Living 50 Plus - March 2020

LIVING 50 PLUS

C2

MARCH 2020

THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH

SENIOR LIVING | HEALTH

5 Ways to Improve Your Heart Health

Solution: To help manage stress, try relaxation therapy and increase phys- ical activity. Talk to a qualified mental health provider or someone you trust. De-stressing may also help improve sleep. Stay motivated: Join a friend or family member in a relaxing activity like walk- ing, yoga or meditation every day. Learn about heart health and heart healthy activities in your commu- nity at nhlbi.nih.gov/ourhearts. Use #OurHearts on social media to share how you and your friends, colleagues or family members are being heart healthy together.

Stay motivated: Ask your family and friends for support or join a support group. Find resources and connect with a trained counselor at 1-800-QUIT- NOW or smokefree.gov. Risk: Inadequate or poor-quality sleep Solution: Sleeping 7-8 hours each night helps improve heart health. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. Getting a 30-minute daily dose of sunlight may also improve sleep. Stay motivated: Resist that late after- noon nap. Turn off all screens at a set time nightly. Relax by listening to music, reading or taking a bath.

Risk: Inactivity Solution: Move more throughout your day. Aim for at least 150 minutes each week of physical activity. Build up to activity that gets your heart beating faster and leaves you a little breathless. If you’re busy, try breaking your daily activity into 10-minute chunks. Stay motivated: Make walking dates. Join a pickup soccer or basketball game. Join a fitness class with your neighbor. Grab a loved one and dance in your kitchen. Risk: An unhealthy diet Solution: Consider an option like NHL- BI’s Dietary Approaches to Stop Hyper- tension (DASH) eating plan, which is free and scientifically proven to lower high blood pressure and improve cho- lesterol levels. Stay motivated: Invite friends to cook up heart healthy recipes together. Start a lunch club at work and trade recipe ideas. Risk: Smoking, even occasionally Solution: Quitting can be beneficial to your overall health, even if you’ve smoked for years. Set a quit date and let those close to you know. If you’ve tried quitting in the past, consider what helped and what made it harder.

(Family Features) If you worry that you or someone you love will get heart dis- ease or even have a heart attack, it’s un- derstandable. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Research shows you can lower your risk, particularly if you team up with family, friends or co-workers. This kind of so- cial support may be the key to your suc- cess. To mark American Heart Month, NHLBI, one of the National Institutes of Health, is inviting people across the country to teamup and join #OurHearts, a national heart health initiative that en- courages people to improve heart health together. “Studies show that having positive, close relationships and feeling connected to others benefits overall health, blood pressure, weight and more,” said NHL- BI’s Dr. David Goff, director of cardio- vascular sciences.

Risk: Uncontrolled stress

Consider these five tips that can help lower your risk of heart disease:

LIVING 50 PLUS

MARCH 2020 C3

THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH

SENIOR LIVING | HEALTH

Men’s Health Matters 5 Tips to Maintain Overall Wellbeing

medications after they have been diagnosed, but relief can be inadequate and temporary,” said Dr. Peter Walter, M.D., urologist and paid consultant for Teleflex Incorporated, the manufacturer of the UroLift® System. As one alternative to medica- tion, an option like the UroLift System treatment is aminimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require any cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue.5 A urologist places small implants to lift and move enlarged pros- tate tissue so it no longer blocks the urethra and can allow for normal urine flow. Most com- mon side effects are mild to moderate, and patients gener- ally can return to their normal routines with minimal down- time. For more information about treatment options, or to find a urologist near you who treats BPH, visit UroLift.com. Focus on a more nutritious diet. Aim for a pattern of healthier eating that includes more fruits, vegetables and leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, kale and broccoli, which can help keep you – and your prostate – healthy.6 Also try to cut back on consumption of red meat – specifically pro- cessed meat – as well as salt and sweets. Know your numbers. Be sure to discuss your family history and lifestyle with your doctor as he or she may recommend screenings for diseases and

common ailments. Be sure to keep up with these screenings and check in with your doctor to make sure you’re accounting for milestone ages and common ailments associated with aging. Make exercise a priority. Ex- ercise is a key to maintaining quality of life. The American Heart Association recommends

at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic ac- tivity for adults.7 Even shorter increments of physical activity multiple times a day such as a walking meeting, opting for the stairs instead of the elevator or parking farther from your des- tination can provide health and stress-relieving benefits.

(Family Features) While fam- ily history and age cannot be changed, there are everyday steps men can follow to take charge of their health, includ- ing prostate health, and maybe even prevent problems down the road. Consider these tips to help lead a healthier lifestyle. Get checked out regularly. Just because you’re healthy doesn’t mean you should eschew rou- tine checkups, and that includes self-examinations. While reg- ular visits to your health care provider can keep you up-to- date on preventative screenings and immunizations, getting to know your own body can have similar benefits. Care for your prostate. If you’re experiencing frequent

urination, a weak or slow urine stream, incomplete bladder emptying, difficulty or delay in starting urination or a urine stream that stops and starts, these may be signs you may be suffering from Benign Prostat- ic Hyperplasia (BPH), other- wise known as enlarged pros- tate.1 Enlarged prostate, which is non-cancerous and affects more than 40 million Ameri- can men, can also cause loss of productivity and sleep, accord- ing to research published in the “Journal of Urology.”2,3 Med- ication is often the first line of treatment, but some patients may suffer uncomfortable side effects including dizziness, headaches and sexual dysfunc- tion, which can prompt them to quit using their medications.4 “Many men living with BPH symptoms take prescription

1. Speakman et al. 2014 BJUI International 2. Berry, J Urol 1984 and 2017 U.S. Census population estimates. 3. NeoTract US Market Model estimates for 2018 based on IMS Health Drug and Procedure >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8

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