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Avoiding sleep medications with simple exercises If you are having trouble sleeping at night, you might want to try a yoga class. Yoga and physical therapy (PT) are effective approaches to treating co-occurring sleep disturbance and back pain while reducing the need for medication, according to a new study by researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC). Writing in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, they report significant improvements in sleep quality lasting 52 weeks after 12 weeks of yog...
Editor’s note: This press statement was received on Dec. 13, 2019. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is reinstating Alaska’s adult preventive dental program (also known as the Adult Enhanced Dental Program) for Medicaid recipients effective Dec. 31, 2019. Program services will also be retroactively covered to Oct. 1, 2019, when the program was discontinued as part of an overall effort to address the state’s budget deficit. The decision to reinstate the program was made by DHSS Commissioner Adam Crum in coord...
Dear Savvy Senior: I've read that people with heart problems need to be extra careful during the winter months because heart attacks are much more common. Why is this? -- Cautious Senior Dear Cautious: Everyone knows winter is cold and flu season, but many don't know that it's also the prime season for heart attacks, too, especially if you already have heart disease or have suffered a previous heart attack. Here's what you should know, along with some tips to help you protect yourself. In the...
Have you seen all of the advertising for Medicare Plans? It seems like the TV waves are inundated with commercials about Medicare this time of year. And there is lots of talk about new benefits, free benefits and low or no-cost plans. How do you sort out all of this information and determine what plan is best for you in 2020? Medicare Advantage: Additional benefits, but not offered in Alaska No doubt about it, we are in the middle of the Open Enrollment Season for Part D (Prescription Drug...
As the holidays approach each year, a lot of people start off the season with Halloween trick-or-treating events. I used to do that too, even decorating the house a little bit. But today I’m not really fond of skeletons and morbid spiders and whatnot. Speaking of whatnot, you already know how much I despise the pushing of unnecessary, toxic chemicals on us, right? But there’s something even more revolting. It’s the government handbook called, “The Food Defect Action Levels.” This guidebook spells out exactly how much mold, rat hair, maggots,...
Most people have heard of First Aid and CPR to address physical distress, but what happens when someone is exhibiting signs of emotional or mental distress? The Alaska Training Cooperative (AKTC) is providing a groundbreaking public education program, Mental Health First Aid, that helps the public identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. Mental Health First Aid is an interactive eight-hour course funded by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority that teaches participants about the risk factors an...
Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska will present the monthly “Memory Café” event Dec. 17, at the Wasilla Senior Center, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Held the every third Tuesday in Wasilla, the Memory Café offers an opportunity for people living with dementia and their care partners to engage in much needed socialization and enjoy the company of others who are on the same journey. At the Memory Café, time will be split between socializing and enjoying the talents of local creative artists. Come and join for live music, coffee, cookies, and the chance to recharge...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will not hold any regularly scheduled meetings in December. They will host a Christmas party at the Soldotna Senior Center on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. The event is a potluck, so bring your favorite holiday dish. Also bring something you’d like to get rid of, as there will be a “recycle gift exchange.” Be sure your recycle gift is wrapped. For more information, call Sharon or Judy at (907) 262-1280. Homer Family Caregiver meetings take place on the second and fourth Thursdays of ea...
There are plenty of physical and mental stressors involved in holiday travel for people of any age. For seniors, long drives, train rides, or flights can pose specific challenges. No matter the mode of transport, sitting for extended periods of time can result in stiffness and discomfort in the lower back and often in the knees, hips and feet as well. Restricted leg room can also lead to overall stiffness and exacerbate pain in body parts that are injured or diseased. Unnatural sleep positions, especially for the neck, mean you can awake with...
Smartphone data may help surgery patients New uses for smartphone data are continually emerging, and the area of surgical care is no exception. In a new study presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2019, surgeons report that they can describe the impact of certain postoperative events in their patients by capturing data from a patient’s smartphone. This data allows surgeons to understand a patient’s level of postoperative physical activity, and how it may be impacted if...
I recently wrote about some impressive tests that you can self-order, thus taking the headache out of getting lab tests. But what about the important instructions that come with some lab tests, and what are the best instructions to follow if you have a surgery scheduled. The most common inquiry is this: Do I really need to stop all my medications before this test? This question isn't easy to answer because some medications are needed for comfort and well-being. For example, what if you are relia...
November closes out the fall health fair season, with events offering free health screenings and health and safety education for all ages. Alaska Health Fair events offer affordable, comprehensive, private blood tests for those 18 years and older (sorry, we can’t do children). Blood tests can help you learn about your overall health and detect potential problems early, when treatment or changes in personal habits can be most effective. Our most popular test is the Chemistry/Hematology Profile (please fast 10 to 12 hours for this one test), whic...
The air is crisp, heaters are running full blast, and Hospice of Anchorage is gearing up for this wonderful season of giving. While we continue to provide in-home support to individuals and families dealing with a life-limiting illness free of charge (primarily funded through the Senior In-Home Grant, and in part by generous donors), we also have wonderful events coming up that we would love for you to be a part of this winter. Navigating the Holidays On Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 7 to 9 p.m., Hospice of Anchorage, Providence Hospice and Frontier...
BAs the holidays approach we have an opportunity to enjoy our traditions, remember family members who have passed, and recount the familiar stories that brings us together as a family. These stories have the power to shape the ways we live our lives. They are important and are perhaps best told by our seniors. Just as we may be curious about where our elders came from, what they looked like, or even what jobs they held, equally important is the gathering of our family’s health history. Knowing what diseases grandparents or parents lived with or...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in November. This month’s meetings will include viewing and discussion of a training DVD on caregiving and wellness, examining the factors that contribute to caregiver stress, and practical solutions for reducing stress and cultivating lifelong wellness. Please join to share your experiences as a caregiver or to support someone who is a caregiver. Nov. 5, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. Nov. 12, Caregiver support m...
Better cancer screening may be warranted for Alaska Natives Greater efforts are needed to improve cancer screenings for Alaska Natives, according to federal health officials. The nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population faces higher risk of many cancers than white Americans, with considerable variation among regional groups, according to a new study published in the journal, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. “Our data show that the American Indian and Alaska Nati...
When you think of B complex, you probably think of it as one B vitamin, but “B Complex” refers to a group of B vitamins consisting of B1, B2, B3, B6 and others. The B complex available as a dietary supplement is intended to fill a nutrient gap that some people develop from malnutrition. This is fine, however most people can eat their way to better B status. The concerns about B vitamin deficiency are frequently overlooked by the most caring practitioners. Remember, the mindset in today’s atrocious health care system is to medicate you, so you’r...
Chuck and Malinda both started smoking at age 9. After smoking for over two decades, they decided to quit together for their children. Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line was there to help them through their journey. Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line helped them determine what level of nicotine replacement therapy would be best for them to quit, and the patches they requested were free. They were excited about the money they saved by not buying tobacco. Watch their story on YouTube at https://bit.ly/2Pk8lA1 and https://bit.ly/2WfEzhg. Chuck and Malinda sha...
What an amazing summer we have had! Now the weather has turned cooler and autumn is definitely in the air. As we plunge into all of the activities of this season, it is important to remember the Part D Open Enrollment Period (OEP) will soon be here. Once again, the Open Enrollment Period will be scheduled between October 15 and December 7. The Part D Open Enrollment Period is the annual opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries with Part D plans to review and possibly change their coverage. You...
Alaska Health Fair’s fall season is rocking and rolling! Find the location most convenient to you and attend -- all events have free entry and are open to the public, featuring free health screenings, plus lots of free health and safety education for all ages. These tests can help you learn about your overall health and detect potential problems early, when treatment or changes in personal habits can be most effective. Blood tests are for those over 18 years of age. The fairs’ most popular test is the Chemistry/Hematology Profile (the only test...
Microneedle patches in development Researchers now have come up with a skin patch that could potentially painlessly deliver vaccines and cancer medications in one minute. Nearly 100,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed annually, and 20 Americans die every day from it. Now, researchers have developed a skin patch that efficiently delivers medication within one minute to attack melanoma cells. The device, which has been tested in mice and human skin samples, could be adapted to deliver a host...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in October. This month’s meetings will include discussion on how to take vital signs during caregiving – temperature, blood pressure, respiration, pain assessment. Please join to share your experiences as a caregiver or to support someone who is a caregiver. Oct. 1, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m. Oct. 8, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m. Oct. 15, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Cen...
Vicodin and Lortab are two brand names of one of the most popular drugs in the entire world. Generically, it is called "hydrocodone with apap" where the "apap" is an abbreviation for acetaminophen (aka Tylenol). When I worked in a busy retail pharmacy in Florida, this medication was on the fast-mover shelf because it was dispensed by the thousands each day. Hydrocodone/apap is a prescription analgesic and in the category of "opioids" which you've been hearing a lot about lately. Opioids are man-...
Alaska Health Fair events offer free health screenings, plus lots of free health and safety education for all ages. These tests can help you learn about your overall health and detect potential problems early, when treatment or changes in personal habits can be most effective. All events have free entry and are open to the public. Blood tests are for those over 18 years of age. The fairs' most popular test is the Chemistry/Hematology Profile (the only test requiring fasting) for only $45, which...
The Alaska Disability and Aging Coalition will host the 5th Annual Disability and Aging Summit, Sept. 25 and 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Special Olympics Alaska Jim Balamaci Training Center in Anchorage. The two-day summit will include presentations on aging, caregiving, aging persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), wellness and self-care, mental health, disaster preparedness and more. National Association of Social Workers Alaska Chapter Continuing Education Credits (CEs) are available. The goal of the summit is to...
