Seniors Care

There are several factors involved in aging well. Health oriented lifestyle, connection to community, regular movement, regular brain stimulating activities and likely the most consequential being circulatiion. Optimal circulation is the key to homeostasis and the ability to live with greater ease and less chronic or debilitating health issues. Based on my clinical observations I have below a list of common ailments or complaints readily addressed by utilizing my approach to osteopathic care.

Common Complaints and Issues

• Difficulty falling asleep or being awakened after only a few hours
• Swollen calves, ankles and feet.
• Signs of poor circulation such as varicose veins with excessive bruising or pooling of blood leading to redness at the lower leg and ankle.
• Anxiety can often be attributed to poor circulation as the individual can have a sense of impending doom.
• Vertigo and balance issues can often be attributed to poor circulation into the brain
• Heart related or cardiovascular issues such as chronic pneumonia or bronchitis that do not seem to respond to antibiotic usage is often a case of poor circulation including suboptimal lymphatic drainage.
• Muscle aches and fatigue can also be the result of poor circulation.Often what is categorized as arthritis is more likely just inflammation. Inflammation lingers in the body when we do not move enough to help the lymphatic system detoxify
• Chronic pain in the shoulder, mid back, lower back and knees is often all connected to poor circulation. when muscles do not receive ample blood they can tighten and activate the nerve in the area.
• Headaches and migraines can commonly be attributed to upper neck tension leading to poor circulation to the brain. Poor circulation to the brain is linked to degenerative issues involving the eyes, ears and cognitive functions.
• Postural changes leading to forward bending and appearing to be getting shorter can also be linked to poor circulation.

Watch a video explaining the role of circulation in health and aging. Learn how chronic pain and many health concerns associated with aging are linked to a gradual loss of circulation. The result is a gradual change in posture as well as an increasing presence of dysfunction with the heart, lungs, liver and overall mobility. What is commonly perceived as aging can be altered to have less of an impact on health and posture.

The Evolution or Typical Story of Aging

The following is based on my 11 years of clinical practice and research regarding the stages and trends that are described as ageing. Each person will arrive at the senior years with their own health history, body type, level of fitness and overall health. Obviously genetics play a role but they are not as deterministic as epigenetics, which is the study of the effects of our environment or surroundings on our genes and potential health outcomes. The reality is that how we choose to live in our bodies and the impacts of living will be imprinted within all our tissues. Every fall or accident or surgery leaves an imprint in the tissues. sometimes in the form of scars or just hard dense tissue’s or muscles. A lifetime of being exposed to toxicity from our environment, processed foods and lifestyle choices such as drinking or smoking, we carry this forward into our senior years. Then we have the effects of stress and trauma to add into the fold. Prolonged stress can create toxicity via hormones such as cortisol and lead the body into allostasis and metabolic disease.

Looking back at our health history stating from around 40 years old we can begin to see the early patterns of disease creeping in. When we ignore root causes of metabolic dysfunction such as elevated blood pressure, blood sugar imbalances, elevated cholesterols and hormonal imbalances we will eventually arrive at some type of degenerative disease process. Although we live longer with the assistance of modern chemistry perscriptions we do not necessarily enjoy an acceptable quality of life. Overtime the body and brain begin to break down, but not equally among individuals. some people do well in aging such as those who live and thrive in “blue zones”.

Although as a health practitioner my approach cannot reverse the reality of aging I have certainly supported seniors in reducing the burden placed on their bodies in an effort to improve the quality of life they may have left. Having witnessed many patients who suffered greatly in the last few years of their lives I committed myself to improving their circumstances by utilizing osteopathic care.

The one and only priority is to improve blood flow and open up the detoxification pathways, thereby reducing excessive swelling or edema, inflammation, chronic pain, shortness of breath, sleep disturbances, anxiety and immune deficiencies resulting in chronic infections. Bladder infections and respiratory infections are rampant in the elderly and often these situations can be avoided when the body is allowed to support blood flow and detoxification.

When the body feels better then moving becomes easier, energy improves and a sense of despair decreases. Nothing is worse than needless suffering in the latter years.