Depressing ages
I've seen it before: I'll have an elderly patient who's been feeling low, and then lower, and then as low as he can be. Out of nowhere, that patient is struggling with a serious case of depression, and all the physical problems that come with it, like fatigue, insomnia, and weight problems. But that same patient will be too shy to say anything, and will just keep dealing with it until I finally figure out that there's more going on than just the physical symptoms alone.
There's still a very negative stigma around depression, especially among seniors. A lot of us grew up in an era when seeking therapy or facing up to a mental disorder -- not matter how common -- was considered a big taboo. To make matters worse, back then there just wasn't that much to be done for depression because no one knew how to treat it.
But ignoring depression is a very, very dangerous thing -- especially in seniors, since recent research has shown that they're more likely to commit suicide than younger adults.
That's why I keep telling you how important it is to treat depression the same as you would any other illness. And it's best to catch it early, when it's still considered minor and can be treated naturally, instead of waiting for it to become a major problem that requires side-effect-causing drugs.
Personally, I prefer to refer patients to a good psychiatrist or psychotherapist and start them out with some good talk therapy. Supplements like rhodiola, fish oil, and folate are also good. And my old favorite, exercise, is great for increasing mood-lifting endorphins that can help pick you up. (In fact, study after study has shown that exercise is just as good for depression as actual drugs.) One of the things I like best about the natural approach is it doesn't just fix the depression, it can also reduce physical symptoms that go along with it.
Something fishy for your heart
I've been telling my patients for years that eating fish is good for you. And now there's some new research that supports my stance.
According to a recent study, eating fatty fish like tuna and salmon once or twice a week can actually help older hearts keep their rhythm, reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Researchers divided participants up into five groups, based on their fish-eating habits. The people who ate the most had the best resting heart rates, and their hearts functioned the best. They found that the omega-3 fatty acids in cold water fatty fish (like salmon and tuna) can have a direct effect on your heart rate, by keeping it from beating too fast or too slow.
But you have to eat fish regularly -- once or twice a week -- to get the positive effects. And fried fish, the researchers said, doesn't count.
If you just can't stomach fish, opt for a fish oil supplement (which is something you should probably be taking anyway). They're inexpensive, and there are some good, easy-to-find brands out there at your grocery store and supermarket.
