It’s Go Time for Better Health

It’s Go Time for Better Health

Ohio, we’ve got a problem. To put it bluntly, we’re sicker and tend to not live as long as other Americans.

When it comes to health indicators among Ohioans, we have a higher incidence of chronic disease than the national average. Accordingly, that negatively affects our longevity scores. 

“We can do better,” says Dr. Tamer Said, program director of family medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

A primary care physician with a specialty in geriatrics, Dr. Said says that — by far — the most common ailment and cause of death for patients in their 50s and 60s is coronary artery (heart) disease. The second most common culprit is cancer. Lung/respiratory disease comes in at number three. Then, especially for patients in their 70s and 80s, strokes and Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia are the leading killers.

Ohioans rate eighth-highest in the U.S. for heart disease, 12th-highest for cancer, 16th for chronic respiratory disease and 26th for Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

Unhealthy habits are the biggest contributor to our demise. A sedentary lifestyle, gaining too much weight, fast foods/processed foods, smoking, heavy drinking, and failing to keep up with medical assessments, screenings and vaccine protocols all compound to make us more vulnerable to chronic disease and premature death.

WHAT NOW?
Those are grim statistics. The good news is that we can each take proactive steps to improve our health and extend our lives.

While genetic predispositions play a part in low health scores, Dr. Said says lifestyle habits now can protect us from poor health later. We can prevent or slow the development of heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes by controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar counts.

Four healthy lifestyle factors — never smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and following a healthy diet — are associated with as much as an 80 percent reduction in the risk of developing the most common and deadly chronic diseases, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

“What we can do at home with diet and exercise is very helpful and can protect our health,” says Dr. Said. “Changing habits can be challenging unless people are highly motivated. But if you are open to changing your eating habits and becoming more active — and maintaining those changes — you can improve your health outcomes.”

Here are Dr. Said’s top tips for taking control of your health through lifestyle habits:*

EAT WELL – The less processed, the better. Eat less red meat and more lean poultry or fish, fresh produce, grains and nuts.

BE ACTIVE – “If you do one thing, this is my highest recommendation,” advises Dr. Said. Get regular physical activity, three to five days per week, according to your fitness level and health conditions. Start with moderate walking or bicycling for a half-hour at a time, then increase pace, variety and intensity under the care of your physician.

QUIT SMOKING – It’s easier to avoid smoking in the first place than to quit later, but it’s worth the effort to reduce smoking over time, Dr. Said says.

DRINK IN MODERATION – According to Dr. Said, “The CDC states that adults of legal age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to two drinks or less a day for men or one drink or less for women when alcohol is consumed.”

Additionally, stay on schedule for these regular medical screenings:

AN ANNUAL CHECKUP – One of the great benefits of your annual physical is “knowing your numbers,” Dr. Said notes. Once you learn your blood pressure reading, BMI/weight, and blood test results (fasting blood sugar/diabetes screening and cholesterol lipid panel), you can adjust your behavior to improve those numbers.

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING – For everyone 50+ of average risk (earlier for those with family history). Noninvasive coliform tests screen for blood in the stool while a colonoscopy detects polyps in the colon, which can be removed during the screening process.

LUNG CANCER SCREENING – A CT scan of the chest is recommended for anyone aged 50-80 who has a 20-pack-per-year smoking history and currently smokes or has quit within the past 15 years.

FOR WOMEN – A mammogram screening for breast cancer every two years for women 50+. While Pap smears start at age 21, it is recommended every three to five years to screen for cancer of the cervix from age 30-65, depending on which test is done, says Dr. Said.

FOR MEN – PSA testing is is not recommended in general but rather on an individualized basis. If recommended, it screens for prostate cancer (usually age 55-69). Dr. Said says this should be discussed with your doctor based on risks, benefits and harms.

Dr. Said says, “Knowledge is motivating. But you don’t know your numbers unless you get your tests and screenings. Once you know your numbers, then you can make the needed changes to improve your health outcomes.”

It’s time to take our health into our own hands and change our habits for the better. It’s Go Time, Ohio!

GET THESE SHOTS IF YOU’RE OVER 50 
In order to further enhance your proactive strategy, Dr. Said recommends that adults over 50 get serious about vaccines, including:

COVID-19 VACCINES & BOOSTER – If you haven’t already done so, the CDC recommends you get the two COVID-19 vaccine shots ASAP for protection from getting seriously ill or hospitalization. Six months after the second shot, get the booster shot for strengthened immunity.

FLU VACCINE – The annual influenza (flu) vaccine protects against the four influenza viruses common this season. Most people who get flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but others develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of flu, which can be life-threatening. 

HEPATITIS B – Most people vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine are immune for life. If you didn’t get your first dose shortly after birth, Dr. Said recommends that you get immunized. Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), spreadable from blood, semen or other body fluids from an infected person. 

PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE POLYVALENT – Patients over the age of 65 are particularly vulnerable to pneumonia. Two vaccines offer protection against pneumococcal disease: PCV13 and PPSV23, one of which the CDC recommends for adults 65 years or older.

SHINGLES SHOT – Anyone 50+ years old who has had chickenpox in the past should get the two-dose series to minimize the risk of getting shingles, which cause a painful rash on the trunk of the body with persistent pain.

TETANUS (TDAP) – Tdap protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. After receiving the primary series, you’ll need a booster every 10 years to protect against the bacterial infection tetanus (lockjaw). Tetanus bacteria are common in soil, dust and manure, transmissible through a cut or other wound. Tetanus causes painful muscle spasms and can lead to death. 

DON’T OVERLOOK YOUR EARS, EYES & TEETH
In addition to the medical health checks provided by your primary care physician, it’s just as important to keep up with your hearing, vision and dental appointments to secure optimal health. Your ears, eyes and mouth all serve as windows to your overall health, providing clues to systemic issues that may otherwise be overlooked.

HEARING – Recommendations for hearing health include a baseline hearing test at age 50 (or earlier if you suspect a problem or are experiencing difficulty hearing) and a follow-up hearing test approximately every 3-5 years thereafter, says Sharon Dundee, Director of Marketing & Communications at the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center.

VISION – Comprehensive eye exams by a doctor of optometry are an important part of caring for your eyes, vision and general health. According to the American Optometric Association, adults aged 40-64 should get their eyes examined at least every two years (at least annually if considered high-risk). Adults 65 and older should have their eyes examined at least annually, or as recommended.

DENTAL – Dental conditions associated with aging include dry mouth (xerostomia), cavities and periodontitis (gum disease). According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), one in five adults (96%) aged 65 years or older have untreated tooth decay, two in three (68%) have gum disease, and nearly one in five have lost all of their teeth. Complete tooth loss is twice as prevalent among adults aged 75 and older (26%) compared with adults aged 65-74 (13%). 

Cancers of the mouth are primarily diagnosed in older adults; the median age at diagnosis is 62 years. People with chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, heart diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be more likely to develop gum disease. Also, most older Americans take both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, which can cause dry mouth. Reduced saliva flow increases the risk of cavities.

Regardless of your age, the Cleveland Clinic recommends that adults see the dentist twice a year to check for early signs of decay and to treat other oral health problems. Generally, the earlier a problem is found, the more manageable it is.

*These lists of recommendations include nuanced details that did not appear in the print version of this article, due to space constraints.

About the author

A Portage County resident, Estelle has been writing for Mitchell Media since 2016. She now serves as digital/associate editor of Northeast Ohio Thrive magazine. Her curiosity drives her interest in a wide array of writing topics and secures her enduring commitment to lifelong learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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