Mocktails to Replace Your Favorite DrinkTheres nothing wrong with enjoying an alcoholic beverage once in a while, but excessive alcohol use is detrimental to your health. According to the American Addiction Center and a 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 1 million adults 65 and older reported substance abuse in the last year. Of those substances older adults abused, alcohol was at the top, with 10.7 percent of seniors reporting binge drinking in the previous month. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to serious health concerns, especially for older adults. However, resources and help are available to those who need assistance changing their drinking habits. Sometimes understanding how alcohol affects the body and finding nonalcoholic replacements can be an excellent start to transforming your relationship with alcohol.The dangers of excessive alcohol useAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive drinking includes binge and heavy drinking. Binge drinking, the most common form of excessive drinking, is when you consume four to five drinks on a single occasion. Heavy drinking is when you drink eight or more drinks per week. Even if youre not regularly drinking excessively, alcohol can lead to health concerns in people of all ages. People taking specific prescription or over-the-counter medications should not drink alcohol without their doctors consent, as some medicines may cause life-threatening reactions. Over time, too much alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and liver disease. Older adults who already have concerns related to the heart may increase their risk of heart-related conditions. Alcohol use weakens the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. It also makes it more difficult for your body to fight infections. Drinking alcohol dehydrates the body and can lead to dizziness, headaches, dry mouth, or changes to your bathroom habits. Alcohol is a depressant, and excessive use can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. If used for too long or too often, you may develop an alcohol disorder or dependence.Mocktail RecipesSometimes its challenging to stop drinking because it becomes a regular part of your day or evening. If you enjoy a ritualistic aspect of drinking, you can keep a nightly cocktail in your routine by replacing it with an alcohol-free mocktail. These mocktail recipes are easy to make and great options for family gatherings or other social events when you might feel uncomfortable without a drink in your hand. Mango MuleMuddle a cucumber slice and oz of simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Add 1.5 oz of mango puree and 1.5oz of fresh lime juice to the shaker. Fill the rest of the shaker with ice and shake until well blended. Pour the mixture into a cocktail glass and top off with 2 to 3oz ginger beer. Garnish the drink with fresh mint and a cucumber slice. Cranberry SpritzerPlace 1-2 ice cubes into a short cocktail glass. Add 1.5oz of cranberry juice and 3oz sparkling water or cranberry-flavored seltzer water. Stir the mix and top off with a teaspoon of honey. You can also add a few orange slices to the rim of the glass for garnish Cucumber Gimlet Muddle a few slices of cucumber and a teaspoon of sugar in a cocktail shaker. Next, add 1.5oz of fresh lime juice and 1oz of simple syrup to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake. Strain the lime juice and simple syrup mixer into your favorite glass, and top with 3oz club soda. Garnish with a lime or a cucumber slice, and enjoy. How Visiting Angels Can HelpNeed help in the kitchen making a mocktail recipe? Or maybe you need additional assistance at home with tasks like housekeeping, meal prep, and medication reminders. Whatever your nonmedical needs are, Visiting Angels is here to help. Our Mobile office works with seniors in Mobile and the surrounding area. If youd like to learn more about our services or wish to schedule a complimentary consultation, send us a message or call 251.345.4100.

Heat Risks for SeniorsTheres plenty to look forward to in the summer. It typically marks the start of longer days and more availability for your family with no school and shorter work hours. But summertime in the South also means increased heat. Even for people native to Alabama, extreme heat can lead to health risks. Learning about heat-related health concerns is a great way to build your awareness if you experience something, and it provides you with tips in case you or someone you know begins not feeling well this summer. Heat RashHeat rash is a skin rash that develops when the body overheats and sweats too much. The sweat can block the sweat glands on the skin, causing the sweat to irritate the surrounding area. Its most common in hot and humid weather. Signs and symptoms of heat rash may include small raised spots that may be itchy or cause a prickly feeling. You may also have swelling around the affected area. Heat rash can appear anywhere on the body and may spread. However, its not contagious and can spread from person to person. What to doHeat rash is uncomfortable but often harmless and improves within a few days. You can relieve some of this discomfort by applying a cool cloth or ice pack over the skin. While you have a heat rash, avoid wearing tight clothing over the area or using scented lotions or shower gels.DehydrationDehydration is when your body loses more fluids than youre taking in, usually through urination or sweating. Early signs and symptoms of dehydration include thirst, dry mouth, and fatigue. If left untreated, dehydration can be life-threatening and may lead to organ failure. Anyone can suffer from dehydration, but older adults are more susceptible, especially in the warm Alabama climate. Its also more common among people with long-term health conditions like diabetes. What to doThe best way to avoid dehydration is to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if youre spending time outdoors. If youre doing something active, such as hiking or working out, you may consider drinking sports drinks with added electrolytes to help hydrate you. If you start feeling dehydrated, contact your doctor immediately, as you may need to have a doctor provide fluids through an IV. Heat Exhaustion Dehydration may lead to heat exhaustion when the body loses too much water and electrolytes through sweating. It can happen to anyone but is more common in seniors and people with high blood pressure. Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, fatigue, and irritability. What to doHeat exhaustion is often the first phase before a person develops heat stroke. Its essential to seek shelter from the heat and find medical attention. If youre with an individual suffering from heat exhaustion, help them stay hydrated with water and keep them cool until help arrives. The best way to avoid heat exhaustion is to keep yourself hydrated and avoid spending too much time outdoors in high temperatures.Heat StrokeIf left untreated, heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke, one of the seniors most severe heat-related risks. Heat stroke is when the body no longer controls its temperature and cannot cool down. Symptoms and signs of heat stroke include confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, and profuse sweating. What to doHeat stroke is a medical emergency and does require immediate medical attention. If youre with someone suffering from heat stroke, try to get the individual to a cool environment and remove outer clothing until emergency medical care arrives.Working with Visiting AngelsThe summers in Daphne can get brutally hot. If youre a senior living in Baldwin County or the greater Mobile area, the team at Visiting Angels Daphne would proudly help you stay safe from the heat. Our compassionate team of professional caregivers can help apply sunscreen, dress in breathable clothing, and provide mobility assistance throughout the home and outdoors to keep you safe. Caregivers can also help with light housekeeping, meal preparations, medication reminders, and transportation. All of our home care services are customizable to fit the needs of each client. If youd like to learn more about how caregiving can improve your quality of life, call 251-517-9700 to schedule a complimentary consultation or send us your questions.

Signs and Symptoms of GlaucomaAs we age, there's a ton to pay attention to in terms of our health. One area that tends to be overlooked is our eye health. More than 12 million Americans have a vision impairment. For many people, wearing glasses or contacts has been a part of life since childhood, and a slow digression in vision feels normal.Glaucoma is an eye condition that affects more than 3 million Americans and can lead to irreversible blindness. This new year, use the month to vow to better eye health and learn about glaucoma signs and symptoms. Understanding this condition could save you from losing your vision in the future.What is Glaucoma?Glaucoma is a common eye condition with more than 200,000 cases each year in the United States. Glaucoma develops when high eye pressure damages the nerves connecting the eyes and the brain. It's a slow-progressing condition that often leads to a loss of eyesight and, in some cases, total blindness. While there's no way to bring back vision after it's lost, surgery to release eye pressure can slow or stop glaucoma from progressing.Since it's a slow-moving condition, many people don't notice early signs of glaucoma, although late symptoms include pain and vision loss. Glaucoma is most common in people aged 40 and older and those with a family history of glaucoma. It's also common in people with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or sickle cell anemia.Types of GlaucomaGlaucoma refers to a type of eye condition that affects a person's vision. There are two main types of glaucoma.Open-angle glaucoma. This is the most common form of glaucoma and occurs when the trabecular meshwork is blocked, causing gradual pressure on the eye. Many people don't experience any open-angle glaucoma symptoms and often don't notice a problem until they begin losing vision.Angle-closure glaucoma. This type of glaucoma occurs when the bulging of the iris blocks the drainage angle. Symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma include severe headache, eye pain, eye redness, and blurred vision. This condition may suddenly occur and is considered a medical emergency.All forms of glaucoma happen because there is unwanted pressure on the eye due to a blockage. Different types of glaucoma are diagnosed, depending on how the blockage occurs.Pigmentary glaucoma-When the eye's drainage system becomes clogged by pigments from the iris, it's referred to as pigmentary glaucoma. It's most common in younger adults because there is less pigment in the eye to cause a blockage as we age.Uveitic glaucoma- The middle layer of the eye is called the uveitis. Its purpose is to provide blood to the retina. If the uveitis becomes swollen or inflamed and puts pressure on the eye, it's called uveitic glaucoma.Exfoliative glaucoma- Sometimes, the eye's outer layer can shed a flaky material that gets stuck in the drainage system, causing exfoliative glaucoma. This type of glaucoma is most common in those of northern European descent after the age of 40.Living with GlaucomaUnfortunately, once you lose your vision to glaucoma, there's no way to get it back. Early detection is the key to protecting your vision against glaucoma. You should start regular eye exams by age 40 as this is when vision changes begin to occur. When looking for early signs of glaucoma, your doctor will examine the inner eye pressure, the shape and color of the optic nerve, your field of vision, the angle of where the iris meets the cornea, and its thickness of the cornea. If you have high-risk factors such as diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, your doctor may suggest more frequent follow-ups to monitor your eye health.This article was submitted by Visiting Angels with locations in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.  If you or a loved one suffers from glaucoma or another eye condition that makes it hard to see and perform daily tasks, Visiting Angels can help.  Call them at 251-345-4100.