What if I told you there is a drug that reduces the pain or disability of knee arthritis by 47%; reduces the progression into dementia or Alzheimer’s by 50%, and with proper use can reduce the risk of hip fractures for post menopausal women by 41%. And this drug also reduces anxiety by 48%, relieves patients suffering from depression by 30%, and is the number one treatment for fatigue. Would you believe me? And how much would you pay for this miracle drug?
You may have already guessed, but this miracle drug is not really a drug and doesn’t have to cost you a dime. The miracle drug is exercise – as simple as walking around the block.
In the nine minute illustrative video called “23 ½ Hours”, (I will post it on the Center’s website or you can go directly to http://youtu.be/aUaInS6HIGo), Dr. Mike Evans asks you to limit your sleeping, eating, TV watching – your sedentary activities – to 23 ½ hours a day and spend the remaining 30 minutes exercising and being active: the best investment you can make to improve and maintain your health and quality of life.
I heard about “23 ½ Hours” from Fern Wilcox who has returned to the Center to lead the Strong Woman’s class on Tuesday and Thursdays from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Fern is looking for women who would like to improve their muscle strength, flexibility and balance while enjoying good conversation and laughter. (And will I get another pin-up calendar when the class reaches twelve strong?) But if the Strong Women’s class doesn’t fit your schedule, the Center also offers Seniorcise, Yoga and Tap and Clogging.
And there are plenty of other opportunities to start moving: The Dalles Fitness and Court Club, Water’s Edge, and Parks and Recreation. Or you can just start walking. The point is if you aren’t moving – start, even if it is just a little. There is a big difference in health benefits from not doing anything to doing something.
For the Tuesday Lecture at 11:00 on January 24th, Jennifer Windsor from MCMC will discuss Medicare billing – specifically how to complete the Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) for folks who are enrolled in Original Medicare. (If you still have your 2012 edition of “Medicare & You”, you will find a description of an ABN on page 113.) Jennifer’s presentation will help you learn how to avoid unnecessary medical expenses and become a better consumer.
You may already know, but since I’m not the sharpest knife in the tool box, I just learned during last Tuesday’s lecture “How to Avoid Scams” that anyone can receive a free credit report once a year by going to the website www.AnnualCreditReport. It is easy – it took me only a few minutes – and the site doesn’t try to pressure you into enrolling in a credit monitoring service for a monthly fee. If you are interested in obtaining a free credit score, this is the place to go.
The Center is always looking to offer new classes and activities. And starting Friday, February 17th from 9:30 – 11:30, you will have the opportunity to learn Sign Language. This ten week class will be lead by Victoria Hollingsworth who has studied signing for four years and has taught it twice. Call the Center or stop in to sign up.
Who wants to walk around the block to get your thirty minutes of exercise, when you can dance all night long? – well at least from 7:00 till 9:00 PM. Tonight, Truman and his Country Gold are the reasons to get moving. And next Tuesday on the 24th, the Jazz Generations will be be-bopping the night away. Everyone is welcome and donations are appreciated.
The name of the educational magazine published for elementary grade students was “My Weekly Reader”. (And the lucky name drawn from the correct responses was Marilyn Sarsfield – winner of five quilt raffle tickets.) This week’s “Remember When” question is about a female singer and comedy actress who had her own TV show in the 50’s and was known for entertaining the troops during WW II, Korean and Vietnam Wars. What was the women whose nickname was “Big Mouth”? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or write your answer on the back of a photograph of middleweight boxer Rocky Graziano.
Well, it’s been another week looking for hidden angels in our midst. Until we meet again, you may find this WC Fields quote appropriate during the political season ‘If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull”.
