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The Unexpected Activity Elderly People Look Forward To

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 05:18:15 +0000

It has long been assumed that Americans abhor aging and indeed some individuals go to great lengths to maintain the stamina of their youth and to both look and feel younger. Surprising new research however, has revealed that these people are in the minority and in fact the majority of seniors are now optimistic about getting older. The optimism surrounding aging bodes well for the overall happiness of our society, especially considering the fact that 10,000 Americans turn 65 everyday and most of them are expected to live to ninety and beyond.

Why Aging is No Longer a Fear

A recent survey was conducted on over 2,000 adults aged 60 and up and was released by United Healthcare, USA TODAY, and the National Council on Aging. 70 percent of the surveyed adults claimed that the past year of their life was either normal or better than normal and 75 percent of the adults were optimistic that their quality of life would either improve or remain stable over the next 10 years. The satisfaction and optimism regarding aging did not end there; over half of the participants believed that they would maintain their stamina and health and 14 percent even expected their health to improve over the next decade. In addition, 82 percent of the participants reported exercising regularly and 39 percent of the participants stated that they had enough energy and stamina to maintain a daily exercise regime. 70 percent of participants were also happy with their current financial situation and secure in their ability to cover their expenses throughout their lifetime. Finally, over 80 percent of the participants reported a strong sense of passion and purpose in their lives. According to The National Council on Aging the key finding of this study is that “Seniors and baby boomers expect their lives to improve as they grow older.”

Another recent study was funded by Pfizer in conjunction with nearly a dozen advocacy organizations as part of a “Get Old” initiative and it found similar optimistic views with regards to aging. The researchers of the study asked 1017 Americans aged18 and older a variety of questions pertaining to their feelings and beliefs about aging. Nearly half of the surveyed Americans over the age of 50 chose the word “optimistic” to describe their feelings towards aging, as opposed to “angry,” “uneasy,” or merely “prepared.” The participants credited good health, a better appreciation for their family and friends and greater wisdom, for their happiness with regards to aging. Although there are no findings on whether or not the participants feel younger than they expected for their age, the study did find that 40 percent of the participants felt wiser than their age and 51 percent believed that they looked younger than their age. Those who were less optimistic about aging, feared losing their independence, stamina and physical mobility the most and only 7 percent of participants actually feared death itself.

Top Tricks to Feel Young Forever

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:12:45 +0000

Although there have been many advances in modern medicine over the past century, there is still no magic drug or formula that will prevent you from aging, however, it is possible to at least slow down the hands of time and the following suggestions can help you to do just that.

Purslane to Feel Younger?

Purslane, which is also referred to as pigweed, is a little known plant that grows worldwide. Similar to noni juice, purslane is a rich source of numerous vitamins and minerals and it contains an exceptionally high level of antioxidants which help to slow the signs of aging by protecting the skin against environmental damage. Purslane is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and it has been found to have anti-microbial (infection reducing), fever reducing, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties.

Cleansing for Stamina

We humans are equipped with numerous organs (lungs, liver, bladder, colon, kidneys and skin) which work to detoxify and clean out our bodies. Unfortunately, as we grow older these organs can weaken and become clogged-up with waste, resulting in a decline in the energy and stamina that we so often associate with youth. Luckily, cleaning up your diet and periodic fasting can help to cleanse your body and restore your organs to their optimal state. You can enhance the cleansing effect of a fast by drinking a lot of water, meditating, resting up and using a sauna or steam room in order to sweat out excess toxins. Just be sure to consult with your healthcare practitioner before embarking on any radical cleanse or a fast that exceeds 24 hours.

Exercise

If you really want to feel younger and slow down the aging process then you simply must exercise. It may be no secret that exercise will boost your energy and stamina but did you know that it will also help to counteract age related muscle loss and to prevent numerous age related diseases including cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer. A recent study has also found that exercising helps to maintain the protective tips which are found on bundles of genes inside cells. This is important because when the protective tips are lost wrinkles, muscle degeneration, cloudy thinking, eyesight loss, hearing impairment, and other issues which are associated with aging and feeling older may all ensue.

A Candid Talk About Andropause

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 06:05:06 +0000

The process of aging has been strongly associated with changes in various parts of the body, including weight gain, wrinkles, joint pain, and loss of stamina. In terms of the reproductive system, aging is also linked to a decrease in the production of sex-specific hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone in women. The male population also experiences its own decline in levels of testosterone during aging, one of the symptoms of a medical condition called androgen deficiency in the aging male (ADAM), or simply called male menopause, or andropause.

Is Andropause Part of the Aging Process?

Since the term andropause is not extensively recognized by society, a number of myths have emerged about this male aging condition. At the same time, medical researchers have put extra effort into looking at the molecular mechanisms behind different types of damage that may be associated with andropause. It is thus important to recognize and disseminate the facts of andropause during aging to prevent further misconceptions and damage to the male ego.

One established fact about andropause involves the decrease in the levels of testosterone in the males as they age. This may start when a male is within his 30s, in which a 10% decrease in testosterone levels is observed. The gradual decrease in testosterone levels continues until age 50, when testosterone levels may be 30% lower. This significant decrease in testosterone levels have been reported to be responsible in causing major changes in the male body, including lowered stamina and possible damage to various systems and organs of the body.

Will This Affect Stamina?

In order to decrease damage caused by misconceptions about male menopause, it is thus important to understand the underlying changes that occur during aging among males. Andropause is also associated with changes in the circulatory system, resulting in the profuse sweating and difficulty in sleeping. It is also possible for males undergoing andropause to experience nervousness and feel a decrease in stamina. It has been postulated that the decrease in testosterone levels may induce damage in other physiological activities of the body.

Male menopause is also associated with a loss of stamina for sexual activity, including poor erection and damage to the capacity for ejaculation. Aging among males can thus be quite frustrating, especially when their quality of life is affected. There may also be a significant gain in weight among aging males, which in turn may also affect the capacity for movement and decrease in stamina for physical activities.

Male Menopause and Anti-Aging

According to a recent medical report, the symptoms of male menopause may be treatable by testosterone replacement therapy, or the administration of testosterone to correct the damage caused by its decreased levels during aging. The report discussed that introduction of testosterone during male menopause may restore muscle mass that possibly increases stamina among the male patients, allowing them to continue on with their lives even during the later adult years. Although the results of clinical trials show conflicting reports on its actual effect on male stamina during sexual activities, this therapeutic approach has resulted in the control of weight gain among men. It is also important to understand that weight gain may cause damage to other parts of the body by increasing the risk for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. It is also often more difficult to engage in physical activities when one has a heavy physique, which in turn may also be linked to a loss of stamina.

It would thus be interesting to know in the near future if the results of clinical trials on testosterone replacement therapy will show that this treatment is entirely safe and effective. The older male population may definitely benefit from this potential treatment in terms of increasing stamina and decreasing further damage to health. Anecdotal reports have also been released regarding the risk of testosterone treatment and prostate cancer, yet these need further investigation. For now, it is important for society to understand that yes, men also undergo menopause and that there is a need to find a solution for the changes in stamina and prevent other types of damage that may be caused by lower testosterone levels.

Is This The Key to Living Longer?

Mon, 28 May 2012 04:45:20 +0000

Forever young. It’s a common adage found in songs and movie titles, and its pursuit leads to 274 billion dollars worth of annual sales in the anti-aging market. Although the average lifespan today is higher than ever before, most of us would jump at the opportunity to maintain a state of youth just a little bit longer and add additional years to our lives. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, past studies have not provided scientists with a practical approach to actually slow down the aging process and increase the life expectancy of humans. However, a revolutionary new study, published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, may hold the clue to a treatment that will not only slow the aging process in humans but also help humans to maintain a state of good health and stamina as they age.

Studies Aimed at How to Maintain Youth

Although past studies have found ways to increase the lifespan of many species, they did so by altering the species’ genes at the embryonic stage, which is not a viable approach for humans. What makes this new study so revolutionary is that lead researcher María Blasco and her colleagues at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) discovered a way to use gene therapy in order to extend the lifespan of mice that have already reached adulthood.

For the study, the researchers used a DNA-modified virus; replacing the viral genes with the telomerase enzyme, which is a type of enzyme that is believed to slow the body’s biological clock. Telomerase help to reduce aging and maintain youth by repairing telomeres, which are the ends of chromosomes. This is important because telomeres protect the chromosomes, but overtime they lose their ability to do so and as a result the cells stop dividing and they either age or die.

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When the researchers injected the mice with the telomerase enzymes, the virus deposited the telomerase gene directly into the cells. Once deposited, the telomerase helped to prevent the telomeres from shortening and even helped to rebuild some of the telomeres. In so doing, the injection, helped to protect the cells from aging and death and consequently, to reset the biological clock of the mice. In fact just one injection resulted in a 24% increase in the lifespan of the mice who were treated at the age of one, and a 13% increase in the lifespan of the mice who were treated at the age of two.

What Do We Do With This Information on Aging

Although researchers are still a long ways away from using these findings on humans, and it is unlikely that this telomerase based therapy will result in us remaining forever young, the study has opened the door for the development of a method to not only increase the lifespan of humans but to also prevent age-related diseases. According to Blasco “Aging is not currently regarded as a disease, but researchers tend increasingly to view it as the common origin of conditions like insulin resistance or cardiovascular disease, whose incidence rises with age. In treating cell aging, we could prevent these diseases.” In fact, the injected mice not only experienced an increase in longevity they also experienced an increase in stamina and health and a delayed onset of age-related diseases such as insulin resistance and osteoporosis.

Fatty Food and Male Fertility

Sat, 19 May 2012 05:57:44 +0000

Approximately 15 percent of all couples experience fertility problems and male fertility issues play a role in 50 percent of these cases. Aging, as well as a vast array of substances and health disorders can cause or contribute to male infertility and some of the most common causes include: testicular damage, hormone imbalances, psychosocial problems, prolonged drug use, alcohol abuse, over exercising, anabolic steroid use, exposure to environmental toxins, malnutrition and stress. An unhealthy diet and lifestyle can also reduce a man’s sexual stamina and contribute to male infertility and a lack of both vitamin C and zinc have both been linked to reduced sperm count and infertility. According to a recent study published in the journal of Human Reproduction (March 14th, 2012), the amount and type of fatty foods consumed, also plays an important role in determining semen count and quality.

The 4 year long study, involved a collaboration between Jill Attaman, (Clinical and Research Fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School at the time of the research), and her colleagues. The researchers analyzed semen samples of 99 men and had the men fill out questionnaires regarding their diets; they also measured seminal plasma and fatty acid levels in the sperm of 23 of the 99 men. The men were divided into three separate groups, based upon the amount of fat that they consumed.

How Diet Can Impact Fertility

The men in the group with the highest fat intake had a 43% lower total sperm count and a 38% lower sperm concentration than the men in the group with the lowest dietary fat intake. Total sperm count is the term used to describe the total number of sperm present in ejaculation, while sperm concentration is used to describe the concentration of sperm per unit volume.

A diet high in saturated fat can clog the arteries and impede blood flow, and some hypothesize that this can lead to decreased sexual stamina and infertility. According to this study, the consumption of saturated fat does indeed contribute to infertility. In fact, the researchers found that the amount of saturated fats consumed had the biggest influence on overall semen quality. More specifically, the men with the highest consumption of saturated fats had a 35% lower total sperm count and a 38% lower sperm concentration, then the men who consumed the least. “The magnitude of the association is quite dramatic and provides further support for the health efforts to limit consumption of saturated fat given their relation with other health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease,” stated Professor Attaman.

What Diet Exactly Should Be Watched For?

Omega-3 fatty acids (found in cold water fish and plant oils), are highly revered for their ability to slow the signs of aging and enhance physical stamina. Not surprisingly then, the study found that the men with the highest intake of omega-3s had better formed sperm and a slightly higher overall sperm count (0.4-3.4%) than the men who consumed the lowest amount of omega-3s.

It should be noted that this study was small scale and the researchers warn that more studies are required to confirm the precise relationship between dietary fats and male infertility. “Given the limitations of the current study, in particular the fact that it is a cross-sectional analysis and that it is the first report of a relation between dietary fat and semen quality, it is essential that these findings be reproduced in future work,” says Attaman. “In the meantime, if men make changes to their diets so as to reduce the amount of saturated fat they eat and increase their omega-3 intake, then this may not only improve their general health, but could improve their reproductive health too. At a global level, adopting these lifestyle modifications may improve general health, as high saturated fat diets are known to be a risk factor for a range of cardiovascular diseases; but, in addition, our research suggests that it could be beneficial for reproductive health worldwide.”

Tips to Live to 100 Years Old

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:32:33 +0000

The average life expectancy in North America is 79, which is pretty good considering 100 years ago it was only 55 in most industrialized countries. Even better news however, is that the amount of centenarians (people who live past 100) has almost doubled in the U.S. over the past 20 years, and some scientists hypothesize that the total number of centenarians will increase a whopping 7-fold by 2020! Although aging and death are inevitable, the following lifestyle and anti-aging tips can help you increase your chances of aging gracefully and joining the centenarian club.

Reduce Stress to Reverse Aging

Stress increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, and it reduces both mental stamina and physical stamina. What’s more, chronic high stress levels are a massive contributor to aging and a high stress lifestyle can shave more than 5 years off of your life. Practicing deep breathing exercises, doing yoga, meditating and simply keeping things in perspective can all effectively reduce your stress levels. Taking regular vacations will give you something to look forward to and it will also help to reduce overall stress levels. Maintaining close, loving relationships, is another great way to reduce stress and increase your lifespan.

Maintain a Healthy Body Weight to Reverse Aging

Being overweight accelerates the aging process and it can reduce your life expectancy by as much as 4 years, while extreme obesity can reduce your life expectancy by a full decade.

Workout to Reverse Aging

Working out 5 days a week will not only increase your strength and stamina, studies suggest it will add between 2 and 5 years to your life! Working-out slows down the aging process in multiple ways–it reduces your risk for developing diseases such as diabetes, it decreases your stress levels, it helps you to maintain a healthy body weight and it helps to keep your heart strong and healthy.

Don’t Skimp on Sleep

Your body does the majority of its reparation while you are sleeping and chronic sleep deprivation, increases stress levels, reduces stamina, raises your risk for multiple diseases and it vastly reduces your life expectancy. Aim for between 7 and 9 hours per night, and try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day.

Floss Daily

Flossing daily may seem like a strange way to slow the aging process but studies have found this simple habit can increase your lifespan by as much as 6 years. Flossing is essential because it removes harmful bacteria from your mouth and prevents them from migrating to other parts of your body, where they can cause disease.

Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels

The sun is your body’s primary source of vitamin D. If you live in a sunny area, expose your skin to the sun daily for fifteen minutes, this will ensure adequate vitamin D levels. If you do not live in a sunny area, get your vitamin D levels checked by your doctor and consider taking a vitamin D supplement. Maintaining adequate bodily levels of vitamin D helps to strengthen your immune system and it can increase your lifespan by 2 years.

Consume a Healthy, Antioxidant Dense Diet

This is arguably, the most important, amongst all of the anti-aging tips. Free radicals are highly reactive and unstable atoms that attack the body on a cellular level; they damage and destroy your cells and DNA. According to Denham Harman, M.D., of the University of Nebraska, cancer, cardiovascular disease and many other degenerative disorders that we attribute to aging, are not a natural result of aging itself; they are caused by excessive free radical damage.

Most fruits and vegetables are antioxidant dense and some of the richest sources include: berries, grapes, oranges, apricots, cantaloupe, cherries and peaches; broccoli, spinach, sprouts, beets, red peppers, sweet potatoes, carrots and tomatoes. Green and white teas are also great sources of antioxidants and their regular consumption is encouraged. Finally, avoid alcohol, cigarettes, junk foods and processed foods because they are full of toxins which encourage the formation of free radicals.

Serious Sexual Health Symptoms You Can’t Ignore

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:41:30 +0000

Sexual Health symptoms can be disturbing. Some are more serious than others so doctors are doing what they can to educate the public about what to watch for.

On the surface some problems may not seem all that serious; however, as doctors and scientists have discovered, a lot of these symptoms are due to underlying medical problems that should not be taken lightly.

The most serious sexual health symptoms can be hazardous to both health and relationships. Here are some serious symptoms that should not be ignored:

• Genital irritations such as pain, lumps, sores, itching or unusual discharge could be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease. If untreated in females it could permanently damage the reproductive organs. When men ignore the symptoms they can become sterile.

• Erectile dysfunction can be a symptom of many different health related issues. For example, it can be a sign of diabetes, kidney disease, nerve damage, severe depression or even be a result of alcoholism.

• Low sex drive used to be associated with psychological issues; however, experts now say there are a number of physical reasons people lose their sexual stamina. It can often be associated with low levels of hormones for men. Certain medications taken for depression can also lead to low stamina in both men and women. Below is a list of reasons for low sex drive or stamina.

1. Anemia

2. Enlarged Prostate

3. Autoimmune Diseases

4. Fibromyalgia

5. Kidney Disease

6. Hepatitis

7. Pregnancy

8. Post Pregnancy (hormones)

9. Drug use (cocaine)

10. Stress & depression

When it comes to studies on sexual activity and depression the statistics are overwhelming. One report in the United States showed that 70 per cent of patients that were fighting depression had lost their sexual desire. Countless research papers have indicated patients with major depression or bipolar disorder have an even higher prevalence of dysfunction. Since the depression not only impacts sexual activity, but all aspects of a person’s well being, physicians insist it has to be addressed. In other words, if low sex drive or low sexual stamina suddenly becomes an issue for you, you might want to seek medical attention.

• When sex hurts it could be due to a number of factors. Pain before or after intercourse can be attributed to birth control methods, allergy medicines, antidepressants you might be taking if you are struggling with depression or it could even have something to do with changes in your hormones.

• Sex headaches take place just prior to or during an orgasm. They are sudden and severe. Neurologists say for the most part they are nothing to be concerned about, yet in some cases they can be serious; a sign of problems with blood vessels that feed your brain.

Hormones and Depression

Hormones play a large role in sexual health. Hormones can fluctuate in all of us, sometimes dramatically. In most cases, big changes are associated with aging, but not always. The hormones testosterone and estrogen are closely linked to sexual desire. Testosterone is necessary in both men and women for sexual feelings to be present. When testosterone is low in men they can lose their stamina or desire. Estrogen is made from testosterone in women so when a woman is no longer ovulating she can lose her sexual desire. There is hormone replacement therapy for men and women but it is a controversial approach since some studies have linked it to an increase in cancer.

Physicians and Psychotherapists urge people to address their symptoms, whether it is a stamina issue, depression, dysfunction; or some other sign, there is a lot of ways to overcome the problems. They say it’s important to look beyond the surface to make sure that there are no underlying health problems that might be causing the sexual health symptoms to occur in the first place.