Volume 4 Issue 11

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Page 4 Tidbits ® of Niagara Region For advertising rates call 716.807.7729 WHO NEEDS TO SEE A GERIATRICIAN? Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about geriatrics doctors? My father, who’s 82, takes eight different prescription drugs for different health issues but hasn’t been feeling himself lately. I’m wondering if he would benefit by seeing a geriatrician in place of his regular primary care physician. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, If your dad is dealing with a variety of health problems and is taking multiple medications, a visit to a geriatrician may be just the antidote to help get him back on track. Here’s a rundown of the different types of health conditions geriatricians treat and some tips to help you locate one in his area. Geriatrics Doctors For starters, it’s important to know that geriatricians are family practice or internal medicine physicians that have had additional specialized training to manage the unique and, oftentimes multiple health concerns of older adults. Just as a pediatrician specializes in caring for children, a geriatrician is trained to provide care for seniors, usually over age 75. While most doctors, and even general practitioners, are trained to focus on a person’s particular illness or disease, geriatricians are trained to look at all aspects that can affect elderly patients – not just the physical symptoms. They also often work with a team of other health care professionals like geriatric-trained nurses, rehabilitation therapists, nutritionists, social workers and psychiatrists to provide care. And, they will coordinate treatments among a patient’s specialists. Patients who can benefit from seeing a geriatrician are elderly seniors with multiple health and age-related problems such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, confusion and memory problems, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, hypertension, depression, respiratory problems, osteoporosis, arthritis, chronic pain, mobility issues, incontinence, vision and hearing impairment, and trouble with balance and falls. Geriatricians are also particularly adept at tackling medication problems. Because many seniors, like your dad, take multiple medications at the same time for various health conditions, and because aging bodies often absorb and metabolize drugs differently than younger adults, unique side effects and drug interactions are not uncommon. A geriatrician will evaluate and monitor you dad’s medications to be sure they are not affecting him in a harmful way. Geriatricians can also help their patients and families determine their long-term care needs, like how long they can remain in their own homes safely without assistance, and what type of services may be necessary when they do need some extra help. SEA CREATURES (cont’d) • Shells of crustaceans such as krill, shrimp, and crabs are made from chitin. Chitin is valuable in many industries for use in cosmetics, shampoos, plant food, water filtration, and antifungal agents. It’s also used to promote speedy blood clotting. • There is a small worm that lives in the ocean off the coast of the Western U.S. Barely half an inch long, it is sometimes called by highly descriptive name of “the bone-eating zombie snot worm.” This creature tunnels into the bones of dead whales where it sets down bacteria-laden “roots.” The bacteria break down the fats and oils of the deceased whale, making the nutrition available for the female worms to digest. Meanwhile the miniscule males of the species live inside the female’s body, with perhaps several hundred males living inside each one of the females. Sperm is released at regular intervals; eggs are fertilized; and when eggs are released, the ones that land on whale bones grow into females, while those that land on other females turn into males, which then join the harem inside that worm. When disturbed, the worm retreats inside its gelatinous tube, releasing gobs of mucus as protection. • Parrotfish live in communities composed of a group of females and a single male. If the group loses their male, one of the larger, older females can turn into a male and will take over the group, becoming more aggressive and more colorful. Although females can turn into males, males cannot turn into females. Once a female becomes a male, the change is permanent. When parrotfish sleep, they hide in a small crevice and cover themselves with mucus, which is thought to mask their scent from predators. • It’s estimated that about 43 million people make their living from commercial fishing or from aquaculture worldwide. WHO NEEDS TO SEE A GERIATRICIAN? (coontinued) You’ll need to call the individual doctor’s office to find out. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. TIDBITS OF NIAGARA REGION IS NOW ON FACEBOOK https://facebook.com/tibitsofniagararegion Answers on page 7 1. Which ocean is saltier: the Atlantic or the Pacific? 2. Coral reefs compose just 1% of the ocean’s space but harbor what percent of the ocean’s fish? 3. Research on what sea creature led to the development of a drug used to combat HIV? 4. What percent of their body weight do sea otters consume each day? 5. Which is deeper on average, the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean? Answers on Page 7 1. What is the biggest fish in the sea? 2. What is the average depth of the oceans? “Mr. Piano” Tuning & Repair Roy Nieman The tuner that cares! But not all seniors need to see a geriatrician. Seniors who have fewer health problems are just fine seeing their primary care physician. Find a Geriatrician Unfortunately, there’s a shortage of geriatricians in the U.S., so depending on where you live, finding one may be challenging. Karaoke & DJ Services Available 716-444-2423 mrpianotuner@aol.com To locate one in your area, use Medicare’s online physician search tool. Just go to Medicare.gov/physiciancompare and type in your ZIP code, or city and state in the Enter your location box, and then type in geriatric medicine in the Search box. Or, you can also get this information by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227. The American Geriatrics Society also has a geriatricianfinder tool on their website at HealthinAging.org. What did the ocean say to the shore? Nothing. It just waved. Keep in mind, though, that locating a geriatrician doesn’t guarantee your dad will be accepted as a patient. Many doctors already have a full patient roster and don’t accept any new patients. (continued in next column) Solution on page 8
For advertising rates call 716.807.7729 Tidbits ® of Niagara Region Page 5 REMARKABLE PEOPLE THE PICCARD FAMILY B & B BBQ “Come Get Some Que” yer m s d of it • Jules Piccard was a Swiss chemist born in 1840. He made contributions to food chemistry. Jules Piccard was the father of twin sons Auguste and Jean Piccard. • Auguste Piccard was born in 1884. In 1930, he and Paul Kipfer ascended to a height of 9.8 miles (16 k) in a balloon Auguste designed which had an airtight aluminum gondola so they would not pass out from lack of oxygen. They became the first humans to enter the stratosphere, and were the first to see the curvature of the Earth with their own eyes. • Auguste made 27 high altitude flights. He then realized he could apply the same technology towards creating a vessel that could descend into the ocean’s depths. He began building a bathyscaphe in 1937 but was interrupted by World War II. The work continued in 1945. After making a series of successful unmanned trips to great depths, he gave the craft to the French navy in 1950, where it was redesigned to carry a human. In 1954, it took a man safely down 13,701 ft. (4,176 m). Auguste and his son Jacques built a second bathyscaphe and together they dove to a record-breaking depth of 10,335 ft (3,150 m) in 1953. • Jean Piccard worked to advance balloon technology along with his twin brother Auguste. Jean and his wife Jeanette made the first stratospheric flight through clouds in 1934, ascending to Did a height you hear of 11 about miles the (18 family km) in who a pressurized got stuck Peter Pan’s Flight for over 3 hours? gondola. He subsequently invented a window Apparently, their vehicle would nevernever that would land. not frost over during flights. that Later he created an electronic system for emptying ballast bags. • Jean Piccard’s wife Jeannette was the first licensed female balloon pilot in the U.S., and the first woman to fly to the stratosphere when she accompanied her husband in 1934. She piloted the balloon, travelling 300 miles (482 km) in 8 hours. (continued on next page) RLOOTDOANWM Home of “Mission to Mars,” “Space Answers on Page 7 Mountain,” and “Finding Nemo Voyage” CBD Oil Can Interfere With Other Medications DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 49-year-old woman who had a massive heart attack in April. My father died of a massive heart attack at 49. I have four stents in three arteries and am on Brilinta, low-dose aspirin, blood pressure medication, etc. I have essential tremor, first noticing the tremors in middle school. The tremor is in my hands, making writing nearly impossible, and I have head bobs. I have an internal tremor that never stops. A previous practitioner prescribed a month’s trial of beta blockers several years ago. I noticed no relief with the tremor but was physically ill for the first 30 minutes of the morning in the first two weeks. Recently, I found an online blog regarding essential tremor and CBD oil. Nearly all of the bloggers found some level of relief using this treatment. If I choose to try CBD oil to assist with my tremor, is there a risk of it interfering with my heart and blood pressure medications? -- M.M. ANSWER: Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a nonpsychoactive substance found in Cannabis, as opposed to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the best-known psychoactive component. CBD is typically sold as an oil and has been receiving press as a potential treatment for a wide variety of medical issues. Many or most of these claims have no data to support them. Anecdotal reports, such as most blogs, are neither reliable nor scientific (and may or may not be true). There also is an issue with proving the dosage and purity of products said to contain CBD. (continued in next column) OPEN Mon, Thurs, Fri & Sat 11am - 9pm Sun 11am - 7pm Closed Tues & Wed Brenda Kephardt Owner 105 Telegraph Road Middleport, NY 14105 585-590-0173 BANDBBBQ@AOL.COM CBD Oil (cont’d) However, in the case of essential tremor, there is some evidence: Studies in mice have shown benefit with CBD, although a single case report showed effectiveness of THC but not CBD in essential tremor. The issue of drug interactions is a significant one. CBD inhibits two powerful pathways the body uses to detoxify drugs, the CPY3A4 and CYP2D6 systems. This is a serious issue for you. Ticagrelor (Brilinta), an anticoagulant, is metabolized by CYP3A4, as are some of the statin drugs usually prescribed to people with heart blockages. The effect of the anticoagulant could be much higher than expected, leading to bleeding risk. Other commonly used heart medications are metabolized by CYP2D6, and the effect on these medications is unpredictable. I can’t recommend CBD products given the medications you are taking, but would suggest you consider alternative treatments. You may have read about deep brain stimulation and ultrasound, two powerful and effective treatments for people whose symptoms have not responded to standard treatments. *** DEAR DR. ROACH: This question is for my husband. How safe is drinking tea while on warfarin? He has his INR checked monthly, and for the most part it stays between 2 and 3. He watches his vitamin K intake regularly. He has read conflicting stories of how tea interacts with warfarin by making the INR levels high. -- S.J. ANSWER: Tea comes in two major types: black tea, which is fermented, and green tea, which is not. Black tea has no known interactions with warfarin (Coumadin). Green tea contains small amounts of vitamin K, which could make the INR lower and the warfarin less effective. However, the effect is likely to be small. Further, if he drinks a consistent amount per day, his dose can be adjusted to reflect his vitamin K intake. Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. (c) 2019 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved 1. Disneyland Paris 2. Frontierland 3. The Monorail 4. Space Mountain 5. Fantasyland TO ADVERTISE CALL 716.807.7729 GO TO TRANSITCARWASH.CLUB TO ENROLL UNLIMITED f n n he 3 out these 3rd Quarter 2016 Week 30 Tax Foreclosed Real Estate Auction 1. 3 2. “Peter Pan’s Flight” City of Niagara Falls AUCTION HELD AT BANQUET & CONFERENCE CENTER • 7708 NIAGARA FALLS BLVD NIAGARA FALLS, NY AUCTION WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9TH 2019 REGISTRATION: 7:30AM • AUCTION STARTS 9AM 300+ PROPERTIES UP FOR SALE Visit auctionsinternational.com/liveauctions for complete details or call 716.656.1400 ext 110 11167 Big Tree Rd East Aurora, NY 14052 Office: 800-536-1401 erson in history – 22 Awards and 59 nominations www.auctionsinternational.com Solution puzzle on page 8 WASHES WASH SMART. SAVE HARD. ENTER CODE: TIDBITS TO GET FIRST MONTH AT HALF PRICE FROM $ 15 95 per month + tax The Pacific Ocean was named by this explorer. 434-7370 TRANSIT CAR WASH & EXPRESS LUBE 5673 S. Transit Lockport Unscrambled on Page 8
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Volume 4 Issue 11

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