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This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Elders Reveal Keys to Healthy Aging
Jan. 5, 2006 -- If you're living, you're aging, but that's not such a bad thing, a new study shows.
The study of nearly 3,500 men and women age 65 and older started a decade ago and is still going. Here's what the researchers have learned so far:
- Most people -- even after age 85 -- still lived independently and reported being in excellent or good health.
- People with good vision, good hearing, and good moods viewed their health favorably.
- Having close ties to family and friends is also a plus.
The bottom line: Aging brings change, but not necessarily a dismal, lonely decline.
The study appears online in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.-->
Healthy Elders
Aging isn't what it's cracked up to be, the study shows.
"Older people are healthy," says researcher Truls Ostbye, MD, PhD, in a news release. Ostbye is a professor in Duke University's department of community and family medicine.
"We hear a lot about disease and disability among the elderly, but the quality of life in older individuals is actually, by most measures used, high up to the oldest of age," Ostbye says.
That's not to say that aging is a piece of cake.
Many serious health problems -- including high blood pressure, cancer, and stroke -- become more common with age. Vision, hearing, and memory often fade, and personal losses or isolation can bring depression late in life (or any time).
Positive Despite Challenges
The seniors in Ostbye's study weren't in prime shape. Still, they were generally upbeat about their health and ability to handle chores of daily life.
Here are some of the challenges they faced:
- Most had had at least one major illness, such as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, stroke, cancer, or heart failure.
- Hearing, eyesight, and mental skills often slipped with time.
- Some couldn't handle all of their daily activities alone.
- Loneliness was most common among the eldest women, probably because they had outlived spouses.
Despite those issues, most scored high on surveys of 10 key traits, including senses, physical illness, mood, social support, and activities of daily living. That sample included 80%-90% of participants aged 65-75. For people aged 85 and older, 60% rated their health as being excellent or good.
Mood had the biggest effect. The researchers found that "persons of healthy mood [are] more than three times as likely to report good or excellent health."
All participants lived in Cache County, Utah, which has a high life-expectancy rate for people aged 65 and older.
More than 5,000 people -- about 90% of the county's elderly population -- participated in the first survey, which was done in 1995.
Following in Their Footsteps
You may be able to enhance your own aging process. Here are some ideas from the study:
- Make your eyes and ears a priority. Glasses, eye surgery (such as for cataracts), and hearing aids can renew links to the outside world.
- Treat depression and work on improving bad moods.
- If daily activities are harder than they used to be, look for new solutions.
- Keep in touch with family and friends.
Religious or spiritual ties may also help, the researchers note.
Healthy Aging Guide
Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
