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.
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