IT SEEMS AS THOUGH wherever you look — driving on the highway, watching television, or surfing the Internet — there is an advertisement for a cream, potion, or injection that will restore looks to one’s younger days. Granted, these touted options might work, but they only address a concern for health on the surface. What about paying attention to inner health?
For men and women alike, as they age, it is necessary to know what health issues need to be kept under close surveillance. For women, there is obviously the threat of breast cancer and thus, hopefully, they are making an annual mammogram a priority. However, heart health is often overlooked by women.
For the most part, the majority think of heart disease as a man’s health issue. Surprisingly, approximately the same number of men and women die every year from heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In addition, almost 64 percent of women with heart disease will not have symptoms before they die. Therefore, it is just as important to keep a close eye on inner health and well-being as it is for your outer appearance.
CREDIT
column by DR. BRENDAN FLYNN
This column is sponsored by Good Shepherd Hospice. At Good Shepherd Hospice, every day is devoted to educating our patients and keeping them healthy and as comfortable as possible in the place they call home. We are dedicated to ensuring that patients and their families have the tools to make educated decisions about important healthcare matters. For more information, please call 1-800-544-3280 or visit us at chaptershealth.org/hospice.
BIO: Board certified in Family Practice, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Dr. Brendan Flynn received his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has been a staff physician with Good Shepherd Hospice, an affiliate of Chapters Health System, for more than six years.