Active Seniors and Acupuncture

two happy skiies skiing on a blue sky mountain day

The Summit County Senior is a breed unto itself, and by that I mean the average health, vitality and level of physical activity of a Senior in Summit County is impressive.

Some of the most visited challenges in the process of aging are arthritis, heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, diabetes, pneumonia, falls, obesity and depression. Being aware of these common chronic conditions. Seniors can take steps to stave off disease as they age.

Arthritis is probably the number one condition experienced by the aging.  Affecting about 51 percent of all adults over 65, it can lead to debility and chronic pain. There is always some degree of arthritis present once a joint has been damaged by sports, repetitive motion injuries, or degeneration due to aging which in turn can affect the surrounding tissues as well.

Sleep issues are one of the most prevalent conditions seen in the office. Scientists now believe that elderly people may struggle to sleep as well as they did during their youth because they start to lose part of the brain that helps them ‘switch off”. Researchers have identified a group of cells which blocks off conscious thoughts, allowing us to sleep. They think these inhibitory neurons are gradually eroded as we age, leading to greater sleep problems in later life. This can manifest as difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently in the night, or as not feeling “rested” after proper amounts of sleep.

All of the issues due to aging can be assisted with acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapies.

Anita Alexandra, L.Ac., CH is an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist with 17+ years of experience. She practices at Chiropractic Health and Acupuncture, 619 Main Street, Frisco.

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