Heart Disease Often Undiagnosed in Women

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, claiming the lives of more women than men each year. More women die from cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, than from all forms of cancer combined, according to the American Heart Association. This year, heart disease will take the lives of an estimated 490,000 women nationwide. More than half of the women who suffer a heart attack will never even suspect they had a heart problem, indicates research by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Too often heart disease goes undiagnosed when women visit their doctor. Women's symptoms are different from men's and are often mistaken for other health problems. Symptoms include breathing problems, unusual tiredness, anxiety, indigestion and trouble sleeping. The chest pain and numbness that send men racing to the emergency room don't occur when a woman's heart starts to struggle. Women can develop heart disease without exhibiting high blood pressure or high cholesterol. A family history of heart disease is far less indicative of a woman's risk of future heart problems than a man's. Without such obvious clues, women often don't realize they have a heart problem and ignore symptoms they contribute to other health issues until it's too late.

Researchers haven't figured out why men and women exhibit such different signs of heart failure. They suspect that in women heart disease develops more slowly and over a longer period of time. Diagnosis can be more difficult because women are apt to have other chronic health issues like diabetes which may have similar symptoms. By the time heart disease becomes evident it has progressed significantly.

Giving Makes Us Happy

It's better to give than receive, the Bible tells us; and now scientists agree. People who do something for others or give to charities are happier than those who don't, says a report in this week's issue of Science magazine. Researchers at Harvard University and the University of British Columbia found that the way people spend their money affects their happiness.

What surprised lead researcher Elizabeth Dunn, assistant professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, was the magnitude of the affect and that how people spent their money was more important than how much money they had.

"This work suggests that even making small alterations in how we spend money on a daily basis can make a difference in happiness," Dunn said. "The message is, given what you have, how can you make little alterations to do something for others."

Study participants were asked to assign a "happiness quotient" to various personal spending items -- paying bills, buying gifts for themselves, buying gifts for others, giving to charity. The study found that personal spending like paying bills and buying things for yourself had no relation to happiness. However, giving to others "was associated with significantly greater happiness," Dunn said.

In another experiment, Canadian students were given envelopes containing between $5 and $20. Some were directed to spend the money on themselves; others, to buy a gift for someone. The amount of money spent had no impact on the students' feelings, but the opportunity to give a gift rather than buying something for themselves created significantly greater feelings of happiness. The people on "Oprah's Big Give" must be ecstatic!

How to Live to Be 100

Americans are living longer than ever thanks to medical advances and healthier lifestyles. In 1900, life expectancy in America was only 47.3. It rose to 77.9 in 2005, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today, if you can make it to 70, you've got a good chance of living to age 85; and a growing number of people are reaching the 100 mark. In 1990 the country boasted 37,306 centenarians. By 2000, that number increased to 50,454. Last year 84,331 Americans celebrated their 100th birthday. By 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that 1.1 million of us will be 100 or older. Better start stocking up on birthday candles and fire extinguishers!

So what's the secret? Jeanne Calment of Arles, France, who died in 1997 at age 122, advised, "Always keep your smile." Here are more tips for reaching 100:

1. Be positive. The Mayo Clinic says cheerful, optimistic people live 50% longer than sourpusses.
2. Learn to manage your stress.
3. Just say no. Don't do things that stress you out.
4. Dance and sing.
5. Get a pet.
6. Exercise your body. Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day.
7. Exercise your brain. Never stop learning.
8. Eat smart: more fruits and veggies, less red meat and fat.
9. Stay socially connected. Get out of the house and see people.
10. Quit smoking. Now.
11. Drink in moderation. A glass of red wine or ale a day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
12. Get or stay thin. Thin people live longer.
13. Limit sun exposure. Skin cancer can kill you.
14. Keep track of your medications and take them.
15. Find a good doctor and go for regular checkups.

Some Causes of Forgetfulness or Confusion

Forgetfulness and confusion are not necessarily signs of aging or brain disease (see our March 5 post). The following are treatable causes:

• Lack of alertness can be a side effect of medication or the interaction of several medications.
• Dehydration diminishes blood volume and may reduce the oxygen supply to the brain.
• Lack of certain nutritional elements - especially sodium and potassium - may affect the brain's functioning.
• Infections, such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia or other treatable medical problems may lead to confusion.
• Hearing or vision problems may affect what you learn and remember.
• Depression or anxiety can result in decreased ability to concentrate and remember.
• Retirement or less structured days may make your recollection of the day and its date less significant.
• Lack of social involvement to help you "stay in touch" with what is going on in the world may leave you feeling "out of it" or confused about the date or day of the week.
• Not paying attention to what you are doing, seeing or hearing may prevent events from being stored into memory.
• Use of alcohol can affect mood, memory, speed or reactions.

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!

Spring may be coming, but I still need a cup of coffee to get myself going on these cold, gray mornings. Roughly 8 in 10 workers depend on caffeine to get themselves through the day, according to Workplace Media, a consulting firm that tracks the habits of American workers. Half rely on coffee for their daily jolt, the other half depend on caffeinated soft drinks.

"Caffeine wakes up the brain and gets the metabolism going," said Workplace Media VP Dan Wheeler. According to the National Coffee Association, 57% of Americans drink at least one cup of coffee every day; up from less than 50% four years ago. For the first time since 1980, coffee beat out soft drinks as America's beverage of choice. Driven by the popularity and success of Starbucks, coffee consumption is growing fastest among 18- to 39-year-olds.

"Americans have developed a taste for more inventive, upscale, premium-priced coffee products," noted market-research firm Mintel. Demand -- and big bucks -- have sharpened competition. Everyone from McDonald's to Dairy Queen is concocting specialty coffee drinks. McDonald's has captured 51% of fast-food coffee sales, but fast-food and other family restaurants account for only 20% of total coffee sales. More than 23% of us prefer to buy our cup of joe from gourmet coffeehouses like Starbucks. However, in a taste test last year Consumer Reports picked McDonald's Premium Roast coffee over Starbucks, which it called "bitter." Think about that next time you fork over $5 for a grade latte!

Sunrise Silver Singles Social Club

Eden Terrace of Louisville and Right at Home present:

A premier gathering of our new group - Sunrise Silver Singles Social Club. This groundbreaking club meets once a month for fun activities and events. Enjoy this opportunity to network, make new friends, try new activities, enjoy a variety of entertainment, and experience life to it's fullest.

The kickoff event will feature a delicious dinner, live entertainment, games and special door prizes. You won't want to miss this exciting and fun event.

Saturday, March 15, 2008
5:30 to 7:30 pm
RSVP to Mary Beth Smith or Ruth Farkas at 502-244-4244

Eden Terrace of Louisville is located at 901 Blankenbaker Parkway across from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY.

Brain Fitness Important for Good Health

To live a long and happy life, it's not enough to keep your body in good shape. It's also important to keep your mind sharp and active. Brain fitness is the new buzzword for the over 50 set. The market is awash with new software programs and games that claim to hone mental acuity and blunt the cognitive decline that can accompany aging. But mental game playing is just one facet of brain fitness, writes Mark Miller in his column Retire Smart. To maintain a challenged and stimulated brain, "you also need to get out of the house and stay active," asserts Nancy Merz Nordstrom, an expert on lifelong learning and director of the Elderhostel Institute Network which focuses on adult education across the country.

"It's as simple as use it or lose it," says Nordstrom. "If we want to do everything possible to keep our whole being alert, vibrant and connected as we age, we have to continue to challenge ourselves."

Research indicates that the act of learning causes the body to regenerate brain cells which enhances mental alertness, thought processes, response times and reflexes. Americans are embracing these new scientific discoveries. According to an AARP study, 95% of Americans who have passed the 50-year mark plan to participate in learning activities. The U.S. Department of Education reported that the number of older adults returning to the classroom doubled during the 1990s. "What we find is that people want to study the things they never had time for before," Nordstrom says. But classroom study isn't the only way to keep your brain fit. Educational travel and learning-oriented community service opportunities will also revitalize your brain cells.

If you're looking for an excellent guide to adult learning options, check out Nordstrom's book, Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years. You'll also find helpful information on Nordstrom's website and on the Elderhostel Learning Network website.

New Book Helps You Select Best Diet for You

Everyone is dieting! There seem to be as many diet books and diet plans out there as there are dieters. Bookstore shelves are filled with great sounding titles like: The New Sugar Busters, Fit for Life, Good Mood Diet, Intuitive Eating. How do you choose and, more importantly, how do you know what will actually help you without hurting you?

A good place to start is the excellent new book, The Diet Selector: From Atkins to The Zone, More Than 50 Ways to Help You Find the Best Diet for You. Written by Judith Rodriguez, a clinical dietitian and professor at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, the book evaluates 50 weight-loss diets and 25 disease management or healthful eating plans.

In choosing a diet, Rodriguez says the first question you have to ask yourself is: "Does it fit your lifestyle and your (food) likes and dislikes?" She believes that multi-approach diets that address food, behavior and physical activity provide the greatest possibility of success.

Easy to use, The Diet Selector includes a history of each diet or plan, a description of how it works, pros and cons, and a sample menu. Diets are rated on long-term strength, flexibility, cost, family compatibility and scientific basis. While the book doesn't make recommendations, Rodriguez admitted she has her favorites. "There are some diets that I thought had healthier approaches -- such as the Frenchwomen's diet, which doesn't talk about dieting but about behavior and lifestyle values. The Mayo (Clinic Healthy Weight Program) diet is another one." She also liked the heart healthy DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and the Mediterranean diet which focus on eating plans for life.