When you get home from the hospital, you will spend your days and nights tending to your baby’s needs. It may seem selfish to think of yourself; by doing so, you’ll actually be doing a favor for your baby and your whole family. Here are some suggestions for taking care of the caregiver.

• If you’re breastfeeding, make sure you get an extra 500 calories a day. Eat lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein sources to ensure you’re getting the proper nutrients for you and your baby. Treat yourself to a dessert occasionally.
• Rest or do something relaxing when your baby naps. Don’t use this time to catch up on housework or tackle any new projects. Unplug the phone and tape a do not disturb note to your front door if necessary.
• Accept and encourage gifts of meals and food.
• Ask a close relative or hire a doula to help with housework, meal preparation, and entertainment of older children during the first several weeks.
• As you feel stronger and get a doctor’s approval, begin to exercise. Taking stroller walks with your baby will benefit both of you.
• Keep your baby close-by at night and/or breastfeed while lying on your side in bed so that nighttime feedings are as non-disruptive as possible.
• Let someone else do heavy housework or lifting for the first six to eight weeks while your body slowly returns to normal.
• Drink plenty of water and juice to maintain your milk supply and help get rid of excess weight. Avoid caffeine and alcohol because it can get into your milk supply and interfere with sleep.
• Call the doctor if you have excessive bleeding, any foul-smelling discharge, fever, diarrhea/vomiting, or symptoms of postpartum depression.
• Don’t feel obligated to entertain visitors or send out those thank you notes until you are feeling up to it.

Taking care of yourself is crucial to maintaining an adequate milk supply and having the energy to care for your family. The first weeks and months after having a new baby can be very difficult, both physically and mentally. Making sure you get the proper nutrition, rest, and medical attention will help you survive these trying times.

Lactose is the sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Children and adults who are lactose intolerant do not have enough lactase, which is the enzyme needed to digest the milk sugar. This condition is different from a milk allergy in which the milk protein triggers an allergic reaction. Some children are born with a lactose intolerance, while others acquire it as they age. Here’s how you can tell if your child is afflicted and what you can do about it.

Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

• Diarrhea after eating dairy products
• Gas
• Bloating
• Cramps
• Stomach pain

Steps to Manage the Symptoms

• Cut down on dairy products to see how much your child can tolerate.
• You may need to switch to a lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk.
• Be sure your child gets enough calcium. Feed your child calcium-rich foods like dark green leafy vegetables.
• Talk to your pediatrician about a calcium supplement, if needed.
• Avoid foods with added lactase, including many desserts, candy bars, and baking mixes.
• Over-the-counter enzyme treatments are available and can be taken with dairy products. Check with your pediatrician about the proper dosage.

Children who are born without the lactase enzyme will likely have the condition for the rest of their lives. Some children will develop a lactose intolerance following a stomach virus. This is usually temporary, and they will be able to resume eating and drinking dairy products in a short while.

In years past, it was almost unheard of for a baby to be allergic to milk, eggs, or peanuts. But food allergies are becoming increasingly common. No one knows why for certain, but there are precautions you can take to make it less likely for your child to develop a food allergy.

Before Birth

• Allergies tend to run in families. So if you or your spouse has any type of allergy, you need to take special precautions.
• During pregnancy, avoid eating any specific foods that cause allergy symptoms in your family. If you are avoiding any major food group, consult with your obstetrician about getting the proper nutrients for your growing baby.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and chocolate throughout your pregnancy.

After Birth

• Breastfeed your baby exclusively for the first six months of life. Consider breastfeeding for the entire first year, if possible. Breastfed babies tend to develop fewer allergies. However, you may need to avoid foods that your family is allergic to while breastfeeding.
• If you cannot breastfeed, feed your baby hypoallergenic formula.
• Wait until at your baby is at least six months before introducing solids. Start by introducing low-allergenic foods like rice cereal.
• If a food causes a reaction, wait at least two weeks before trying again. If a reaction occurs again, wait six months to reintroduce that food.
• Wait until your baby is one year to introduce dairy or cow’s milk, two years to introduce eggs, and three years to introduce peanut butter and other nuts.

Allergy Symptoms

• Colic, fussiness, irritability, interrupted sleep.
• Diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the stools.
• Skin rashes, hives, eczema (dry, itchy skin.)
• Nasal congestion, sneezing, nighttime snoring
• Chronic ear infections or bronchitis.

If your child seems to have food allergies, you should discuss it with your pediatrician and possibly see a pediatric allergist. She may want to perform allergy tests to verify which foods your baby is allergic to. Avoiding the specific allergens completely gives your child the best chance of outgrowing the food allergy.

One way to disguise less appealing physical attributes is through the design element of line. The lines of a garment make a big difference in how it looks on you, and how you feel when you wear it.

Whether you are tall or short, slender or not-so-slender, lines will change the appearance of your figure. The vertical line or a narrow panel leads the eye up and down the figure thus giving the appearance of height. This illusion can be created through styling, color combinations, or even the use of a jacket or vest. The horizontal line or a wide panel leads the eye across the figure and seems to add width. Even the style and tilt of a hat can make a person look taller or shorter.

Color influences how we look in what we wear. Colors that are flattering to skin tone and pleasing in relation to hair and eye color, can emphasize positive features while distracting from less flattering ones.

Garments that feature a front and back yoke can camouflage a rounded upper back. They are also helpful when alterations for a prominent back shoulder area or a hollow chest may be needed. Gathers in the front or back shoulder area also add softness to conceal body changes in those spots. Vertical tucks, shoulder pleats, and contour seaming can also disguise a dropped bustline.

Sleeve designs not anchored by an armscye seam such as dolman, kimono, raglan, and epaulet, are useful for more comfort if upper arms have become fuller.
Sleeves that are cut-in-one with the bodice and dropped shoulder designs are also a good choice.

A thickened waistline can be accommodated best without waistline definition. Garments that skim the body and by-pass the waistline will be most flattering. Often accessories that bring focus to the face can be used with these styles or select styles that include neckline and shoulder interest. If separates are preferred, it is best it the top and bottom match or blend to avoid color contrast which draws attention to the waist or hip area.

Adaptations for neck fullness and a forward head position can be made using necklines which do not fit snugly around the neck. A sailor collar or shawl collar style would be useful for this purpose. Soft draping, whether part of the styling or through the use of a scarf, can camouflage a crepy neck and be comfortable to wear.

Become familiar with specific figure needs. Consider the relationship of several body changes and what multi-design details in garments can accommodate them. Fabric, style detailing, ease, shape, and accessories contribute to a total look. Clothing, if well chosen, can enhance the beauty of aging.

Health-Related Behaviors

Nearly 40% of deaths in America can be attributed to smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, or alcohol misuse-behaviors practiced by many people every day for much of their lives. Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or control the devastating effects of many of the nation’s leading causes of death regardless of one’s age.

Regular physical activity greatly reduces a person’s risk from dying of heart disease, and decreases the risk for colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Physical activity also helps to control weight; contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and can decrease the need for hospitalizations, physician visits, and medications. Finally, physical activity does not need to be strenuous to be beneficial; people of all ages benefit from moderate physical activity. However, people tend to be less active as they age. By age 75, about one in three men and one in two women do not engage in any physical activity.

Good nutrition, including a diet that is low in saturated fats and contains five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day is vital in maintaining good health. Improving the diet of older adults could extend the productive life span of Americans and reduce the occurrence of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, some types of cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Less than one-third of adults 65 years and older meet the 5 A Day recommendation.

Tobacco Use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that cigarette smoking is responsible for one of every five deaths in the United States, or more than 440,000 deaths each year. Tobacco use increases the risk for diseases of the heart and cancer. Smoking cessation has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages, regardless of whether they have a smoking-related disease.

Chronic Diseases

Chronic Diseases are generally not prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just disappear. To a large degree, the major chronic disease killers heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are an extension of what people do, or not do, as they go about their daily lives. Eighty-eight percent of those over 65 years of age have at least one chronic health condition. Health damaging behaviors particularly tobacco use, lack of physical activity, and poor eating habits are major contributors to the nation’s leading chronic diseases. Clearly, promoting healthy behavior choices, through education and through community policies and practices, is essential to reducing the burden of chronic diseases.

Arthritis and related conditions are the leading cause of disability in the United States affecting nearly 43 million Americans. Although cost-effective interventions are available to reduce the burden of arthritis, they are currently underused. Regular, moderate exercise offers a whole host of benefits to people with arthritis by reducing joint pain and stiffness, building strong muscle around the joints, and increasing flexibility and endurance.

Cardiovascular Health is a growing concern for all Americans. Heart disease is the nation’s leading cause of death. Three health-related behaviorstobacco use, lack of physical activity, and poor nutritioncontribute markedly to heart disease. Modifying these behaviors is critical for both preventing and controlling heart disease. Modest changes in one or more of these risk factors among the population could have a profound public health impact.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States. Cancer is largely controllable through prevention, early detection, and treatment. Reducing the nation’s cancer burden requires reducing the prevalence of the behavioral and environmental factors that increase cancer risk. It also requires ensuring that cancer screening services and high-quality treatment are available and accessible, particularly to medically underserved populations.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, accounting for 10% of all cancer deaths. The risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with advancing age. Lack of physical activity, low fruit and vegetable intake, a low-fiber diet, obesity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use may contribute to the risk for colorectal cancer.

Three screening tools flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) are widely accepted and used to detect colorectal cancer in its earliest stages, when treatment is most effective. In 1999, 66% of Americans aged 50 years or older reported not having had a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy within the last five years, and 79% reported not having had a fecal occult blood test within the last year.

Breast Cancer is best detected in its earliest, most treatable stage by mammography. Seventy-six percent of all diagnosed cases of breast cancer (are among women aged 50 years or older.

Diabetes is a serious, costly, and increasingly common chronic disease. Early detection, improved delivery of care, and better self-management are the key strategies for preventing much of the burden of diabetes. Seven million persons aged 65 years or older (20.1% of all people in this age group) have diabetes.

Epilepsy and seizures affect about 2.3 million Americans, and result in an estimated $12.5 billion in medical costs and lost or reduced earnings and production annually. People of all ages are affected, but particularly the very young and the elderly. About 10% of Americans will experience a seizure, and about 3% will have or will have had a diagnosis of epilepsy by age 80.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions among Americans in all age groups. Obesity among adults has doubled since 1980. People who are obese or overweight are at increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis-related disabilities, and some cancers.

Oral health is an important and often overlooked component of an older adult’s general health and well-being. Oral health problems can cause pain and suffering as well as difficulty in speaking, chewing, swallowing, and maintaining a nutritious diet. During the past 50 years, the oral health and use of dental services among older adults have improved. Although this trend is expected to continue, additional improvement will depend on access to appropriate dental care.

Immunizations for Adults

Although infectious diseases are no longer the most common causes of death, pneumonia and influenza remain among the top ten causes of death for older adults. In 2000, pneumonia and influenza were responsible for 3.3% or 58,557 deaths among people 65 years of age and older. Influenza vaccination can reduce both direct health-care costs (physician visits and antibiotic use) as well as indirect costs from work absenteeism associated with influenza illness. Among person aged 65 years and older, influenza vaccination levels have increased from 33% in 1989 to 66% in 1999, surpassing the Healthy People 2000 goal of 60%.

Pneumonia is one of the most serious infections in older adults, especially among women and the oldest old. In a study of nursing home acquired pneumonia patients, pneumonia resulted in death among 40% of individuals who required hospitalization.

Injuries Among Older Adults

In the United States, one of every three persons aged 65 years and older falls each year. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injuries, hospital admissions for trauma, and deaths due to injury. In 1999, about 10,097 seniors died of fall-related injuries. Fractures are the most serious health consequence of falls. Approximately 250,000 hip fractures, the most serious fracture, occur each year among people over age 65. Many of these falls and resulting injuries can be prevented. Strategies to prevent falls among older adults include exercises to improve strength, balance, and flexibility; reviews of medications that may affect balance; and home modifications that reduce fall hazards such as installing grab bars, improving lighting, and removing items that may cause tripping.

While rates of motor vehicle related death and nonfatal motor vehicle related injuries among older adults vary by state, there are some consistencies. In most states, the fatality rates for men are twice those for women. In all states, motor vehicle-related fatalities are higher among adults 75 years and older, as compared with adults between 65 and 74 years of age. Among older adult drivers, the number of motor vehicle-related fatalities increased 30% and the number of nonfatal injuries increased 21% between 1990 and 1997. However, the number of fatalities and nonfatal injuries among older adult pedestrians declined during these same years (23% and 24%, respectively).

Risk factors for suicide among the elderly differ from those among the young. Older persons have a higher prevalence of depression, a greater use of highly lethal methods and greater social isolation. From 1980-1998, the largest relative increases in suicide rates occurred among those 80-84 years of age. The rate of suicide is higher for elderly white men than for any other age group, including adolescents.

People aged 65 and older are twice as likely to die in a home fire as the population at large. The National Fire Protection Association, with assistance from CDC, has developed a fire and fall injury prevention program directed at older adults called Remembering When.

Medicare

Medicare, the health insurance program for older adults, covers preventive health services and screenings for many of these chronic diseases.

Source: Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention

There are many misconceptions about seniors. Out of all age groups, older people have been the most misunderstood, especially on an intellectual level. Young people adhere to the belief that old people cannot learn new things; you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. However, this statement is not true; in order to truly understand and support aging parents, it is necessary to turn away from mistaken beliefs.

Stereotypes

All older people are believed to have the same physical and mental ailments. It is important to realize that each elder is unique from others, just as each young person is different from the rest. These are some stereotypes about elderly people.

• Loss of memory
• Cannot concentrate
• Cannot comprehend complex ideas
• Become senile

Memory Problems

Older people who never experience memory problems are fortunate. Elders who have trouble with memory often do not recall when recent events took place; they were most likely distracted at the time. Noise, confusion, disinterest, or other interference causes them to forget incidents. When older people take an interest in something, the event will most likely stay in their memories. A new face, recent event, or new telephone number needs to be learned or else it will be forgotten.

Learning from Your Elders

Stories from the early days are an important resource of family history. Interestingly enough, elders can remember past events better than recent events. They generally like to tell or repeat a story from their upbringing; this is a normal part of aging. Elders enjoy the attention they receive when sharing these stories and relating them to recent events. Your elderly parents may be able to describe their very first work experiences in considerable detail. Even though these stories may not be accurate, they are valuable memories that everyone can treasure for the rest of their lives.

Helping Your Elders Remember

• Make sure information is expressed at a time when they can pay attention.
• Help them become familiar with names, events, dates, and places.
• Write down reminders about doctor appointments, vacations, and birthdays.
• Repeat or reinforce information when necessary.
• Allow them to maintain independence and build self-esteem.
• Encourage them to recall events from the past.
• Help them appreciate life and all it has to offer.

Educating Your Elders

The education of many old people was interrupted by the depression. Fortunately, there are colleges and universities that offer classes for the elderly. Professors gladly welcome elders in their classrooms. Interested, enthusiastic, hardworking, and intelligent are a few of the words used to describe older students. Other elders do not wish to attend classes for various reasons relating to the youthful environment and the cost. They believe living is learning and do not wish to receive further education at a college.In either case, it is important that you take part in educating your elderly parents. If they have trouble using the new dishwasher, show them how to use it by making slow and instructive movements. If one of them has a physical ailment, then you should offer to do the chore. Your parents will be able to test and try new things with your help.

Understanding the Personality of Your Elders

Elders have been told by their sons and daughters that they are stubborn and set in their ways. Refusing to eat their vegetables, insisting on preparing a large dinner, and declining the thought of buying new clothes are just a few examples. Many older people do not change their ways. Elders who lived sedentary lifestyles in the past are most likely not going to want to become active now. Older people who were sedentary during their youth may have developed more physical problems during aging. Elders who were active and social in their younger years have maintained the same energy unless they have conflicting physical or emotional problems. Abrupt changes in thinking or behavior may be an indication that there are health problems. Unusual patterns should receive the attention of a doctor. Your elders may be either sedentary, or active, and possibly somewhere in between. It is important for you to understand the personalities of your parents.

Unmanageable Circumstances

There are certain circumstances that are beyond anyones control. For instance, many old people have to consume up to eight medications per day. The more medication elders take, the greater the chance of drug interaction. One or more drugs have the potential to interact and produce dangerous side effects, including confusion. Memory and learning problems in elders result because of the following:

• Poor diet
• Vitamin deficiency
• Drug interaction
• Misinterpreted signs of dementia

Supporting Your Elders

Elderly people take joy and comfort in familiar people, places, and objects. They may not want to participate in new activities because they do not want to look unwise or make mistakes. Certain habits that they have maintained over a long period of time may work well for them, and they may not want to change their ways. Others may want to broaden their horizons and try new ways of getting things accomplished. In either case, be supportive of your elders ways of thinking and acting.

Understanding the psychology of your aging parents is helpful for you and your entire family. If you can see your aging parents as the same people they once were, you can be more approachable and supportive as they grow older. If you have any additional questions or concerns about your elderly parents, contact their healthcare provider for further assistance.

People age 65 and older consume more prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines than any other age group. Older people tend to have more long-term, chronic illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease than do younger people. Because they may have a number of diseases or disabilities at the same time, it is common for older people to take many different drugs.

Many older people owe their health in part to new and improved medicines and vaccines. But using medicines may be riskier for older adults, especially when several medicines are used at one time. Taking different medicines is not always easy to do right. It may be hard to remember what each medicine is for, how you should take it and when you should take it. This is especially true of people with memory problems or dementia.

Medicines may act differently in older people than in younger people. This may be because of normal changes in the body that happen with age. For instance, as we get older, we lose water and lean tissue (mainly muscle) and we gain more fat tissue. This can make a difference in how long a drug stays in the body.

Keep in mind that drugs can mean both medicines prescribed by your doctor and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, which you buy without a doctors prescription. OTCs can include vitamins and minerals, herbal and dietary supplements, laxatives, cold medicines, and antacids. Taking some OTCs together with prescription medicines can cause serious problems. For example, aspirin should not be taken with warfarin (Coumadin). Be sure your doctor knows what medicines you are taking and assures you that it is safe for you to take your medicines together. Also ask about taking your medicines with food. If you take alendronate (Fosamax) with food, for example, the drug will be less effective. Herbal supplements also should be taken with care. Gingko biloba, for instance, should not be taken with aspirin, acetaminophen, warfarin, or thiazide diuretics because it may increase blood pressure and the risk of bleeding problems.

You and your family should learn about the medicines that you take and their possible side effects. Remember, medicines that are strong enough to cure you can also be strong enough to hurt you if they arent used correctly. Here are some hints to help avoid risks and get the best results from your medicines:

At Home

DO keep a daily checklist of all the medicines you take. Include both prescription and OTC medicines. Note the name of each medicine, the doctor who prescribed it, the amount you take, and the times of day you take it. Keep a copy in your medicine cabinet and one in your wallet or pocketbook.

DO read and save any written information that comes with the medicine.

DO check the label on your medicine before taking it to make sure that it is for the correct person you with the correct directions prescribed for you by your doctor.

DO take medicine in the exact amount and precise schedule your doctor prescribes.

DO check the expiration dates on your medicine bottles and throw away medicine that has expired.

DO call your doctor right away if you have any problems with your medicines or if you are worried that the medicine might be doing more harm than good. He or she may be able to change your medicine to another one that will work just as well.

DO NOT take medicines prescribed for another person or give yours to someone else.

DO NOT stop taking a prescription drug unless your doctor says its okay even if you are feeling better.

DO NOT take more or less than the prescribed amount of any medicine.

DO NOT mix alcohol and medicine unless your doctor says its okay. Some medicines may not work well or may make you sick if taken with alcohol.

At Your Doctor’s Office

DO review your medicine record with the doctor or nurse at every visit and whenever your doctor prescribes new medicine. Your doctor may have new information about your medicines that might be important to you.

DO always tell your doctor or nurse about past problems you have had with medicines, such as rashes, indigestion, dizziness or not feeling hungry.

DO always ask your doctor or nurse about the right way to take any medicine before you start to use it.

DO ask these questions (and write down the answers) before leaving your doctor’s office:

• What is the name of the medicine and why am I taking it?
• What is the name of the condition this medicine will treat?
• How does this medicine work?
• How often should I take it?
• How long will it take to work?
• How will I know if this medicine is working?
• How can I expect to feel once I start taking this medicine?
• When should I take it? As needed? Before, with or between meals? At bedtime?
• If I forget to take it, what should I do?
• What side effects might I expect? Should I report them?
• How long will I have to take it?
• Can this medicine interact with other medicines (prescription and OTCs including herbal and dietary supplements) that I am taking now?
• If I don’t take medicine, is there anything else that would work as well?

At the Pharmacy

DO make sure you can read and understand the medicine name and the directions on the container. If the label is hard to read, ask your pharmacist to use larger type. Let your pharmacist know if you have trouble opening the medicine bottle.

DO check the label on your medicine before leaving the pharmacy to make sure that it is for the correct person you and with the correct directions prescribed for you by your doctor. If not, tell the pharmacist

Source: The National Institute on Aging

Hearing loss is ranked as the third most prevalent chronic condition in older Americans, following hypertension and arthritis. Nearly 40 percent of people over age 65 are hearing impaired, and over 80 percent of people over age 85 have hearing loss. Those who have trouble hearing wrongly believe that hearing loss is an inevitable part of aging. Hearing loss can occur for a number of different reasons and varies from person to person.

Causes of Hearing Loss

• Hereditary factors
• Circulatory disorders
• Loud or excessive noise
• Burst eardrum
• Changes in the structure of the ear
• Bony growths in the middle of the ear
• Ear infections
• Medications (side effects)

Typically, those with hearing loss experience any of the following symptoms.

Signs of Hearing Loss

• Ringing in the ears
• Speaking loudly
• Raising the volume on the television and radio
• Complaining that people are mumbling
• Mixing up words that have similar sounds
• Watching a speakers face attentively

Tinnitus

The most common type of hearing loss is tinnitus, a ringing sound in the ears. The sound may hiss, buzz or roar instead of ring. Mild cases of tinnitus occur because of a buildup of wax next to the eardrum; removing the wax can cure this. A specialist should see any severe cases of tinnitus.

Coping with Hearing Loss

If you are hearing impaired, auditory training is recommended for helping you listen in different ways.

• Speech reading: watching for visual signals
• Lip reading: watching peoples lips form words
• Standing or sitting close to the person who is communicating with you.
• Situating you and the person with whom you are speaking in a well-lit area
• Asking the speaker to speak slowly and rephrase what you dont comprehend

Diagnosis and Treatment of Hearing Loss

If you are experiencing hearing loss, an audiologist and an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) are recommended. An audiologist can determine the amount of hearing loss and the ENT can diagnose the medical condition and prescribe treatment. When selecting a hearing aid, purchase one with a volume control, a 30-day trial period, and a one-year warranty on repairs. A persistent whistling sound indicates that the hearing aid does not fit properly. General sound may be distorted for a while until you can adjust to the device.

The more you learn about your hearing loss, the easier it is to find the right treatment for you. Contact your healthcare provider for appropriate assistance regarding your hearing loss is important.

What is self-esteem?