be outside in good weather, high temperatures and humidity can also lead to heat-related illness so don’t over do it. • Sleep well to get all the associated health benefi ts. • Keep your fi nances healthy. Make sure your pension and savings are working in your best interests, ensure you are claiming all the benefi ts you are entitled to and if you haven’t already done so, make a will. A local solicitor can help with this, or see
www.nextstepwills.com
Did you know that leg ulcers are no longer incurable and that a majority can be cured with an outpatient appointment under local anaesthetic? Furthermore, correct investigation an d treatment of people with damaged or discoloured skin at the ankle can prevent the formation of a leg ulcer forming. Around 500,000 people in the UK have recurrent leg ulcers but the understanding of the condition is little known despite new and on-going research. GPs and nurses may have confl icting advice about treatment but one thing is clear: you can and should see a vascular specialist who has more experience in this fi eld of medicine (unless the patient is immobile, has poor ankle movement, is very unwell for any other reason or has a very short life expectancy). Ask your GP to refer you to a specialist vascular surgeon such as Mr Mark Tyrrell General Surgeon, PhD, MBBCh (Wits), DIC, FRCS(Eng.), FRCSEd, FRCS(Gen), who runs a vascular surgery clinic for the NHS and privately in Tunbridge Wells and London. Specialist tests such as Duplex Ultrasound and often PPG will provide an ‘inside view’ of the vascular system allowing the surgeon to advise the best treatment which can be performed under local anaesthetic. There are other private clinics which also offer this service. More information can be found at
www.legulcers.co.uk
33
The INDEX magazine February 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68