Health & Wellbeing
Tai Chi – an exercise option for elderly adults with many benefits.
Recent studies from Tufts University have shown that the traditional Chinese martial art Tai Chi, known in western countries for its soft, flowing movements, is not only a good exercise option for older adults and the frail, but can benefit heart health and osteoarthritis. 
A report from the Tufts University Program in Evidence-Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine reports that “studies suggest that Tai Chi is a safe exercise, even for frail elders, and may be beneficial to various aspects of cardiovascular health. It requires no specialized equipment, is relatively inexpensive and can be taught/learned in a group setting. Tai Chi appears to elicit a cardiovascular response equivalent to that associated with moderate intensity exercise, and as such meets the American College of Sports Medicine, American Heart Association, and Centers for Disease Control recommendations for daily performance of low- to moderate-intensity activities.”
And in the November issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology, researchers reported “that patients over 65 years of age with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who engage in regular Tai Chi exercise improve physical function and experience less pain. Tai Chi (Chuan) is a traditional style of Chinese martial arts that features slow, rhythmic movements to induce mental relaxation and enhance balance, strength, flexibility, and self-efficacy.”
If you would like to learn more about Tai Chi, or even give it a try, you can check out the website of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society – Atlantic Region. Here you will find information on classes all over Nova Scotia.
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Updated H1N1 information for Nova Scotians
From the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection:
PLEASE NOTE: Due to national vaccine supply issues, on October 30, 2009, a change was made to Nova Scotia’s H1N1 vaccine program.
Starting Monday, November 2, 2009, the H1N1 vaccine will be limited to those most at risk from H1N1:
- Pregnant women and women who have had a baby in the last 4 weeks.
- Children under five years of age (six to 59 months) – does not include their family members
- Healthcare workers in district health authorities, long-term care facilities and homecare agencies who provide direct care to patients. This also includes family physicians, family practice nurses, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
- First Nations communities
If you are not in one of these target groups, the H1N1 vaccine will be made available to you at a later date. Nova Scotia will have enough vaccine for every Nova Scotian over the coming weeks.
For more information, see their full announcement here.
H1N1 information for seniors.
With much information (and misinformation) swirling about seasonal flu and H1N1 flu, the Public Health Agency of Canada has some very useful guidelines. On their site, the offer two easy charts – the first shows common and less common symptoms of both seasonal and H1N1 flu:
Both H1N1 and seasonal flu can show the following symptoms:
| Almost Always: | Common: | Sometimes: |
Sudden onset of:
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Their recommendation for the above is thus:
“Early treatment can help to reduce the risk of complications if you or someone you care for develops the flu. If you or someone you care for develops flu symptoms, keep them at home until their fever is gone and they are back to their normal activity level, usually within one week. Give them plenty of fluids, and if they have a fever use fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.”
The second chart shows the symptoms of severe H1N1:
H1N1 Flu Virus: Signs of Severe Illness
| If you or someone you care for develops the following symptoms, seek immediate medical care: | |
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In the case of any of these developing in yourself or someone you are caring for, please seek immediate medical attention.
The website also has tips for staying healthy and information about the benefits and risks of any treatment for H1N1.
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Aerobic exercise benefits for older adults.
Dr. Kenneth Madden, speaking at the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, has unveiled new research that demonstrates the benefits of aerobic exercise for older adults. Dr. Madden’s work studied a group of adults between the ages of 65-83 with controlled Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol. Three months of exercise resulted in an improvement in the elasticity of the arteries of the group that performed the activity compared to those who didn’t exercise.
“The subjects were divided into two groups to either receive three months of vigorous physical activity (one hour, three times per week) or to get no aerobic exercise at all. Subjects were classified as sedentary at the beginning of the study but gradually increased their fitness levels until they were working at 70 per cent of their maximum heart rate, using treadmills and cycling machines. They were supervised by a certified exercise trainer.”
While some may worry about the high level of activity engaged in by the participants, Dr Madden says “There seems to be a knee-jerk reluctance to getting these older adults to exercise yet we used a vigorous level of activity and didn’t have any trouble keeping participants in our study. They enjoyed the activity. People always underestimate what older adults can do.”
He also notes, however, that many people need a kick start to motivate them into a regular fitness program. In aid of this, you can visit the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection’s Senior section here, and find your local YMCA here. You can visit the Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s website here.
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The New Science of Grief.
For many years there has been a generally accepted idea that when grieving, we pass through five distinct phases: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages sprang from the work of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, and were originally based on her work with terminally ill patients, but have been accepted to apply to the grief of those suffering the loss of someone important in their life. 
Into this conventional wisdom steps George A. Bonanno, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Chair of the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Columbia University’s Teachers College, and his new work on the process of grief. In his new book, The Other Side of Sadness, Bonanno contends that this model does not account for the complexity of the process nor the resiliency of the human mind in coping with loss. He contends that we are hardwired to deal with grief, and for most people it is a natural process that they accomplish on their own:
“Most bereaved people get better on their own, without any kind of professional help. They may be deeply saddened, they may feel adrift for some time, but their life eventually finds its way again, often more easily than they thought possible. This is the nature of grief. This is human nature.”
The Other Side of Sadness is available online in Canada at Chapters.
Grief and and bereavement support services are available in Halifax Regional Municipality here.
For a list of services across Nova Scotia, go here.
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New mental health site launched for Nova Scotia
A new site called One in Five has been launched in Nova Scotia. Its aim is to reduce the stigma of mental health issues, and to educate peopleon the need for Nova Scotia to have a comprehensive mental health strategy.
The site had personal stories from those affected by mental health problems, as well as many facts, news items and link about mental health.
You can visit the site here.
Early flu shots begin Oct. 05 for NS Seniors
The Nova Scotia Government has announced that flu shots will be given to seniors at an earlier date than previously announced. 
‘Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief public health officer, said Friday that the seasonal flu shots would be made available beginning Oct. 5. Strang said the decision was based on the best scientific evidence available and would protect those most at risk for H1N1 and seasonal flu.”That science has shown that seniors are at low risk for getting H1N1, but they are at greatest risk for becoming seriously ill from seasonal flu and they are the individuals who most need the protection from seasonal flu vaccine,” said Strang. He said the government expected to shift back to seasonal flu immunization in early January after the swine flu program.Strang noted that the situation around H1N1 and the government’s immunization programs is evolving. “If new information becomes available we will take that into account and if need be we will adjust our immunization programs accordingly,” he said. “It’s all about who’s at risk from what, and the right people getting the right vaccine at the most appropriate time.” ‘
Read the full article here. You can visit the NS government’s website for more information here.
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