Hearing Loss and its Impact on the Baby Boomer Generation

 Health & Medicine, Of Interest to Boomers, Well Being, What's Happening?  Comments Off
Apr 182012
 

Guest Author: Holly Alonis, WestGlen Communications on behalf of The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEE)

Hearing loss is a problem shared by many people of all ages, but did you know that hearing loss among baby boomers is rapidly becoming a growing public health issue? In fact, the National Institutes for Health estimate that 25% to 40% of people over 65 already have some degree of hearing loss.

As we enjoy longer lives, hearing loss is becoming a leading disability among seniors. Because of this, the NYEE has released a new Public Service Announcement featuring world-renowned trumpeter and composer Chris Botti and composer, singer, author, actor, and activist Sting.  The PSA was created to raise awareness about hearing loss among baby boomers and urges viewers to visit http://iLikeMyHearing.org, a new educational website about hearing health.

Hearing loss can impact our relationships, work, leisure pursuits and even safety. That’s why all adults, and in particular baby boomers, should take control of their hearing health as soon as possible. So how can you learn more about getting your hearing tested? Below are few ways:

  • Check out the new Public Service Announcement featuring Chris Botti with voice-over narration by Sting by visiting the following link: http://youtu.be/GpObUbm65A4
  • Invite your readers to visit fb.com/iLikeMyHearing to enter the NYEE’s “Favorite Sounds Sweepstakes.” Visitors can choose to like the page by recording their own favorite sounds, and by doing so enter the sweepstakes. The sweepstakes prize is the $5,000-value opportunity for the winner and ten friends to share dinner with Chris Botti at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary’s November 15 fundraising gala.

It’s never too early to be concerned about your hearing health. That’s why I hope you can share this important message with your loved ones, friends and family. Please be sure to check out http://iLikeMyHearing.org for more information.

Stroke

 Health & Medicine, Of Interest to Boomers, Well Being  No Responses »
Mar 092012
 

 

Arthur Koff and his dog Duncan

Picture of Arthur Koff and his dog Duncan

This information is provided by Art Koff, a senior in his late 70’s who “retired” after 40+ years from a successful career in advertising to found RetiredBrains.com, a job and information resource for boomers, retirees and people planning their retirement.

Stroke symptoms: important actions you should take to perhaps save your life as well as creating a better quality of life after your stroke:

Similar to a heart attack, a stroke is an emergency that requires you to seek immediate medical attention. Perhaps the most important action you can take is getting to the hospital as soon as you recognize these symptoms. Immediate treatment is the key to improving your outcome.

Rapid diagnosis and treatment of a stroke can minimize damage to your brain tissue and improve the chances of survival. Do not hesitate calling for an ambulance as your symptoms subside as many seemingly attacks are often followed by full-blown strokes.

Here are some of the symptoms of a stroke and the immediate actions you should take.

1. Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
2. Sudden loss, blurring, or dimness of vision
3. Mental confusion, loss of memory, or sudden loss of consciousness
4. Slurred speech, loss of speech, or problems understanding other people
5. A sudden, severe headache with no apparent cause
6. Unexplained dizziness, drowsiness, lack of coordination, or falls
7. Nausea and vomiting, especially when accompanied by any of the above symptoms

Recognizing a Stroke.

STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters….S.T.R.  Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

  • S – Ask the individual to SMILE..
  • T – Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today).
  • R  – Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call an emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke ——– Stick out Your Tongue.  Ask the person to ‘stick’ out his/her tongue.. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

Actions To Take

  • Stay calm, but don’t downplay any of the symptoms or hesitate to take prompt action.
  • Call or have someone call an ambulance. (Dial 911 in most parts of the United States.) Be sure to give your name, telephone number, and exact whereabouts.
  • While waiting for the ambulance, the person having the stroke symptoms should be made as comfortable as possible and should not eat or drink anything other than water.
  • If an ambulance cannot arrive within 20 to 30 minutes, have a family member, neighbor, or someone else drive the stroke patient to the hospital. Under no circumstances should the person experiencing the stroke symptoms drive.
  • Notify the stroke patient’s doctor. The doctor can provide the hospital with the patient’s medical history, which may be important for determining the best treatment.
  • At the hospital, be sure to list any medical conditions the stroke patient has (such as high blood pressure or diabetes), any allergies (particularly allergies to medications), and any medications the patient is currently taking, including over-the-counter remedies, vitamins, and dietary supplements.

Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician.

Personal experience of someone who suffered a stroke.

If you have experienced a stroke or have a friend or loved one who has, this information written by Mickey Padnos, an American currently living in France and recovering from a major stroke will be helpful and provide insights on what someone who has had a stroke is thinking and has gone through..  Click this link to read of his experience and thought process from the time he hit the floor through his therapy and recovery (page down to the “personal experience of someone who suffered a stroke” part of the page).

There’s Still Time to Get Vaccinated Against the Flu this Season!

 Health & Medicine, Of Interest to Boomers, Well Being  No Responses »
Dec 142011
 

By: Carole Yamaguchi, mother of Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi

Carol & KristiThe flu is a serious and potentially deadly disease that hospitalizes hundreds of thousands of Americans and kills thousands more every year. I want to do everything I can to help protect myself and my family from influenza and its related complications, which is why I make sure we all get our flu shots each and every year.

When my daughter Kristi was younger, I knew that getting the flu could ruin her dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal. In fact, during the 1988 Olympics, we saw another figure skater who was unable to compete due to a severe case of the flu. That really helped emphasize the importance of a flu shot even more for our family.

Influenza vaccination isn’t just important for athletes. Everyone 6 months of age and older is recommended for annual vaccination, and it is especially important that older adults like me get vaccinated. As we age, our immune systems often get weaker, and we might not be able to fight the flu as well as we used to. I encourage others who are 65 years of age and older to talk to their health care provider to learn more about the seriousness of influenza and the flu vaccine options for our age group.

To help increase vaccination rates, the American Lung Association’s Faces of Influenza campaign has worked for the past six years to show all Americans that they are among the many “faces” of influenza. This year, Kristi and I are spearheading the initiative to boost influenza immunization rates among family members of all generations. Mothers often are the primary health care decision-makers of the family, and it’s important we ensure our entire family, from children, husband and grandparents, get a flu shot every year.

It’s also important to recognize that there is still plenty of time to get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so. Many Americans associate influenza with the fall, but you may be surprised to learn that during many flu seasons, influenza activity doesn’t peak until winter or early spring. In fact, virus activity peaked in February or later in approximately half of the past 35 flu seasons.

Talk to your health care provider about your best options for influenza immunization, and put vaccination on your family’s “to-do” list now to make sure you have a happy and healthy holiday season and a great start to the new year.

Carol getting her shot

Hearing Loss – More Common Than We Are Lead to Believe

 Health & Medicine, Well Being  No Responses »
Dec 012011
 

(Guest article)

It is estimated that over 35 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss. The most common type of hearing loss is age-related hearing loss; and as the population within the western world is expected to live longer; it stands to reason that there will be even more cases of age-related hearing loss.

In this article we will take a closer look at the two most common types of hearing loss, age-related and noise-induced hearing loss. The purpose of which is to create more awareness to this type of disability and to detail various options for those with hearing loss to consider.

Age-Related Hearing Loss

Within the cochlea of the inner ear, tiny hair cells are tasked with transferring information contained within incoming sound to the nerve fibres responsible for transmitting this information to those areas in the brain which deal with our sense of hearing.

When these hair cells deteriorate or are damaged due to the natural ageing process, hearing loss may occur. The level of hearing loss will vary from one person to the next depending on the severity of the damage and other conditions that may also be present within the ear. Age related hearing loss is not exclusive to the very old. Deterioration in hearing ability can be observed in some individuals as early as their 40s. In most cases, the hearing loss takes place as a gradual deterioration over a number of years, and is often ignored until the effects become very noticeable to others.

There is currently no cure for age-related hearing loss. Individuals diagnosed with this type of hearing loss can use a number of devices to manage the effects of the loss, but the underlying hearing loss will be permanent. The inner hair cells essential within the hearing pathway do not regenerate once damaged. The most common device used is a hearing aid, a mini-computer housed in a variety of styles that can amplify external sound and deliver this sound into the ear canal of the wearer. Other popular options are called ‘assistive listening devices’ that amplify sound for specific applications such as from home or cell phones; doorbells; alarm clocks or the television.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

When it comes to noise induced hearing loss, although area of pathology also involves the hair cells of the inner ear, the cause of the deterioration/damage is from an external source. Prolonged exposure to harmful levels of noise can destroy the hair cells. The level of resultant hearing loss will greatly depend on the duration of exposure, closeness to the noise source and the level of noise.

Those diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss are usually provided with the same options as those with age related hearing loss. Emphasis however should also be placed on prevention of further hearing loss. In the workplace, employers often take a combination of steps to reduce the risk of hearing loss. The most common being pre-emptive steps in the form of noise level assessments, introducing clear guidelines and safety procedures, wearing hearing protection and giving employees access to regular hearing tests. In our private lives there are no ‘government regulations’ to follow and no laws to adhere to. To avoid damage from noise, individuals should use hearing protection and refrain from placing themselves in noisy situations without due care and attention.

Hearing loss that is simply ignored can lead to other problems. These well-documented issues include social exclusion and reduced interaction with others, feelings of embarrassment, anxiety or even depression; all contributing to diminished quality of life. To relieve any concerns about possible hearing loss, a hearing test should be done. This test is relatively quick and non-invasive.

Joan McKechnie BSc Hons Audiology & Speech Pathology at hearing aids company Hearing Direct. You can read her blog for more information on hearing loss.