Health Tips for October 15

Health Tip: After a Hip Replacement

Having a hip replaced involves major surgery, and you should lighten your activity load for as long as your doctor recommends.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help make your recovery easier:

• Keep items that you use often within close reach, so you won't have to stretch or bend for them.
• Arrange your furniture to accommodate your walker or crutches, and make your primary room doesn't require climbing stairs.
• Get a taller-than-average chair with a firmly padded seat. Low, soft seats will be less comfortable.
• Pick up any rugs that may cause you to slip, and make sure electrical cords are safely secured and out of the way.
• In the bathroom, use a shower chair, a grab bar and a raised toilet seat.
• Create an area with all of your medications, a phone, remote control, water and anything else you may need within reach.
• Use devices that will prevent you from having to reach, such as a long-handled shoehorn, a long-handled sponge, and a grabbing tool.

Health Tip: Have a Hearing Loss?

As with eyesight, difficulty hearing can become more common as people age.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, if you have three or more of these symptoms, you probably have a hearing problem that should be evaluated by your doctor:

• Difficulty hearing people on the telephone.
• Difficulty hearing when there is background noise.
• Problems following a conversation when more than one person is speaking.
• Straining to hear a conversation, or frequently asking others to repeat themselves.
• Feeling like people are always mumbling or not speaking clearly.
• Not understanding what others are saying, and not being able to respond correctly.
• Frequently hearing sounds that resemble ringing, roaring or hissing.