Seven Conditions Common to Senior Citizens Can Be
Managed Without Drugs
Harvard Health Letter says the no-drugs approach
often as good as pills
March 27, 2008 Seven of the most common and
distressing conditions that hit senior citizens the hardest can be
managed without medications, which have side effects and are expensive.
The April 2008 issue of the Harvard Health Letter tells how to do it. It
takes some discipline, but in many cases, the nonpharmacological
approach can do as much as pills.
Heres a brief look at the conditions and
treatments:
Arthritis: Theres a good chance that losing
weight will make arthritis less painful. Combine weight loss with
exercise and you may have less pain and more mobility. Even for those
who dont need to lose weight, exercise that doesnt put load on the
joints reduces pain.
Cholesterol: Your LDL level may drop by 5%
or so if you keep foods high in saturated fat off the menu. Additional
soluble fiber may reduce LDL levels as well. So can margarines fortified
with sterols.
Cognitive decline: Memory training and other
brain exercises seem to help healthy older people stay sharp. But
physical exercise may benefit the brain more than mental gymnastics.
Depression: Studies have shown that regular
physical activity can have a potent antidepressant effect.
Diabetes: Regular physical activity is a
powerful brake on blood sugar levels as well, because exercised muscle
becomes more receptive to the insulin that helps it pull sugar in from
the bloodstream. Eating fewer sweets and easy-to-digest carbohydrates
also helps control blood sugar levels.
High blood pressure: Losing weight, getting
more exercise, and eating less sodium all lower blood pressure.
Osteoporosis: Weight-bearing exercise puts
stress on bones, and bone tissue reacts by getting stronger and denser,
fending off osteoporotic processes. Extra vitamin D and calcium top the
list of dietary recommendations.
Also in this issue:
>> Loss of smell: causes, treatments
>> Risks, benefits of pets
>> By the way, doctor: Too much vitamin D? Why is
my mitral valve leaking?
The Harvard Health Letter is available from Harvard
Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School,
for $28 per year. Subscribe at
www.health.harvard.edu/health or by calling 877-649-9457
(toll-free).
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