Many people might choose a nice,
hot day over a blustery, cold
afternoon. However, excessively
hot days can not only feel uncomfortable,
but they can also prove life-threatening.
Elderly men and women, in particular,
are susceptible to the effects of hot
temperatures.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, people ages 65
and older are more prone to heat stroke
and heat-related stress than those of
other ages. Seniors’ bodies are not able to
adjust to sudden changes in temperature
as quickly as younger people’s. A
chronic condition that affects the body’s
response to heat, as well as taking
certain prescription medications also
may play a role in seniors’ susceptibility
to the heat.
The City of Sacramento Department
of Parks and Recreation says that
around 370 deaths from heat-related
illnesses occur across the United States
each year. Nearly half of those deaths are
people who are 65 and older. Prolonged
heat exposure can take quite a toll on
the average person. Factor in the more
delicate health of many seniors, and the
hot weather can be quite dangerous.
Further compounding the problem
is higher energy costs. Seniors living on
fi xed incomes may not be able to afford
to turn on air conditioners because of
the power draw.
There are different types of heatrelated
injuries, though heat exhaustion
and heat stroke are the most common.
Here are signs that a person may be
experiencing one or the other.
Heat exhaustion
• Weakness
• Tiredness
• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fainting
• Fast, weak pulse rate
• Headache
• Fast and shallow breathing
Heat stroke
• Extremely high body temperature
(more than 105-degrees F)
• Red, hot and dry skin
• Absence of sweat
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
What to do
Friends or family
members should check
in with an elderly relative
when the weather is
especially warm to ensure
she is safely handling the
heat.
In addition, people
of all ages can take the following
precautions to keep cool when the
temperatures rise:
• Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
Water and diluted fruit juices can help
rehydrate the body quickly.
• Restrict physical activity.
• Take a cool shower or bath or wipe
yourself down with a damp cloth.
• Seek an air-conditioned
environment. For those who won’t or
can’t turn on the air conditioning, visit
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Back and neck pain make the
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You may be unable to
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we barely even think about
under normal conditions —
is not possible. This kind of
debilitating pain impacts the
quality of life.
It may be that you’ve tried
to get help. You may have already
seen doctors for traditional
medical and chiropractic
care, without results.
Perhaps it appears the only
possibility is surgery.
But this is not your only
option.
Dr. James DiGiuseppi DC
of the Spine and Disc Center of
Brooklyn has been treating patients
with these conditions for
more than 35 years, reinstating
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treatment. No spinal
injections or drugs are involved.
Instead, he utilizes decompression
therapy, a leading non-surgical,
alternative treatment for
serious neck and low back pain.
“This gentle treatment
method has been shown to
greatly reduce or eliminate
back and neck pain,” says
Dr. DiGiuseppi. “It has helped
people who are at the end of their
rope.”
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Decompression therapy effectively
treats disabling low
back, neck, and radiating leg
and arm pain by reducing the
pressure on spinal nerves,
discs and joints.
“It renders quick, effective,
and amazing pain relief that
enables most patients to return
to a more active lifestyle,”
says the doctor. “There is a
98% success rate — and those
are pretty good odds.”
Research to develop this
procedure was conducted
by prominent physicians,
engineers, and technicians
at major teaching hospitals,
says Dr. DiGiuseppi, who is
trained in these methods.
The certification course was
designed by the leading expert
in spinal decompression,
Dr. Jay Kennedy, D.C.,
who taught doctors worldwide
and treated thousands
of patients using a variety
of decompression systems.
To gain certification involves
more than 40 hours
of instruction, including
hands-on training sessions,
followed by certification examinations.
“We are pleased that we
can serve our patients and
others in the community
with advanced spinal decompression
therapy,” says
Dr. DiGiuseppi.
Decompression therapy
begins with a series of sessions
that typically run three
or four times per week. It’s all
done while the patient is fully
clothed, either face down, or
face up, on the table. During
each of these sessions, electrical
muscle stimulation,
ultrasound, or therapeutic
laser may be applied to help
relax muscles and promote
further healing of injured tissues,
says the doctor. In addition,
patients may be asked
to complete specific exercises
designed to help strengthen
muscles.
People with spinal stenosis,
bulging, herniated, and
degenerative discs, pinched
nerves, and sciatica have
found relief through this
method.
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Center of Brooklyn
8214 - 13th Avenue
11228 in Dyker
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a shopping mall or library to keep cool.
Some towns and cities also make cooling
centers available in extreme heat.
• Wear lightweight clothing.
• Try to remain indoors during the
hottest hours of the day.
• Wear hats or use an umbrella
to shield your head from sunshine
outdoors.
• Eat cool foods, but avoid extremely
cold foods. Otherwise you risk the
chance of developing stomach cramps.
Wellness
Elderly especially
susceptible to the heat
Check on an elderly friend or family member at least twice a
day to ensure that she is not experiencing symptoms of heat
exhaustion or heat stroke.
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