Senior Living Spring 2022

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12 ESSEX MEDIA GROUP SENIOR LIVING SPRING <strong>2022</strong> What doctors want you to know to protect yourself from Omicron STATEPOINT Omicron is between 1.5 to 3 times more transmissible than the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Additionally, people who manifest symptoms are doing so more quickly than with previous strains — sometimes just two to three days after exposure. And recent evidence shows daily Omicron deaths in the United States have exceeded those from the Delta variant. Amid these troubling facts, there is pervasive confusion about what steps individuals should be taking right now to protect themselves. “Although we have effective tools — particularly vaccines — to limit the spread of the virus and severity of CO- VID-19, the latest surge of cases fueled by the Omicron variant has created new challenges and raises important questions about masks, testing and isolation guidance,” says Gerald E. Harmon, M.D., president of the American Medical Association (AMA). With easily transmissible Omicron the now dominant variant, here’s what you need to know to keep yourself safe, according to the AMA: • Get vaccinated: Although breakthrough infections have increased with Omicron, COVID-19 vaccines remain extraordinarily effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death. All those who are eligible for the vaccine and booster should get them. Learn more at GetVaccineAnswers.org. • Wear a higher-quality mask: The CDC says that while the best mask is the mask you’re going to wear consistently, well-fitted respirators, such as KN95s and N95s, provide the highest level of protection. N95s are no longer in short supply, and the federal government recently announced that it is sending 400 million N95 respirators to pharmacies and community health centers across the country, where you can get them free of charge. In lieu of respirators, surgical masks and double masking also offer additional protection over a cloth mask. • Testing is critical: Visit ama-assn. org/delivering-care for a helpful guide from the AMA on which test is right for you. You should consider getting tested if you have symptoms or if you have had a known close exposure to someone with COVID-19, and maybe before gathering indoors with people outside of your household. If you test positive, the AMA suggests testing negative before ending any isolation period. An antigen test is the best tool to determine whether someone is still infectious. And even if the repeat test is negative when ending isolation, patients are advised to wear medical grade masks for at least five days after ending isolation. You can receive four free, at-home COVID tests by signing up here: special.usps.com/ testkits. “We continue to urge those with questions about COVID-19 vaccines to talk to their physician. Vaccinating as many people as possible and taking the preventive health measures we know work are the only ways to slow the spread and move us closer to the end of this pandemic,” says Dr. Harmon. HANSON ESTATE & ELDER LAW PLANNING CENTER TELEPHONE: 978-276-9030 PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONES WITH PROPER PLANNING, BECAUSE DOING NOTHING MAY BE THE MOST COSTLY THING YOU EVER DO. ESTATE PLANNING: • Wills & Trusts • Power of Attorney • Healthcare Proxy • Homestead Protection • Real Estate Protection • Irrevocable Life Trusts • Pre & Post Divorce Estate Planning • Life Insurance Trusts • Tax Planning • IRS/DOR Tax Resolutions REAL ESTATE: • Purchase & Sales Agreements • Real Estate Closings • Homestead Declarations • Landlord/Tenant BANKRUPTCY: • Chapter 7 • Debt Negotiations LONG TERM CARE PLANNING: • Nursing Home and Asset Protection • Mass Health Planning • Medicaid Application • Conservatorships & Guardianships • Special Needs Trusts ADOPTION • GUARDIANSHIP www.HansonLegal.com • E-mail:LHanson@HansonLegal.com • Facsimile: 978-276-9830 Park Place East, 348 Park Street, Suite 103, North Reading, MA 01864
SENIOR LIVING SPRING <strong>2022</strong> ESSEX MEDIA GROUP 13 Starting a gym routine? Why you need to protect your feet STATEPOINT Starting a new fitness routine? Protecting your feet is critical. “‘No pain, no gain’ may be a motto for most workouts, but ‘too much, too soon’ can lead to foot and ankle injuries, which can sabotage fitness goals,” says Jeffrey Loveland, DPM, FACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon and Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). As you follow through on your goals, here’s how to identify and treat common exercise-related foot problems, according to foot and ankle surgeons. • Playing through an ankle sprain can cause further damage to tendons, which may take much longer to heal or possibly require surgery. What’s more, you may be overlooking a more serious injury. “Seek treatment for potentially-sprained ankles right away,” says Dr. Loveland. “Untreated or repeated ankle sprains may lead to chronic ankle instability, a condition that causes persistent pain and a ‘giving way’ of the ankle.” • A stress fracture may feel like an ankle sprain initially, but you’ll also notice swelling without bruising, and pain during normal activities or when touching the area. If you experience these symptoms, have your foot and ankle evaluated. • Dr. Loveland explains it’s best to seek treatment for pain or swelling around your Achilles tendon postworkout. Untreated Achilles tendonitis may worsen over time, leading to stiffness and fatigue in your injured leg, or even a ruptured tendon, which would require surgery and several months’ rehabilitation. • If heel pain lasts more than onetwo days or worsens when you stand after sitting for extended periods of time, you may have plantar fasciitis, a common overuse injury resulting from inflammation of the tissue extending from your heel to toes. If caught early, your foot and ankle surgeon can recommend at-home conditioning. In later stages, the problem is harder to treat and takes longer to resolve. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, according to foot and ankle surgeons, who offer these healthy tips: • Start gradually. Increase the length and intensity of workouts gradually to avoid overuse injuries. Stretch before and afterward. • Dress right. Dr. Loveland explains shoes that don’t provide arch support or heel cushioning can cause plantar fasciitis, and shoes that are too small PHOTO | GETTY IMAGES can cause a neuroma (a thickening of the nerve tissue), which may require injections, medication or physical therapy. Be sure to also stick to cotton or nonslip socks to avoid blisters. • Use good technique. Good form prevents injuries to tendons and ligaments. “Incorrect posture or misuse of equipment can decrease stabilization in the foot and ankle, leading to joint sprains and muscle strains,” Dr. Loveland says. • Avoid bacteria. The gym is a breeding ground for fungus, viruses and bacteria, including increasingly common, drug-resistant strains like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). “Water shoes provide a barrier between your feet and locker room floors as well as pool decks. Cover cuts, cracks and ingrown toenails, since these areas can act as entry points for bacteria. If you have a red or swollen cut that isn’t healing, have it examined,” Dr. Loveland says. Above all, seek the expertise of a foot and ankle surgeon at signs of injury or pain. To find one near you, use the “find a physician” search tool at FootHealthFacts.org. Stay on track to crush your fitness goals by keeping your feet in tip-top shape.
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