A 91-yr-old Delhiite’s tryst with art

Chitta Ranjan Pakrashi looks like another senior citizen of Delhi out for an evening stroll in an art gallery. But this retired government servant-cum-chronicler of Bengalis in the city also has an artistic side which came out at his solo show, which is on at All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society from November 22 till Wednesday.

As he walked amid his works, Pakrashi didn't look like he was 91. He showed the oldest of his paintings — a lithograph of a rural scene which he had created as a student of Government Art School in Kolkata in 1942 - and a bunch of fresh ones done months before the exhibition with the enthusiasm of a 19-year old rookie artist.

There is an air of honesty yet artistic brilliance in this Kailash Colony resident's works. Bright, bold colours, play with forms, shapes, textures and subtlety and a love for nature are distinguishing feature of this artist, who is also an acknowledged stamp designer having credited with creating numerous stamps for over 60 years both in India and abroad.

Pakrashi recalls that he really started painting post-retirement in 1981 and the push came from artist and friend Bimal Dasgupta. "He was the one who told me to dedicate myself to painting as a fulltime artist."

When asked how he felt about being able to work with such dexterity even post-90, a smile accompanied the reply. "I believe that work is worship and age is never a factor if you have the right intentions. Surprisingly, a British boss of mine, Major P.W.R. Homfrey, used to say this. He was like you are working for your country, not for us."

Another feather on his cap is that Pakrashi is one of the very few in the country who has worked with three different governments -- The American government as a mapmaker in Kolkata (194345), British government in Delhi (1945-47) and the Indian government (1947-1981).

"It has changed a lot. When I came in the pre-Independence years, Delhi was developing. Now it has developed and become home for me and many others, who had migrated decades back," he said.

Reference Link                                                                                    Visit Our WebSite

Older adults more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses

Older adults are more likely to get sick from that hamburger that was left out too long or the egg cooked sunny-side up.

Weaker immune systems, a decrease in stomach acid and other age-related factors put older adults at greater risk for foodborne illnesses, notes the Healthy Aging Partnership (HAP), a coalition of 40 Puget Sound-area not-for-profit and public organizations dedicated to the health and well-being of older adults.

What's more, older adults are more likely to get seriously ill or even die from bacteria and other contaminants in the food they eat, according to HAP.

The National Food and Drug Administration estimates that 2 to 3 percent of the millions of foodborne illnesses in the United States each year lead to secondary long-term illnesses, including kidney failure, arthritis and meningitis.

Fortunately, foodborne illnesses at home can be easily prevented by following four simple food-preparation steps:

• Clean your hands with soap and warm water frequently, particularly before and after preparing food and after using the bathroom. Also, wash cutting boards, utensils and countertops that you've used to prepare food. A sanitizing solution of one teaspoon chlorine bleach to one quart of water provides added protection.
• Separate raw poultry, red meat and seafood from foods that aren't going to be cooked. Always wash hands, utensils and surfaces with hot soapy water between preparing vegetables and meats to prevent cross contamination. If possible, use separate cutting boards.
• Cook foods long enough and to high enough temperatures to kill bacteria. Use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature of meats, poultry and other foods. Roasts and steaks, for example, should be cooked to at least 145 degrees F, while ground beef - which can become contaminated during grinding - should be cooked to at least 160 degrees F. For more information on cooking foods and temperatures, go to www.fightbac.org.

• Chill (refrigerate or freeze) perishable foods and leftovers within two hours because bacteria can thrive in the danger zone between 40 and 140 degrees F. Thawing foods in the refrigerator is the safest method. You can also thaw foods covered in cold water that's changed every half hour or in the microwave. If thawing in the microwave, cook the food right away. Foods being marinated should be kept in the refrigerator. Discard any unused marinade.

Reference Link                                                                                            Visit Our Website

                                                           

Old age begins at 27: Scientists reveal new research into ageing

Old age is often blamed for causing us to misplace car keys, forget a word or lose our train of thought.

But new research shows that many well-known effects of ageing may start decades before our twilight years.

According to scientists, our mental abilities begin to decline from the age of 27 after reaching a peak at 22.

The researchers studied 2,000 men and women aged 18 to 60 over seven years. The people involved – who were mostly in good health and well-educated – had to solve visual puzzles, recall words and story details and spot patterns in letters and symbols.

Similar tests are often used to diagnose mental disabilities and declines, including dementia.

The research at the University of Virginia, reported in the academic journal Neurobiology Of Aging, found that in nine out of 12 tests the average age at which the top performance was achieved was 22.

The first age at which performance was significantly lower than the peak scores was 27 – for three tests of reasoning, speed of thought and spatial visualization. Memory was shown to decline from the average age of 37. In the other tests, poorer results were shown by the age of 42.

Professor Timothy Salt house said the results suggested that therapies designed to prevent or reverse age-related conditions may need to start earlier, long before people become pensioners.

He wrote: ‘Results converge on a conclusion that some aspects of age-related cognitive decline begin in healthy, educated adults when they are in their 20s and 30s.’

There is some good news, though. The report states that abilities based on accumulated knowledge, such as performance on tests of vocabulary or general information, increase until at least the age of 60.

Reference Link                                                                                        Visit Our Website

The Risks in Using Multiple Medications

Prescription medications can improve the symptoms of a disorder and improve the quality of life. However, they also have the potential to cause dangerous side effects. A good guideline followed by physicians who prescribe medications to the elderly is to "start low and go slow," meaning the elderly should take new medications at a slower rate and start at about half the adult dose. As our bodies change with age, so does the need for a different dosage, interval and duration of treatment. The longer an individual is on a drug, the greater the likelihood of an adverse reaction. The effects of a harmful drug reaction can appear as an isolated symptom (drowsiness) or as a group of symptoms (depression and confusion). In the elderly, toxic reactions can occur even at low drug dosages. Therefore, the elderly should approach the use of prescription medication with caution and report any unusual or new symptoms to their health care provider. It is important to consult a health care provider before changing any prescription medication dosage.

Medications that Pose a Risk and Why:

(Medications listed below are to be avoided or need close monitoring)

Medications of Risk	Problems
Benzodiazepines (antianxiety), Long acting agents Diazepam (Valium) Flurazepam (Dalmane ) Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) Alprazolam (Xanax) Barbiturates	Confusion, sedation and falls.
Antidepressants (used to treat depression), Amitryptiline (Elavil) Doxepin (Sinequan) Imipramine (Tofranil)	Confusion, sedation, hypotension, falls, and urinary retention.
Antipsychotic Agents (used to treat mental disorders) Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) Thioridazine (Mellaril) Haloperidol (Haldol)	Confusion, sedation, hypotension, falls, urinary retention, Parkinsonism (involuntary shaking and twitching), tardive dyskinesia (TD).
Antihistamines (used to treat sinus problems and allergies) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)	Confusion, sedation, hypotension, falls, and urinary retention (inability to empty bladder), sleep disturbance.
Antiemetics (used to relieve nausea) Promethazine (Phenergan) Prochlorperazine (Compazine) Thiethylperazine (Torecan)	Confusion, sedation, hypotension, falls, urinary retention, Parkinsonism (involuntary tremors and rigidity), involuntary movement (tardive dyskinesia)
Analgesics (used to relieve pain) Propoxyphene (Darvon) Meperidine (Demerol)	Constipation, confusion, & sedation.
Antiparkinsonian (used to treat Parkinsons disease) Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet)	Confusion, dizziness, hypotension, increase in cardiovascular toxicity.
Cardiovascular drugs (used to treat heart and blood vessels) Digoxin (Lanoxin) Warfarin (Coumadin)	Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, weight loss.Bleeding tendencies (requires close monitoring)
Antispasmodic drugs (used to prevent or relieve spasms) Dicyclomine (Bentyl) Hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levsinex) Pro-Banthine (Propantheline)	Dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, delirium.
Urinary Incontinence drugs Oxybutynin (Ditropan) Tolterodine (Detrol)	Dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, delirium, confusion

 Reference Link                                                                                        Visit Our Website

Prescription drugs' side effects are especially dangerous for the elderly

We live in a world full of drugs whose primary objective is to relieve symptoms instead of heal. Most of these drugs come with side effects, some of which may be quite dangerous. That is especially true when it comes to drugs prescribed for the elderly who are the largest consumers of prescription and over the counter drugs.

When waiting to see a doctor, it is common to share the waiting room with prescription drug salespeople with suitcases full of the latest "drugs of choice." Too many doctors get their drug education from these salespeople who often have no medical background. The end result is that when we go to the doctor, whether to address a specific condition or for a routine check-up, more often than not, we come out of the office with one or more prescriptions.

Prescribing medications to treat several health conditions can actually result in side effects that can make problems worse. A side effect doesn't necessarily have to make itself known when first taking a medication. There is a greater chance of experiencing side effects the longer a drug is taken.

Drug side effects and the elderly

Researchers in Britain have found that commonly used drugs prescribed to half of those that are 65 or older lead to an increased incidence of death and mental health decline, especially when the drugs are prescribed in combination. The researchers' findings, which was published in the August 2011 Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, suggest that these types of drugs negatively affect the brain and increase the risk of decline and death. The study found that patients taking a combination of prescription drugs were at greater risk.

Elderly people take approximately three times the amount of medications that younger people do. Although the elderly are prescribed a wide array of drugs, the most common drugs are heart medications, statins, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants.

Drugs that treat the cardiovascular system can result in nausea, vomiting, weight loss, anorexia, and bleeding problems. Statins' side effects include muscle weakness and pain (the most serious that can be life threatening), headaches, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, skin rash, and general weakness.

Benzodiazepines can result in sedation, confusion, and falls. The side effects of antidepressants include sedation, confusion, falls, low blood pressure, and urinary retention. Antidepressants also thin the blood. They decrease blood clotting capacity, increasing the risk for stomach and uterine bleeding. Add over the counter NSAID's taken at the same time and the risk doubles.

Reference Link                                                                                             Visit Our Website