Ageless SPRING 2019

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Break your fall fears Lower your risks and raise your awareness Falls are the leading cause of injuries for older adults. When they happen, falls can affect your quality of life. But falls don’t have to be a part of getting older. The more you can reduce your risk of falls, the more you can increase your independence and lower your potential for injuries. Prevent falls with your actions • Exercise regularly to improve your strength, balance and coordination • Get up slowly after sitting or lying down • Wear comfortable shoes that fit properly • Keep one hand free when carrying things, so you can grab onto something if you need support Prevent falls with your environment • Improve the lighting in your home by using brighter bulbs • Install grab bars near toilets, bathtubs and showers to help you get up or down more safely • Place electrical, telephone and computer cords along a wall where you can’t trip over them and remove all cords from under furniture or carpeting • Check outdoor walkways for loose bricks and debris, including wet leaves or mold that could cause you to slip • Install nightlights along the path from your bedroom to the bathroom • Remove all rugs that may cause you to trip or fall Talk to your doctor about these fall-prevention strategies • Exercise or physical therapy • Vision or hearing testing • Taking vitamin D • A cane or walker If you’ve fallen in the past year, make sure to tell your doctor about the fall and ask him/her about any concerns, so you can come up with a plan to prevent future falls. the sunshine pill Vitamin D adds a healthy glow When sunlight lands on your skin, it makes vitamin D from cholesterol. That’s why vitamin D is called the “sunshine vitamin.” A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that only about one-third of Americans were getting enough vitamin D in their diet. 6 Ageless SPRING 2019 Studies show that a vitamin D deficiency is a major risk factor for osteoporosis, falls and fractures. A deficiency also may increase your risk for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, arthritis and poor general health. Vitamin D helps you fight off many diseases and is important for proper nerve function, too. Surprisingly, there are very few foods that contain vitamin D naturally. The best ones are: • Cod liver oil • Salmon • Mackerel • Tuna • Beef liver • Cheese • Egg yolks What about milk? In the 1930s, voluntary fortification of milk with vitamin D began in America to eradicate rickets, a vitamin D deficiency disease that leads to stunted growth, bowed legs and delays in motor development in children. Milk was chosen as the fortification vehicle because it was widely available, palatable to young children and rich in calcium, phosphorus and vitamins. Vitamin D now also is added to other foods such as breakfast cereals and juice drinks. A study from the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that older adults can reduce their risk of bone fractures by taking an oral supplement of vitamin D every day. Ask your doctor if you need a Vitamin D supplement.
Pain Management and Anxiety Treating the Whole Person by Jonathan Howland, LCSW If your doctor told you that you needed knee surgery but then told you not to have physical therapy afterward, you would think he or she was crazy, right? Or if you were having trouble speaking after a stroke and your physician gave you medication but refused to refer you to a speech therapist, you would find a new doctor, right? A good doctor understands the importance of medical intervention, whether it’s surgery, medicine or some other treatment. They also know that follow-up therapy is essential to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient. And while this principle is true of physical conditions (like a joint replacement, stroke or a heart attack) it is also true for mental health. And in light of this emphasis on the mind-body connection, more and more doctors are understanding the connection between chronic pain treatment and the impact of long-term use of opioids to treat pain. Pain can come from many sources. Surgery or a car accident, of course, can cause pain but so can unresolved emotional or physical trauma or even excessive stress. The American Psychological Association estimates that nearly one-third of Americans live with chronic pain. More doctors now are recommending psychological treatment to help with pain management. Some research has shown that mental health therapy can help patients learn to cope with pain, increase self-management of pain, reduce pain-related disability and reduce emotional distresss. The bottom line: managing chronic pain is about more than fixing a “broken body part” – it is about “treating the whole person.” This trend comes at a critical time because of the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic in the United States, which claimed at least 42,000 lives in 2016 alone. Opioid prescription rates are increasing more quickly among older patients than any other group, and older patients now are more likely than any other group to be hospitalized for misuse of prescription opioid medications. So what might be driving the escalation of prescribed pain medication among older adults? Some possibilities: • Illnesses and conditions that come with aging • Divorce • “Empty nest” syndrome (experienced by parents whose children have grown and gone) • Death of a parent, spouse or child As people age, bodies change and metabolize medications differently, which can increase the intensity and duration of a medication’s impact on their bodies. Recent research connects chronic pain with depression and anxiety. Because a connection may exist, more doctors are attempting to treat patients’ mental health and chronic pain. Many people may take antianxiety medications (benzodiazepines) such as Valium, Xanax and Klonopin. These drugs can cause complications, including drug overdose deaths, when combined with opioid medications. Some states have changed laws or issued guidelines to doctors to use extreme caution when prescribing anti-anxiety medications and opioids. In some cases, patients may have to choose between one or the other – pain management or anxiety management. But options exist, and patients should feel empowered to ask their doctors, “If I’m not able to stay on the medications I have been on, what other options are there?” Finding the right solution could require some time and effort by the physician and the patient. As awareness grows about mental health treatment for chronic pain, many physicians may require that patients who remain on either opioid medications or benzodiazepines speak with a mental health professional, such as a social worker, psychiatrist or professional counselor. If you have questions about your doctor’s recommendations, but are not certain whom you should ask, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has nurses and medical social workers who can help make sure you are getting the right care, at the right place, at the right time. To speak with a nurse or a social worker, call us at 479-527-2354. If you are experiencing physical distress or symptoms of a drug overdose, contact 911 immediately. Ageless SPRING 2019 7
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Ageless SPRING 2019

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