Managing six health problems that can steal your independence

Stroke : Preventing it

Don't smoke.

Stick to a healthy diet, and choose fats wisely.

Exercise regularly.

Control high blood pressure.

Talk with your doctor about whether you should take aspirin regularly.

Seek medical help immediately if you experience any of these sudden warning signs:

Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.

Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding.

Trouble seeing in one eye.

Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.

A severe headache without a known cause.

Living with it

Physical, occupational, and speech therapy may help you regain many skills.

Arrange a home safety evaluation through a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or geriatrician. This will make you aware of home modifications and adaptive devices that can help you stay at home.

If you need more recovery time or help with daily activities after leaving a hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation center, talk with your doctor about adult day services or home services.

Once you feel better, decide what help you'll need in your home, such as prepared meals or help with bathing. Speak with your local agency on aging or a geriatric-care manager to see what services are available in your area.

Depression is common among people who've had a stroke. It can be a major obstacle as you try to step back into your life. If you think you may be depressed, talk with your doctor about getting help.

Memory Loss or Cognitive Decline: Preventing It

Some dementias, such as those caused by Alzheimer's disease, cannot currently be prevented. However, memory loss due to other reasons often can be addressed. These suggestions may help:

Work your brain. Take classes, join a reading group, or try crossword puzzles.

Exercise regularly. It helps improve blood and oxygen flow to the brain.

Maintain friendships and family ties by volunteering, attending religious services, or joining clubs.

Serious depression can masquerade as dementia (so-called pseudo dementia). If you think you might be depressed, talk with your doctor about getting help.

Correct hearing loss and poor vision, which can bar vital input and make it hard to learn and retain information.

Take a multivitamin that contains vitamin B12

If you're a woman, weigh the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy, which in certain studies has shown promise as a cognitive enhancer.

Discuss memory lapses or any cognitive problems with your doctor. The sources of such problems may be entirely benign. Your doctor should check your responses to simple neurological tests and do a thorough physical exam to determine whether illness, depression, or medication is at fault.

Living with it

Pinpoint and break through common roadblocks. Get organized, challenge your mind, get enough sleep, and cut down on stress. Writing down key information and paraphrasing conversations can help reinforce memory. Making associations - linking names to mental images, for example – can help, too.

While medications and other treatments cannot cure Alzheimer's disease, they can sometimes slow its progress. Talk with a doctor about the options.

Caregivers of people with dementia can keep up with new therapies and promising research through regular discussions with the patient's doctor and by joining organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association.

Taking advantage of nursing-home respite care over a weekend or for a vacation can give caregivers much-needed breaks.

If long term nursing-home care is being weighed, consider facilities that have specialized units for dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Arthritis: Preventing it

Include moderate exercise in your routine. Inactivity encourages, cartilage to thin and soften, making joints more vulnerable.

Overusing certain joints can set the stage for arthritis down the road. Ask you doctor whether you should avoid particular exercises, such as running, that might injure or over-work joints.

Talk to your doctor about tender, stiff or achy joints.

Tell your doctor about anything you may be doing to relieve aches and pains, including taking aspirin or supplements.

Stay at a healthy weight. Obesity increases your risk of developing arthritis.

Living with it

Moderate exercise helps reduce swelling in joints, relieves joint pain, and fends off weight gain, which can further stress joints. Try to exercise daily, preferably after a warm bath or shower. Pick a time of day when you have the least pain and stiffness, such as when medication is most effective. Isometric exercise (tensing and releasing muscles) can help during periods of inflammation, but ask your doctor about this before you try it. A physical therapist can also recommend stretching exercises to help extend your range of motion.

Regularly eat cold-water fish, such as salmon, trout, sardines, and mackerel. Some evidence suggests their oils may lessen inflammation.

Applying local heat or ice may relieve some symptoms.

Topical preparations may help relieve pain; these products include sprays, creams, and ointments that contain capsaicin, menthol, or camphor.

Ask your doctor which medications would be most helpful for you.

Talk with an occupational therapist about daily activities that have become difficult, such as cooking, brushing teeth and hair, or getting dressed. He or she can recommend exercises or adaptations to make these activities easier and protect your joints from further damage.

Ask your doctor or occupational therapist about ways to modify your home for greater safety and comfort.