This month our issue is all about aging. It’s easy for us, particularly in the United States to equate aging with our seniors. But we are all aging each and every day. We all have stories about milestones in life and I remember one of my friends who wore black all day and seriously grieved the day that she turned 30. We all heckled her, of course, but for her it was the milestone that made her face the fact that she was aging, and suffice it to say, she wasn’t happy about it. Whether you are aging and embracing it or finding some of the changes as you progress through your life challenging, this issue of CoSozo Living has a lot of information that can be beneficial.
None of us are immune from the diverse aspects of aging, from noticing changes in our skin or muscle tone, to having those moments of not remembering the word for something. But those are experiences that we have early on in our lives and just become more pronounced as we age further. Aging is simply something that we will all do, each and every day of our lives, and it affects us not only individually but also as family members. And it is a topic that I hope that we continue to take larger steps to address.
One of the elements of aging that is particularly relevant to women is the area of hormones. As women age we often begin to experience symptoms of hormone imbalance or deficiency. One approach to managing hormone issues in women is through hormone therapy. Traditional hormone therapy is produced from mare urine. The name of one of the largest drugs on the market is easily derived from that as well - Premarin. If you break it down, you can easily see the origins in the product name - pre-mar(e)-(ur)in(e).
One of the newer approaches to assisting women with hormone deficiencies and imbalances is bioidentical hormones, which are derived from plant-based products (soy and yam oils) and whose molecular structure is identical to the molecular formula our bodies make.
Hormone replacement therapy as well as bioidentical hormones are both controversial. Dr. David Pawsat, the founder of the Center for Optimal Health, is our feature columnist this month and has provided us with an article highlighting some of the top questions regarding bioidentical hormone treatment. Dr. Pawsat has a wealth of experience - please see his page on our website for more information about his impressive history and experience. Thank you, Dr. Pawsat, for all that you do to help bring personalized, compassionate medicine to your clients and our communities. If you are a woman who suspects you might benefit from some type of hormone therapy this article will get you started as you research your options.
Our society as a whole has not been, in recent years, one to place a high value on the seniors in our society. For whatever reason, as a country, we have equated an individual’s worth with the amount of money he or she contributes to society. The earlier ancestors of our land, the Indians, as well as many other societies, place much more value on the wisdom and importance on the elders. I hope that one day we will return to that viewpoint.
Our baby boomers have begun to turn 60 and it may be just what we needed in order to be forced to take a look at the value we place on our elderly population. It is a fascinating mystery to consider the de-valuation of different groups of our population, particularly those groups that we will one day be a member of.
The process of living is fascinating. When you’re a young child you can’t identify with the older people in your life, and feel certain that when you’re their age you’ll feel differently inside. The simple truth is that you don’t. Certainly, you grow in height, weight, and even in wisdom. But in reality, you feel like the same person inside an ever changing body. I think that’s paramount to remember when we’re dealing particularly with our seniors as well as our children.
One of the articles I really love this month is our article on creating lasting legacies. Both of my own parents really love genealogy. I do too to some extent, but I love even more finding out not just who my ancestors were and who they married, but who they were as individuals. The article highlights several ways you can build a lasting legacy, with some ideas that even the whole family can do. Today’s social media networks encourage people to leave a trail of who they are, what they like, even what they’re doing in the moment. And the ideas in this article encourage you to take it a step further.
I also love our article on the ways that technology is showing new and creative ways to support us as we age. It’s amazing all of the new tools we have to assist us and downright mind-boggling when you consider the extent of what will be available to us in 5, 10 or even 20 years. I am without a doubt a computer and technology geek, so articles like this one are right up my alley!
Cheers to your summer months, enjoy more time with your family and hug a loved one! Each day is precious!
~posted by Christine
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