I’ve smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for 40 years—what’s the use of quitting now? Will I even be able to quit after all this time?

No matter your age, quitting smoking improves your health. Consider vaping to ease your transition, for example you could buy the davinci vaporizer. If you quit smoking, you are likely to add years to your life, breathe more easily, have more energy, and save money. You will also:

• Improve your sense of taste and smell
• Stop smelling like smoke
• Set a healthy example for your children and grandchildren
• Smoking shortens your life. It causes about 1 of every 5 deaths in the United States each year.

Smoking makes millions of Americans sick by causing:

• Lung disease. Smoking damages your lungs and airways, sometimes causing chronic bronchitis. It can also cause emphysema, which destroys your lungs, making it very hard for you to breathe.
• Heart disease. Smoking increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Cancer. Smoking can lead to cancer of the lung, mouth, larynx (voice box), esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix.
• Respiratory problems. If you smoke, you are more likely than a nonsmoker to get the flu, pneumonia, or other infections that can interfere with your breathing.
• Osteoporosis. If you smoke, your chance of developing osteoporosis (weak bones) is greater.
• Eye diseases. Smoking increases the risk of eye diseases that can lead to vision loss and blindness, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that makes cigarettes so addictive. With vapes, similar to the ones that are found at MagicVaporizers, you can modify the levels of nicotine. It’s one reason why the first few weeks after quitting are the hardest. Although some people who give up smoking have no withdrawal symptoms, many people continue to have strong cravings for cigarettes. They also may feel grumpy, hungry, or tired. Some people have headaches, feel depressed, or have problems sleeping or concentrating. These symptoms fade over time. Smoking is not good for your health, neither is it for anyone else in the house (if you smoke indoors). This causes smoke pollution in your home and make it more susceptible for family members to suffer from passive smoking, which is harmful. If you do smoke within your home, it may be best for you to stop or even invest in a window fan through sites like topwindowfans.com, that will blow all the smoke outside and allow you to breath within your own home.

Many people say the first step to quitting smoking successfully is to make a firm decision to quit and pick a definite date to stop. Then, you’ll need to make a clear plan for how you will stick to it. You may need to try many approaches to find what works best for you. For example, you might:

• Talk with your doctor.
• Make a plan for dealing with urges to smoke.
• Read self-help information.
• Go to individual or group counseling.
• Try the online mobile tools from Smokefree60+ at www.60plus.smokefree.gov.
• Ask a friend for help.
• Take medicine to help with symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

If at first you don’t succeed, you are not a failure. You can try again and be successful. If you were able to quit smoking for just 24 hours in the past few months or weeks, you have doubled your chances of quitting for good in the coming year!

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving on its Advisory Council. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to recommend the direction of senior services and programs in Ventura County. New appointments are now being considered for two-year terms beginning July 1, 2018.

There are currently six seats available, one of which is a supervisorial appointment to represent unincorporated areas of Ventura County. Persons that live in unincorporated areas of Ventura County are encouraged to apply. The second vacancy is for a service provider to represent the interest of all senior service providers on the Advisory Council. The service provider brings the interests of service providers and the professional knowledge of unmet needs in the community and possible solutions. The third vacancy is for an individual to present the interests of veterans. Staff of organizations that provide services to or are affiliated with veterans are eligible to apply, but preference will be given to people over the age of 60 in the event that there are multiple applicants for the seat.

The remaining three seats are to serve as members of the California Senior Legislature. The California Senior Legislature is a statewide body that represents the interests of older adults in Sacramento.

By law the Advisory Council is required to have a majority of its membership be 60 years of age or older and reflect the economic, geographic, and ethnic composition of the County. Older adults and minority representatives are strongly encouraged to apply. The Advisory Council meets six times a year.

For more information or to apply for any of the six seats, please visit http://vcaaa.org/advisory-council/become-a-member/. The deadline for the three California State Legislature seats is April 9, 2018.

Those interested in applying for all other seats must submit all application materials to the VCAAA by April 15, 2018. For questions, please call the VCAAA at 477-7306 or e-mail [email protected].

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

Zumba Gold at the Barranca Vista Center (7050 East Ralston Street) from 10:30 to 11:30 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Zumba Gold is a Latin-inspired modified dance-fitness program for people over 55 or just in search of a modified workout. The current class goes until May 3 and are taught by Alison Oatman. Registration number 10641. Then another full session 5/8-5/31 (registration number 11102) and finally a short session from 6/5-6/14 (registration number 11105).

Please call to register at 658-4726 or visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/register.

by Greg Dill Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories

Starting in April 2018, Medicare will mail new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare, to help protect you from identity fraud.

Fraudsters are always looking for ways to get your Social Security number, so we’re removing those numbers from Medicare cards to make them safer.

Your new card will have a new Medicare number that’s unique to you. The new card will help protect your identity and keep your personal information more secure.

You can start using your new card as soon as you get it. Your Medicare coverage and benefits won’t change at all.

Medicare will automatically mail your new card — at no cost — to the address you have on file with Social Security. So make sure your mailing address is up to date.

If your address needs to be corrected, contact Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.

If Social Security has your current mailing address, there’s nothing else you need to do to receive your new card.

Mailing everyone a new card will take time. Your card might arrive at a different time than your friend’s or neighbor’s.

Once you get your new Medicare card, take these three steps to make it harder for someone to steal your information and identity:

Destroy your old Medicare card right away.

Doctors, other health care providers, and health plans approved by Medicare know Medicare is replacing the old cards. They are ready to accept your new card when you need care.

Beware of anyone who contacts you and asks for your new Medicare number, personal information, or to pay a fee for your new card. There are no charges whatsoever for the new cards.

Guard your card. Treat your new Medicare number like you treat your Social Security or credit card numbers. Only give your new Medicare number to doctors, pharmacists, insurers, or other people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.

Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information to get your new Medicare card.

Scam artists may try to get personal information (like your current Medicare number) by contacting you about your new card. If someone asks you for your information, or for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Your new Medicare card will be paper. Paper cards are easier for many providers to use and copy, and they save taxpayers a lot of money. Plus, you can print your own replacement card if you need one.

Carry your new card and show it to your health care providers. Doctors, other providers, and health care facilities will ask for your new Medicare card when you need care.

If you forget your new card, you, your doctor, or other health care provider may be able to look up your new Medicare number online.

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan (like an HMO or PPO), your Medicare Advantage plan ID card is your main card for Medicare – you should still keep and use it whenever you need care.

However, you also may be asked to show your new Medicare card, so you should carry this card with you, too.

If you don’t get your new Medicare card by April 2019, or need answers to your Medicare questions call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.

by Patty Jenkins

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is pleased to announce that Dr. Neda Heidari and Dr. Indu Subramanian will be our guests at our meeting held at the Lexington Assisted Living. These expert doctors will answer our questions and endeavor to help us understand more about how to live with and treat Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s is a debilitating disease with no cure that takes away muscle function and can cause pain. Although there is no cure, some sufferers may invest in direct cbd online to help ease symptoms.

Neda Heidari MD is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Neurophysiologist. She graduated with honors in 2001 from Teheran University Medical Science and completed her fellowship in Neuromuscular Disorder and Epilepsy at USC Keck School of Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and American Neuromuscular Association. Dr. Heidari has been in practice in Ventura County for over a decade and treats various neurological disorders including Movement Disorders, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Epilepsy, Dementia, Headaches, Neuropathy and other neurological diseases. She performs a variety of in-office tests to help diagnose neurological diseases and Neuropathy. Dr. Heidari is also certified to make adjustments for patients who have had DBS (Deep Brain Stimulator) surgery for their tremors, Parkinson’s and/or Dystonia. She believes in educating patients about their disease and helping them understand the pathology and course of the disease. Dr. Heidari treats neurological conditions according to the newest, up-to-date practice guidelines and advance technologies. She is dedicated to making her patients and their caregivers feel better and live a happier and a healthier lifestyle.

Dr. Indu Subramanian received her medical degree in 1996 from the University of Toronto, Canada. She interned for a year in San Diego Mercy Hospital before joining the UCLA Neurology Residency Program which she completed in 2000. Dr. Subramanian received her Movement Disorder Fellowship training at UCLA Movement Disorders, UCLA School of Medicine from 2000-2002. Upon completing her fellowship training, Dr. Subramanian has stayed on as Associate Clinical Professor at UCLA . She was on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2001 and 2011. Dr. Subramanian established the movement disorder clinic at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration and has recently assumed the position of the Director of the South West PDRECC (Parkinson Disease Research, Education and Clinical Care). She has developed an interest in complementary and alternative medicine with a special interest in Yoga and Mindfulness. She underwent a 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2015 and is currently studying to be a mindfulness instructor to teach MBSR .She is designing a yoga teacher-training program for yoga instructors who are interested in working with Parkinson’s Disease patients.

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes our members and care-partners, visitors and new friends who find themselves in this battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Join us April 11th from 1-3pm at the Lexington Assisted Living, 5440 Ralston St. There is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of the building and extra parking is graciously available across the street in the Baptist Church parking lot.

Check in at the front desk for directions to the 3rd floor and sign-in at the meeting so we can keep in touch with you. For more information call Patty at 766-6070. We are an independent and volunteer-organized group not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group. Reservations are not required. Thanks to the generosity of the Lexington Assisted Living, we are able to have our meetings every second Wednesday of the month.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s award-winning Fall Prevention Program is offering several classes that focus on increased mobility and balance. Classes are currently scheduled to begin in April in Ventura, Simi Valley, Oxnard, and Camarillo. All classes are free and open to the public.

Classes offered include Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance, Walk with Ease, Stepping On, and A Matter of Balance. Each class emphasizes practical strategies to manage and prevent falls. Participants will learn methods to enhance and increase activity levels and mobility, making the changes necessary to reduce fall risks.

Individuals concerned about falls or those who have recently experienced a fall, as well as those who are interested in improving balance, flexibility, and strength, are encouraged to participate.

Nationally recognized research shows that one in four adults over the age of 65, and half of the population over the age of 75, fall each year. Of those individuals, half will die within a year from complications and injuries sustained from the fall.

To learn more about the Fall Prevention Program or classes offered, or to sign-up for a class, please contact VCAAA at 477-7300 and select option 6. More information can also be found by visiting www.vcaaa.org.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

On March 13 a seminar was held at Clearwater at Riverpark. A move to senior living can be an opportunity for a fresh new beginning. The seminar presented professionals who can assist in making the right decision for seniors. Speakers included Realtor Betty Fernandez from Coldwell Banker, Lorine Stoikowitz from Gentle Transitions and the Clearwater Team. Attendees also got to view the new model apartments. Clearwater is located at 750 Clyde River place, Oxnard. Leasing office is open daily 366-3533.

Comedian Randy Lubas has a soft spot for senior citizens. Owner of the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club, Lubas will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming 10th annual Health & Wealth Expo at Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura.

The proud son of a decorated veteran of WW II, Lubas was inspired by his father’s escape from poverty through the GI bill. “Being the son of a decorated veteran of WWII has given me a great respect and admiration of our senior citizens,” said Lubas.

His comic voice comes from his rare ability to spot the ironies in life that many people seem to miss. His wry observations have landed him on dozens of national TV and radio broadcasts, which include Comedy Central, Showtime, The Nashville Network, and the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Show. He has performed over 5000 times in 40 states, and on cruise ships all over the globe. Appealing to all audiences, he prides himself on his squeaky-clean jokes.

Most importantly, Lubas believes in the power of comedy to make a positive impact on people’s lives. “A sense of humor can keep you young, and laughter truly has a healing effect on the brain,“ he said.

Along with the keynote presentation, this year’s Health & Wealth Expo at the senior community will include over 30 vendors offering everything from free blood pressure and glucose screenings, free balance and hearing tests, free wealth management information, to veteran benefit information. A free healthy gourmet lunch will also be provided.

Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the event including one grand prize; a 50” HD flat screen TV. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Free shuttle parking will also be available at Ventura Baptist Church.

The event takes place on Wednesday April 11, from 11am to 1pm at Cypress Place Senior Living, 1200 Cypress Point Lane, in the city of Ventura.

Corporate sponsors for the event are Ventura Post Acute, Coastal View Healthcare Center, Mission Home Health, Victoria Care Center, Meditech Health Services, and Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 203-6995. To learn more about Cypress Place Senior Living of Ventura, visit their web site at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com.

If you’d like more information about this press release, please contact Mike Macke at 805.650.8000 x102, or via email at [email protected]