Statistics show that a majority of U.S. patients who require an amputation are age 65 and older. Amputation will likely intensify feelings of dependency, depression and helplessness: I’m too old now to learn to live without a limb. Who cares anyway? Who knows how many years I have to live?
Limb loss is a serious challenge, and the more flexible and open-minded you are, the more quickly your body will heal and your lifestyle will adjust.
A positive outlook and hard work can improve one’ recovery. Take 71-year-old Paula Harris, who was struck in a crosswalk by a truck and lost part of her right foot.
“I have always been self-sufficient and it definitely took the wind out of my sails at first,”she said. “Anxiety and thinking I’ never walk again started to go away as soon as I began physical therapy. I found a PT who listened to all I was dealing with. Her encouragement and coaching kept my eye on the prize of walking again.”
Paula’s sense of purpose motivated her to stay active and mobile. She looked beyond her age and pushed herself to higher levels of rehabilitation —driving, dancing and golf. If you are aging with limb loss, a new amputee or a caregiver, I hope Paula’s story will inspire you.
Moon Physical Therapy, LLC
320 Ward Avenue, Suite 107, Honolulu, HI 96814
Aquatic, Land-based and Manual Therapy and
Cardiopulmonary Rehab Programs
808-597-1005 | www.moonpt.com
Years ago, I pioneered a concept of eating more to lose weight. The effectiveness of this approach has withstood the test of time. Some of my patients report losing over 50 to 100 pounds over the years simply by using my food “Mass Index” table that shows which foods will help you to lose weight. This table can be found in most of my books, such as the Eat More, Weigh LessR Diet and my latest book. the “Peace Diet™.” For a sample of this table, go to 
In Japan, they say we should first “eat with our eyes.” In other words, food should be presented in a visually pleasing manner. This turns out to be great advice to help slow and reverse the aging process. The more colorful your food, the more anti-aging nutrients it is likely to contain. For example, green foods tend to have lutein and zeaxanthin, powerful antioxidant nutrients that prevent aging. Yellow and orange vegetables and fruit tend to have lot of carotenoids that help with vision, skin, heart and the immune system. Red vegetables tend to have lycopene, which can protect against some cancers — notably prostate cancer — and may also help to protect the brain. Blue and purple vegetables and fruit have anthocyanins, also known to help prevent memory loss. Purple-red vegetables and fruit such as grapes and blueberries have resveratrol in them that can protect the heart. In future articles, I’ll cover these nutrients in detail and explain what foods are rich in these and other anti-aging nutrients.
Cancer is now close to becoming the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. It seems like we see more cases of cancer than ever before. In addition to smoking and alcohol consumption, diet and lifestyle factors may play as great or greater roles in causing cancer. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) came out with a statement that processed meats increase the risk of cancer. So avoiding processed meats would be a good health habit, in addition to eating colorful food.
Dropless Cataract Surgery is a new option for cataract patients that reduces the need for eye drops after surgery.
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder with frequent awakenings and breathing disruptions of 10 seconds or longer, that occur when the patient’s airway becomes blocked.
Pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. The American Academy of Pain Management estimates that more than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Patients often explore multiple options for relief, but pain medication continues to be the mainstay of chronic pain management in the U.S.
When Wendell Murakawa retired from the Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety, he planned to “you know, take it easy, relax, hang out with my friends, drink, eat and enjoy life.” Then his doctor told him he had type 2 diabetes. “I knew I was overweight and began to watch my diet,” said Wendell. “But I noticed if you don’t exercise, the sugar number doesn’t go down — no matter what you eat.”
Because Wendell had never exercised, learning proper form, and how to breathe and stretch properly were a challenge. There were times he wanted to quit and I would have to remind him why he came to me in the first place — to get healthy.
Being diagnosed with a “chronic” disease like arthritis or diabetes often comes as a shock. Changes sneak up on our bodies or slowly weaken our ability to do our chores or enjoy pastimes. We don’t want to hear that our “little problem” is the first sign of a terrible disease.
If your teeth are tight, you can floss and brush bacteria away. Loose teeth trap bacteria, allowing infection to flow into the blood stream, affect other organs and compromise overall health.
Communication continues with a review of all at-