SENIOR LIVING

Springtime is here

A little upfront care can go a long way

By Guy Mikkelsen | May 21, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

All signs make it clear that springtime is now fully upon us. The days are growing longer and average daily temperatures are already hitting triple digits. School kids are dreaming of the end of classes, and business at gardening stores is picking up despite the slow economy.

Those of us who take joy in gardening instinctively know that it is time to reconnect with the soil and make our annual investments in seed, tools and personal effort. We automatically seem to know when to extend watering time to give a boost to plants that will yield beauty and food and when to put in each type of grass, flowers and vegetables.

As we add on years of experience, we also learn how to achieve our gardening goals without unnecessary stress to our bodies. We learn to plant in the cool parts of the day and wear gloves to prevent cuts and punctures from thorns and needles. We use knee protectors to guard our legs and take plenty of water breaks to prevent de-hydration.

National Stroke Awareness Month

Perhaps it is not by accident that ­during May we also observe national Stroke Awareness month. Just as we naturally and prudently invest in the promise of our gardens, we also need to build good habits to nurture our own future health — and we need to make these positive habits instinctive.

Strokes are “brain attacks” caused primarily by a disease of the human arterial system. They occur when blood, and the life giving oxygen it carries, is cut off from the brain due to blockages or tears in an artery. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of adult disability. And yet, they are largely preventable. Even when they occur, lasting damage can often be avoided if treatment is provided quickly. 

Recognizing symptoms

Strokes usually occur without warning. Immediate symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg — or even one full side of the body. Onset can also be accompanied by sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes and difficulty in walking, dizziness and loss of balance or coordination. Severe headaches are also a frequent symptom of stroke.

Someone experiencing a stroke may have difficulty recognizing what is happening. There are, fortunately, several useful signs a friend or family member can look for to detect a stroke immediately after it occurs. Ask the person to smile and see if one side of the face seems to droop. Ask the person to raise both arms and notice if one arm drifts downward. A third test is to ask the person to repeat a simple sentence and note any slurring or strangeness of speech.

If any of these tests show positive, immediately call 9-1-1 and ask for medical help. Rapid treatment can save a life and significantly limit the extent of related disabilities. For those who have survived a stroke, physical and cognitive therapy can offer dramatic improvement. The Foundation for Senior Living provides care and active therapy for many seniors and younger adults at our Adult Day Health Centers around the valley.

Prevention

Some important risk factors for stroke are beyond our control, such as being over 55 years old, male or African-American and having diabetes or a family history of stroke.

Nonetheless, according to the National Stroke Association, two out of every three strokes can be prevented by simple improvements in healthy living. Here are several of the most important behaviors that can help us avoid stroke:

• Know your blood pressure;
• Find out from your doctor if you have atrial fibrillation or circulation problems;
• Stop smoking;
• Use alcohol only in moderation;
• Know your cholesterol levels;
• Control your diabetes;
• Exercise frequently; and
• Follow a low sodium, low-fat diet.

In gardening, simple things like proper watering, timely planting and regular pruning make all the difference between healthy growth and disappointment. And so it is with human growth as well.

Let us allow our natural love of springtime and all it offers to the human spirit be a guide as well to the cultivation of our own good health. As human beings created in the image of God, may we nourish our own bodies and souls at least as well as we care for the fruits of nature.