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Health March 2014

Aid for Age

The Unknown Dangers of Everyday Activities

By Tait Trussell

It may seem natural and harmless to stretch when arising in the morning. But a big stretch in the morning can put your back discs at risk, says Ted Dreisinger, managing partner with Therapy Advisors. Spinal disks become dehydrated during the night. Stretching as soon as you wake up puts the discs at risk.

It’s almost ridiculous to think that something so normal that most people do it automatically can be dangerous: You sit down and you cross your leg. Yet sitting with your leg crossed at the knee can increase your systolic blood pressure by about seven points and your diastolic blood pressure by two points.

Sixty-four percent of men over age 65 and 69 percent of women over 65 have high blood pressure. Crossing a leg may have only a relatively small increase in blood pressure. But Dr. Stephen T. Sinatra, a Connecticut-based cardiologist, advises that frequent crossing of the legs can cause “pooling of the blood in the legs when the legs are compressed. This could predispose you to inflammation of the veins in the lower legs and possibly a blood clot.” He advises not crossing the legs for longer than 10 or 15 minutes. “Then get up and walk around every half hour or so.”

Other doctors have added advice for your legs. Don’t stand with locked knees, says Dr. David W. Kruse. “All of our joints are stabilized by activation of the surrounding muscles,” says the orthopedic surgeon in Irvine, CA. “When you stand with knees locked, he explains you are no longer using the efficiency of the muscles that surround the joint. Consequently, forces to the joint are increased.” When you stand, “do so with your knees slightly bent.”

Don’t sleep on your stomach. It puts your neck in a tilted back position. This could lead to pain or numbness in your upper extremities, according to Dr. Richard Lee, a spine surgeon at Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine, Calif. Nerves become compressed in this area when the head tilts back, which can lead to pain or numbness. Simply change sleeping positions so “the neck is no longer tilted backward,” he says.

Belt too tight? It could give you digestive problems says Dr. Patrick Takahashi, chief of gastroenterology at St. Vincent Medical Center Los Angeles. If your belt is too tight, it could lead to acid reflux. He recommends wearing your belt no tighter than the waistband on your pants.

Driving for hours without stopping can have an effect similar to crossing your kegs, where blood can pool and lead to a possible clot. Dr. Sinatra recommends stopping and walking around for a few minutes. Same advice if you’re in a plane on a long flight.

It may seem natural and harmless to stretch when arising in the morning. But a big stretch in the morning can put your back discs at risk, says Ted Dreisinger, managing partner with Therapy Advisors. Spinal disks become dehydrated during the night. Stretching as soon as you wake up puts the discs at risk.

Chewing gum can be dangerous? Ditch the gum if you have been chewing most of the day and have a sore jaw, advises Dr. Don C. Atkins, a Long Beach, Calif., dentist. As with any overused muscle, constant chewing can lead to pain and problems, Clicks in the jaw can indicate jaw joint damage, says Akins.

Women who carry a heavy bag over the same shoulder every day eventually can lead to muscular imbalances and shoulder pain, says Dr. Kruse. “All repetitive activities require the development of muscles to support the movement pattern. This can create muscle imbalances and result in injury or chronic pain.”

 

Tait Trussell is an old guy and fourth-generation professional journalist who writes extensively about aging issues among a myriad of diverse topics.

Meet Tait