Published on: 18 October 2018
Last Updated on: 30 October 2024
As you get up there in age it can be even more important to stay active and healthy. The key to a longer life is to keep active and not be sedentary all the time. Eating healthy can be a huge contributor as well. There are simple things you can do to help achieve this that are actually fun too.
Clean Eating
It all starts with your diet. You don’t need to be on some special fade diet. However, you do need to watch what you eat. One of the first things you should do is take in more liquids. Some seniors may have to force themselves to drink more water than usual.
Planning out your meals ahead of time can really help you stay healthy. Most people end up in the fast food trap because they lack planning. When it’s dinner time they simply drive to the nearest drive-thru restaurant. Avoid this and do some meal planning. In the long run, it’s not only healthier it’s cheaper.
Our last healthy eating tip is to reduce the amount of sugar intake. Sure, it can be easy to pull out the ice cream at night and have a bowl or two. But sugar turns into fat and can lead to an increase in health dangers. Instead of that sugary snack replace it with fruit or even a sugar-free snack.
Protein is very important for the body as it gives you the energy and will help you feel fuller throughout the day. Lots of seniors overlook how much protein they take in. Cut down on the carbs and plan out a diet that is higher in protein. Some of the foods with the highest protein are eggs, chicken, turkey, cottage cheese, steak, beans, and nuts.
Exercising
Getting on an exercise routine can be hard. Our suggestion is to make it fun and social. Does your community have a walking group? If so this can be a great way to get outside and make a new friend while doing it.
Some seniors enjoy golf. Some might think riding in a golf cart isn’t much on an exercise but that’s not true. You can’t ride everywhere on a golf course and although it’s not constant you are walking and often times up and down hills. Golf can be an enjoyable game that takes out the fact that you are actually exercising.
Swimming is hands down one of the best exercises you can do. It essentially works the majority of your muscles and gets your heart rate up. The best part about swimming is you can go at your own pace. Get tired? No problem get out and lay in the sun for a bit. When you are rested up to go back in the water for a few more laps.
Take the grandkids to the park. What kids don’t love going to the park? Grab a basketball or a soccer ball and take the grandkids out. Sure, you might not be running around playing soccer with them the entire time but you can play some. The point is you need to get out of the house and gets some miles under those legs. You don’t have to overdo it but just work on being more active and have some fun doing it.
Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.
People are working longer hours, have less time with family, and are constantly battling stressful situations. In addition, being constantly inundated with the news through social media can make anyone depressed.
There's not enough time for daily yoga and meditation. As a result, many of us are turning to antidepressants to get us through these stressful times.
But antidepressants come at a cost, and it's important to know all the facts. Some of these facts aren't common knowledge, and often your doctor won't even discuss them before prescribing antidepressants.
Here are 10 weird facts about antidepressants that will surprise you.
1. We Don't Know How Antidepressants Work:
Antidepressants have been around for a long time, and yet, we still don't know exactly how they work.
And since everybody's depression is different, we don't know how well they work for varying degrees of depression or if they sufficiently treat depression at al. In fact, we don't even know if they're safe for long-term use.
13% of Americans take antidepressants, some for other illnesses like anxiety and fibromyalgia.
Yet studies -- mostly paid for by pharmaceutical companies -- include only a few thousand people.
Many of us have been told that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, but we don't really know if that's true either. What most studies look at is our brain's level of serotonin. However, neither lowering nor increasing the level of serotonin in the brain reduces the symptoms of depression.
If low levels of serotonin were the cause of depression, then antidepressants wouldn't take several weeks to work. They would work immediately, or at least within a few days, once the levels of serotonin increase. But they don't.
Another interesting fact about antidepressants is that some don't even increase serotonin and still work as well as any other antidepressant.
2. All Antidepressants Are Equally Effective:
It's a known fact about antidepressants that pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of money pushing one pill over another.
Doctors aren't pharmacists and tend to push whatever antidepressants they're most familiar with. At times, they're buddies with the pharmaceutical sales rep.
A fact about antidepressants is that there's no evidence that one antidepressant is more effective at treating depression than another.
What a person needs to weigh is the cost and side effects, which can vary greatly from one person to another. There are over 30 different kinds of antidepressants available.
They all work on different parts of the brain, inhibiting or increasing receptors of certain hormones. They have different side effects, and they all are equally effective. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't.
3. They Don't Work Immediately:
All antidepressants take several weeks before they're fully effective. It can take anywhere from two weeks to a month before you know if it's the right antidepressant for you.
One unfortunate fact about antidepressants is that many people have to cycle through several kinds of antidepressants, suffering from a variety of side effects before they find the right one.
That's a long time for trial and error.
And eventually, the effectiveness wears off over time. Many people build up a tolerance, and signs of depression return.
Then you need to try a different antidepressant, and the trial and error process begins again. This could make anyone depressed. Fortunately, there are other treatments like TMS which don't require you to take any medication at all.
4. Dosage Makes No Difference Either:
Many doctors start their patients off with a low dose and then gradually increase over time. There's no evidence that this is necessary or that higher dosages are more effective.
Since this is the case, you're better off taking a low dose and having less negative side effects. It's a myth that a person will get better quicker if they are on a higher dosage of an antidepressant.
5. Antidepressants Can Help Your Sex Life:
It is a pretty well-documented fact about antidepressants that one side effect is a lowered sex drive. That said, depression itself can lower your sex drive too.
Interestingly, this low-libido side effect can have its benefits by helping men with premature ejaculation. Antidepressants can delay ejaculation, and for men who suffer from premature ejaculation, the delay can be a big help.
One study found that men who took an SSRI a couple of hours before intercourse had longer ejaculation times compared to the placebo group.
6. Animals Get Depressed Too:
Americans spend an estimated $15 million a year on medication for their depressed cats and dogs.
Depression symptoms for animals aren't too different than those for people, so it's fairly easy to detect. However, it's difficult to treat animals with therapy. Instead, some veterinarians are treating pets with antidepressants.
Zoo animals are on antidepressants too. They are being used to treat everything from aggression to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
7. You'll Feel Worse at First:
Not only do antidepressants take a while to kick in, but your symptoms may be exacerbated.
It's not uncommon for you to feel more tired, less hungry, less ambitious, and sadder. Things will get better. It just takes a while.
In addition, the side effects don't help either. This is why doctors usually start a person off with a low dose, to reduce the intensity of side effects, before they find the right medication and dose.
8. Antidepressants Can Be Harmful:
Antidepressants come with a long list of side effects, many of which mirror the symptoms of depression, lethargy, insomnia, nausea, anger, violence, and even suicidal thoughts.
The side effects can sometimes be more debilitating than the illness it's treating. A person needs to seriously weigh the pros and cons.
Often a person can mistake a side effect of the medication as a symptom of depression. Since we don't know how the drugs work, it's hard to know.
Another fact about antidepressants is that once you start, it's not safe to quit cold turkey. A person should wean off of them slowly, and many aren't willing to do this. Quitting antidepressants quickly can be dangerous.
9. You Can Overdose on Antidepressants:
Too much of a good thing can be too much. As mentioned, more isn't always better, but often people have prescribed higher doses of antidepressants anyway.
You can overdose on antidepressants, and the symptoms of overdosing on them aren't always obvious. Zoloft overdose symptoms can include lethargy and nausea, which may be confused with ordinary side effects.
Other, less obvious overdose symptoms include high blood pressure or inflammation of the pancreas, which can be mistaken for a cold or flu.
However, if a person seems agitated, confused, or is vomiting, that's not normal. If someone taking antidepressants has these symptoms or becomes incoherent or unresponsive, call a doctor immediately
A Zoloft overdose also can lead to a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.
Serotonin syndrome can occur when dangerously high levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin build up in the brain.
10. Antidepressants Can Interact with Other Drugs:
It's very important to tell the doctor prescribing antidepressants if you're taking other drugs. It's also essential that you're honest about your use of recreational drugs and alcohol. All of these can have harmful interactions with antidepressants.
Don't ever share your medication with anyone, especially if you don't know what other medications they might be taking or if they are using recreational drugs. Interactions can be deadly.
Facts About Antidepressants Revealed
Now that you know more about antidepressants, you can make a well-informed decision about taking them.
Depression is debilitating, and some people battle with the disease their whole lives. For some, antidepressants are a last resort, and for others, they're hoping for a temporary solution that will give them an opportunity to have a better perspective.
No matter the reason, there is no shame in being depressed or needing treatment.
However, there are other methods of treating depression that can be used in conjunction with medication, such as therapy, exercise, diet, and natural remedies. Many of these have been proven to be equally effective.
For more great articles about staying healthy, visit our blog.
Read Also :
3 Ways To Connect With Nature And Quiet Your Mind
Your Guide To HRT For Men
All That You Need To Know About Dandy-Walker Syndrome
Per capita spending on prescription drugs is higher in America than anywhere else. This is primarily due to the increase in brand-name prescription drug costs.
For anyone dealing with ongoing health issues on a strict budget, this is a big concern. Many people in this situation end up going without much-needed drugs.
Unfortunately, even with health insurance, many drugs can still be rather expensive. It's becoming more and more necessary for people to seek out ways to reduce costs while still staying healthy.
This may seem impossible, but there are ways. In fact, there are more ways than you may realize.
If you need to cut your prescription drug costs, keep reading. We're going over ten options that will help you save.
1. Take Advantage of Samples :
Before you start a new medication, make sure you ask about samples. This way you don't pay for anything upfront while you test out the drug to make sure it's right for you.
Doctors usually have plenty of sample packets of drugs, especially new ones. Pharmaceutical reps provide them when visiting offices. Drug manufacturers also offer 30-day samples for some drugs.
Instead of paying for an entire month's supply, ask your doctor about samples. This is perfect if you have a short-term illness, or aren't sure the drug will work.
2. Always Ask for Generic :
Prescription drug costs are always higher for brand-name options. However, many drugs have generic alternatives that aren't as expensive.
The same manufacturing standards are applied to these generic versions, but they don't carry the same advertising and research costs. Essentially, you're getting the same drug for much less.
Make sure you ask your doctor about generic alternatives to all drugs you're on. If you're skeptical about them, ask about their effectiveness and if they'll have the same effects as the name brands.
3. Get 90-Day Supplies :
You can often save on prescription drug costs by opting for 90-day supplies instead of the standard 30-day.
Many times, local pharmacies will offer discounted rates if you go with 90-day. Your insurance may also offer reduced prices and even provide free delivery.
If you're trying a drug for the first time, it's a good idea to stick with a 30-day supply first to make sure the drug works for you. If it does, look into 90-day refills going forward.
4. Always Compare Prices :
You may not realize this, but drug prices fluctuate between pharmacies. Instead of using the pharmacy closest to you, call around to different ones in your area and ask what they charge for the drug you need.
This is especially helpful if you don't have insurance, as name brand drugs may have significant price differences from one pharmacy to the next.
Once you find the pharmacy with the best deal, make them your go-to source. That way they have your information on file. Remember to always check pharmacies in grocery and retail stores.
5. Shop Online :
When it comes to reducing your prescription drug costs, you have to consider shopping online.
Web-based pharmacies have gained popularity over recent years, and for good reason. They carry most major drugs at low rates.
For example, pharmacies have a user-friendly database of available drugs with price comparison and medication information.
You should also look into mail-order pharmacies. Some insurance companies offer discounts for using them.
6. Split up Your Doses :
A great technique for cutting down prescription drug costs is splitting your pills in half. It may be possible to get a higher dose of a drug from your doctor and then cut the tablets in half so you're still taking the proper amount.
If the price for the higher dose is the same, you'll be cutting your cost in half. You also won't have to bother with refilling your prescription every month.
It's crucial that you talk to your doctor about doing this first, as this isn't safe with some drugs.
7. Patient Assistance Programs :
Some drug manufacturers offer aid for individuals on a budget. These assistance programs provide discounts for certain drugs.
When you're searching online for these, make sure you enter the name of the drug you're on in your search query.
Some of these programs come with conditions, such as only being available for a few months' worths of the prescription. But when you're trying to say money, every little bit helps.
People on Medicare usually aren't eligible, so make sure you look into the details.
8. Seek Alternatives :
There's a good chance a completely different drug is just as effective at treating an illness as the one you're on. And, it may be much cheaper.
Many times, doctors aren't aware of the cost of certain drugs. That's why it benefits you to ask if something else could provide the same treatment.
You may find that an alternative is much cheaper.
9. Discount Cards :
Look into whether you're eligible for prescription drug discount cards.
Some insurance providers will offer them, even auto insurance. Other organizations like AARP sometimes provide discount cards to members.
Search online for pharmacy discount cards. You should always ask your pharmacist if they have any coupons available.
Another place to check is the drug manufacturer's website. Sometimes you can request to have coupons mailed to you for certain medications.
10. Don't Rule out Over-the-Counter Drugs :
It's important to stay on top of the treatment options for your illness. There may be an over-the-counter option that can effectively treat your symptoms. In fact, some prescriptions medications were once over-the-counter.
If you're on multiple prescriptions, ask your doctor about the possibility of supplementing one of your medications with an over-the-counter drug. This could drastically bring down the cost.
You also shouldn't rule out holistic treatment options.
Don't Get Buried Under Prescription Drug Costs :
The cost of visiting your doctor is high enough as it is. Even if you have health insurance, co-pays can add up. Add the high cost of prescriptions and your medical bills start becoming intimidating.
Take some of the stress off by using the tips discussed above. You may be able to save some cash without giving up a healthy life.
For more articles on living a healthy lifestyle, check out our blog.
Read Also :
What’s It Like In A Drug Recovery Center?
How Does Smoking Weed Affect The Society
How To Choose The Right Online Pharmacy
You're staring at a computer screen all day, and you think you're taking good care of your eyes. Your eyes feel fine, after all. And when it comes to proper eye care, you get regular checkups from NewVision Clinics - Eye Specialist in Melbourne and take the right steps to keep your vision in top shape.
If you're not careful, however, you could be making a few eye mistakes that might be hurting your vision.
How To Identify The Eye Problems?
If your eyes are dry and irritated, there's a good chance you're overdoing it with eye drops. That's because many of these drops contain chemicals that get your eyes producing more tears than normal — but only for a short period of time.
But once the effect wears off, your body compensates by producing even fewer tears than before. You can become dependent on eyedrops just to see clearly for a few minutes at a time. This is why using artificial tears for more than two or three days in a row is generally not recommended.
Instead, use preservative-free eye drops sparingly (usually no more than four times per day). Our eyes are the only pair we've got, and many of us don't take proper care of them.
Whether it's sleeping in our makeup or not wearing sunglasses on a sunny day, there are many ways we can hurt our eyes on a daily basis. Here are three eye mistakes that could be making your vision worse — and what to do about them.
6 Common Eye Mistakes Which Makes Your Vision Worse
You are making many eye mistakes throughout life, from wrong power eyeglass wearing to applying bad eye drops. But apart from these, many more common mistakes hamper your eye's vision.
Here are six mistakes that have an adverse effect on your eyesight.
1. You're Skipping The Sunglasses
When you're walking around in bright conditions, like snow or bright sky during the summer, it's important to wear sunglasses. Not only is this a good idea for your general health-protecting your eyes from UV rays — but it can also help keep you from blinking. Going out without proper protective sunglasses is one of the common eye mistakes. But it can happen at any time. So it is better to take the tap and remember to wear sunglasses.
Constant squinting can lead to the development of crow's feet, which are fine lines around the eyes that can make you look older than you really are.
If that isn't enough reason to wear them, consider this: According to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, long-term exposure to UV radiation has been linked with cataracts in middle-aged adults. And if you're worried about how they look on you, check out these five tips to find the perfect pair of sunglasses for your face shape.
2. Not Eating Right
A healthy diet is good for your whole body, including your eyes. "There are certain nutrients — carotenoids, vitamins C and E and omega-3 fatty acids — that have beneficial effects on our eyes," Dr. Ritterband says.
Improper diet maintenance is solid eye mistakes. You probably do not know the right nutrition, which is keeping your eyes healthy. But the fish and green vegetables have the right vitamin A and D sources, which are eye boosters.
3. Not Wearing Sunglasses Outside
It’s easy to think that sunglasses are just another fashion accessory, but they’re really an essential tool for protecting your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Exposure to UV light can cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, two of the leading causes of blindness in older adults.
UVR also can damage the skin around the eyes, which can increase your risk of developing basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, two common types of skin cancer.
Wear sunglasses labeled with “UV 400” or “100% UVA/UVB protection” every time you go outdoors — even on cloudy days — to protect your eyes from damaging UVR.
4. Using Antibiotics Too Much
"There is a fear that if you have an inflamed cornea, people worry that it might get infected," Melmed said. "In most cases, it doesn't get infected." Antibiotics have eye mistakes effects; they can cause allergic reactions and sometimes even bacterial resistance, he said.
5. Not Getting Regular Eye Exams
It's important to see an ophthalmologist every year, Melmed said. During the exam, he or she will check for early signs of glaucoma and macular degeneration, which can be treated if caught early enough. Avoiding the scheduled eye check-ups are eye mistakes.
Try to avoid it consciously. We all know going for the regular check-up is a little time taking process. But to maintain eye health, you have to do it.
6. Using Artificial Tears
The reason many people have dry eyes is not that their tear glands aren't producing enough tears. Rather, it's because their blink reflex doesn't work properly, and their tears evaporate too quickly from the surface of their eyes.
In this case, artificial tears only worsen the situation by drying out the surface of your eyes even more. Instead of using over-the-counter artificial tears, try to blink more often and learn how to massage your eyelids properly in order to improve the blink reflex (you can find instructions in my Natural Vision Improvement Kit).
Conclusion:
All of these six eye mistakes are common. But on your regular days, you are making these mistakes without knowing them. So it is better to tap on and avoid making mistakes. If you are facing troubled vision. First, identify the problem systems and then ask the consults from the eye doctor.
Read Also:
3 Top Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
How To Care For Your Eye In 5 Medically Proven Ways
How To Buy Glasses With Vision Direct
Contacts vs Glasses: Which of These Two Eyesight Improving Methods
