Heather Lane's Blog Page

25Mar 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Prevent and Treat Hammertoe: Better Shoes Are Just Part of It

Women love shoes. Not all women and not all shoes, but many women like the way a little bit of heel and a pointy toe can take an outfit from everyday wear to nighttime splendor. Men, too, may prefer a sleek, narrow dress shoe for a professional appearance. Unfortunately, those good looks can add up over the years to form the hammertoe that many seniors experience. If this has already happened to you, is it too late to fix it? What Is Hammertoe? Hammertoe refers to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding middle toe joints. When one of these parts weakens, the toe may have a hard time returning to a neutral position. When the toe is stuck in a bent position, eventually the muscles tighten so…

18Mar 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Back Surgery to Decrease Pain: 3 Tips to Prepare and What to Expect Afterward

back, Health content, Pain, Treatment

Like many other older adults with chronic back pain, you may decide with your doctor that back surgery is the next step. An astounding 70-95% of adults will experience lower back pain in their lifetime. Even dull aches can affect your quality of life if they're consistent. When your back is sore, you may find that you're limiting activities you love to do, whether that’s tinkering around the house, going on hikes, or exploring a new city on foot while on vacation. If you’ve reached the point that back surgery seems to be your best option, knowing what to expect can help ease fears and make you less apprehensive about the procedure. What to do before surgery for back pain Talk to more than one doctor. Consider getting a…

11Mar 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

How to Start an Exercise Routine as an Older Adult

Exercise, Health content, Prevention

Aging takes a toll on the body. Muscle mass dwindles, balance becomes precarious, and various medical conditions—Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, strokes—become more common. However, you may be able to keep these conditions away or under control with a regular exercise routine. Also, exercise will give you greater flexibility and higher levels of energy. Even if you have never exercised before, you can start an exercise routine at any time. Within a short time, you should see significant improvements to your health and improve your lifestyle. Do older adults really need an exercise routine? Older adults often assume that exercise is for younger people. They believe they are past their prime and should have started long ago. Banish these thoughts! Older adults can still see many improvements…

06Mar 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

The Link Between Sleep and the Pesky Peptic Ulcer

knowledge

Trouble sleeping at night is a common complaint among seniors. Whether it’s due to medications, poor sleep hygiene, health conditions or other issues, the result is the same—insomnia. Another common problem, especially for seniors 65 to 74 years old, is peptic ulcers. When both problems are chronic, there can be a connection. What is a peptic ulcer? A peptic ulcer is a sore inside your stomach's lining or the upper part of your small intestine, also known as the duodenum. There are two types of peptic ulcer: Gastric ulcer, when the sore is located in the stomach.Duodenal ulcer, when the sore is located in the duodenum. Ulcers may result in pain, heartburn, nausea, fatty-food intolerances and other ailments, although 75% of patients experience no symptoms at all. Poor sleep can…

26Feb 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Common Mistakes When Caring For A Parent Or Spouse With Dementia

Health content, Uncategorized

It can be overwhelming when your parent or spouse is diagnosed with dementia. At times, you might feel frustrated and confused by the increasing difficulty you have communicating with your loved one. And you most likely won't be the only one in the relationship experiencing frustration, as dementia patients often feel anger, sadness, and fear. The dementia can cause these emotions to present as rapid mood swings, resulting in communication becoming even more difficult. Changes to daily routines, illnesses, and other stressors can make dementia symptoms even worse. Check the Alzheimer's Association's list of dementia symptoms. While you can't control someone else's symptoms, you can control your own communication style. Your days will go more smoothly and you'll be better able to meet your loved one's needs when you're aware…

19Feb 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Don’t Fear Aging: Improve Your Mindset to Age Better

Health content, Prevention

Did you know that changing how you think can increase your lifespan, make you healthier and improve your memory, too? It’s true! No matter how old you are, positive change is always possible. Mindset matters! Two beliefs to increase longevity Being optimistic doesn’t mean being a Pollyanna in your view of the world. It does mean having: A general expectation that good things are coming.A belief that you have control over important outcomes. Research indicates that holding these two beliefs can help you live 11-15% longer! Grow your optimism If you don’t have these two beliefs, don’t worry! You can teach your brain to think differently by reframing experiences that feel negative. Start by writing down an experience that carries negative emotions. Read what you wrote. Then, rewrite the experience…

12Feb 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

When Physical Therapy Sessions End, You’re In Charge of Continued Recovery

Health content, Prevention

Discharge instructions are not always something we take seriously. Sometimes they just end up in the recycle bin. But paying more attention to the post-treatment weeks can contribute to your full, pain-free recovery, according to Dr. Patrick Donovan, owner and physical therapist at Heather Lane Physical Therapy in Denver. “You may be thinking, ‘I finished physical therapy, so I’m done,’” Dr. Donovan says. “But the movement strategies and exercises you learned in your PT sessions can do you a world of good even after you’ve finished the formal treatment.” How long to continue the exercises? The time frame for continuing to do the exercises depends on: The length of your PT course. According to Dr. Donovan, the rule of thumb is that the longer you were in physical therapy, the…

05Feb 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Down With Depression! Physical Therapy Can Help You Stay Out of the Dark

Health content

Depression can feel as if you're in a dense fog that covers you like a smothering blanket, and it's become very common among seniors. More than 6.5 million American adults older than 65 deal with depression on a daily basis. But even if you're dealing with loss or a medical condition, depression doesn't have to be part of normal aging. How can you throw off that blanket, break through from the fog and let the sunshine back into your life? Symptoms of depression in older adults When you have depression in your later years, it can keep you from interacting in the ways that have been familiar to you. Symptoms of depression in older adults can be different from those in younger people. They include: Social withdrawalMemory problemsWeight lossIrritabilityConfusionTrouble sleepingPhysical…

29Jan 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

Keeping Your Body and Brain Healthy Into Your 90s

Health content

When it comes to life expectancy and how good you feel as you age, there are many factors at play. You can't control your genetics, but you can give yourself a big advantage by making healthy lifestyle choices. Get smart about your diet, activity level, daily routine and habits to increase your chances of staying healthy into your 90s. Steps to staying healthy longer If you want to boost your chances of living a longer, healthier life, some of the most important steps you can take are lifestyle changes: Quit smoking.Take all your medications as prescribed by your doctor.Get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week.Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes lots of vegetables, whole grains and lean protein but limited amounts of red meat, fat, and sugar.Drink in…

22Jan 2020 by Rosanne Ullman

5 Simple Ways (Not Exercises!) to Prevent Falls When You’re an Older Adult

Balance, Health content

Nearly 30 million falls are recorded every year among seniors, resulting in more than 27,000 deaths. Unfortunately, fall death rates are on the rise, increasing 30 percent between 2007 and 2016. But falling doesn't have to be an accepted of aging. You may already be doing balance exercises and making sure you get regular physical activity. But did you know that there are other things you could be doing that do not involve exercise but still can significantly decrease your risk of falling? Here are our top five. 1Start a fall prevention plan with your doctor The first step in preventing falls is scheduling an appointment with your physician. Go over your medications with the doctor to determine whether any of them might be increasing your risk of falling. Also…

Learn

Prevent and Treat Hammertoe: Better Shoes Are Just Part of It

Back Surgery to Decrease Pain: 3 Tips to Prepare and What to Expect Afterward

How to Start an Exercise Routine as an Older Adult

The Link Between Sleep and the Pesky Peptic Ulcer

Common Mistakes When Caring For A Parent Or Spouse With Dementia

Don’t Fear Aging: Improve Your Mindset to Age Better

When Physical Therapy Sessions End, You’re In Charge of Continued Recovery

Down With Depression! Physical Therapy Can Help You Stay Out of the Dark

Keeping Your Body and Brain Healthy Into Your 90s

5 Simple Ways (Not Exercises!) to Prevent Falls When You’re an Older Adult

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