Tag Archives: health

Age-Related Pains (And How To Ease Them)

Hey, none of us are getting any younger, right? Age creeps up on us all, and as it does, we can become more prone to aches and pains around our bodies. This might be of no surprise to you, of course, especially if you feel the old twinge in your back when you’re rising from the sofa, or if your knee starts playing up when you’re out on a run.

However, while the various aches and pains we experience can be frustrating and limiting, there are ways to ease them. In this article, we will discuss just two of them, and will suggest a few tips to help you live a more pain-free life.

#1: Lower back pain

pains, back pain, aging, old, health
(Pixabay CC0)

Back pain can often be caused by an injury, so if you have ever had an accident, this might be why you sometimes feel pain in your lower back. You might also feel back pain if you remain in a seated position for too long, especially if you tend to sit in slouching positions. On the other hand, if you are approaching retirement age, then it might be that you are starting to suffer from an age-related health condition, such as arthritis or osteoporosis. Or it might be because, as you get older, your bones naturally lose strength, and your muscles lose their elasticity, so there is a greater potential for pain in your lower back.

Now, if the pain is persistent, you should seek medical advice. If something is seriously wrong, such as a slipped disc, then you will need the support of your doctors. But on a daily level, if back pain is becoming an age-related constant in your life, you can take steps to relieve it. For instance, services like those of RELATYV At Home Pain Management in Wisconsin (or elsewhere) may offer a convenient and non-invasive type of remedy, thereby allowing you to address chronic pain effectively without leaving your home. Additionally, a physical therapist can teach you exercises to help you move better and relieve your back pain. Cardio exercises and strength training are also helpful, as they build core muscles, which in turn support your spine and reduce pressure that causes pain. Heating pads can ease your discomfort, as can ice if you have sustained an injury. Exploring other supportive strategies like posture correction tools or ergonomic furniture can also complement your pain management routine. 

There is more advice in the link below, so have a read and heed our advice.

#2: Knee pain

pains, back pain, aging, old, health
(Pixabay CC0)

Our knees absorb a lot of pressure every day, especially if we live active lifestyles. Over time, our muscles and ligaments become weaker, and the cartilage protecting the bones that join at the knee starts to deteriorate. When that cartilage is gone, we will start to feel aches and pains as our bones rub up against each other. The clinical term for this is osteoarthritis. However, it’s not an inevitable condition, as some people are more prone to it than others. Those who are overweight, for example, or those who are genetically predisposed to the condition. 

To delay the progress of Father Time, you should do what you can to reduce the chances of age-related knee problems happening to you. If you are overweight, losing a few pounds can reduce the pressure on your knees. If you can avoid squatting for long periods, you can also do yourself and your knees a lot of favors. And if you can accommodate exercises that strengthen your hip and core muscles, you can do much to stabilize your knee joints. A physical therapist will be able to tell you more. 

However, if you are experiencing regular knee pains, you should seek the assistance of a doctor. If you are suffering from an age-related health condition, it might be that surgery is needed. If surgery isn’t needed but you are still in pain, there are anti-inflammatory medications you can take. Your pharmacist will be able to tell you more. Heat and cold can also provide some comfort, so as with back pain, you could use a heat pad or hot water bottle, or ice wrapped in a cloth to reduce the pain you might be feeling. Self-massage can also be beneficial (unless you can find somebody to massage your knee for you), so check out the advice given here: https://www.thekneepainguru.com/massage-therapy-for-your-knees/.

You might also want to consider AposTherapy, a non-invasive way to treat the pain you might be suffering. It has been clinically proven to work and has helped a lot of sufferers. You can find out more here: https://www.apostherapy.com/medical-conditions/knee/ .

Finally

The aging process sucks, we know, but you don’t have to let it beat you. Follow the advice we have given you, and commit to further research for information on how to beat the age-related pains we discussed here.

Keeping Your Hearing In Tip Top Condition

Let’s face it; our ears are incredibly important. Those who struggle with their hearing will bear witness to this. Without the sounds penetrating our brains, we will function much more slowly and less efficiently than usual. It is something that most of us without a hearing impairment take for granted, so we only tend to do something when a problem comes up, and sometimes, that can be when it is too late.

See, that is the thing about our hearing. It generally is not something that can be completely resolved if something goes wrong. Once you have done significant harm, it may be the end of full use for one of your primary senses. That is why people need to be diligent to make sure their ears are kept safe to maintain their health for many years to come. Here, we look at some of the ways in which you can look after your ears and hearing.

hearing, earphones, headphones, health, healthy
Image credit: Pixabay CC0 License

Keep away from loud noise

This is pretty obvious, but important nevertheless. Loud noise is never going to be good for your ears, so avoid it as much as possible. Sure, we all like to have the occasional song on a bit louder, but be sensible. If it hurts your ears, it is probably hurting your hearing. Stay away from loud bangs and crashes that will damage your hearing in both the short and long term, and where possible, wear ear defenders if you have to work around noisy machinery or equipment.

Visit a hearing specialist

A hearing specialist, or an audiologist, will be able to give you advice on your ears and how to prevent further damage to your hearing. If you already have a hearing impairment, they will be able to discuss things like hearing aids and help you to learn more about how to manage them. 

Treat any illness or infections appropriately

Damage to our hearing is not always caused by loud noises. Sometimes, illness and infection can cause both short term and long term problems with our ears which can affect our hearing. Sometimes, it can be easier to allow our bodies to fight infection and for it all to blow over by itself, but other times, further action is required to protect all aspects of our health. If you are unwell and are worried that it may affect your ears, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible and find out what they suggest as to the most appropriate form of treatment.

Don’t put anything into your ear

The general rule of thumb is not to put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear. It can be tempting to want to clean or scratch your ears with an earbud or q-tip, but this can push any was further down into the inner ear and compact it. To clean your ears, wipe a damp flannel around the outside of your ear. If you are having issues with ear wax, talk to your doctor or audiologist, or purchase some ear wax softener, which will remove it safely.

Taking Care Of Your Hearing

It is an unfortunate truth that hearing is one of those senses, once it is damaged, that damage is there for good. That is why it is essential that you are more aware of what is and isn’t good for your hearing health. 

And it isn’t just for you, it is for your family too.

hearing, health, ears, tips, advice
Photo by Alex Gruber on Unsplash

Although you should wait until you need a hearing solution before you take steps, you should always learn more about your option should you ever need. 

Dry

If you are a swim loving family, then there is always a risk of swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear is where water gets trapped in the ear canal. This is the ideal place for bacteria to thrive. It doesn’t take long before that turns into an ear infection – causing a lot of pain and inflammation. One of the most simple ways to help the water out of your ear is by tipping your head to the side and waiting for a few moments. Failing that, gently pull your earlobe down, and that can usually help any water out. 

Stress

Many people don’t realize the reach of stress in terms of physical issues. But stress has been linked with temporary and permanent tinnitus. The higher your levels of stress, the more likely your body will settle into fight or flight mode. And as that is designed to protect you from danger, it floods your body with adrenaline – putting excessive pressure on your body heat, blood flow, and nerves. 

Volume

This tends to be something that teenagers do. They often turn their headphone volume up too high for too long. 

There are over 1.1 billion teams and young adults that are currently at risk of noise-induced hearing loss.

You can take preventative measures when talking to them about the safest levels of the volume when using headphones. There is a very simple rule that you can apply to the situation, and it is called the 60/60. It is very simple to remember the 60/60 rule – it just means you only have the volume of your headphones on at 60% of the maximum for 60 minutes a day. 

Of course, there is a high possibility that they would like to listen for longer or at a higher volume, so you need to find a compromise that works for you. But in general the 60/60 rule is highly recommended.

Rest

Believe it or not, you actually have to rest your ears. Much like every other muscle in the body, they work very hard. If you happen to have a job that is pretty noisy, then you’re going to have to give yourself a couple of hours rest per day. If you enjoy live music, nightclubs, or going to bars, then you will need to have at least 16 hours of rest for your ears the following day. This will help you recover from prolonged loud noise, And it is actually noise-induced hearing loss that comes in at number one for damaged hearing and hearing loss cases.