While an Alzheimer’s cure or reversal feels years away, little by little progress proceeds and someday, hopefully soon, this treacherous disease will vanish. Until that point it becomes increasingly important to “take good care of yourself.”
I realize that I often blabber on about healthy eating, physical and mental activity, and socialization and while this article will be laced with reminders, I hope you will find new meaning as well.
Last week my sister Marilyn had a cardio scare, a scare that really sent my mind into a tailspin. Granted, my sister is 87, nearing 88, so there might be an age issue, but she is strong, works out at the YMCA at least 3 times a week, is a yoga aficionado, and is primarily vegetarian.
She admits to sneaking bites of kielbasa and a snippet of salmon, but overall, she is conscious of her diet and keeps it aligned. If she is an example of 87, I am in – smart, healthy, and wise.
Then came the reality check, a hindsight version of her lead-up to heart worries. She had an evening meeting with the Spokane Community Planning Commission and had meticulously outlined her presentation. She drove downtown, parked her car, and as she exited the vehicle she fell.
Yes, people fall, but in this instance, there appeared to be no reason – no faulty sidewalk and bothersome curbs. She gathered her belongings and walked inside. Unfortunately, her name appeared last on the 3-hour agenda. She had plenty of time to reflect on her upcoming talk and she also had time to fret just a bit.
When her appointed time arrived, Marilyn headed to the dais, set aside her notes, and began. She said later that she felt she had wandered as she spoke, but she really could not remember the entire episode. It was over and she drove home.
Tucked into bed, her right upper arm began to ache just a little – not a lot and not overwhelming, she fell back asleep only later to awaken to both arms feeling tingly. Being my sister, she brushed it off, dressed, and went with husband Doug to the Y.
Work-out completed, driving home she mentioned her odd sensations to which Doug replied, “Let’s go see the Doc.” Doc, however, out on maternity leave, was replace by “new Doc” who remarked on her overall health, ran some blood tests, and then prepared to escort her to the door. Marilyn stated, “Well, my chest is a little tight” and just then the blood test came back “elevated troponin”, an indicator of heart problems. “Get to the ER!”
At Sacred Heart, a prominent Spokane hospital, cardiac personnel immediately began this test and that to see what was going on. Certain that there was a clot and a stint would be needed the needle wound its way up an artery to find no blockage. A mystery… After a few more blood draws and an ECHO Marilyn’s diagnosis read “stress induced cardiomyopathy”, basically a “Your OK assessment.”
With beta blocker in hand, she headed home and is currently feeling good. She did skip yoga this week (a session she had paid for!) but she did make it to her Master Gardener meeting. The necessity of attending, “I am not going to give up everything!”
The lesson from Marilyn to me is to pay attention to what my body tries to tell me. Acknowledging that I am not good at listening, I will attempt to improve. Women have very different symptoms of heart attack or stroke, just like Marilyn’s.
Falling, getting nervous, feeling high levels of stress, and funny arm tinglings are a few. Most often these are little irritations easily ignored, Thanks goodness my sister and above all her husband decided to err on the side of caution and now everything is heading back to normal. Marilyn got a warning and I am going to heed it as well.
Finally, the New York Times ran an article on gauging aging by 5 simple tests: 30-second balance on each foot (eyes open then I dare you try eyes closed), moving from cross-legged sitting to standing with no help (each arm boost or knee support takes away a point), 30-second dead hang, 8-10 burpees, and 13-minute or less mile. I added sit-ups and curls just to round out the affair. Divided by age group, my tasks may require less repetition, but these exercises have given me a lease on life – invigorating and fun!