OLD AGE IS NOT FOR SISSIES

NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE FEARED

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A Cupful of Smoothie Helps the Vitamins Go Down

December 13, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Health

Every morning I have a routine that includes a smoothie.  I feel strongly about drinking milk and eating fruit, so I’ve combined the two.  I keep frozen fruit and whole milk on hand.  Add a little stevia, a half of a banana, five cubes of ice, and voila, it is perfect.

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For variety I use about five strawberries or a small handful of cherries or a small handful of pineapple, and you get the picture.   I’ve been known to make it with mango or peaches, too.   I also use a cup of whole milk.

I was fortunate to grow up with fresh milk delivered daily from a small dairy near my hometown.  Mr. Davidson brought us a glass quart of fresh room temperature milk everyday.  You had to shake it up to get the cream on top to mix with the rest of the milk.

Today, out of a longtime habit I still shake my milk, even though it doesn’t need it.  My kids noticed this years ago.  It was a mindless habit left over from my childhood.

Speaking of my childhood, everyone I knew drank whole milk; and I cannot remember many elderly broken bones back then.  There was an occasional broken hip, but not as many as we seem to have today.

My paternal grandmother lived next door to us, and she suffered from vertigo when she reached her 70s.  We would hear her fall next door in her big old wooden house that set a good 6 feet up off the ground.  We knew to come quickly, and we expected something to be broken but it never was.  She lived to be 91, and except for a wrist break she never suffered anything serious.

I bought her groceries when she was in her 80s and noticed that she drank a gallon of milk a week.  She set a good example for all of us.  She kept moving and busy, she ate small portions but she ate every kind of food that she wanted including milk; and she kept a positive attitude.  She is my role model for living well into my elderly years.

As for my smoothies, to the fruit and milk I add my vitamins to the mix.  I take 320 mg of Magnesium Citrate, 25 mg of zinc and 5 mg of melatonin, all in capsule or tablet form.  I open the capsules and pour in the contents and/or toss in the tablets. 

I take all three of these to help me sleep, and they work very well.  You can read more about my problem with sleeping and what my doctor suggested Here in an earlier post.

Lately, I’ve been adding my collagen powder, too.

I have been known to add other flavorful ingredients to my smoothie, such as a few pecans or walnuts and/or a teaspoon of flax seeds.  It changes the texture somewhat, but I love it.

I also add extracts from time to time.  If I use pineapple for my fruit, then I add some coconut extract  and some rum extract.  It makes a great tasting virgin pina colada.  I’ve been known to make these later in the day substituting rum for the rum extract.

When I make a peach smoothie, I like to add orange extract.

I’ve even added a teaspoon of instant coffee for a coffee-flavored smoothie.  The coffee flavor goes with almost every type of fruit.

I mix my chosen ingredients together in a blender and blend until I cannot hear the ice banging around in there.

So there you have it.  My morning smoothie has become a real breakfast routine for me, along with an egg and some whole wheat toast.

Do you have a morning breakfast routine to share?  Or do you know of other ingredients that can add variety to my smoothies?  Please do share!

On the Ebola Front

December 9, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Health

“This from the BBC.

“Sierra Leone has overtaken neighboring Liberia as the country with the highest number of Ebola cases, the latest World Health Organization figures suggest.

Its latest estimate of the cumulative number of cases since the start of the outbreak in March now stands at 7,780 in Sierra Leone and 7,719 in Liberia.  In Guinea, the figure is 2,283. The virus has killed more than 6,300 people in the three West African countries.

Just over half the reported deaths have been in Liberia, the WHO says.”

Ebola News is Somewhat Better Though Not for Sierra Leone

December 4, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Health

Here’s more indication that things are somewhat better in West Africa. I saw the following in my morning Yahoo News. In US News and World Report it reads, “As the media frenzy over Ebola dies down and lives are saved, the focus for public officials and hospital leaders has switched to the cost of treatment. It’s astronomically high, but it’s also unpredictable — anywhere from $8,500 to $50,000 per day.”

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I have to admit that my focus here was on the first clause of the sentence–as the media frenzy dies and lives are saved. That sounds like good news.

The rest of the article is here: http://news.yahoo.com/why-does-ebola-treatment-cost-much-143241325.html;_ylt=A0LEVyeUioBUGWEAqzjBGOd_.

The news, though, is only somewhat good because Sierra Leone is still struggling.  In fact in the past week alone they reported 537 new cases, more than ever reported before.

This article was by the Associated Press via Yahoo News.  It said, “The Ebola outbreak, which is stabilizing in Liberia and Guinea, is spreading fastest in Sierra Leone. In a recent 21-day period, Guinea had 306 new Ebola cases. Liberia had 278. Sierra Leone had 1,455, according to the World Health Organization.”

The article goes on to explain why it is still spreading in Sierra Leone. You can see it here. http://news.yahoo.com/dangerous-practices-spread-ebola-sierra-leone-150708144.html;_ylt=A0LEVzcbkYBUAbgAcifBGOd_

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How Ebola Affects South African People Far Removed From The Outbreaks

November 21, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Health

Earlier this week I looked into press accounts of the Ebola situation; and I noticed that all three major stories for that day centered around West Africa.

The doctor who died in Nebraska was a significant loss to Sierra Leone.  He did not treat Ebola patients, but instead worked with other patients.  People with other health issues cannot use the hospitals and clinics where ebola patients are being treated.  For example, if you found yourself with complications in childbirth and needed a Caesarian, would you want to go to a hospital where ebola patients were being treated.

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I learned that they have specific clinics and hospitals for the others.    This doctor worked in one of those clinics; but when a patient came in with an ailment and no one suspected ebola, he treated this patient and contracted the disease himself.

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In another story a village chief talks about how his community helps the Ivory Coast government protect its border with Liberia.  He said that the men in his village stand guard at the border, because their government told them that even if one case of Ebola gets into their village, then the government will have to come, burn down the village destroying everything, and quarantine its occupants.

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In another story it was reported that three healthcare workers were killed by villagers when the villagers suspected they were sent there by their enemies.

Right now I’m thinking about how fortunate we are to live where we do.  We’re also fortunate to have a strong government.

 

More Bad News from the Ebola Situation

November 17, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Health

First, a surgeon who was diagnosed with Ebola in Sierra Leone and then flown to Nebraska over the weekend has died according to Yahoo News. The doctors at Nebraska Medical Center said that he was already in critical condition when he arrived from West Africa.

The 44 year old American citizen was a doctor who had been working in Sierra Leone to help with the situation in West Africa.

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In Mali, which is next door to Guinea and also in West Africa, there has been a small cluster outbreak of ebola according to National Public Radio.  When a Mali nurse got sick, tested positive and died in a Pasteur clinic in Mali’s capitol city, they began to look for the patient who transmitted the disease.

They traced it to a 70 year old Guinean Imam who the clinic had treated for what they thought was kidney failure.  He died, and many more were infected because the disease went unnoticed.

A friend of the Imam who visited him at the clinic has since died, and two more people died after exposure to the body.  Another two people who came in contact with him are highly suspected of having contracted the virus as well.

Local authorities even had to disinfect the mosque where his body was prepared for burial.  So today it was announced that Mali has widened its virus watch to 440 people who may have been exposed to the disease.  So far only four have died in Mali, who has worked hard to keep the disease from crossing the border.

It appears this is far from over.

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Treating Back Pain With Antibiotics May Be In Our Future

November 16, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Aches & Pains, Health

I’ve had back pain for about twenty years now, and I’ve been very fortunate to have handled it without surgery or cortisone or other invasive procedures. I’ve used exercise (Yoga), a book called “Treat Your Own Back” by Robin McKenzie, movement, ice and occasionally Motrin.

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You can read more about it at My 40s Were a True Pain in the Back. This was one of my earlier posts

Today, though, I ran across a very interesting article showing new research and findings. It seems that some of us with back problems may have an infection in our discs. Amazing. In the near future, they may prescribe antibiotics first.

The article lists various reasons why your back hurts, but the one about infections in the discs is news to me.

Learn more here. Yahoo Health

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Update on the Ebola Situation

November 13, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Health

A member of my family recently asked why I continue to watch the Ebola situation.  Frankly, I’m old; and we old ones tend to worry.

I take a moment each day to look up what is happening on the Ebola front, because the magnitude of this disease frightens me, especially for my family and friends.  Then I share.  It is my way of keeping watch.  Just call me the night watchman.

Today, there is little to report; but no news is good news.  So actually, it is fairly good news today.

New Zealand reports that one of the three suspicious packages containing vials is a hoax.  The vial received by the New Zealand Herald does not contain the Ebola virus.

They are still awaiting results from the other two vials, which were received at New Zealand’s Parliament and the US Embassy there.

Makes you wonder who exactly sent them and why they would do it?  Why New Zealand?  There was mention earlier that it was sent by an Jihadist group.

Eighty US military personnel returned from Liberia today after completing their assignment.  They will be quarantined at a base in southeastern Virginia for 21 days according to military protocol.  None are showing any symptoms.

On the real Ebola front in West Africa, health officials today announced that they will conduct clinical trials of investigational drugs in the country of Guinea beginning in December.  They also plan to test using survivors’ blood as therapy, too.  This places their actions on the offensive.

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Our hearts and prayers are with all these people and their caregivers.

New Zealanders Anxiously Await Ebola Results

November 12, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Health

In New Zealand they are investigating three different incidents of suspicious packages that arrived today at their Parliament, at the New Zealand Herald and at the US Embassy.  A vial was sent in a package from a “jihadist group” to the newspaper offices, and another vial was sent to Parliament.  They said that the newspaper package also contained several documents, one of which mentioned Ebola.

The vials were sent to Australia to have their contents tested by their infectious disease center.  It is still not known if this is a hoax.

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Ebola Update: Where Will $6 Billion Be Used?

November 10, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Health

The $6 billion plus requested by President Obama goes beyond emergency care, building more facilities and providing more health care workers. It goes beyond simply eradicating the disease to building a health infrastructure that can keep this from happening again.

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Our country has already committed over a billion dollars to fight this disease. The additional $6 billion is six times more. It is even more than WHO, the World Health Organization requested.

Most of the money is going to eradicate the disease, which is out of control in the three west African nations, but billions are also requested to build a health care system in the countries most suffering.

I’m wondering which countries are included. The articles I’ve read do not give a list. I’m wondering if it is more than the three currently fighting the disease.

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Some Good News From the Ebola Front

November 8, 2014 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Health

The outbreak in Texas seems to be over.  The incubation period of 21 days has passed.  A total of 177 people were monitored in the Dallas region and have now been released.  About 200 passengers who flew on the Cincinnati flight with the nurse also underwent monitoring.  All have been cleared.

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There have been four cases of Ebola in the US.  Three in Texas with one death, including the two nurses and the Liberian national who came through our customs with the disease.  The fourth is the doctor in New York who worked for Doctors without Borders.  He is showing improvement and is in stable condition.

In case you think we’re done, though, please consider this.  Thirty seven point three percent of those who contract the disease do not live.  That means if you contract it, there is only a 62.7% chance of survival using today’s medical knowledge.

As of this date 13,268 people have contracted the disease, and 4,960 of those passed away.  Majority of these are in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, all in west Africa.  It does not seem to be abating over there, yet.

The stats seem to be worse for caregivers (health workers).  Currently, their death rate is 56.6%.  I’m not sure why it is so much higher; but I wonder if it has to do with contracting more of the virus, if it has to do with their immune system, or could it be the way they were raised.

Britain has taken a more hands on approach to this disease by building a treatment center in Sierra Leone.  It opened this week.  They plan to build five more.

Here in America our President today asked Congress for $6.18 B for Ebola funding.  Also, the CDC announced that they are requesting more personal protective equipment kits for rapid deployment to hospitals.  They wish to have a stockpile ready.  Required in the kit are a fluid-resistant gown, gloves, a hood, shoe coverings and a face mask.

 

 

 

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