It is rare for back pain to be caused by a disease or illness and most cases are resolved in around three months with rest, the right exercise and correct seating and sitting position. Painkillers are a good short-term solution, and keeping agile and flexible are important for long-term relief and prevention of recurrence.  This is particularly important in middle and older age, when joint pain of any type is common.

Paracetamol and Ibruprofen are recommended by the NHS for immediate relief in adults, as well as hot or cold compresses.  The old frozen peas trick will do, but you can also buy lavender wheat bags or gel-packs from many retail outlets or online retailers who sell back supports and simple compression packs of all kinds.  Specialised seating is widely available although can be very costly.  Your employer should assist with seating for the workplace, particularly if you have a job where you are required to sit for long periods of time, and at a monitor.  Having comfortable seating is a good preventative measure – and comfort does not really mean nice, slouchy sofa’s; sometimes they can encourage a poor sitting position.  Worn out cushions can cause back pain, with lumps and bumps causing you not to sit straight, or with the frame of the sofa exposed by flattened and worn-out patches of cushion foam.  Buying a brand new sofa can be expensive or perhaps your sofa is a statement or period piece of furniture that you can’t part with.  Searching online for companies that can reupholster your sofa is an option, or companies like www.upholsteryfoam.co.uk offer services that can cover and match to your sofa fabric. Whichever way you choose to do it, replacing worn cushions will not only save you money and your piece of furniture, but will also ease your back pain.

A better sitting position is helpful but activity is really the key to a healthy lifestyle, including prevention of back pain.  Strengthening core muscles will support the spine but, should you have an injury, although a period of rest may be recommended, you will be advised after that to maintain a level of moderate exercise and activity so walking, cycling, and even light housework will lend to a speedier recovery.

For some, physical deterioration, minor at first, begins to set in around the 50 mark and this can be a challenging experience.  For the older person still in the workplace, the optics often suggests that they are expendable.  Then there is the empty nest syndrome, the older person’s purpose in life has disappeared and they become more isolated.  Furthermore, particularly for women, the experience of getting older is indeed depressing when there are few positive images around of older women.  Men are less likely to seek help for depression than women. Alcohol or drugs, often used to escape depression, make the condition worse.

There are many ways of dealing with depression and the trick is to find the route that works for each individual.   For many, medication is a necessary and worthwhile intervention but this is not a long-term solution.  The various therapies and counselling services can also be very effective and, for Londoners, The Therapy Lounge is a great source of information for those who want to go the hypnotherapy route.  Detailed information about therapists in and around London can be found on the internet, with descriptions of how hypnotherapy works for depression as well as for other problems – broadly, The Therapy Lounge hypnotherapy works on the unconscious mind and is a direct intervention aimed at addressing a particular issue.

Depression can be deeply overwhelming, paralysing the sufferer and thus making it very difficult to look for solutions.  The symptoms of depressions are well documented on the internet and they range from anxiety to other multiple signs.  For many, it is entirely possible to find an approach that helps the sufferer to manage the condition so they can continue to live their lives positively.

Type – Wood flooring is available in two rival construction types and one is more suitable for DIY installation than the other. The most widely available and widely known is solid wood flooring, while the alternative is engineered wood flooring. Solid wood flooring is made from complete wood such as Walnut, Oak, Pine and so on. In contrary, engineered wood flooring is made from natural wood together with three or four layers of MDF, Plywood and Softwood. The result is a type of lighter wood flooring that is suitable for floating installation. Floating engineered wood flooring is the easiest means to fit wood flooring, as it does not require nails or glue. Solid wood flooring is heavier and therefore requires a more robust installation methods that require special equipment.

Locations – Most wood species are designed for interior use only. Those that can withstand the weather are often used for decking and the other way around those that are suitable for flooring are never used outdoors. Wood flooring is suitable for any room in the home provided that the right type has been selected. Solid wood will suit most rooms with the exclusion of areas that experience damp conditions such as the kitchen. Engineered wood will suit all the rooms in the home and is often the safest choice.

Finish – Wood flooring be it made from solid or engineered technology is covered in a translucent layer that is hard to see. Often referred to as coating, this thin layer plays two important functions in your DIY choice and subsequent care of the wood. On the one hand it meant to protect from wood from minor damage and on the other it gives the floor a distinctive look. Furthermore each finish requires a different level of care that revolves around cleaning the floor often and fixing the finish when it is damaged from foot traffic and daily wear and tear. Some finishes are easier than others to fix so do your search well before committing to one finish or the other.

There are many health problems that the over 50s can experience. Mobility issues are common, which can result in a need to invest in chair lifts like Stannah stair lifts when you are older. Old men may suffer from poor mental health, dementia, depression and mood swings and other physical problems such as related to prostate, heart disease, bladder cancer and impotence which can be of particular concern.

Old women may suffer from problems related to breast cancer, menopause and osteoporosis. There may be other issues related to mental health which may constantly trouble women if proper care is not taken of the body.  However, with proper awareness, proactive steps to get clinical test periodically and fulfilling nutritional needs of the body, taking rest and doing exercise will help old men and women to reduce the pain or damage due to the health related issues.

Heart disease is one of the most common causes for the early or pre-matured death of old and young people.  One in five men dies from heart disease before the age of 75. The heart disease claims more human lives than any other disease.

Many a times, it is hereditary and runs in families, so one has a greater chance of developing it if a family has a history of the disease. Other risk factors which invite or attract heart diseases are smoking, an unhealthy diet with too much fat, particularly saturated fat, lack of exercise, overweight and excess stress.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor. If your blood pressure has been high for a long time, you are more at risk of a heart attack or stroke. Thus, in order to save oneself from these issues one must get periodic clinical check-ups and adopt suitable preventive measures to boost one’s fitness and well-being. Chairlifts for stairs could be the answer, for example, if you have mobility issues.

]]> http://50-plus.org.uk/major-health-problems-for-over-50s/feed/ 0 http://50-plus.org.uk/your-life-just-begins/ http://50-plus.org.uk/your-life-just-begins/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:38:09 +0000 admin http://50-plus.org.uk/?p=167 Most of us are used to a high tempo in daily life and try to master career challenges. In so doing, people do not realize when it is time to slow down. Although it may seem a long way to go, we will all need to withdraw from the battlefield at a certain time point: yes, it is called ‘retirement’.

When your actual time begins

Especially for those who dedicated their whole lives to their children and put the children’s demands and necessities before their own, it is hard to accept that retirement times are, to a certain extent, time to turn to yourself and your life partner or friends again; in other words: back to where you started. However, as much as it sounds lonely and pathetic, it is actually the chance of our lives. It is a brand-new beginning with less obligations, career plans, troubles and stress. Time is not a problem anymore, you are free as a bird.

You may consider ‘leaving’ as well

Just like time, place is also a fixed entity in life. If you arrange your budget earlier, you can use this freedom of time for short and long trips, hobbies, visiting friends or family etc. But you can even consider moving to somewhere else! Since the big cities are the places that we are mostly bound to because of our jobs/career plans and/or children, most of us dream of a more relaxed place for the post-retirement times. Britain, with its large territories, offers a lot of options regarding this ideal place. If you wish to run away from the rush and stress of mega cities like London, but still want to stay connected to cultural and social opportunities, you may consider a middle-size and less crazy city like Bristol. Located in Southwest England, this city stands out as the center for cultural, educational and business opportunities in the region. Knowing this, it is worth saving money for houses in Bristol, of which it can be easily said that they stand as a good investment as well.

The moors are, predictably, to the north of York, with the North Sea to the east, Middlesbrough to the north. If flying, the nearest airports are Newcastle and Leeds/Bradford, with a larger hub of Manchester 85 miles away on the other side of the Pennine Hills.

Approaching from the south, take the M1 North to York and the A64 to Scarborough and start your tour there. From the north, take the A19 south then the A171 to Whitby. Either way you start and end your drive of the moors along the coast.

Scarborough is a grand old Georgian resort, also beloved by the Victorians who built the eponymous Grand Hotel. Today it is still a popular seaside resort with plenty of historical attractions and wide ranging comfortable accommodation. An open-air theatre, museums, parks, gardens and beaches vie for attention.

Heading west on the A171 to the pretty little town of Pickering, often called the Gateway to the Moors. The town has a beautiful church with a landmark spire and a castle steeped in history but its main attraction is its station at the southern end of the North York Moors Railway.

This superbly restored railway takes you from Pickering up to the village of Grosmont through the heart of the moors and there isn’t a more beautiful way to see this stretch of countryside. Goathland deserves a stop off if you are a fan of Heartbeat as the village is the programme’s fictional Aidensfield. The station itself was also used as Hogsmeade Station in the first of the Harry Potter films.

Travelling across to the north side of the moors is a fabulous drive through B roads and tracks across heather covered slopes. Choose your own route and length of holiday, but be sure not to miss Rosedale Abbey village and the beautiful abbey at Rievaulx. The Hole of Horcum is an amazing natural amphitheatre carved out by spring erosion of the porous rock and the Moors National Park centre at Danby is a great place to learn more about the history and wildlife of the area.

When you reach the north side of the moors take the A171 east towards Whitby but before stopping at the town, go on for a few miles as the road curves south and visit the steep fishing village at Robin Hood’s Bay, tumbling down between two massive cliffs. This quaint little place is one of the prettiest on this wild coast and was a haven for smuggling in its darkest past.

Finish your tour at the old port of Whitby, where tales of Captain Cook and Dracula give an amazing atmosphere to the little town. The old abbey ruins brooding over the harbour from their huge cliff are a must see attraction.

However long your driving holiday of the moors, one thing is for sure, you will want to return.

Linda is a freelance writer and bookseller who, following 19 years in IT for a large airline, loves to write about the places she has visited. She also adores her other job as a bookseller in a local bookstore.

Managing your emotions

Although it’s important not to squash emotions down where you can’t access the wisdom they provide you, it is useful to learn how to feel them without becoming overwhelmed. It’s perfectly normal for divorcing individuals to experience grief, anger, resentment, fear of being alone or moving into the unknown, personal insecurity, regret, and guilt. These emotions are all part of being human, and you shouldn’t add “shame for having emotions” to the list! But if you are struggling, cognitive behavioural techniques are the most effective form of therapy available on the NHS. There are also some good books available if you feel strong enough to go down the DIY route – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Dummies is a good place to start.

Setting aside some time to think

You might feel like you don’t have time for all that self-help malarkey, what with having to take care of the kids and sort out your financial and domestic situations. But stress, if it gets too intense, makes you inefficient at best and at worst it ends up making you ill. Stress has a direct physical effect on your immune system, which will stop functioning properly if you remain stressed for too long. So it’s essential to set aside time to take care of yourself, think, and calmly plan your next moves.

Exercise and meditation are both good stress relievers, while simply sitting down with a pen and paper can help you settle your mind. Make sure you do nice things for yourself; a meal with friends, a haircut, playing or watching your favourite sport, a walk in the park with your kids. Just because a major aspect of your life is changing doesn’t mean you must feel constantly unsettled. It’s okay to take time off from worrying about stuff – in fact, doing so will help you deal with those worries more quickly, and often with a more satisfying outcome, once you go back to them.

Set goals for your future
It can be hard to admit, but marriage can mean putting personal ambitions on hold, or getting stuck in a rut because your partner refuses to eat healthily or stop drinking. Musing on what you want for your future is one of the more positive, pleasant side-effects of divorce. If you’re not sure what you want for yourself, think about who you admire most and what it is about them that you’d like to experience in your own life. Think about how you might achieve this. Consider your own strengths, but don’t be afraid of weaknesses either – these are all opportunities to learn and explore your potential.

Age Related Hearing Loss Causes:

Age related hearing loss is a result of the natural process of hearing deterioration that any of us can experience from as early as the age of 40. The level of hearing loss varies from one person to the next based on various factors including exposure to loud noise over the years to family history of hearing loss. The degree of hearing loss may mean very slight deterioration in quality of life for one person, or a severe impact for another.

Our hearing is aided by tiny hair-cells within the inner ear which help capture sound waves and deliver information via the hearing nerve pathways to the brain for interpretation. There are thousands of these hair-cells in the human ear. As the body ages, the hair-cells can deteriorate and die; which can lead to a reduction in hearing sensitivity and clarity. Unfortunately this deterioration is irreversible, and often happens to the same extent in both ears.

Age Related Hearing Loss Treatments:

Treatments for age related hearing loss can help to manage its effects but not, at this stage, offer complete cures. The affected sensory hair cells cannot regrow hence age related hearing loss is irreversible. When diagnosed, there are several means that help mange the condition on a daily basis. These are:

Digital hearing aids – These work by amplifying external sounds picked up by the microphones on the products and delivering this sound into the ear canal. They vary in the way they are worn; products can be made to fit inside the ear only or behind the ear. Hearing aids are available via the NHS or privately from online and High Street retailers. If you are looking to source one using the National Health Service, a waiting list may apply and the choice of product is limited. Hearing aid prices from the private sector vary immensely and many people try to compare prices before making a decision.

Amplified phones – They work by amplifying the level of incoming voice through the handset. The user is able to adjust the volume control, within quite a wide range of amplification. Amplified phones can be corded or cordless for use with home landlines, or mobile.  These amplified phones and mobile phones are usually available from private retailers only.

If you suspect that you or someone you care for might suffer from hearing loss, your first point of call is your local GP or local hearing centre as you will be required to undergo a non-intrusive hearing test to determine the level of any present hearing loss. Afterwards, your options including possible technological aids will be explained.

Article by Hearing Direct. Hampshire based online seller of hard of hearing aids.

One of the groups which is commonly discriminated against is young drivers; with drivers under the age of 25 regularly facing premiums in excess of £2,000. However, while the struggles of young motorists are well documented; what is less well publicised is that older motorists also tend to receive higher than average premiums according to research by MoneySupermarket.com.

We therefore take a look at the reasons behind the recent prices rises and examine why older motorists are discriminated against.

Car insurance fraud
One of the reasons that are commonly cited by industry experts as a primary cause of the car insurance price hikes is fraudulent claims. This was highlighted by the BBC, who reported that the number of personal injury claims being made has increased by 70% in the past ten years.

This has led to accusations of a ‘claims culture’ developing in the UK, with Graeme Trudgill from the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) blaming this on the highly aggressive marketing campaigns which have been utilised by Personal Injury Lawyers over the past decade; with them actively encouraging people to make claims, even when the consequences are minor.

Research by price comparison website MoneySupermarket has corroborated this, with a survey conducted by the company remarkably revealing that 1 in 20 young drivers have benefitted from an insurance pay-out for an accident which they have staged. These fraudulent claims are costing the insurance industry £20 million each year according to Paul Evans from AXA insurance.

Uninsured motorists
Another problem which has been mentioned in connection to these rising premiums is uninsured drivers, which the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) claims is costing the insurance industry £500 million every single year. This is of course calculated based on the money that insurers are forced to fork out to cover the costs of any accident involving these uninsured drivers, as well as the potential revenue which they have lost from premiums.

However, the government has taken action to tackle this problem; introducing a new motoring law known as Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE). This means that anyone with a vehicle which has not been declared off the road with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) having been sent to the DVLA must have their vehicle covered by a valid insurance policy at all times. People who found not to comply with this are ruling could be issued with financial penalties, have their vehicles clamped/confiscated or even forced to make a court appearance.

The reason why both uninsured drivers and those who commit fraud are responsible for rising premiums is that the insurers must recoup their lost income/additional expense from somewhere; and charging higher premiums is the only way that they can realistically do this.

It is expected that CIE regulations will ultimately be beneficial in bringing down premiums. However, uninsured drivers are not as much of a problem for insurers as fraudulent claims. Until this problem is tackled, car insurance prices will continue to be an area of concern for motorists.

Why are older drivers charged more than average?
Insurance companies calculate car insurance quotes based on statistics; offering cheaper premiums to those who are statistically less likely to be involved in accidents and make claims.

This explains why younger drivers pay significantly more; with 1 in 5 motorists being involved in an accident within the first 12 months of passing their test. These statistics also suggest that driver’s overs the age of 50 are more likely to be involved in accidents than when they were between the ages of 40 and 50; resulting in higher premiums.

What can I do to lower premiums?
Although the price rises which older motorists are subjected to are far less significant than those aimed at younger drivers, they are still an area of concern; particular in light of the rising cost of running a car, with fuel prices continuing to escalate.

However, there are things that you can do to fight back against insurance discrimination and lower the overall cost of cover:

• Vehicle- Cars are assigned to insurance groups numbered between one and fifty based on their statistical risk to insurers; with those in group one being the cheapest to insure. Make sure that your vehicle is in as lower group as possible if premiums are a concern.
• Excess- Offering to pay a higher voluntary excess on top of the compulsory excess whenever a claim is made will result in cheaper premiums on account of the insurer realising that they will have less of a financial obligation.
• Parking- Parking in a secure location such as a locked garage will result in cheaper premiums than if you park at the side of a public road. This is on account of the insurer recognising that the vehicle will be less likely to be stolen or vandalised.
• Modifications- Performance or aesthetically enhancing modifications such as the addition of a spoiler or alloy wheels will not be looked upon favourably by insurers. However, adding security enhancing devices such as additional alarms and/or immobilisers will result in cheaper premiums.
• Compare- The Association of British Insurers (ABI) claims that the average driver would reduce their premiums by 30% by comparing deals available through at least five different insurers. It can be quite time consuming filling in your personal details on the website of each insurer or phoning them individual. If this is something you are looking to avoid, take advantage of price comparison websites such as MoneySupermarket.com which will compare prices available through over 100 different providers in just a matter of minutes. Indeed, MoneySupermarket have also recently released a car insurance app for android and iPhone users will allows you to complete this same task while on the move.

The types of housing we choose throughout our lives can vary greatly between studio flats and bedsits to 4 bedroom houses. For couples, planning a family is often an important factor for choosing a home, particularly the size of the house. The first time buyers’ 2 bedroom love nest with space for an office might well have been plenty of room, but when baby comes along and brothers and sisters follow, it’s time to get more space, a garden, a drive way….

When the time comes for the children to fly the nest, it can be a difficult time for parents and many of us struggle to let go. If young adults have moved out, a lot of parents still feel they should keep their child’s bedroom as the child’s space in case the ever want to come home again. A few years down the line and the child is settled in their own home now – this is when the wallpaper stripping starts and the home office, library, den or games room makes a re-appearance.

Often the benefits of having extra bedrooms are outweighed by the cost of maintaining the house. Whilst it’s nice to have a guest room or an extra space to relax, are 4 bedrooms still really necessary? As time goes on, DIY tasks that were once simple and fun may seem like a chore as your priorities change. Downsizing your home is a great way to make sure you aren’t wasting your retirement funds on fuel and home maintenance costs, and aren’t leaving a large house to decay as the odd jobs mount up and become more difficult to carry out.

A simple search on the internet for How to sell my house will give you plenty of tips to get the best possible sale price for your home as well as ideas about how to save money on estate agent fees. This will ensure your large family home pays you back in your later life with equity to put towards a low maintenance and low running cost home ready for you to enjoy your retirement.  A great place to go to look for property within a specific budget is http://www.housesimple.co.uk and this site can also give you an idea of the cost of selling your own home and the prices you may be able to achieve.