For health: prevent, protect and plan

How’s this for a statistic? “Eighty percent of older adults suffer from at least one chronic condition, and the average 75-year-old has three chronic conditions and uses five prescription drugs,” according to the American Public Health Association’s Web site.

And as we are in the middle of National Public Health Week, April 4-10, it seemed like a good time to write about getting and maintaining good health. Every year, APHA focuses on a different group for its health week, and while this year it’s children, I think it’s still a good time for the rest of us to give some thought to ourselves.

With that in mind, APHA suggested practicing the three Ps – prevent, protect and plan.

. Prevent: By adopting a healthy lifestyle now, which includes eating a healthful diet, not smoking and getting regular exercise, seniors can perhaps prevent some future problems. It’s never too late to make changes.

In fact, some simple measures, such as doing balance exercises and removing hazards in the home, can greatly reduce the risk of falling, a major concern as people age.

The best advice, said Val Sauda, director of outreach at Eastern Agency on Aging, is to start a new exercise program slowly and in collaboration with your doctor.

“Beginning with as little as five or 10 minutes a day, gradually increasing to 30 minutes most days, will make a world of difference,” she said. “Walking is a great way to get in shape, and so is weight lifting. Strength training can increase muscle mass and improve balance in a very short period of time.”

. Protect: It cannot be emphasized enough – early detection is the key to protecting yourself from chronic diseases. Getting screened and then following the health care provider’s recommendations is vital. APHA reports that “one in four older adults has heart disease, and about half have hypertension.” It is possible to control these conditions by eating a healthy diet and exercising.

Generally seniors should be screened for the following:

Colon Cancer with a colonoscopy every 10 years.

Breast Cancer with a yearly mammogram and clinical breast exams.

Diabetes with annual glucose test.

Blood pressure testing at every medical exam.

Glaucoma, a serious but treatable vision condition that can lead to blindness.

“And it is important to know that Medicare covers these screenings,” said Sauda.

She also recommends taking a look around your residence to see if there are things you can do to decrease your risk of falling. For a free pamphlet on “trip proofing” your home, call Eastern Agency on Aging and one will be sent to you.

. And finally, plan: Seniors can live longer and healthier lives if they visit their doctors regularly. But this includes following the doctor’s orders, which is one of the secrets behind managing many illnesses. Sadly, too many seniors don’t heed their physician’s advice, and some skip doses of medication or do not fill prescriptions because of cost. As always, Eastern Agency on Aging can help with that part of the equation. We can help seniors look at the Medicare Part D plans and Medigap policies that are available, which may help save seniors money.

There you have it – the “Three Ps” to good health. Eat well, move around, and listen to your doctor. It’s a recipe for wellness.

Be sure to watch WABI-TV 5 noon news on Mondays for Eastern Agency on Aging’s segment, Senior Watch.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, e-mail info@eaaa.org, or log on to www.eaaa.org.