Better Health 25 Eng

isks can usually be accomplished through
lifestyle modification, i.e. adopting healthier
diet and exercise habits. Dr. Lily cautions
seniors to avoid extreme changes, such
as totally cutting out dietary fat or meat
from one’s diet. Our bodies need fat; foods
including meat are important sources of
energy, protein and nutrients that help
repair damage caused by the aging process.
“Many seniors make the mistake of avoiding
high-protein foods as they assume their bodies
are too old to chew and digest meat,” Dr. Lily
explains. “In actual fact, protein is important
to counter loss of muscle mass and brain shrink-
age. Without enough protein, they’re at greater
risk of seeing their health deteriorate more quickly.”
For seniors already diagnosed with a vascular
disease, fish and nuts are healthier protein sources
than beef, pork or chicken. Fiber from nuts promotes
the removal of bodily waste through the excretory
system. It also facilitates the release of cholesterol and
helps control blood sugar. Fish containing omega-3
fatty acids are one of the best sources of the so-called
“good fats” believed to help lower blood cholesterol.
Osteoporosis dangers
The impact of the aging process is marked by a decline
in bone density, greater risk of bone fractures, and
eventually having to deal with osteoporosis. Dr. Lily
cautions women to be especially watchful for potential
bone threats as their risk for osteoporosis is significantly
higher than men. “Women naturally have thinner
bones than men,” notes Dr. Lily. “At the onset of
menopause, a woman’s body abruptly stops producing
the sex hormones which were helping maintain
stronger bones; the abrupt end to hormone production
accelerates the decline in bone density. For men,
osteoporosis poses less of a threat because the decline
in male sex hormones happens gradually – and some
men actually don’t suffer any decline.”
Osteoporosis is a disease which gradually worsens
“
Managing and treating
age-associated diseases
depends largely on patients
taking an active role in
managing their health by
making healthier lifestyle
choices.
”
Dr. Lily Chaisompong
over the course of many years. It progresses quietly;
symptoms usually don’t appear until years later.
Osteoporosis tends to be diagnosed after significant
decline in a patient’s bone density or, in some cases,
after a serious fracture-causing fall. Adopting
preventive measures earlier in life is one of the best
ways to reduce your risk of a future osteoporosis
diagnosis and for limiting the condition’s severity.
Calcium plays a critical role in keeping bones
healthy and strong. Adults should take in about
1,000 mg of calcium a day. In Thailand, most people
don’t get enough calcium from their diet, even when
including calcium-rich foods like fish, nuts, tofu and
leafy green vegetables. That’s because most Thais,
especially seniors, don’t consume enough milk and
other dairy products that are rich in calcium.
Bladder control ailments differ by gender
H
ealth issues affecting bladder control are more prevalent in older adults.
But the chief complaints depend on gender; the problems of senior men
tend to be the opposite of senior women.
Prostate problems
Men are most likely to experience difficulty passing
urine, with prostate enlargement the most common
cause of the problem. When the prostate gland becomes
enlarged, it presses against the urethra, making it more
difficult – or, in severe cases, impossible – for urine
to pass through the urethra.
For men with milder cases, doctors typically prescribe
anti-spastic medication which reduces the size of the
prostate to the point where symptoms dissipate and
normal bladder function is restored. In more serious
cases, surgery to remove a portion of the prostate may
be recommended.
Female incontinence
Incontinence is the most pre-
valent bladder-related health
problem for senior women. It’s
typically caused by pelvic organ
prolapse, a condition that makes
it difficult to prevent urine from
leaking through the urethra.
Exercising the pelvic muscles can help relieve the problem;
contracting the pelvic floor muscles 100 times a day will tighten
pelvic muscles and reduce incontinence. In more serious cases,
your doctor may recommend surgical treatment to correct the
problem.