Dr. Mauk’s Boomer Blog
Each week, Dr. Kristen Mauk shares thoughts relevant to Baby Boomers that are aimed to educate and amuse.
Dr. Kristen L. Mauk, PhD, DNP, RN, CRRN, GCNS-BC, GNP-BC, FAAN
Guest Blog: Multiple Myeloma in Elders: Diagnosis and Treatment
Introduction:
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. These abnormal plasma cells make antibodies that attack your body’s normal tissues and organs. Multiple myeloma affects a person’s blood cells, bones, kidneys and other tissues.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow:
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection. Multiple myeloma can also be called multiple myeloma or plasma cell myeloma.
The abnormal growth of these abnormal plasma cells produces proteins that are too large to be filtered out by kidneys and pass into urine instead of being excreted through bile ducts as they should be. This causes high levels of protein in urine (proteinuria), which is often detected during routine bloodwork done when you visit your doctor for other reasons such as a physical exam or dental checkup. Some studies suggest that it can also cause insulin resistance but it’s not confirmed yet!
Myeloma Basics:
Myeloma can affect any bone in the body, but most often it affects the spine or pelvis (hip). The exact cause of multiple myeloma isn’t known, but researchers think it may be related to an abnormal gene that causes your body’s immune system to attack healthy tissue rather than foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses.
Multiple myeloma occurs when there are too many abnormal plasma cells in your bone marrow–the soft tissue inside bones where new blood cells are made–and these abnormal cells crowd out normal ones needed for good health. As these abnormal plasma cells grow out of control, they damage bones throughout their growing process until eventually they become painful lumps called osteolytic lesions on x-rays taken during treatment or at follow-up visits after treatment has ended; these osteolytic lesions often lead to fractures over time if left untreated because they weaken underlying bone structure underneath them causing fractures when stressed enough under stress due to everyday activities such as walking around while standing up straight bending over lifting heavy objects etc…
You may feel tired and have a low-grade fever:
You may feel tired, have a low-grade fever and experience weight loss. Other symptoms of multiple myeloma include bone pain and anemia (a lack of red blood cells). You may also have trouble sleeping, feel weak and have muscle aches and pains. You also may need multivitamins which you can buy from any pharmacy or online supplement store!
The only way to confirm multiple myeloma is to perform a biopsy:
The only way to confirm multiple myeloma is to perform a biopsy, which is the removal of tissue from the body for examination under a microscope.
Biopsy can be done in many different ways depending on where the cancer cells are located. For example, if you have a tumor that’s visible on an X-ray or CT scan (a bone marrow biopsy), or if your doctor suspects they might be present in some other part of your body (an aspirate).
There are several tests used to diagnose multiple myeloma:
There are several tests used to diagnose multiple myeloma. The most common is a bone marrow biopsy, which is a procedure in which a sample of bone marrow is removed from your hipbone and sent to a lab for testing. In addition to looking at the cells under a microscope, doctors also test them for markers associated with myeloma such as the protein plasma cell protein (PACP) or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).
If you have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, your doctor may recommend additional tests including:
- Physical exam: A physical examination by your doctor may reveal swollen lymph nodes, bone pain (from bone lesions) or anemia (low red blood cell count).
- Blood tests: To measure levels of antibodies that help fight infections and abnormal cells in blood; also checks immune function and kidney function
- CT scan or MRI scans: Used to detect tumors in bones or other organs like the liver or spleen
Surgery or other procedures may be used for a diagnostic biopsy:
If you’re diagnosed with multiple myeloma, your doctor may recommend a diagnostic biopsy. This is a procedure that involves removing tissue from your body so it can be studied under a microscope. The goal of this type of biopsy is to determine if you have multiple myeloma and how far it has progressed.
You’ll likely be given general anesthesia, which means you’ll be asleep during the procedure. Your doctor will insert one or more needles into different parts of your body where they can remove samples of bone marrow (the soft inner part) or plasma cells (a type of white blood cell). The most common places for these procedures are:
- The backside (posterior) part of the hipbone
- Underneath both arms near where they meet at the chest area
- In between two vertebrae at the base of neck near shoulder blades
Many treatments are available for multiple myeloma:
The goal of treatment is to slow disease progression and reduce symptoms. There are many treatments available that can help people with multiple myeloma live longer and have better quality of life. Drugs that suppress the immune system may be used to control the cancer, but these drugs also increase your risk for infections and other health problems. Other drugs target cancer cells directly, but they often have serious side effects such as nausea or hair loss (anemia).
Bone marrow transplantation may be an option for some people with multiple myeloma who have had a relapse after receiving high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell rescue (ASCR) or immunomodulatory drugs like thalidomide or lenalidomide followed by bortezomib maintenance therapy; however, this procedure is complex and risky because it requires finding compatible donors who are willing to donate bone marrow stem cells through an invasive surgery called pan-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (PHSCT).
Some people may treat their multiple myeloma with drugs:
Some people may be able to treat their multiple myeloma with drugs that suppress the immune system. These drugs are called immunomodulatory drugs, and they can help slow down the progression of multiple myeloma in some people. In addition, these medications may also help some people achieve remission–a period where there is no evidence of cancer in your body (for example, no new bone lesions). However, it’s important to know that these medications are not a cure for multiple myeloma; if you stop taking them or if they lose effectiveness over time, your cancer will likely return.
Some common examples of immunomodulatory medicines include:
- thalidomide (brand name Thalomid)
- lenalidomide (brand name Revlimid)
Managing Symptoms, Side Effects and Complications of Treatment:
You may experience a variety of symptoms and side effects during treatment. Your doctor will work with you to manage these issues as best they can.
When talking to your doctor about symptoms and side effects, be sure to:
- Give the exact time when the symptom or side effect started (for example, “I’ve been having trouble sleeping since last night”).
- Tell them what makes it better or worse (for example, “When I lay down in bed at night”).
- Describe how long the problem lasts (for example, “It goes away after 20 minutes”). Your doctor will use this information to determine whether there’s anything they can do for you right away or if they need additional tests before providing treatment options that might help relieve your discomfort over time.
Other drugs are given to slow disease progression or create remission:
In addition to surgery and radiation, other drugs are given to slow disease progression or create remission in some people with this type of cancer. The most commonly used drugs for multiple myeloma are:
- Lenalidomide (marketed as Revlimid) and dexamethasone (marketed as Sandostatin LAR) – These medications may be taken alone or in combination with bortezomib (marketed as Velcade). They work by blocking a protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), which helps fight inflammation but also helps cancer cells grow. This treatment can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; however, they often go away after you’ve been taking the medication for a while.
Conclusion
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. The only way to confirm it is by performing a biopsy. You may feel tired and have a low-grade fever during treatment, but there are many treatments available that can help people with multiple myeloma live longer and have better quality of life.
Guest Blog: 4 Healthy Aging Routine Tips
It is never too late to adopt a healthy aging routine into your everyday life. Healthy aging isn’t necessarily about looking or feeling younger, but rather optimizing opportunities for overall good health. Making a simple skincare switch, keeping a balanced diet and getting at least 8 hours of sleep are simple things that can make you feel more energized and give your outer appearance a natural glow. To begin your anti-aging regimen on a positive note, check out these tips for some inspiration!
Skincare
Changing your skin care routine may seem like a daunting task at first. It’s difficult to break from the products you have used for a long time, but once you establish a new routine that works for you, you will see the benefits in a short amount of time. Skin hydration, regeneration, and protection are all essential for seniors. Without these, and the use of an exfoliator weekly, your entire body, will lack smoothness and shine from the accumulation of dry or dead skin.
Remember, skin care isn’t only about facial products. It’s essential to moisturize your arms, hands, legs, and feet too!
Nutrition
Various diseases and illnesses form as a result of inadequate or unbalanced nutrition and poor dieting. Once you reach a certain age, it is critical that you eat more fruits and vegetables to prevent illness and nutritional deficiencies. Substitute processed foods for whole foods to ensure your body is receiving the nutrients necessary for a healthy life. According to the USDA, foods that are high in antioxidants (high Orac) can protect cells from oxidative damage. Kale, spinach, blueberries, and blackberries are all great options! Try implementing a few of these high Orac foods listed below into your diet to slow aging down: Visit here for more information.
Vitamins and Supplements
Many seniors rule out food they aren’t willing to consume depending on their current health status or personal dislikes. Their pallets are fully developed, and for the most part, they aren’t in the mindset to try new foods. However, avoiding certain foods can result in a lack of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins that aid in preventing deficiencies and diseases. Take vitamins such as calcium and zinc to help boost brain power, along with Vitamin E, B3 and B5 help support skin elasticity. Furthermore, don’t leave out supplements that can help cellular health such as probiotics and products like Basis by Elysium Health.
Sleep
Sleep may come easier to some more than others. It is important to know that disrupting your circadian rhythm with poor rest can lead to metabolic disorders. Many seniors have insomnia which limits their hours of sleep. Exercise, sticking to a sleep schedule and establishing a bedtime routine can help aid seniors in gaining the rest they need at night or throughout the day.
Remember, it is never too late to make improvements to your current routine, especially if it will benefit you in the long run. Take the time to appreciate your body and embrace the natural process!
Aging in Place: Home Preparations and Modifications for Alzheimer’s Patients
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the disease affects five million Americans. However, this number doesn’t reflect the many more Americans that are affected by Alzheimer’s indirectly. This includes family and friends that take on the great responsibility of caring for a loved one with the disease. Many of these caregivers have numerous considerations to keep in mind, and one of these is altering and modifying the home to provide better comfort and safety.
Let’s look at some home preparations and modifications you can make if you need to accommodate a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
Safety and Comfort.
The first consideration should be thinking about is how you can reduce the risk of your loved one tripping, falling, or becoming confused or disoriented.
● Remove objects that can be obstructive in high-traffic areas. Avoid having stuff on the floor or low tables and furniture that can be easy to miss.
● Lock cabinets that might contain hazardous chemicals and materials.
● Keep dark corners of the house well-lit and illuminated. This includes stairwells and basements.
● Check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
● Ensure your loved ones don’t have easy exits where they can wander out.
Functionality and Design
Making your house function better for Alzheimer’s patients means helping them avoid unnecessary disorientation, fear, or depression. The following are some tips:
● Remove clutter or scattered objects that might overstimulate. For example, instead of having five pairs of shoes for your loved one to choose from, leave only one pair. This might eliminate an unnecessary episode of confusion when getting dressed.
● Rearrange furniture in a simple and straightforward way. The way the furniture is arranged can dictate the atmosphere of the room. For example, if the only chair is facing the television, you might have them constantly sitting in front of the TV.
● The Huffington Post suggests that creating a personalized space with familiar objects and smells can be a great way to keep an Alzheimer’s patient comfortable. At the same time, you should avoid having busy patterns on furniture or curtains, confusing colors, or rugs that can cause tripping.
Stimulation and Socialization
It’s important for your loved one to get plenty of socialization and interaction with others. In a typical household, people are working or living their own lives as they juggle the responsibility of caregiving. Living at home without much visitation can often lead to patients becoming isolated and withdrawn. Try to arrange frequent visits by friends and family members. Consider taking loved ones with you if you have to run errands, going for short walks, or involving them in everyday activities.
How to Modify or Renovate Your Home
In order to maintain safety or functionality, it’s often important to do modifications to your home. One of the most common home alterations is improving or renovating bathrooms and kitchens. This is because these are two areas of the house that can be most hazardous and require a little more navigation.
For Bathrooms
Renovations for bathrooms cost an average of about $8,820 depending on the work to be done. Some common and important improvements for Alzheimer’s-friendly bathrooms include installing grab bars and handrails, swapping out a bathtub for a shower, and adding lighting and non-slip flooring.
For Kitchens
You might consider a kitchen modification as well. It will vary in complexity depending on your current setup. When restructuring your kitchen for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, consider faucets, accessibility of appliances, kitchen counter height, mobility, and difficulty of navigation.
Caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s is a great responsibility. Ensuring their safety and comfort at home will not only make their lives better, but it will make yours easier and remove unnecessary hazards and stress. Having confidence that your loved one is comfortable and at ease will take a big weight off your shoulders. Your loved one will be happy to be living at home. The Boston Globe reported that Alzheimer’s patients that remain at home live longer and better lives.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
What Your Back Pain is Trying to Tell You
Experiencing back, shoulder or neck pain? Your body may be speaking to you and you just don’t know it. Getting older doesn’t have to mean accepting regular aches and pains. Depending on your day to day activity, environment, and mobility, your back pain can be sending loud and clear messages like:
You’re not active enough: This might seem counter intuitive, especially to older adults who are avoiding activity so they don’t “further injure” themselves or cause more pain. The reality is, low-impact exercise and activity helps to alleviate pain and soreness by stretching out your muscles and spine, boosting blood circulation, and reducing inflammation in your muscles, joints, and tendons. Along with keeping off excess weight.
You’re not sleeping well: A bad night’s sleep can undo any number of steps you took towards relieving back pain during the day. Older mattresses that don’t support proper spine alignment while you sleep can result in the pull and strain of your muscles and tendons and lead to bad posture during the day. Optimize on the natural curve of your spine while you sleep by simply using a pillow – on your side in a fetal position, try sleeping with a pillow between your knees. If you sleep on your back, place a pillow underneath your knees.
You’re stressed: Feelings of stress, anxiety or depression can physically translate into tense muscles that lead to back pain and thoughtless behaviors like eating poorly or not exercising, which exacerbate existing conditions. Aging seniors with complex medical conditions or cognitive decline are more likely to experience stress and anxiety as well as feelings of frustration and anger.
You’re not practicing self-care: Incorporating daily care routines into your life can make a huge difference in both your experience of back pain as well as your personal outlook on life. Self-care can be as simple as eating a healthy diet, stretching and exercising to care for your body, meditating, decluttering your environment, and practicing self-soothing techniques like rubbing lotion on your hands and feet before bed. Relieving back pain starts with you and your own self-awareness of what you need and deserve to live your best life.
You’re sitting down too much: Countless aging seniors will spend hours each day sitting down – at meals, watching tv, reading, and at the computer. Sustained inactivity and sitting in one spot for an extended period of time puts significant pressure on the spine and promotes bad posture, all of which lead to back pain and discomfort. Experts recommend not going more than 30 or 45 minutes sitting in one place without getting up to stretch, walk around, and change positions.
Get this!
According to a recent report published by the American College of Physicians*, people who experience moderate to acute back pain are actually more likely to experience relief when they try exercise, yoga, acupuncture or massage instead of taking pain killers. The comprehensive study revealed that most types of back pain go away over time whether they are treated or not and that drugs should be a last resort for alleviating pain, after mindfulness-based practices, exercise, spinal manipulation, even heat wraps.
Joe Fleming
Co-Founder, Vive Health
Guest Blog: What to Look For in a Senior Living Community
Before you look up a senior living community or Google personal care homes near me, you should first get to know about the common options available for where your aging parents can reside.
Below are the most popular and preferred options to pick from –
- Independent Living – This type of living is good for the elderly who can largely function independently with occasional medical care required. Medical care is provided in collaboration with hospitals or medical establishments. Typical services include accommodation, laundry, transportation, housekeeping, and other amenities like pool, concierge service, library, fitness center, etc.
- Assisted Living – Assisted living centers, in addition to accommodation also provide onsite health care and help with ADLs like dressing, bathing, and medication management so residents can live independently. The setting is very home-like without the residents having to worry about maintenance, cooking, or cleaning. There’s round-the-clock supervision available.
- Memory Care – This facility is specifically designed to treat and care for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The staff is medically trained to handle their special medical needs. The rooms and buildings are structured to avoid wandering. Supervision is available all the time with plenty of programs for socialization. There are housing and laundry services along with an emergency medical call system.
- Enhanced Living – You can think of this facility as a move up from Independent living with a whole lot of extra services available.
Things To Look For In A Senior Living Community
Senior Living Culture
Now the living culture is not something that you define in words. It’s mostly just a feel or a vibe that you pick up on. At times, you just know it when you visit the facility. Other times it’s a hunch of an intuition.
To truly assess the culture, it’s better if you call up your list of communities and visit them one by one. Observe the residents and see if they seem happy. How is the staff? Are they polite to respond? Is the overall energy of the place happy? Ask for social activities to keep the residents happy.
Lifestyle & Wellness
Lifestyle and wellness largely depend on the social calendar of the place. So, be sure to look at those activities as well as exercise, health, and wellness programs. Make sure to ask about how often the residents are allowed to go out for activities.
What about housekeeping and laundry services? How often are friends and families allowed to visit? Is there a dedicated private or common area for family get-togethers? What about pets? Are they allowed?
Staff and Care
How many staff members are present at the facility? Are the staff members nice to interact with the residents? Do they seem polite? What kind of help can you expect from them? Is the medical staff made to undergo regular training to update their knowledge?
What’s the mode of communication for updating families on the health updates of the residents? Also, how quickly can you expect your questions to be answered? What kind of care is available for residents with special medical issues such as diabetes, memory, or mobility issues?
What’s Food Like?
Food is a huge part of staying healthy during old age. So, this is something you must not overlook. If possible, arrange for a tour of the mess/kitchen. Look into how the food is prepared. Are the conditions there hygienic?
What about the food menu? Does it look interesting? Is it extensive and accommodates special dietary restrictions such as gluten-free and vegan-friendly foods? What are the dining hours like and is there food sampling available?
Extra Amenities
It’s not uncommon for people to get stuck between two close contenders. Sometimes two communities can look exactly the same; making it difficult to pick one. When faced with such a dilemma it’s often the extra amenities that help you make the right choice.
See if the laundry and housekeeping services are free. Some facilities charge extra for those. Look into community events, transportation, or socialization activities. Anything extra is a good thing to consider.
History and Reputation
How long has the community been in business? For how long has the management been with the community? What about the staff? For how many years they have been working there?
One of the best things to discern all this and more is to go online. Check out reviews and see what they have to say. Pay attention to how the community has responded to negative reviews. Only avoid the community if you come across something disturbing like bad handling of residents or complete neglect on part of the staff.
Bottom Line
Selecting the right living community for your senior can seem like a daunting task. But, if you invest a little bit of time and effort, it should be a cakewalk.
Guest Blog: Tips For Preventing Falls Among The Elderly
Falls among seniors are more common than you think.
According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 36 million older adults suffer a fall each year.
Our muscles lose strength, and our balance and coordination decline as we get older. As our senior loved ones are already at a certain age, they are now more prone to falls, and it could only get worse as they get on in years.
However, we can take steps to keep our seniors from suffering falls. Here are some tips on how to prevent falls among the elderly.
Declutter
Make sure your parent’s or grandparent’s space is clutter-free. You can’t have random stuff lying all over the place, becoming a tripping hazard for seniors. The floors that your elderly loved one walks on should always be clear, with nothing to step, slip, and trip on.
Put Up Grab Bars & Handrails In Strategic Spots
Seniors can use additional support when walking around the house. So, it would be great if the hallways, bathrooms, and stairways are fitted with handrails and grab bars.
Add More Lights
Our seniors typically have poor eyesight, which can only get worse under poor lighting conditions. By installing additional lights (and brighter ones at that), seniors will have a better chance of seeing and avoiding tripping and slipping hazards as they go about the house.
Use Only Non-Slip Mats & Rugs
All the mats and rugs in the house should be the non-slip type or secured to the floor.
Get Them To Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise is crucial to keeping the muscles, bones, and sense of balance of our seniors strong. Walking, lifting light weights, climbing stairs, or doing something as simple as standing on one leg for a minute or two can already help them stay as fit as possible. The fitter they are, the lower their risk of suffering a fall.
Tell Them To Be More Careful
Sometimes, seniors fall because they try to move too fast when walking across the room or getting out of bed. Tell them they need to be more careful when doing so and always move at a more comfortable pace.
Falls don’t have to be synonymous with getting older. By taking the necessary precautions, our seniors stand a better chance of avoiding them.
About the Author
Melissa Andrews is the Content Marketing Strategist for Paradise Living Centers, an assisted living center for seniors with locations in Paradise Valley and Phoenix, Arizona. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and going on hiking trips with her siblings and cousins.