Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 49)

PrimeTime HealtH safe Behind the wheel Follow these tips to keep your skills and strategies sharp as you age T here’s no substitute for the decades of behind-the-wheel experience accrued by senior drivers, but with age comes the responsibility to account for physical changes. Below are some common aging issues and strategies to address them. Vision As we age, the amount of light entering the eye decreases. A 45-year-old requires four times as much light as a 19-year-old, and a 60-year-old requires 10 times as much. Be prepared for more changes: • The ability to change focus declines. Younger eyes need only about two seconds to adjust from near to far, while eyes older than 40 take three seconds. The higher the age, the more adjustment lag. • Sensitivity to glare intensifies. Compared with a 16-year-old, a 55-year-old takes eight times longer to recover from glare. • Colors, especially red, become harder to see. Detecting the flash of brake lights can take twice as long. • Peripheral vision narrows. • Depth perception decreases, affecting the ability to judge how fast other cars are moving. Helpful strategies include: • Have regular eye exams to correct or slow the progress of eye problems. • Limit driving to daytime hours if you have problems with night vision or glare. • Turn your head frequently to compensate for diminished peripheral vision. • Keep headlights, mirrors and windshields (including the glass inside the car) clean. • Add a larger rearview mirror. Hearing Hearing loss is especially dangerous when driving, as high-pitched tones, such as sirens, and sounds among background noise, such as horns, are often the first tones we lose. Have your hearing checked and wear corrective devices if prescribed. BrainPower Age lengthens the time it takes the brain to process information and makes it harder to ignore distractions. Incorporate mind-stimulating activities to keep mental acuity sharp. Fitness Weaker muscles, reduced flexibility and a more limited range of motion can affect the ability to turn the steering wheel, press the brake, and open doors and windows. Arthritis can make driving especially difficult. A driver who goes without physical exercise may not have the strength, flexibility or coordination to operate a vehicle safely. Take walks or do other exercise on a regular basis to stay strong. classes Gwinnett Medical Center offers AARP’s Driver Safety Program, which teaches people of all ages current traffic rules, defensive driving techniques and other safety skills. For more information, call 678-312-5000 or visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/classes. Learn How to Stay a Safe Driver Medications Many medications can cause drowsiness, sap energy and slow reaction time. With your doctor or pharmacist, discuss your medication, its effects and its interactions with other medications. Never drive if medication makes you feel sleepy or disoriented. Vim & Vigor • WI NTER 2011 49 http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/classes

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil's Feature
New Hip, New Life
Building Better Heart Care
Back in Action
Supplementary Knowledge
Keys to Survival
Clearing the Air
Mark Harmon of NCIS fame makes 60 look good
This One's For the Girls
Life After a Loss
Do Your Diabetes Homework
Healthy Returns
Prime Time Health
The Future of Breast Health
Growing Generosity
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center