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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-07-26, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2000. Seniors Guest column Looking forward to the journey to retirement By Carol McDonnell Remember the moments of happy anticipation followed by moments of sheer panic on the days leading up to your wedding day? For those who have not yet begun their retirement life, that comes the closest to describing the lead-up to the last day at a job. Panic because you are what you do according to North American society - Sue nurses, Joe is a carpenter. So when you don’t have gainful employment do you stop having value? Eagerly I am looking forward to having the leisure to do all those activities that one wants to do. The best cross-country skiing days are always during the week, it seems. But also, there is fear of the unknown as a major change in life has finally arrived. Some friends have had the luxury of gradually preparing for this lifestyle. Others, Stroke not just an old man’s disease By Dr. John Edmeads Despite increased awareness about the risk of stroke in women, it is still considered to be a man’s disease. The reality is, however, that stroke is just as common in women as it is in men. What’s more, the risk of stroke in women increases after menopause. Almost 60 per cent of the 50,000 Canadians who have a stroke each year are women. And it is not just elderly women who are at risk, stroke is a concern for women as young as 50. To reduce this number and ensure their continued health, it is crucial for women to be aware of the risk of stroke, what produces that risk - or the stroke risk factors - and what they can do to lessen their risk. Women should take simple pre­ ventative measures, such as exercis­ ing regularly and eating a balanced diet, to reduce the risk of stroke. Regular visits to the doctor are important health management fac­ tors to keep an eye on cholesterol and triglyceride levels, to detect dia­ betes, and to monitor blood pressure. And of course, women who smoke should make every effort to stop immediately. In addition, an act as simple as tak­ ing an aspirin® a day is another pre­ ventative measure women who have suffered a stroke should consider introducing into their daily routine to prevent a second or subsequent stroke, after checking with their doc­ tors. ASA is a well known pain reliever Rec. board accepts quote Continued from page 3 a new chlorinator as the old one can­ not be fixed and storage methods for the various chemicals. Board Chair Alvin McLellan will inquire if the Lions Club would act as the non-profit organization to collect grocery tape receipts to help fundraise for a new heater. The quote from Tenpas Decor Centre, in the amount of $4,686.35 for lobby flooring was accepted. unfortunately in the health care field or in businesses which are down siz­ ing, have had retirement thrust upon them with little chance to prepare. I am part of the new elders - the first generation to experience old age as healthy and mentally and physi­ cally active persons, for the most part. Overall, the age of retirement has gradually been moving down in the last few decades. Many still retire at 65 or older but some are able to retire earlier. The size of the section of popula­ tion that is 55 and over is the fastest growing section of the population, as the “baby boomers” (those bom soon after the last World War) join us as young elders! Our own Huron County has shown a marked growth in numbers in this age group. In the latest statistics available, the 1996 census compared to the 1991 census shows a 10 per cent growth in this population. Something to think that thins the blood, a capability which has been shown to reduce the chances of stroke by about 13 to 21 per cent in people who have already experienced a stroke. It is also important for women to be aware of the warning signs of stroke and seek medical attention immediately when they occur. These warnings include the sud­ den unexplained occurrence of: numbness or tingling, especially on one side; slurred speech; impaired vision in one eye; double vision; dizziness or vertigo; staggering or stumbling; or “clumsiness” of a limb. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, either by nar­ row blood vessels or blood clots, or when there is bleeding in the brain. The interruption of blood flow deprives the brain of the essential oxygen that it needs to carry out its usual functions. As a result, vision, balance, speech and movement may be impaired or lost completely. If the blood supply isn’t quickly restored, or in some cases, permanent damage or death may result. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of adult death in Canada, and a Women and Stroke Quick Facts • A woman has a one in three chance of developing heart disease or stroke over her life. • 40 per cent of all female deaths are due to heart dis­ ease and stroke. • Almost 60 per cent of the 50,000 strokes in Canada each year are suffered by women. • The average female hospi­ tal stay for stroke is 42 days, as opposed to 32 days for men. about, especially if you are or are about to be one of the 100,000 Canadians who retire each year (usu­ ally in the month of June). We should look forward to the next third of our life in retirement with a positive attitude and hopefully good health. Nutritious eating and more regular exercise along with excellent medical care have given a large per­ centage of us a lot of vim and vigour. A greater number of people are get­ ting older but the old are getting younger, so to speak. Many of society’s attitudes towards aging and retirement are now out of date. When I visited a large bookstore last winter I noticed walls full of books with financial advice on preparing for retirement. But books on preparing socially, emotionally and spiritually for retire­ ment were as scarce as hen’s teeth. Finally we found a few - under the section “Diseases and Ailments”. greater percentage of women than men die from stroke. The condition can be debilitating and have tragic results for those who survive a stroke. In addition to its impact on Off to our public library but it had just a few books on these subjects. In the end, family and friends gave the best advice, anyway. Take your time and weigh your options, ' How others see us and how we see ourselves is in for an enormous change when we retire. We have to change our identity, as Supermen and women but without the tele­ phone booth. Will we develop a new career, or further our present hobbies and interests? Many volunteer groups along with members of our own family will be calling, looking for our time and skills. Maybe we need to just sit back and take our time while making the “new” us. In the words of baseball great, Yogi Berra “It ain’t over, ’til it’s over”. Flourish - to thrive, grow vigorous­ ly, be in one's prime (Oxford Dictionary) Do you know someone who is flourishing in retirement? Would they like to tell their story? No mat­ ter their age - 60 or 100. Let’s share their wisdom! Contact Bonnie at The Citizen. Graduation Congratulations to Pam Schneider, daughter of James and Dorothy Schneider of Auburn, who graduated from Goderich District Collegiate Institute those who suffer from a stroke, strokes cost the Canadian economy approximately $2.7 billion a year - $1.5 billion in direct costs and $1.2 billion in indirect costs. as an Ontario Scholar. There is no further information available at this time about her future plans. Get Your Message AROUND THE WORLD IMMEDIATELY if you have important papers that need to go somewhere FAST ... use the CITIZEN’S FAX MACHINE! Our Fax machine can contact any other Fax machine, In the world, Instantly. We offer this service for a cost of $4.00 per printed sheet for the first one and $1.00 per additional sheet. (And the long distance charges are free In North America) Our Fax Number, is also your number, so use it to receive your messages at $1.00 per sheet. HERE ARE OUR FAX NUMBERS . . . BLYTH 523-9140 BRUSSELS 887-9021 WE CAN RECEIVE 24 HRS. PER DAY!