Boston Marathon Day

The world’s oldest marathon has begun. 

The Boston Marathon started in 1897 and continues as a major marathon to this day.

Can you imagine running this race?  You would be running for 26 miles and 385 yards.

Runners start in the town of Hopkinton and end in Boston’s Back Bay near the Boston Library.

The first winner was John J. McDermott who ran 24.5 miles in a bit less than 3 hours.  It wasn’t until 1927 that the race increased to the current distance.

You needed to be a man to run the race until 1972 when the first women were allowed. In 1975 the first wheelchair races began.

This year there are 24,362 men and women running the Boston Marathon.  Most will finish which is an amazing accomplishment.

People from all over the world have won the race.  In the most recent years, Kenyans and Ethiopians have dominated.

There is a lot of preparation for the 130th marathon race.  The Boston Athletic Association is responsible for the event each year and does an unbelievable job. 

Private Home Health Care is blown away by the ability to run continuously for 26 miles.  Kudos to everyone who finishes, whatever time it takes.

Refresh Your Goals

Did you set health and wellness goals at the beginning of the year?  How is that going?

This weekend is a chance to review your goals and to refresh or make changes 

Setting goals has been around for quite a long time.  Look at Benjamin Franklin for example.

Mr. Franklin had 13 virtues, splitting his life into 13 different goals for his life.  His goals included food and drink, avoiding extremes and watching your spending.

You may have had goals to lose weight or exercise more frequently.  Getting on a budget could have been another goal.  

Do you want to learn a new skill, make new friends or get in touch with old friends to be more social?

You can make goals at any age.  They can be big or small.  Whatever you decided on take some time this weekend to check in and see how you are doing.

Having to reassess and change or refresh goals is not a bad thing.  

Overreaching can make you feel overwhelmed.  It’s all in your hands and there is no judgement so don’t judge yourself.

Private Home Health Care understands that when goals are set it doesn’t mean that you have to stick with everything.  Have a check in this weekend and don’t be afraid to go a different route.

Not Just Tax Day

Today is April 15th.  A day known for the due date to submit your Federal and State taxes.  You may owe money or if you are lucky you get some money back.

April 15 is also important for another reason.  It is Jackie Robinson Day.

Every April 15, the number 42 is worn by all players, coaches and umpires in major league baseball.

Jackie Robinson probably doesn’t need much introduction.  Everyone who follows baseball knows that he was the first Black player to play in the American Leagues.

This was on April 15, 1947 and his prowess and skills shone during his career. He played for the Dodgers from 1947 through 1956.

Jackie led the National league in stolen bases, he won the batting championship, was named Rookie of the Year and was the National League MVP.  What a career.

Life was not without trials however as he ran into players that didn’t want to play with a Black man, fans threw bottles and insults at him opposing pitchers sent pitches towards his head.

Prior to baseball and after his career he was an activist for equal rights for Black people.

It started in the US Army with refusing to sit at the back of the military bus.  He also became involved with the NAACP and he even appeared with Martin Luther King, Jr.

Unfortunately he died at the young age of 53.  His life in baseball and in civil rights are a part of his amazing and inspiring story.

Private Home Health Care honors Jackie Robinson on this day.

A Space Mission to Remember

What an exciting time for space exploration.  After more than half a century, astronauts successfully went to the moon, and then some!

Artemis II and its 4 person crew left Earth on April 1.  They traveled out of the atmosphere and the farthest than a human has ever been.

Can you imagine getting into a space craft and rocketing up to space, out of Earth’s atmosphere and to the other side of the moon??

What a feat for NASA and the four astronauts, Reid Weisman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen.

These four human beings did a lunar flyby, 252,756 miles from Earth.  They were also 4,067 miles above the lunar surface, the closest they got.

What they saw was unimaginable to us but thanks to them there are photographs to share so that everyone can enjoy the view.

We cannot imagine the courage and bravery to take on such a journey.  They had all been astronauts for a while.  To be chosen for this trip must have been a huge honor.

Private Home Health Care was watching intently on Friday night, April 10 as the crew re-entered our world.  

They faced extreme heat and incredible speed on reentry and thanks for amazing minds at NASA they sustained it all.

It was even said that the landing place just off the coast of San Diego was just about a bullseye.  Another magnificent feat.

Seeing all the divers and people helping retrieve the astronauts and then seeing them going up to the helicopters was a wonderful site.

Congratulations to everyone involved and we will see what comes next!

Health Conditions in Older Adults – Part Two

Private Home Health Care is interested in the health of older Americans.  When you live longer you become wiser and you should be able to enjoy your years.

We believe this is very possible, especially if you take care of yourself.

It’s also important to be aware of potential health issues so that you can address them with your doctor early.

Diabetes, Arthritis and Obesity were mentioned in the last blog.  In addition the following medical issues are prevalent among seniors.

High blood pressure and cholesterol  – cholesterol affects a lot of us at many different ages.  For those over the age of 60, 60% deal with high blood pressure.

Chronic Kidney Disease – if you have high blood pressure or diabetes they can contribute to issues with your kidneys.

Asthma and COPD – if you have asthma you have an increased risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  Between 20-25% of people over age 70 have COPD.

We hope that if you are older it is helpful to hear about the different potential health conditions.  

Eat well, exercise and be social!

Health Conditions and Older Adults – Part One

The expression, “Life begins at . . .” is usually said as you start to age and you are trying to keep yourself upbeat.

Interestingly enough you might need to start saying it around age 30!  That seems very young right? 

Well it turns out that age 30 is around when all of your biological functions are peaking and after that age your body starts to decline.

As shocking as that might be, the good news is that the changes in your body happen very slowly over time.

You don’t all of a sudden come down with a medical condition.

The older you get the more your muscle tone and bone strength lessen.  Along with this, medical issues can arise.

There are also ways to help yourself and manage the changes that inevitably come.  A balanced and healthy diet and exercise will do wonders.

In the next couple of blogs we will talk about some of the medical issues to be aware of.  It’s important to be aware so that you can try to avoid or address symptoms.

Diabetes – your body cannot manage your blood sugar levels well.  There are 30% of people over age 65 that develop Type 2 diabetes.

Arthritis – joint inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling.  There are over 100 different forms of arthritis.  The CDC estimates that half the population deals with some form of arthritis.

Obesity – approximately 40% of Americans are obese.  It’s a bit higher for those over age 60.

Private Home Health Care is sharing this information to educate.  We will continue with a few more medical conditions on Friday. 

National No Housework Day

Private Home Health Care often writes about some of the days in the National Days calendar.

Today we just couldn’t resist because whether a man or a woman, who wouldn’t like to have a day off from doing housework!

Busy lifestyles with both parents and multiple activities for the kids, it can mean that a lot of messes get made.

It’s hard to pick up after yourself when you are running from work, then soccer, followed by lacrosse and tennis.

What’s a person to do?  Yes, you can hire someone to clean your house.  That’s very popular these days.

For those of us that still dust furniture, vacuum floors and clean bathrooms why can’t you take the day off tomorrow and do whatever else you’d like.

Washing your clothes and doing laundry can wait a day.

What might you do?

How about reading a book you’ve been meaning to get to?

Perhaps you’d like to binge watch a show that’s caught your interest.

You could call a friend that you haven’t spoken to in a while and have a long catch up session.

The choice is yours.  The only thing you cannot do tomorrow is housework, not even the slightest bit.

You can’t pick up the laundry, use a vacuum, or find anything dirty in your bathroom.

Can you do it?  Give it a try.  You might enjoy yourself for the day!

Happy Holy Days

It is the Passover or Pesach for our Jewish friends and Holy Week for our Christian friends.

Passover began April 1 and ends April 9.  

Commemorating the Jews emancipation from Slavery in Egypt.  Seders are held and family members and friends gather for prayers and meals.

Holy Week for Christians began March 29 and ends April 4.

Christians hold services and masses for Holy Thursday and Good Friday with a joyous Easter on April 4 with a risen Savior, Jesus.

The religions are different but have things in common including all roads leading to God.  

Private Home Health Care wants to wish a kosher and Happy Passover and a blessed and Happy Easter to all who celebrate.

In addition, next weekend is Easter for our Greek Orthodox friends so a Happy Easter to them as well.

Dogs

April is Dog Appreciation Month.  (Oh yes,  it’s also April Fool’s Day so watch your backs and be prepared!)

Dogs.  They come big, medium, small and very small.

They can be a pure breed or a mix of breeds for a mutt.  

Watching the Westminster Dog show can be lots of fun but visiting an animal shelter can be fun too.

There are so many different dogs, many without pedigree, that are in need of homes and this month is for those dogs.

It’s estimated that 70,000 dogs and cats are homeless. 

Approximately 5 million of them go through animal shelters.

People move and cannot keep their dog, some develop allergies or they might not be able to afford the food and vet visits. 

Some shelters have so many dogs that they are forced to euthanize them. 

Many are also rescued and shipped to “no kill” shelters in other states.

This month, think about the rescue shelters in your area and the people that run them.

You can often find puppies if you want to train or older dogs, already trained and who just need a new home.  

Find a dog that works for your lifestyle and make sure you can afford the food and vet bills.  It’s a big responsibility but with many rewards.

Private Home Health Care loves dogs and this month we encourage visiting shelters to find the right one for you if you are looking for a furry friend.

Doctor’s Day

Today is a National Day for you to appreciate and thank your physician.

The holiday began in March of 1933 in Winder, Georgia by a physician’s wife.  She started a group sending greeting cards along with a red carnation to doctors in her area.

The date coincides with the first ever use of ether anesthesia, an important medical advancement at the time.

How do you feel about your doctor?  Are you able to relate to him or her? Does your doctor understand your needs?

Primary Care physicians are your main contacts but most of us have also needed specialists.  As you age you might feel like you add on a new specialist with each new year.

A doctor spends years in medical school and if they specialize in an area it is even longer.  We have high expectations for these men and women.

The first woman doctor was Elizabeth Blackwell in 1849.  Many changes since the days of Dr. Blackwell.

Today male doctors make up 61% and females 38%. 

Private Home Health Care has interactions with many doctors.  We rely on their expertise and appreciate what they do for their patients. 

If you have time it might be nice to send a nice note or a red carnation to your doctor.  You might pleasantly surprise them.