Summer Vacation with Seniors, Charlotte Today
Summer Vacation with Seniors, Charlotte Today
Men Living Alone Have Greater Risk of Dying Prematurely Due After Stroke
Men Living Alone Have Greater Risk of Dying Prematurely Due After Stroke
Men who live alone have a considerably greater long-term risk of dying prematurely than other patients. As part of the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS), Swedish researcher Petra Redfors examined the long-term prognosis for 1,090 victims of ischemic stroke before the age of 70 and compared the results with 600 controls. According to her findings, 36% of patients who were living alone, as opposed to 17% of those with partners, died within 12 years after stroke. Among men, the gap widened to 44% vs. 14%. Excess mortality associated with living alone was still found after adjusting for physical inactivity, high alcohol consumption, low educational level and other known risk factors. ÛÏAmong the conceivable causes are that people who live alone lead less healthy lives, are less prone to take their medication and tend to wait longer before going to the emergency room,Û Dr. Redfors says. ÛÏAmong the other risk factors for recurrence were the severity of the original event, along with diabetes or coronary artery disease. Physical inactivity increased the risk of cardiac infarction after stroke. They also found that a large percentage of stroke victims were still experiencing memory, concentration, cognitive and other loss at 7-year follow-up. Because many of them are of working age, the personal and social impact is enormous. ÛÏOur results underscore the importance of intensive, long-term prevention among stroke patients, including medication for hypertension, diabetes and other underlying conditions, along with lifestyle changes,Û Dr. Redfors says. ÛÏAbove all, serious consideration needs to be given to providing greater support and more thorough information for patients who are living alone.Û
Prevalence of Self-Reported Falls Increases 8% Since 1998 in Adults Over 65
Prevalence of Self-Reported Falls Increases 8% Since 1998 in Adults Over 65 Falling, the most frequent cause of injury in older adults in the United States, leads to substantial disability and mortality. Studies have suggested about one-third of older adults fall each year. The prevalence among adults 65 years or older of falling in the preceding two years has increased since 1998, according to a research letter published online by JAMA. Christine T. Cigolle, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, and coauthors looked at time trends in falling in a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older adults in the Health and Retirement Study. Falling was defined as at least one self-reported fall in the preceding two years. The authors hypothesized that any increase in prevalence would be due to changes in aging demographics. Study results show that among all adults 65 years or older, the two-year prevalence of self-reported falls increased from 28.2 percent in 1998 to 36.3 percent in 2010. ÛÏContrary to our hypothesis, we observed an increase in fall prevalence among older adults that exceeds what would be expected owing to the increasing age of the population. Programs that make older adults aware of balance and fall risk and provide strategies to reduce fall risk may improve reporting. Alternatively, if a true increase in falling is occurring, then further research is needed to identify possible reasons, such as an increase in fall risk factors (e.g., cardiovascular and psychiatric medications) or an increase in fall risk behavior,Û the study concludes.
Partners Can Help Each Other Make Positive Health Behavior Changes
Partners Can Help Each Other Make Positive Health Behavior Changes Women and men were more likely to quit smoking, become physically active and lose weight if their partner joined them in the new healthy behavior, according to a study published online by JAMA Internal Medicine. Modifiable lifestyles and health-related behaviors are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Evidence suggests people tend to exhibit the health behaviors of people around them and that partners can influence each otherÛªs behavior, according to the study background. Sarah E. Jackson, Ph.D., of University College London, England, and coauthors examined the influence of a partnerÛªs behavior on making positive health behavior changes. The authors used data from 3,722 married couples and those living together. Smoking cessation, increased physical activity and a 5 percent or greater weight loss were measured. The authors found that when one partner changed to a healthier behavior the other partner was more likely to make a positive behavior change than if their partner remained unhealthy [(smoking: men 48 percent vs. 8 percent; women 50 percent vs. 8 percent), (increased physical activity: men 67 percent vs. 26 percent; women 66 percent vs. 24 percent) and (weight loss: men 26 percent vs. 10 percent; women 36 percent vs. 15 percent)]. Smokers with consistently nonsmoking partners and physically inactive people with consistently active partners had higher odds of quitting smoking and becoming physically active. However, the results indicate that for overweight individuals, having partners whose body-mass index (BMI) was consistently in the normal range did not increase the odds of losing weight, but having an overweight partner who lost weight too was associated with three times the odds of weight loss. For each health behavior, men and women were significantly more likely to make positive changes if their partner also changed their health behavior over the same period than if their partner was consistently healthy, according to the study. “Behavior change interventions could be more effective if they targeted couples as opposed to individuals,Û the study concludes.
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