Health Pulse Turn left – without wincing Arthritis and driving make awkward bedfellows. From pain to fatigue, reduced range of motion to loss of muscle strength, arthritis symptoms can downshift both your driving capacity and your comfort on the road. Even such basic moves as steering, backing up and checking your blind spot can present a challenge. No need to give up the car keys just yet, though: most symptoms have workarounds. If you have sore hands and fingers, for instance, a padded steering-wheel cover can ease the discomfort. If you’re having trouble manoeuvring the pedals, swap the heels and thick soles for flats with flexible soles, which let you pivot your foot more easily. Feeling stiff on long trips? Stop at least every two hours to stretch and move around for a few minutes. If these measures don’t suffice, a specialist in driver rehabilitation can assess your specific challenges and recommend modifications, which could range from a left-side accelerator and brake pedal to extended gearshift levers or reduced-effort steering wheels. When buying a new car, think about the movements which you find most difficult. If you have trouble sliding out of your seat, consider leather rather than cloth seats. If bending brings on the pain, look for a vehicle that’s higher off the ground. And when you test drive it, make sure that your assessment includes backing up, parking, changing lanes, turning corners and riding in the passenger seat. Source: Berkeleywellness.com Is pneumonia vaccination for you? Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, causing such symptoms as cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills and difficulty breathing. Mild cases may mimic a cold or a flu, though symptoms tend to last longer. While common in young children, pneumonia poses the greatest health hazards – including blood infection, meningitis and even death – to older adults. Fortunately two vaccines, known as Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23, can help reduce your risk. Jointly, these vaccines give you substantial protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae – the microbial culprit behind most cases of bacterial pneumonia. If you’re older than 65, talk to your doctor about taking these vaccines. Normally, you would start with Prevnar 13 and wait for at least a year before getting your Pneumovax 23 shot. Even if you’re younger, the medical community recommends one or both of them if you have a weakened immune system, diabetes, or heart, lung or kidney disease. If you’re under 65 and smoke cigarettes, Pneumovax 23 is your best bet. Better still, of course, is to leave the smokes behind. Sources: Mayoclinic.org, berkeleywellness.com, cdc.gov Just walk it For years, experts have told us that we need to sweat bullets to see health benefits. But research tells a different story: walking at a leisurely pace of just 3.2 km per hour, five hours a week, can lower your risk of heart attacks, stroke and heart failure by 31%. Not too shabby. Unofficial steps – such as pacing while waiting for the bus or walking the hallways of your workplace – count for something, too. Fitbit enthusiasts, take note: if you walk 10,000 steps, you’ve covered the equivalent of 8 km along a straight line. If you fall short of the magic number, aim to increase your total by 500 steps per day. And who says that walking can’t count as a cardio workout? As long as you pick up the pace, you get the cardio credit. In fact, brisk walking cuts your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes as effectively as jogging – if you cover the same distance (which will take you about twice as long). And if you’re serious about losing weight, walking about 40 minutes per day, every day of the week, can dislodge those extra pounds. Source: Webmd.com CSANews | FALL 2018 | 45
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