Living Well Taking Care Of Yourself In The Middle And Later Years, 4th Edition

by Fries, James F.

• ISBN13: 9780738209555
• ISBN10: 0738209554
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-30
• Publisher: Da Capo Press

Summary

Medical care allows us to live longer, but to enjoy life we have to stay healthy. Living Well presents a thorough but stressless program for keeping in good mental and physical shape as we grow older. In Part I you'll discover how many diseases associated with aging, such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, can be avoided or put off. As these findings show, it's never too late to enjoy the benefits of healthy habits. Part II covers many health challenges that people face in their middle and later years, with advice on everything from choosing a doctor to having a happy sex life. Here you'll find clear, trustworthy guidelines on financial planning, vitamins, medications, and methods for keeping your mind active. This completely revised and updated edition of Living Well has been made even more helpful with the 45 easy-to-use decision charts that make up Part III. Book jacket.

Author Biography

James F. Fries, M.D., is Professor of Medicine at Stanford University.

Table of Contents

To the Reader	p. xiii
Preface	p. xiv
How to Use This Book	p. xv
Acknowledgments	p. xvi
Vitality and Aging	p. 1
Aging Versus Vitality	p. 2
The Bad News: You Can't Live Forever	p. 4
Better News: You Will Probably Live Longer Than You Think	p. 7
The Best News: You Can Stay Vital	p. 8
Principal Principles	p. 15
Avoiding Fatal Illnesses	p. 18
Prevention of Specific Diseases	p. 21
Atherosclerosis	p. 21
Cancer	p. 24
Emphysema (COPD)	p. 26
Cirrhosis	p. 27
Diabetes	p. 27
Trauma	p. 28
The Limits of Prevention	p. 29
Avoiding Nonfatal Diseases	p. 32
Osteoarthritis	p. 33
Back Problems	p. 34
Hernias	p. 35
Hemorrhoids	p. 35
Varicose Veins	p. 36
Thrombophlebitis	p. 36
Gallbladder Disease	p. 37
Ulcers	p. 38
Bladder Infections	p. 38
Dental Problems	p. 39
Prevention of Surgery	p. 40
Avoiding Some of the Problems of Aging	p. 41
Osteoporosis	p. 42
Falls and Fractures	p. 43
Medication Side Effects	p. 44
Cataracts	p. 45
Corneal Opacification	p. 46
Hearing Loss	p. 46
Memory Loss	p. 47
Dependence	p. 47
Using Your Master Plan for a Better Life	p. 48
Reject the Stereotype	p. 49
Facing the Stereotype	p. 51
Senior Pride	p. 51
The Psychology of Healthy Aging: Choices, Coping, Optimization, and Growth	p. 55
Avoid Learned Helplessness	p. 57
Develop Self-efficacy	p. 58
Choose the Right Coping Strategies	p. 59
Optimize Selectively and Compensate	p. 59
Use the Life Cycle to Your Advantage	p. 61
Growth	p. 63
The Essential Strategies for Living Well	p. 65
Five Keys to a Healthy Senior Lifestyle	p. 66
Exercise	p. 67
Diet and Nutrition	p. 74
Smoking	p. 81
Alcohol	p. 84
Obesity	p. 84
Other Health Habits	p. 87
The Doctor	p. 88
Choosing the Right Doctor	p. 88
Negotiating a Plan	p. 92
The Checkup	p. 95
Medications	p. 98
Your Defense Mechanisms	p. 98
The Declining Dose Requirement--A Central Principle	p. 100
Multiple Problems and Multiple Medications	p. 102
Cutting Back	p. 103
Vitamins and Minerals	p. 104
A Word on Water	p. 105
The Bottom Line	p. 106
The Healthy Head	p. 107
Jogging the Memory	p. 108
Exercising the Mind	p. 112
Fighting Depression	p. 114
Wisdom	p. 115
Senior Sexuality	p. 116
Changes with Age	p. 116
The Woman	p. 117
The Man	p. 118
The Situation	p. 119
The Healthy Home	p. 121
Ease and Routine: The Yearly Inventory	p. 121
Protection Against Injury: The Safety Inventory	p. 123
Retirement	p. 127
Options	p. 128
Finances	p. 132
Completing the Plan: Advance Directives	p. 143
The Living Will	p. 147
The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care	p. 148
The Durable Power of Attorney for Financial/Asset Management	p. 149
The Last Will and Testament	p. 150
The Easy Way Out	p. 152
Completing the Plan	p. 153
Surviving Chronic Illness with Style: Secondary Prevention	p. 154
Compensation, not Coping	p. 155
Arthritis	p. 157
Osteoporosis	p. 160
High Blood Pressure	p. 163
Diabetes	p. 167
Congestive Heart Failure (Heart Failure, CHF)	p. 169
Emphysema (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD)	p. 172
Alzheimer's Disease	p. 174
Succeeding with Chronic Illness	p. 176
Walking	p. 303
Climbing Stairs	p. 306
Sleeping	p. 308
Data	p. 311
Some Surprising Statistics	p. 313
For Further Reading	p. 346
Index	p. 351
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