by Matilda Charles

A new study looked at data to determine whether consuming coffee lowered the risk of premature death.

This was not a small, short-term study. The data was collected for over a decade on a half-million people who’d been part of the U.K. Biobank study. It looked at all manner of health information and daily living, such as health history, smoking, drinking, exercise and coffee consumption, as well as exams and tests. Researchers then looked at all their information in terms of longevity in coffee drinkers.

Here’s what they found:

Risk reduction rose depending on the amount of coffee consumed. One cup a day gave an 8 percent lower risk of early death, compared to those who didn’t drink coffee. That rose to a 16 percent lower risk for those having six or seven cups. At eight cups or more per day, however, the rate fell to 14 percent.

It didn’t matter what kind of coffee was consumed. It could be ground coffee, instant or filtered. For reference, you can find a full list at thefullmooncafe.com if you’re looking for all the different ways you can have coffee.

It didn’t matter whether the coffee was regular or decaffeinated.

Since both regular and decaf coffee had the same results, it’s not the caffeine that helps reduce the risk of death. Bottom line is that, with all the many chemicals in coffee, they just don’t know what part of coffee is helping.

A word of warning: Just because a study says coffee helps reduce risk of death, it doesn’t mean we should double or triple the amount we drink. That’s an individual thing and should be discussed with your doctor. If, for example, you already are on medication for high blood pressure, even the small amount of caffeine in decaf coffee could have an impact on how effective your medication is.

(c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.

by Jennifer Tipton

When Susie Curtis first reached out to social media on July 16th to surprise her dad, Richard Crummie with 90 cards for his 90th birthday on August 2nd, she had no idea of the terrific response she would get! Cards came in from Georgia, Florida, Arizona and Canada, to name a few and some well-wishers sent gifts along with their card.
Mr. Crummie lives alone but has some problems with his eyesight, “it limits what I can do by myself, but I have friends that help me”, he said.

When her dad returned after going out to get a haircut, Susie placed the mail on his lap, “it was about six inches thick and he was shocked, asking me what it was”, Susie laughed. She told him it was his mail and he said, “all of it?”.

Mr. Crummie told me that at first, he was overwhelmed with how much mail he had received and when he learned it was all birthday cards, he was “really taken back by it all!”

When I spoke with Susie and her (very surprised) dad on the afternoon of his birthday, he told me, “she’ll have to read them to me of course, but definitely the best birthday ever!”
I asked what he’s going to do now, he responded, “I think I’ll try to be kind to everybody I come into contact with”.

Susie said,” but dad, I thought you were going to learn to jet ski?” He denied it saying he did all his exciting playing around in his youth, and added, “I think I’m gonna start all over – I’m going for 100!”

As of August 4th, Richard Crummie had received 131 cards and they were still coming in!

by National Institute on Aging

Competition and teamwork can inspire you to work harder and keep up your commitment to exercise. Try one of these sports:

• Tennis
• Golf
• Seated volleyball
• Wheelchair basketball

For more sports ideas, visit the Go4Life website!

Exercising in hot weather? Stay safe with these tips!

Don’t let hot weather stop you from being active. Follow these simple precautions to prevent heat-related health problems.

Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes in natural fabrics.

Drink plenty of liquids.

Check the weather forecast. If it’s very hot or humid, try an indoor exercise.

For more safety tips, check out Exercising Safely in Hot Weather from Go4Life.

Yoga is a great flexibility exercise for older adults!

Yoga is a mind and body practice that typically combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation. When practicing yoga, keep the following in mind:

Put safety first.

Look for a well-trained instructor.

Practice mindfully.

Find more information about yoga and older adults from Go4Life.

This exercise will help strengthen your grip!

The hand grip exercise is a simple strength exercise that can help if you have trouble picking things up or holding onto them. It also will help you open jars more easily. You can do this exercise while reading or watching TV – all you need is a tennis ball!

When you’re out and about on your bike, it’s important to know how to be safe!

Riding a bicycle is a great way to exercise. Follow these tips to help you ride more safely, or alternatively you could look into something like schwinn 270 recumbent bike, a stationary exercise bike that has many benefits for your health, just like normal biking would.

Always wear a helmet that fits correctly.

Yield to pedestrians.

Signal when you make turns.

Avoid riding your bicycle at night.

Find more information on biking safely from Go4Life.

Ventura County Library Adult Literacy READ Program is looking for Adult volunteer tutors who would like to help other adults improve their reading and writing skills. No teaching experience is required and the training is free. The five-week tutor training series will be offered in Ventura in August through September, and in Simi Valley in September through October.

The READ program trains adult volunteers to provide free one-to-one reading instruction for adults in need of basic literacy skills. Instruction in basic literacy includes the development of phonetic reading skills combined with communication skills. Ventura County Library is encouraging residents to take this opportunity to volunteer as a tutor or encourage someone you know to take advantage of the free program as normally these people who have to pay for online tutoring courses.

After completion of the five-week training, tutors will meet with their adult learners at locations throughout the county. Tutoring is scheduled by the availability of the tutors and the learners.

Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market.

For more information about how you can support literacy and make a difference in someone’s life, call (805) 677-7160.

Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) has awarded Studio Channel Islands (SCI) a grant in the amount of $28,820 to support its Arts and Health programming. Funding will be used to expand its Memory Cafes (creative social events for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers), art classes with hospice (workshops for children in bereavement counseling) and stroke survivor art classes. Funding for the grant will come from the Ruth Daily Livingston Fund.

“We are grateful to VCCF for their support of our growing Arts and Health community programs. There is extensive research which demonstrates that participation in the arts has profound impact in improving individual and community well-being,” said Peter Tyas, SCI’s executive director.

Tyas explained that the arts have been employed in both hospital and community care settings for over twenty years and the findings from peer-reviewed research has led to the development of an extensive arts and health network across Europe and parts of North America. The partnership between arts professionals and the medical community has refined a number of arts and health models which have measurable health outcomes and significant impacts upon the overall quality of life.

Studio Channel Islands has been developing a partnership with Camarillo Health Care District and with the local hospital to explore the potential of the arts to have positive impacts within the community.

For more information, visit www.studiochannelislands.org or call 805-383-1368.

Ongoing programs include art classes for adults and children, providing studio space for professional artists, presenting diverse art shows in its Blackboard Gallery and providing community art and cultural events for individuals and families. Gallery hours are Tues.–Fri., 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Located at 2222 E. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo.

Breeze Publisher Brown and Senior Account Executive Breezy Gledhill enjoying a fine lunch at Clearwater at Riverpark Active Adult Community. Residents at Clearwater have a world of options on the menu as planned by Chef Thomas Dado.. Residents can savor fresh modern American cuisine in the restaurant-style dining room offering a full menu of options (or the daily special) created with the freshest seasonal ingredients, while the convivial pub offers craft cocktails and delicious bites.

750 Clyde River Place, Oxnard, 805-366-3526.

Random attacks have been occurring across the country and are documented daily in the news. Because of the frequency of the attacks it has become critical for residents to equip themselves with safety skills and knowledge, especially while on the job.

On August 14th, Gloria Marcott, self-defense expert and law enforcement officer, will be holding special training sessions at Cypress Place Senior Living. Gloria will be training “employees” on how to use a new technology called the Defense Alert Device, which is a handheld device that utilizes Bluetooth and a corresponding app to send danger alerts and also has the ability to spray a powerful chemical deterrent to stop assailants. Along with getting trained on the device, employees will also be learning safety and self-defense skills.

Cypress Place Senior Living, 1220 Cypress Point Ln, (805) 918-5078.

by National Institute on Aging

When you are planning for a doctor’s visit, these are some ways you can make the most of your time there:

It is tempting to say what you think the doctor wants to hear, for example, that you smoke less or eat a more balanced diet than you really do. While this is natural, it’s not in your best interest. Your doctor can suggest the best treatment only if you say what is really going on.

Pick three or four questions or concerns that you most want to talk about with the doctor. You can tell him or her what they are at the beginning of the appointment, and then discuss each in turn.

Although your doctor might like to talk with you at length, each patient is given a limited amount of time. To make the best use of your time, stick to the point. For instance, give the doctor a brief description of the symptom, when it started, how often it happens, and if it is getting worse or better.

Tell the doctor if you feel rushed, worried, or uncomfortable. If necessary, you can offer to return for a second visit to discuss your concerns. For example, you could say something like: “I know you have many patients to see, but I’m really worried about this. I’d feel much better if we could talk about it a little more.”

Even the best doctor may be unable to answer some questions. Most doctors will tell you when they don’t have answers. They also may help you find the information you need or refer you to a specialist. If a doctor regularly brushes off your questions or symptoms as simply a part of aging, think about looking for another doctor.

You can have high blood pressure, or hypertension, and still feel just fine. That’s because high blood pressure often does not cause signs of illness that you can see or feel. But, high blood pressure, sometimes called “the silent killer,” is very common in older people and a major health problem. If high blood pressure isn’t controlled with lifestyle changes and medicine, it can lead to stroke, heart disease, eye problems, kidney failure, and other health problems. High blood pressure can also cause shortness of breath during light physical activity or exercise. You may now be wondering, what can I do to lower my blood pressure? There are many methods that can lower your blood pressure from prescribed drugs to looking at solutions from home. It hasn’t yet been approved by the State but lots of people have seen their blood pressure reduce from searching up on how to make your own kratom capsules from home. Your GP/ Doctor would be the best person to consult before attempting to reduce your blood pressure from home.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries. When the doctor measures your blood pressure, the results are given in two numbers. The first number, called systolic blood pressure, is the pressure caused by your heart contracting and pushing out blood. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure when your heart relaxes and fills with blood. Your blood pressure reading is usually given as the systolic blood pressure number over the diastolic blood pressure number, such as 138/72. Normal blood pressure for adults is defined as a systolic pressure of less than 120 and a diastolic pressure of less than 80. This is stated as 120/80.

One reason to visit your doctor regularly is to have your blood pressure checked. Routine checks of your blood pressure will help pick up an early rise in blood pressure, even though you might feel fine.

Recent updates to guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology changed the definition of high blood pressure or hypertension for most people. High blood pressure is now generally defined as 130 or higher for the first number, or 80 or higher for the second number

However, there are important considerations for older adults in deciding whether to start treatment for high blood pressure, including other health conditions and overall fitness. If your blood pressure is above 130/80, your doctor will evaluate your health to determine what treatment is needed to balance risks and benefits in your particular situation.

For older people, often the first number (systolic) is 130 or higher, but the second number (diastolic) is less than 80. This problem is called isolated systolic hypertension, which is due to age-related stiffening of the major arteries. It is the most common form of high blood pressure in older people and can lead to serious health problems .

If your blood pressure is lower than 90/60, you have low blood pressure, or hypotension. You may feel lightheaded, weak, dizzy, or even faint. Low blood pressure can be caused by not drinking enough liquids (dehydration), blood loss, some medical conditions, or too much medication.

There are many lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of high blood pressure:

Keep a healthy weight. Being overweight adds to your risk of high blood pressure. Ask your doctor if you need to lose weight.

Manage stress. This is a big one. Relaxing and coping with problems can help lower high blood pressure. One solution to combating stress that everyone seems to be talking about is CBD oil. Research has also shown that cbd blood pressure have a correlation, so if you do have a high blood pressure, CBD might help you. It’s thought that the stress and anxiety reducing properties of CBD can consequently lower blood pressure. If natural remedies like this interest you, take a look at CBD oil UK for more information.

Exercise every day. Moderate exercise can lower your risk of high blood pressure.

Eat a healthy diet. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products may help to lower blood pressure.

Cut down on salt. As you get older, the body and blood pressure become more sensitive to salt (sodium), so you may need to watch how much salt is in your diet.

Drink less alcohol. Drinking alcohol can affect your blood pressure.

Don’t smoke. Smoking increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.

Get a good night’s sleep. Tell your doctor if you’ve been told you snore or sound like you stop breathing for moments when you sleep.

For More Information About High Blood Pressure

American Heart Association
1-800-242-8721 (toll-free)
[email protected]
www.heart.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
1-301-592-8573
[email protected]
www.nhlbi.nih.gov

MedlinePlus
National Library of Medicine
www.medlineplus.gov

Smokefree60+
www.60plus.smokefree.gov

National Cancer Institute
1-877-448-7848
(1-877-44U-QUIT/toll-free)
[email protected]