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Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Senior Citizens May Want to Add Some Health
Resolutions to Their 2007 List
American Medical Association offers suggestions
for the new year
December 26, 2006 – Senior citizens, more health
conscious than young people, for obvious reasons, may want to review the
top resolutions for the new year that are suggested by the American
Medical Association.
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"The start of another new year provides us with an
opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and look ahead to changes
we can make today to improve our health tomorrow," said AMA
President-elect Ron Davis, M.D. "It is important that we develop healthy
lifestyles and behaviors that we can carry with us throughout our
lives."
The AMA is offering the resolutions below for 2007
and seniors may want to add some to their list.
● Don't Smoke: Avoid smoking -- the leading
preventable cause of death -- as well as exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS).
Released earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General reported that there
is no risk-free level of exposure to SHS, and the California
Environmental Protection Agency estimates that SHS kills 50,000
Americans each year.
● Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables: As recommend by
the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, eat about two cups of fruit and two to
three cups of vegetables daily to reduce your risk of developing heart
disease, cancer, stroke, and high blood pressure.
● Cut Back on Salt: Limit your salt intake to one
teaspoon per day (if you are 50 years of age or older, cut back to about
half a teaspoon per day) to help lower blood pressure and decrease your
chances of getting heart disease or having a stroke.
● Limit Fat in Your Diet: Eat a diet low in fat,
saturated fat, and trans fats to reduce cholesterol levels and the risk
of developing heart disease. Check Cholesterol: Have your blood
cholesterol checked regularly by your doctor and keep your cholesterol
level under 200 mg/dl to reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
● Reduce Amount of Soda You Drink: Per capita
soft-drink consumption has increased by almost 500 percent over the past
50 years. Limit your consumption of regular soda pop and other
sugar-sweetened drinks to help you avoid weight gain and obesity, and to
also decrease tooth decay. Check Blood Pressure: Have your blood
pressure checked regularly by your doctor to help reduce your chances of
heart attack or stroke. If you have high blood pressure, make sure that
you keep your blood pressure under 140/90.
● Get a Colonoscopy: If you are 50 years of age or
older, ask your doctor about getting a colonoscopy to screen for colon
cancer to improve your chances of early detection.
● Get a Mammogram: If you are a woman 40 years or
older, get a mammogram every one to two years to help detect breast
cancer early and if diagnosed, improve your chances for survival.
● Protect Your Skin from the Sun: Use sunblock
(with an SPF of at least 30) or protective clothing when you're in
sunlight for a prolonged period. If you frequently get a suntan or
sunburn, have your doctor check your skin regularly to detect early
signs of skin cancer.
"These resolutions are just a few of the things you
can do to make positive, healthy lifestyle changes. In 2007, continue to
look to the AMA for a wide range of health information and continue to
turn to your physician for the highest quality of care for you and your
family," said Dr. Davis.
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