Senior Resources Center

In putting this section together we have used research that others have put together and have attempted to give proper credit even when this information has been re-written, shortened and edited. The links should all work as we have tested them, but if you find one that is not currently active please let us know by emailing artkoff@yahoo.com.

Live Better and Longer

Research has shown that regular exercise/activity (physical and mental) eating healthy, and taking care of your body by not smoking, not drinking excessively, not eating too much, and limiting stress generally allows for longer life. A recent study found that a regular exercise program (30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 days a week) can redeuce your risk of dying n the next 8 years by 40%. Of course the genes you are born with are also a major contributing factor.

Diets low in sodium and fats and high in fruits and vegetables, particularly those high in fiber and antioxidants, help many people live longer. Studies indicate that people who regularly drink red wine, eat cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, almonds, walnuts and others who regularly eat certain kinds of fish live longer healthier lives.

It is difficult to decide what to eat and what not to eat with so many conflicting studies. Below you will find some recent information along these lines which I hope is not too confusing. I, for one, have been eating this way for some time now. Eat the right fish with a dish of tomatoes and wash it down with a glass or red wine.

A number of studies and research recently conducted suggest that eating certain kinds of fish is inversely related to the risks of stroke and heart attacks. Even if you eat fish as little as 2 or 3 times a month you may get some protection. Fish like tuna reduce the risk of coronary heart disease because of its content of omega-3 fatty acids.

On the other hand fish like swordfish, orange roughy, red snapper, shark and mackerel often have high mercury levels with can cause other medical problems.

Foods that contain lycopene, like tomatoes, help to reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease according to some research and also help with LDL cholesterol.

Still other research has shown that drinking red wine, in moderation, decreases the production of a a protein that causes blood vessels to reduce the flow of oxygen to the heart

The U.S. advisory panel revamping the government's dietary guidelines recommend Americans eat at least 3 cups of dark green vegetables like broccoli or spinach; 2 cups of orange vegetables like carrots and squash; 3 cups of legumes like lentils and chickpeas; 6 cups of starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn and green beans; and 7 cups of other vegetables like tomatoes, onions and lettuce.

As to losing weight the panel wrote: "The healthiest way to reduce calorie intake is to reduce one's intake of added sugars, solid fat and alcohol - they all provide calories, but they do not provide essential nutrients."

Living longer and having a better quality of life is a subject addressed by countless experts and non-experts alike.

President Clinton comments on this as he wrote in "My Life" about a biology lesson at Georgetown University that stuck with him, and was later confirmed in a 2000 study. His professor claimed life was shortened by the body's inability to absorb and dispose of food. He recommended greatly lowering the quantity of food eaten by older people.

I suggest you go to this Website, http://www.beeson.org/ , and take the quiz. It's never too late to start changing bad habits, habits that can shave years off your life, says Daniel Perry of the Alliance for Aging Research of Washington, D.C., a non-profit group that developed the online quiz based on research conducted by the New England Centenarian Study.

While doing research on how seniors can help avoid heart attacks I came across a several studies which spoke about risk factors and they all seem to agree with cardiologists who recommend that you should

1. Lower your cholesterol with proper diet, exercise and medication if necessary

2. Avoid abnormal obesity with proper diet and exercise

3. Avoid depression

4. Avoid excess stress

5. Quite smoking

6. Bring your blood pressure down

7. Avoid diabetes and if you have it make sure to treat it under doctor's orders

If you can change your lifestyle to avoid these risk factors you should certainly be less likely to have a heart attack. In many cases the advice of a physician or specialist will be helpful or necessary to assist you.

Information and resources to help you live longer better. A free online monthly newsletter www.longevityalliance.com

Helpful Medical Websites

American Dietetic Association. http://www.eatright.org/Public/

To locate a registered dietitian in your area, ask your physician, or call the consumer nutrition hot line (800/366-1655) of the National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics

According to Business Week's Carol Marie Cropper http://www.businessweek.com/execlife the best medical Websites are as follows:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ National Library of Medicine, part of the government's National Institutes of Health. Also check out home to health sites such as Medline Plus, a patient-friendly location for looking up drugs and medical conditions which gives the latest health news and a link for information on clinical trials in your area.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ National Institute of Mental Health, which is part of the National Institutes of Health and provides a comprehensive and authoritative source of information on mental disorders and treatments.

http://www.health.gov/ U.S. Health & Human Services Dept Well organized information on everything from breast-feeding to menopause as well as new items on women's health

http://www.mayoclinic.com/ Mayo Foundation for Medical Education & Research, an affiliate of the Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minn. Comprehensive site guides patients who are weighing treatment options. Tools let you calculate everything from body mass index to pregnancy due date.

http://www.nationalhealthcouncil.org/ A nonprofit made up of voluntary health agencies, professional associations, and medical nonprofits and businesses which is a one stop directory of links to groups like the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Assn., and the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization.

http://www.yourdiseaserisk.harvard.edu/ The Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, at the Harvard School of Public Health. Readers can fill out online questionnaires for quick assessments of their risk for diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke and various cancers. The site ranks your risk factors.

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Home Express Scripts, a major pharmacy benefits manager. Allows users to check for potential interactions between the drugs they use as well as with food and alcohol. Also lets users compare side effects of different drugs. Site tells whether a generic is available, provides a picture of the pill and cites uses for the medication

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/ Quest Diagnostics is a leading diagnostics testing company. Its health library offers information on medical tests, medications, support groups and general health topics.

http://www.oncolink.com/ Abramsom Cancer Center of the university of Pennsylvania. Its library provides physician summaries of the journal articles that have influenced the standard of care for various types of cancer, as well as free access to the table of contents and abstracts from many cancer�related journals.

Additional sites which both offer general guidelines (online) about which tests to take and what to talk about with your physician to assist you in identifying cancer at an early stage:

Cancer Tests and Danger Signs

American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/

According to the American Cancer Society here are some of the common signs associated with different types of cancer:

Breast Cancer

� A lump or swelling in the breast

� Nipple pain or the nipple turning inward

� Redness, scaliness of the nipple or breast skin

� Discharge from the nipple other than breast milk

Lung Cancer

� A cough that does not go away

� Chest pain

� Hoarseness

� Bloody or rust-colored spit or phlegm

Ovarian Cancer

� Bloating or fullness in the abdomen

� Unusual abdominal or lower back pain

� Unusual lack of energy

� Constipation or diarrhea

Prostate Cancer

� Blood in the urine

� Impotence

� Pain in the hips, spine, ribs

� Loss of bladder or bowel control

Colorectal Cancer

� Change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation, that lasts for more than a few days

� Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool

� Cramping or steady pain in the abdominal area

� Weakness or fatigue

Oral Cancer

� Sore or pain in the mouth that does not go away

� Difficulty chewing or swallowing

� Lump or mass in the neck

� Persistent white or red patch on the gums, tongue, ton�

sils or lining of the mouth

Pancreatic Cancer

� Jaundice

� Diabetes mellitus (high blood sugar)

� Pain in the abdomen or back

� Digestive problems

Skin Cancers

� Although only about one thousand to two thousand peo�ple a year die from basal and squamous cell carcinomas, these kinds of skin cancers are becoming more common. They can also be disfiguring even if they don�t spread. About 90 percent of these cancers typically appear on the head and neck. However, more and more cases are appearing on other parts of the body, probably reflecting the effects of excessive exposure to the sun. Seniors who have spent a great deal of time outdoors are most at risk and are advised to visit a dermatologist regularly to have their skin checked thoroughly.

U.S. Preventative Services Task Force www.ahrq.gov

Tests often prescribed for various kinds of cancers including breast, colorectal, lung, oral, prostate, etc.:: mammography, digital mammography, tomosynthesis breast imaging MRI�s, PET scans (positron emission tomography), CT scans (X-ray computer tomography), 3D and Doppler ultrasounds. fecal occult blood tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double contrast barium enema and colonoscopy, spiral CT scans, PSA tests.

Your physician should give you more information on these tests and how often they should be administered depending on your symptoms (if any), physical condition, age, and risk factors.

The Department of Health and Human Services has a Web tool that allows you to track family health patterns that might signal a higher risk for cancer or some other diseases. http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/

The National Society of Genetic Counselors has a data base to help you find a genetic counselor in your area at: http://www.nsgc.org/resourcelink.asp

The American Academy of Family Physicians provides a list of recommended tests that everyone over 50 should regularly undergo. http://familydoctor.org/x4959.xml

If, after all this good advice, you need to go into the hospital, go to www.Subimo.com for a ranking of hospitals on a 0-100 scale

Go to www.MyUHC.com for recommending patients with significant problems to specific hospitals.

Go to www.Healthgrades.com for (* ratings) of hospitals. Once you have selected a hospital based on this rating system you much pay $9.95 for a more detailed report.

Resource for those that have Shingles

AfterShingles.com is an educational resource offering tools and information to help educate consumers about shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), or after-shingles pain, its impact on people�s lives and steps to take to help manage this condition

Exercise Helps You Live Longer and Better

According to the Radiological Society of North America older adults who exercise regularly show increased cerebral blood flow and a greater number of small blood vessels in the brain.

The researchers recruited 12 healthy adults, age 60 to 76. Six of the adults had participated in aerobic exercise for three or more hours per week over the last 10 years, and six exercised less than one hour per week. All of the volunteers underwent MRI to determine cerebral blood flow and MR angiography to depict blood vessels in the brain.

Using a novel method of three-dimensional (3-D) computer reconstruction developed in their lab, the researchers were able to make 3-D models of the blood vessels and examine them for shape and size. They then compared the blood vessel characteristics and how they related to blood flow in both the active and inactive groups.

The results showed that the inactive group exhibited fewer small blood vessels in the brain, along with more unpredictable blood flow through the brain.

"The active adults had more small blood vessels and improved cerebral blood flow," said the study's senior author, J. Keith Smith, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of radiology at UNC School of Medicine. "These findings further point out the importance of regular exercise to healthy aging."

The study was funded by the UNC Biomedical Research Imaging Center and by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Checking Your Pension

To check up on your pension, or to check a pension from a former employer, go to http://www.pbgc.gov/

If you are worried about the health of the pension plan of your employer and you are allowed to do so, consider taking a lump sum payment when you retire and invest the money safely yourself.� Some pension plans allow for this. Many do not.

Veterans Administration Help Line
800-827-1000
helps widows or widowers get
pension and disability checks

Retirement Planning

Retirement-4-U is a retirement planning, analysis and forecasting company offering individual retirement information that will benefit you for a lifetime. Each retirement plan is tailored to your assets, goals, and expenses, often leading to early retirement possibilities. Our retirement planning services are fast, convenient and inexpensive.
www.retirement-4-u.com

Disclaimer
No Legal Advice. The information on this site is not intended to provide, and does not constitute, legal advice. It should not be relied upon or construed as legal advice and is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney licensed in your state.

No Medical Advice. Those who need medical services or specialized guidance regarding insurance or other areas involving medicine should contact a medical professional, insurance professional, or other person with specialized knowledge. All information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, including information relating to medical and health conditions, products and treatments, insurance, and governmental regulations. The information is often presented in summary or aggregate form and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other professionals.

Do not use the information contained on this site for diagnosing a health problem or prescribing a medication. You should always consult your own physician and medical or other advisors.

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AAA

800-222-4357

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Alamo

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Say "customer relations" and then press 1 for "vehicle" or 2 for "motorcycle."

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Chrysler Financial

800-700-0738

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Chrysler Group

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Dodge

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Ford Interest Advantage

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Jeep

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Lincoln Mercury

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Mazda

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National Car Rental

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Nissan Credit (NMAC)

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us credit

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contact

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Amazon Visa

888-247-4080

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American Express >

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AT&T Universal Card

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Bank Card Svcs.

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Bank of America Credit

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Barclays

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Best Buy Card

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888-363-8001

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Chase Credit Cards

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Dell Financial Services

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Diner's Club

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Discover

800-347-2683

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Exxon Mobil Card

800-344-4355

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Gap Credit Card

800-887-1198

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GM MasterCard

800-947-1000

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Home Depot Credit

800-677-0232

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Household Bank Credit

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JC Penny Credit

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MasterCard

800-622-7747 @

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MBNA

800-421-2110

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PayPal Buyer Credit

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Providian Card Svcs.

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Sam's Club Credit

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Sears Credit Card

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Shell Gasoline Card

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Telecheck

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