Feb 18, 2021 | Healthy Tips
DISCOVER 10 WARNING SIGNS KIDNEYS THAT SHOULD NEVER IGNORE
Since the kidneys play a vital role in the body, one of the first steps in detecting kidney disease is to monitor its functionality by performing routine blood tests. If the kidney functions properly, Knowing the signs of kidney disease can also be helpful to detect the disease as early as possible. Here are 10 warning signs of kidney disease that you should never ignore.
High blood pressure: The first warning sign of kidney failure is high blood pressure. Blood vessels in the kidneys fail to transport the toxins out of the body. If left untreated, high blood pressure can damage your heart and your kidneys. A heart attack, in fact, is a likely result. High blood pressure is a silent threat to your health. You might never know you had it because the symptoms often come and go.
Frequent urination: Another sign of kidney disease, you should be aware of is frequent urination. Many people, especially women, suffer from frequent urination. Women suffer from frequent urination because their poorly functioning kidneys are unable to eliminate wastes as quickly as they need to. This means women go through their lives feeling like they are constantly urinating. If this sounds like you, it’s probably time to start considering how to take better care of your kidneys.
Heart disease: You also need to be aware of heart disease because that can be a sign of premature kidney failure. Heart disease, in particular, is a sign of kidney failure because the kidneys play a vital role in keeping the heart pumping. A failing heart is a sign of fluid retention in the arteries, which leads to high blood pressure. As you know, high blood pressure can lead to kidney failure and heart problems.
Foamy Urine: Another sign of kidney disease you should be aware of is foamy urine. It sounds harmless, but the truth is it can be very dangerous. Foamy urine contains a high number of proteins and sugars that can crystallize in the urinary tract. These crystallized proteins and sugars are then reabsorbed into the bloodstream. If a person has developed chronic kidney failure, their kidneys may not be able to process and eliminate these sugars and proteins in the urine. If this happens, this can result in the accumulation of calcium in the arteries, which can cause heart disease or kidney stones.
Toxic waste build-up: Another symptom of chronic kidney disease is blood cells called “toxic waste” building up in the kidneys. This waste protein can build up to five times faster than it is excreted from the body. Waste protein can cause damage to the kidneys, as well as damage to the rest of the body. One of the most common symptoms of kidney damage caused by toxic waste is an increased risk of stone formation. People with kidneys that work properly have normal levels of “neoprene” – a product that neutralizes excess elements in the urine – but people with kidneys that are unable to process and eliminate waste protein will develop kidney stones.
Unexplained weight loss: Another sign of kidney disease is unexplained weight loss. Some kidney failure sufferers lose large amounts of weight. The reason for this is not always known, but it is possible that the kidney is failing because it is unable to filter out toxins efficiently. When toxins get into the body, they tend to stay there and, over time, begin to cause disease.
Decrease in urine volume: The seventh sign of kidney failure is the decrease in urine volume or blood flow. This is usually accompanied by pain in the abdomen as well as abdominal bloating. Over time, the kidney loses the ability to excrete urine and tends to hold on to waste products instead. These wastes can become toxic if they are not excreted regularly and in the right amounts…
Pyelonephritis: The eighth warning sign of kidney disease that you should know, is recurrent kidney infections. This is usually referred to as pyelonephritis, and it occurs when bacteria get trapped in the cyst forms of the kidney. Cysts can then become inflamed until they burst, causing severe pain, and swelling in the surrounding area. The symptoms may not immediately show up after an infection has formed; therefore, it is important that you look for signs of kidney failure to determine if it is present. As with any other organ in your body, your kidneys also have a natural defence system that fights off invading organisms and bacteria…
Changes in the urine: The signs of kidney disease involving changes in the urine include a noticeable darkening of the urine, changes in the urine’s colour, and increased water content of the urine. If you are having a combination of these signs, then this could mean that you have already lost the ability of your kidney to filter toxins and waste materials from the bloodstream. This is one of the major signs of kidney failure. Other symptoms that are often associated with kidney failure are pain upon urination, swollen ankles, and legs, difficulty in walking, jaundice, loss of appetite, and diarrhea…
Blood in the urine: Another one of the signs of kidney failure that involves blood in the urine is hypernatremia, which means high amounts of calcium in the bloodstream. People who are suffering from hypernatremia may actually show no symptoms, as the high levels of calcium can only be detected through a special test called an anaemia blood test. There are also cases where hypernatremia may cause abdominal pains, vomiting, weakness, and cramps. Another common sign of kidney problem is the onset of chronic renal failure, which occurs when the kidney fails to keep up with the required amount of sodium in the bloodstream…
To conclude: If you experience two or more of these signs of kidney failure, don’t hesitate to go see your doctor. If you are having trouble urinating or you are experiencing blood in your urine, you should get yourself tested immediately. Even if you don’t have kidney failure, these conditions can show that you have high blood pressure and should be monitored. While kidney problems cannot be reversed, you can prevent them from progressing.
Dec 11, 2020 | Healthy Tips
- High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as high pressure (tension) in the arteries, which are the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
- Blood pressure readings are given as two numbers:
- The systolic blood pressure (the top number) equals the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts.
- The diastolic pressure (the bottom number) is the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes.
- Normal blood pressure is below 120/80.
- In 2017, the American College of Cardiology released new guidelines for high blood pressure.
- Blood pressure between 120/80 and 129/80 is elevated blood pressure, and a blood pressure of 130/80 or above is considered high.
- The American Academy of Cardiology defines blood pressure ranges as:
- Hypertension stage 1 is 130-139- or 80-89-mm Hg, and hypertension stage 2 is 140 or higher, or 90 mm Hg or higher.
- Complications of high blood pressure include heart disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage).
- Hypertension is a major public health problem. With the new guidelines for defining high blood pressure, The American Heart Association estimates that high blood pressure affects nearly half of all adults (46%) in the United States.
What Do Blood Pressure Readings Mean? (Blood Pressure Readings Chart)
Blood pressure readings can vary in a single person throughout the day depending on the situation. Factors such as stress, anxiety, foods that are eaten (caffeine or salt intake), smoking or exercise can cause pressure to rise.
The American Heart Association defines normal blood pressure as less than 120/80. Elevated blood pressure ranges between 120/80 and 129/80, and high blood pressure is 130/80 and higher. In pregnancy, normal blood pressure should be below 120/80.
If your blood pressure reaches into the high range, you should see your doctor about lifestyle changes, and possibly medication especially if you have other risk factors, such as diabetes or heart disease.
High blood pressure (for example, 180/110 or higher) may indicate an emergency situation. If this high blood pressure is associated with chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, or back or abdominal pain, seek medical care immediately. If you are experiencing no associated symptoms with a high blood pressure reading such as this, re-check it again within a few minutes and contact your doctor or go to an emergency room if it is still high.
If your blood pressure is lower than about 100/60 you may have low blood pressure, depending on the associated symptoms. If you are unsure, check with your doctor.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of High blood Pressure?
High blood pressure may not have any symptoms and so hypertension has been labelled “the silent killer.” Longstanding high blood pressure can lead to multiple complications including heart attack, kidney disease, or stroke.
Some people experience symptoms with their high blood pressure. These symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Blurred vision
- Feeling of pulsations in the neck or
head
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
The causes of hypertension are multifactorial, meaning there are several factors whose combined effects produce hypertension.
High salt intake or salt sensitivity: This occurs in certain populations such as the elderly, African Americans, people who are obese, or people with kidney (renal) problems.
Genetic predisposition to high blood pressure: People who have one or two parents with hypertension have high blood pressure incidence about twice as high as the general population.
A particular abnormality of the arteries, which results in an increased resistance (stiffness or lack of elasticity) in the tiny arteries (arterioles): This increased peripheral arteriolar stiffness develops in individuals who are also obese, do not exercise, have high salt intake, and are older.
How is Blood Pressure Measured?
Blood pressure is measured by a blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer). The blood pressure cuff consists of an air pump, a pressure gauge, and a rubber cuff. The instrument measures the blood pressure in units called millimetres of mercury (mm Hg).
The cuff is placed around the upper arm and inflated with an air pump to a pressure that blocks the flow of blood in the main artery that travels through the arm. The arm is held at the side of the body at the level of the heart, and the pressure of the cuff is gradually released. As the pressure decreases, a health practitioner listens with a stethoscope over the artery at the front of the elbow or an electronic machine senses the pulsation. The pressure at which the practitioner (or machine) first hears a pulsation from the artery is the systolic pressure (the top number). As the cuff pressure decreases further, the pressure at which the pulsation finally stops is the diastolic pressure (the bottom number).
How is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed?
To make an official diagnosis of high blood pressure you will need to see your doctor. Often your blood pressure will be checked on at least two different visits, at different times of the day. Your doctor may ask you to keep a blood pressure log for a short time in order to see your overall blood pressure trends. If your blood pressure is consistently over 134/80, your doctor will work with you to determine the best regimen for treating your high blood pressure.
What is the Treatment for High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is caused by many different factors, so there are many different treatments. The goal of treating high blood pressure is to keep the blood pressure below 134/80.
Treatments for high blood pressure include:
- Lifestyle modifications:
- Quit smoking
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Exercise
- Avoid alcohol
- Eat a low-sodium, low-fat diet like the
DASH diet.
- Medications: There are many different categories of blood pressure medications. Your doctor will work with you to find the right one. The main types include:
- Beta blockers
- Angiotensin converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitors
- Angiotensin II Receptor (ARB)
blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- Diuretics (water pills)
- Treatment of underlying conditions that cause high blood pressure, such as:
- Renal artery stenosis
- Pheochromocytoma
- Congestive heart failure
What Changes in Diet Help Lower Blood Pressure Naturally?
Dietary changes are often the first line of treatment recommended by your doctor. You may be advised to:
- Limit caffeine intake
- Reduce salt intake
- Limit fatty foods
- Avoid alcohol
- Manage cholesterol
- Add potassium-rich foods to your diet (unless you are being treated for kidney failure, as potassium rich foods may be harmful to you)
Doctors often recommend the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet created by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which focuses on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean meats.
In addition to dietary modification, quitting smoking is extremely beneficial in managing high blood pressure.
Can Exercise Help Lower Blood Pressure?
Exercise and physical activity help lower blood pressure by helping you lose weight and keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition.
Weight loss achieved through diet and exercise helps control factors such as blood sugar, and other complications of obesity. Avoiding these complications helps lower blood pressure and prevent high blood pressure.
Consult your doctor before starting any new exercise program. Cardiovascular activities including walking, jogging, biking, or swimming for 30 to 45 minutes per day can help lower blood pressure.
What Alternative Therapies Help Lower and Manage High Blood Pressure?
Some complementary and alternative medicine strategies can help you manage your high blood pressure and prevent it from becoming elevated further.
- Reduce stress.
- Use relaxation methods such as deep breathing, imagery relaxation, yoga, meditation, and biofeedback.
Keep a daily blood pressure chart.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Some home remedies, such as garlic, coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10), calcium, magnesium, fish oil, and flaxseed have been shown in studies to lower blood pressure. Consult your physician before taking any supplements.
High Blood Pressure Treatment
Other dietary considerations:
It is beneficial to add potassium to the diet. Studies show that people who consume more potassium have lower blood pressures. Good sources of potassium include:
- bananas,
- melons,
- oranges,
- spinach and
- zucchini.
Along with lowering salt in the diet, a balanced eating plan that also reduces cholesterol intake and fatty foods is recommended. The TLC Diet (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) often is recommended to lower blood cholesterol.
Sep 17, 2020 | Healthy Tips
MANAGING HIGH BLOOD SUGAR IS KEY TO REDUCING COVID-19 COMPLICATIONS: STUDY
By: Kara-Marie Hall, RN, BSN, CCRN
Key Takeaways:
- Researchers at Michigan Medicine are using a targeted algorithm to help manage blood sugar levels in COVID-19 patients.
- High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is linked to severe illness in those with COVID-19.
- Having a severe case of COVID-19 can also cause high blood sugar in people who do not have diabetes.
- Aggressive management of high blood sugar in patients with COVID-19 appears to reduce their risk of long-term health consequences associated with the virus.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine have created a management tool that could improve outcomes for patients with high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and COVID-19. The research, which was published ahead of print on August 11 in the journal Diabetes, shows a two-way relationship between blood sugar levels and COVID-19.
According to the researchers, having high blood sugar can put patients at risk for more severe illness if they contract COVID-19. The reverse also appears to be true: patients with COVID-19 also are at risk for high blood sugar levels, even if they do not have diabetes.1
“Based on current evidence, it’s fair to say that the COVID-19 virus, particularly in its most severe forms, leads to much higher blood glucose levels,” study senior author Rodica Pop-Busui, MD, PhD, tells Verywell. Pop-Busui adds that having high blood glucose levels can also lead to worse outcomes for patients with COVID-19.
If left uncontrolled, the inflammation from COVID-19—often called a “cytokine storm”—can cause complications when coupled with inflammation caused by hyperglycemia.1 It also increases the likelihood of needing mechanical ventilation.
What Is Hyperglycemia?
Sugar (glucose) is necessary for proper organ function. Glucose enters your organs’ cells through a hormone called insulin. If the amount of glucose in your body exceeds the amount of insulin available, the glucose builds up in your blood and causes high blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia.
Hyperglycemia is typically defined as a blood sugar level of at least 180 mg/dl or greater when measured one to two hours after eating.2 However, the defined range varies among health organizations. Diabetes mellitus (type 1, type 2, and gestational) is the most common cause.
Michigan Medicine Introduces Hyperglycemia Management Teams
The researchers at Michigan Medicine designed a personalized, targeted clinical algorithm—a set of guidelines that helps healthcare providers make decisions—to help frontline healthcare workers without adding to their already heavy workload.
To put the guidelines into practice, the researchers launched several hyperglycemia management teams that were tasked with:
- Checking patients’ glucose values through venous and arterial blood specimens rather than bedside glucose checks (because it’s more convenient)
- Creating timely insulin dose adjustments multiple times a day
- Reducing the number of glucose checks for most patients to every six hours
Not only did the algorithm lower patients’ glucose levels to an acceptable target range (generally 150-180 mg/dL), it also lessened the burden on frontline health care workers.
“We developed this early in the course of the pandemic, and we have continued to adapt and improve it based on lessons learned daily on the frontlines,” Pop-Busui says. “Others have started to use variations of this algorithm as well.”
What This Means For You:
If you have diabetes or even prediabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels well-controlled can help you reduce the risk of complications if you contract COVID-19.
COVID-19 Can Trigger Hyperglycemia
The Michigan Medicine researchers also found that some of the COVID-19 patients who had been referred to them for treatment developed high blood sugar levels even though they did not have diabetes.
“The severe inflammatory reaction triggers insulin resistance and high blood sugar even in people who may not have had known diabetes, but could have been in a prediabetic state,” Pop-Busui says.
A recent study published in the Journal of Medical Virology corroborates this idea, showing that out of 184 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, about 24% of patients were prediabetic.3
What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a precursor to type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 3 Americans have prediabetes. Over 84% of people with prediabetes are unaware that they have it.4
However, factors beyond diabetes and prediabetes can contribute to high blood sugar.
“[Patients with hyperglycemia] may also simply have stress hyperglycemia, which can occur from the stress of illness,” Roma Gianchandani, MD, another author of the Michigan Medicine study, tells Verywell,
Regardless of whether patients have prediabetes, diabetes, or stress hyperglycemia, Pop-Busui says their high blood sugar levels need immediate and sustained treatment.
Risks of Untreated Hyperglycemia
Romy Block, MD, an endocrinologist and co-founder of Vous Vitamin, tells Verywell that long-term, high blood sugars can directly injure blood vessels. Several health problems can result from this damage, including:
“In many medical conditions, tightly controlled sugars can decrease the duration of illness and decrease the [number of] days spent in the hospital,” Block says.
Treatment for hyperglycemia usually includes the administration of insulin—either given intravenously (directly into your vein) or under the skin—to bring down high blood sugar levels.
Jun 1, 2020 | Healthy Tips
SENIOR GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH DURING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Tips for how seniors can stay healthy and connected during the COVID-19 pandemic
The aging population, ages 65 and older, is one of the most vulnerable demographic groups in the United States. The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic puts seniors and their mental health at significant risk.
Seniors are more likely to have chronic health problems, lower income levels, and isolated living situations.
This combination increases the risk of poor cognitive function, dementia, heart disease, and stroke. It even brings a greater risk of contracting illnesses like the common cold, and suffering from more intense symptoms.
Even for healthy adults, loneliness is as dangerous to health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, according to a study published in 2015.4 Another report, published in 2013, found that older men and women who were lonely or isolated had a significantly higher risk of dying.
Because seniors are more likely to experience serious consequences after contracting COVID-19, many must stay in their homes or retirement communities, without seeing friends, family, or even neighbours for weeks at a time.
Loneliness and fear have a huge impact on mental health, which in turn has a big impact on physical health.
Seniors can learn to manage their mental health until the COVID-19 situation stabilizes and social distancing orders can be eased.
While there is no easy solution, there are things that can be done to improve overall outlook and boost mental well-being during these challenging times.
Social Determinants of Health
The risk of mortality goes up the longer an older adult is isolated. This can be measured using the primary social determinants of health (SDOH), per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).6
The five key SDOH include:
- Economic stability
- Education
- Social and community context
- Health and health care
- Neighbourhood and built environment
Seniors are less likely to have economic stability, due to higher medical bills and lower income levels because of retirement. They are also less likely to have strong community ties and a sense of neighbourhood involvement.
At the same time, seniors need consistent access to health care due to increasingly poor health.
Based on these measurements from the CDC, seniors are a very high-risk group for poor mental, physical, and emotional health.
Issues for Seniors Managing Mental Health during COVID-19
Senior citizens are already among the most socially isolated groups.
While there are typically support networks, like the Village to Village Network, activity centers, church groups, and government programs to provide more social interaction with other adults and even children, the spread of COVID-19 means these programs are largely unavailable or limited for safety reasons.
In the majority of U.S. cities, everyone must socially distance, staying a minimum of six feet away from people they don’t live with.7 More cities are issuing stay-at-home orders, and some mayors and governors are even locking down metropolitan areas and enforcing quarantine measures.
While all of these steps help to slow the spread of coronavirus, they each mean something a little different.
Social distancing or physical distancing
This involves deliberately increasing the distance between two or more people to avoid spreading illness.
When maintaining a six-foot distance, particles from breathing, coughing, and sneezing are less likely to come in contact with another person. Staying more than six feet away from other people reduces the chances of spreading disease even further.
Wearing a face mask, like a homemade cloth mask, reduces how far particles from the nose and mouth can travel. This reduces the likelihood of people spreading COVID-19, even if they are asymptomatic.
Self-quarantine
Quarantine is usually a precaution if someone was potentially exposed to COVID-19. During this time, people are separated to see if they become sick.
Medical professionals recommend that anyone who believes they could have COVID-19, or who thinks they have come in contact with someone who had the virus, self-quarantine for at least 14 days.
Symptoms of coronavirus typically show up about two weeks after exposure, so intentional self-quarantine allows time for those symptoms to appear.
If you are self-quarantining, do not share linens, utensils, towels, or other items with anyone you live with. Do not have visitors. Stay in a separate room, isolated from everyone in your household, if possible.
Isolation
This is similar to self-quarantine, but it takes things a step further. Isolation is reserved for those who have COVID-19.It involves staying further away from anyone you live with or with whom you may come in contact.
For those diagnosed with COVID-19, isolation is required until symptoms abate and a doctor determines the virus has cleared the body. Generally, this means they must have a negative COVID-19 test result before they can exit isolation.
For health reasons, many seniors are self-quarantining — either in assisted living homes, nursing homes, or their own living spaces. While these practices are vital for keeping the person physically safe, the individual’s mental and emotional health can suffer greatly.
Seniors are already at risk for feeling lonely and isolated. The COVID-19 situation only compounds this risk.
Loneliness & Long-Term Isolation
There is no current treatment for the coronavirus or COVID-19 itself. Infected persons are treated for their symptoms, such as taking steps to alleviate their fever and suppress their cough.
Supportive care such as oxygen therapy and fluid management can also be effective treatment for symptoms.
Several studies have shown that isolation increases as you get older.
Seniors are more likely to have smaller social networks as friends and peers age, move into retirement communities, struggle with ailments, or pass away. In addition, their children and grandchildren may move to other locations, making in-person contact less frequent. Because of these factors, older adults are more prone to loneliness.
In the U.S., about 28 percent of older adults live alone, which is about 13.8 million people?
While a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that living alone was not necessarily a direct cause of loneliness, it can contribute to a sense of isolation. And some older adults report feeling alone or isolated even when surrounded by friends or family.
Feeling lonely increases the push toward isolating for unhealthy reasons. Social isolation is the objective (physical separation from others), but loneliness is the feeling of being alone (a subjective measurement of isolation).
When someone feels lonely, they may be more likely to isolate, even though this worsens the problem.
As someone isolates due to loneliness, various health risks increase. These include the following:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Weakened immunity
- Anxiety and depression
- Cognitive decline
- Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
Older adults are more at risk for COVID-19 complications, so intentional isolation or self-quarantine is vital for many seniors to remain physically healthy. However, the long-term effects of this isolation could increase the risk of mortality.
Since social distancing is a way of life due to coronavirus, seniors have to manage the effects of isolation. Mitigating the associated loneliness is important, as it may reduce some of the negative health impacts.
Anxiety, Depression & Mental Health Struggles
About 20 percent of people who are at least 55 years old experience some form of mental health issue. The most common among older adults include the following:
Cognitive impairment
Anxiety
Mood disorders like depression
Depression is the most prevalent reported mental health condition among older adults, and it is associated with distress and suffering. This condition can lead to impairments in physical, mental, and social functioning, including isolating oneself from social gatherings.
Medical professionals report that forced isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic will increase the risk of depression and anxiety even among those who do not normally struggle with these conditions.
Frequent mental distress (FMD) is associated with aging. This is defined as at least 14 days of poor mental health.
FMD interferes with life activities, such as eating well, maintaining a household, working, or sustaining personal relationships. It’s difficult to maintain an exercise regime and balanced diet when dealing with FMD, and physical health suffers.
In 2006, the CDC recorded that the rate of FMD among adults 50 and older was 9.2 percent. Among those 65 and older, the rate of FMD was 6.5 percent.10
With additional causes of distress like isolation and poor physical health during a pandemic, it is likely that rates of FMD will steeply rise. This indicates future chronic health issues, such as higher rates of mood disorders and physical problems.
The Mental Health Impact of Financial Hardship
The stress of financial hardship can magnify the effects of aging, which contributes to poorer health. Research suggests that adults who spend at least four years in economic hardship could be at risk of accelerated aging, compared to adults who did not live in extended periods of poverty.
First, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in unemployment claims in the U.S.11 This period of financial instability and the social stress among young and middle-aged adults could contribute to shorter lifespans and higher rates of mortality among those generations as they age.
Measurements of inflammation markers in the blood, like C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6, are associated with chronic conditions like cancer and higher rates of infection.
One study found that people who experience economic or financial hardship earlier in life did not show higher levels of these inflammatory markers, so they may not be prone to accelerated aging.12
However, older adults and those in late middle age who experienced these hardships were more likely to suffer health consequences due to financial instability.
A 2015 study reported that 21 percent of the elderly reported one or more forms of material struggle, including the following:
- Dissatisfaction with one’s financial situation
- Trouble paying bills
- Cutting back on medications due to the cost
- Skipping meals because of the cost of groceries
- General food insecurity
Even among the top income quintile, 11 percent of elderly adults reported some of these issues. In the poorest quintile, 37 percent reported these hardships.13
While social services like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and food stamps are still in place, the additional mental and emotional stress from isolation and fear may lead to greater worry about financial instability among seniors.
Support During COVID-19
Knowing that you have forms of support during self-quarantine, isolation, or a stay-at-home order can improve your mental stability and reduce fear.
Here are some practical tips for seniors and their loved ones to manage mental health and worries about money or illness during the coronavirus pandemic:
- Try telemedicine.
In the past several years, more telemedicine options have become available to the general public. Video calls, emails, and chatting over the internet have allowed medical providers, like doctors and nurses, to reach more patients.
These advances allow these professionals to connect with people who may have chronic illnesses preventing them from coming into clinics; rural and remote patients; and those who may have a contagious disease that would otherwise spread to those sitting in waiting rooms or doctors’ offices.
Specific facets of telemedicine have been around for decades
For example, teleradiology has existed since the 1960s, and the evolution of this service has created a basic set of guidelines for transmitting and storing sensitive health data. Teleradiology allowed patients in rural areas to avoid being transported far distances for treatment, which could make concussions or traumatic brain injuries worse.
Telepharmacology and telepathology have existed for decades, allowing doctors to diagnose certain conditions and provide prescription treatments for them. In the past few years, teletherapy practices are also allowing greater access to therapists and social workers, which improves mental health for patients.
Many hospitals, doctors’ offices, and insurance providers offer some level of telehealth services already.
But with COVID-19 forcing most of the population to remain isolated from close contact with any other person, including many doctors, more of these services are being heavily used to discuss concerning symptoms or other health worries with physicians and nurses.15
To get access to telemedicine services, you will need the following:
- An internet connection
- A video platform like a computer with a webcam or a smartphone with a camera
- A software platform, often a third-party app
- Seniors with Medicare can use telehealth services to talk to doctors and nurses within minutes of having a question. Medicare Part B covers certain telehealth services.
The federal government has instituted more telemedicine options for medical professionals as of March 6, 2020. In most cases, you will not have to pay out of pocket for COVID-19 tests if your doctor determines you need one using telemedicine, and you will not have to pay out of pocket for your telemedicine visit.
- Use computers and smartphones to stay connected.
Although having people over to physically socialize is risky and not recommended, technology allows an unprecedented amount of communication with the outside world.17
There are several programs that allow seniors to talk to friends and family through a computer, tablet, or phone. Here are some of the most popular:
Facetime
This is primarily a program for iPhones, although you can set up a version on your Mac desktop or laptop computer if you prefer.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Facetime, and turn on the program. Enter your phone number, Apple ID, or email address to use the service. Then, you can open the program on your phone and use your contacts list to decide who to call. You can only Facetime with other Apple subscribers.18
Zoom
You can download Zoom and set up an account so you can host video chats, or you can join someone else’s Zoom meeting as a participant without an account. The basic program is free, but there are additional benefits to signing up for a paid account.
If you download the Zoom program yourself, you can easily start a meeting or chat through options on the homepage.19
Google Hangouts
Many people have a Gmail address, but if you do not, it is easy to set one up. Once you have a Gmail account, you can access all kinds of features, including Google Drive, Photos, and Hangouts.20
To start a video conversation in Hangouts, go to hangouts.google.com.
- Make sure Google has access to the camera and microphone on your computer or smartphone.
- Click New Conversation.
- Enter and select a name or email address to contact.
- Click Start Video Call, which has a video camera icon next to it.
- A separate window will pop up so you can see the person you are speaking to.
- When you are done, click the red receiver icon to hang up.
Marco Polo
This is a mobile phone app for both iPhone and Android devices. Unlike other forms of contact, Marco Polo allows you to take turns recording short videos. Once you download the app from the app store, you can add contacts you know already use the service or invite friends to join.
Click on the icon of the person you want to talk to, and then hold down the Start button to begin recording your message to them. Hit Stop when you are done. The person will respond in turn, and you can reply to their message when you are ready.
There are several other features available in this program, but Marco Polo primarily allows you to see and hear loved ones without the pressure of live contact.
Phone calls, text messaging, email, and social media
These are all common methods for loved ones to stay in contact with each other. If these approaches to talking and seeing your friends and family work well for you, consider using them more often.
Regular communication with loved ones is important to overall health. Since seniors are advised to maintain the highest levels of social distancing due to COVID-19, make sure you are visiting with friends and family regularly via other means of communication.
You’ll likely notice a boost in overall mood after chatting with loved ones.
- Make lifestyle improvements to manage physical and mental health.
Healthy aging requires certain lifestyle improvements.
Physical activity
This can include daily walks, stretching, and low-impact strengthening exercises. Activity improves physical health, including heart and lung problems, digestive issues, immune system problems, and mental health.
Leaving the house may seem frightening during this pandemic, and your doctor may not recommend it. Most guidelines allow for walks around the neighborhood, provided you maintain at least six feet of distance between you and others.
You can also use your front yard or backyard to stretch and strengthen your body while getting some sunlight.
Exercise routines are available online, and you can practice these indoors. Many membership-based services are offering free short-term memberships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nutrition
It’s important to focus on maintaining a healthy weight with a balanced diet. Holding too much body fat in certain areas increases the chances for and risks of heart disease and diabetes.
Getting groceries may be difficult for many seniors right now, but friends and family can help. An online delivery service like Instacart can safely deliver groceries to your door.
In addition, some charity programs offer delivery services for groceries or takeout meals. Many stores are offering dedicated senior shopping hours.
Hobbies and activities
Gardening, art and crafts, worship services, and hobbies can be vital to maintaining mental and emotional health.
While social activities must be limited right now, many religious organisations and social groups are moving to online participation models, which can help you maintain a sense of community support.
- Understand your financial picture.
One report found that 23 million older American adults are economically insecure.23 They live either at or below the federal poverty line, putting them at risk for short-term and long-term problems because they cannot fulfil basic needs.
More elderly adults are in debt because they cannot afford to pay for necessities like groceries or rent.
There are various scams targeting senior citizens, often fronting as the Internal Revenue Service or Social Security Administration. Some scams capitalize on health care worries to frighten seniors into giving away personal information.
If you receive government benefits for older adults, like Social Security income (SSI) or Medicare, you should know that these programs will not contact you by phone or email. They will send you a letter in the mail.
Government programs do not call participants and ask for verification of personal information, like credit card information, bank account details, or Social Security numbers. Anyone who asks for this information is a scammer.
Budgeting is important, but access to programs like Medicare can ease financial worries around health care. These programs can answer COVID-19 questions, provide access for accurate diagnoses, and offer therapy to manage mental strain and illness.
You can use telemedicine through Medicare to get referrals for online therapy, if needed. Other programs can help you keep track of prescriptions, symptoms, and overall physical health.
Finding Balance During COVID-19
Worries about physical health, increased isolation from social distancing and stay-at-home orders, and financial struggles all impact mental health during this trying time.
When these factors are considered together, it makes sense that older adults may feel increasingly anxious or depressed.
Seniors may experience more intense symptoms of both mental and physical illnesses. They may have a harder time remembering to eat, take their medications, or sleep.
The impact of coronavirus on the world adds stress on a macro and micro level. This toll on mental health quickly trickles down to physical health if it is not managed.
Fortunately, there are many ways to get support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking care of your mental health is as important as caring for your physical health.
Check in with yourself regularly, making sure that all your physical, mental, and emotional needs are met. Engage in activities that bring you joy, and try to get some form of physical activity every day.
Stay in close contact with family and friends via phone, email, video conferencing, or other means. These forms of social interaction are crucial during this time of physical distancing. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to reach out for help when you need it.
