Heart Attacks - The Top Cause of Death in Women

As I write this post, it has been less than a week since my husband suffered a heart attack.  I took him to the emergency room six days ago with chest pains and indigestion.  They immediately began testing him for signs of a heart attack and, within 36 hours, surgeons had completed an angiogram and inserted a stint in one of his coronary arteries.

While heart disease has long been recognized as a common health issue for men as they age, many doctors are less likely to be concerned about it in women.  This is despite the fact that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the number one cause of death in all women, regardless of race or ethnicity, is heart disease.  Even when broken down by groups, heart disease is the top cause of death in both black and white women, and is the number two cause of death (after cancer) in women who are Hispanic, American Indian or Asian/Pacific Islander.

I recently attended a heath fair that was sponsored by the Laguna Beach Community Clinic and they provided me with detailed information about heart disease in women.  This is an issue that every women should worry about, particularly since many women and their doctors still think of heart disease as a man's illness.

While a man having a heart attack is likely to experience extreme fatigue, feelings of indigestion, sweating and chest pain, a women will have symptoms that can be much more subtle.  For this reason, it is important that every woman be able to recognize when she should see her doctor or insist on being taken to the hospital.

Symptoms of Heart Disease or a Heart Attack in Women

Feeling extremely tired, even after a good night's sleep
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty sleeping
Indigestion or nausea
A pain in the belly, above the belly button
A nervous, scared feeling for no clear reason
New or worse headaches than you have ever had
An ache, heaviness, tightness or burning feeling in the chest
An unusual pain in the back, especially between the shoulder blades
A tightness or pain in the chest, especially if it spreads to the neck, jaw, shoulders, ears or inside the arms.

If you are experiencing the above feelings, and especially if you are suffering from several of them, seek medical attention right away.  Do NOT be too embarrassed to go to the emergency room.  Far too many people have died because they didn't want to be embarrassed by going to the hospital when all they had was a bad case of gas or indigestion.  It is much better to have it checked out than wait until it is too late.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease

Fortunately, there are a few things that people can do to reduce their risk of developing heart disease.  While you may not be able to eliminate it completely, you will still want to postpone it as long as possible.

Be aware if heart disease runs in your family
Get preventative care by seeing your doctor regularly for check-ups
Do not smoke and avoid second-hand smoke, especially if you use birth control
Have your blood pressure checked and take medication, if necessary
If you have diabetes, keep it under control
Have your cholesterol levels checked regularly and take medication, if necessary
Get exercise; just taking a daily walk can make a big difference
Eat a healthy diet, including reducing the salt in what you eat
Control your stress by practicing yoga, meditation or other stress control measures

Follow your doctor's recommendations regarding any other steps you should be taking to maintain your health.  Some of these measure, such as not smoking, will also protect you from the second leading cause of death in women ... cancer.  Therefore, no matter which medical issue worries you the most, the lifestyle changes mentioned above are still a good idea.

If you are interested in learning more about medical concerns that could affect you as you age, use the tab at the top of this article.  You will want to check out the other tabs, too, for help with your retirement planning.

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/women/lcod/2010/WomenRace_2010.pdf

http://www.gov/womensheartheath


You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.blogspot.com

Photo credit: www.morguefile.com

Investigate Exchange Rates Before Moving Overseas

This blog has covered a number of wonderful places to retire overseas, including Thailand, Mexico, South America and Europe.  Some retirees choose to move overseas because they feel it will be less expensive than living in the United States.  Others have made the choice because they are attracted to the lifestyle in a certain region.

While I have covered international retirement destinations as diverse as San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, small towns in Panama, Hua Hin, Thailand, and the east coast of Italy, one of the subjects that I have not mentioned is the need to consider fluctuations in the exchange rates when you investigate where you can afford to live.

It recently came to my attention that many people from the United Kingdom who retired to France, Spain and Greece about a decade ago are moving back to their homeland because the pound has weakened dramatically against the Euro.

One of the articles I read about the British ex-pats who are wanting to return home said that 39% of Brits in Greece and 34% of those in Spain are trying to sell their properties, often at a large loss,  because property values have dropped in both of these countries, as well as in France.

Of course, lower property values are not a concern for ex-patriots who are extremely wealthy, which I discovered when I read a blog post on ExpatForum.com about the situation in Spain.  While ex-pats in some areas are suffering, those living in the more affluent areas of Europe seem to be doing just fine.

While the largest issues I found involved citizens of the United Kingdom who moved to the continent of Europe 10 to 12 years ago, Americans need to think about this risk as well if they decide to move to another country.  It is important for ex-patriots to leave some room in their budget for fluctuations in the currency.

For example, if you and your spouse have a combined income from Social Security of $2500 to $3000 a month (about average) and you plan a lifestyle that requires you to use all of it every month, what happens if the exchange rate fluctuates even a modest 10 percent? Would you be able to stay in your new country, or would you have to pack up and return to the United States?  Do you have enough savings to weather a temporary fluctuation?

Of course, fluctuations in the exchange rate can go the other way, too.  It is possible that there will be some years when the dollar will rise against foreign currencies and you will find that you can indulge yourself a little, eat out more frequently, and travel occasionally because the exchange rate is working in your favor.  The problem is that there is no way to predict the future.

Bottom line:  If you want to insure yourself of a comfortable retirement in another country, make sure you leave room in your budget for monetary fluctuations and put aside a little nest egg to get you through the tough times.  At the very least, you will retire overseas with a bit more peace of mind.

If you are looking for more information about retiring overseas, or other retirement topics, use the tabs at the top of this page for links to hundreds of other articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Sources:

Now They Want to Come Home! British Ex-pats Flee the Continent to Get Away from Eurozone Turmoil

Hello Fellow ex-Pats in Spain - How is the Recession Affecting Your Area?

Photo credit:  en.www.wikipedia.com/commons

Financial Survival for Retirees

Many of the Baby Boomers I know are still working, even some of those who are well past the age of 65.  Among our friends, I know of several salesmen, a doctor, several business owners, some lawyers, an engineer, an insurance broker, a number of financial planners and many other people in a variety of occupations who are continuing to work as long as they can because they do not want to face the possible lifestyle change that could occur if they stop working.

As a result, I frequently expose my readers to a variety of approaches to retirement planning that will help people assure themselves that they will not outlive their retirement savings ... one of the biggest fears of the Baby Boomer generation.

On one hand, it is exciting to know that many of us will live 20 to 30 years after we retire, or even longer.  For some of us, however, it is also frightening, especially if we do not feel we have adequately prepared for retirement.

As a result, I recently reviewed the short book, "The Baby Boomers Retirement Survival Guide" by Certified Financial Planner Rich Paul, for the online magazine Squidoo.  You can read my full review here:

http://www.squidoo.com/book-review-the-baby-boomers-retirement-survival-guide

In his book, he discusses important investment strategies that Baby Boomers will want to understand, especially if they plan to invest and manage their own savings, while assuring themselves that their money will last the rest of their lives.  For example, he talks about the importance of asset reallocation and balancing your portfolio so that too much of it does not end up in one risky investment.

One of the things I like about this book is that it is written in easy-to-understand language that clearly explains things in a way that is helpful to both the novice and the experienced investor.

Since most Baby Boomers have only saved a modest amount towards their retirement, and they want to make sure their money lasts as long as possible, it is important that we all understand how to make wise investment decisions that limit our risk.

Rich Paul's book is one that is very useful for anyone who plans to manage their own retirement funds.  It is also a valuable resource for someone who is letting professionals manage their money, since they need to understand whether or not the experts are doing a good job.  Far too many people have turned all their assets over to someone else to handle, only to be disappointed at the results.

In addition to this book, if you are trying to learn how to handle your retirement savings, you will want to use the Retirement Money tab at the top of this blog to find links to dozens of other articles about investment strategies that are recommended by other well-known investors and investment advisers.

You will also find links to hundreds of other retirement articles by using the other tabs at the top of this blog.

There is no single approach to retirement that is right for everyone.  It is extremely important that you do your research, explore your options, and then follow the plan that seems right for you.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.blogspot.com

Photo credit:  Photo of book cover is courtesy of www.amazon.com

Gavilan for Retirees in Rancho Mission Viejo, California

With the incredible number of Baby Boomers who are reaching age 65 (approximately 10,000 a DAY), the need for retirement housing is immense and growing larger all the time.  Consequently, a number of home builders have stepped up to build senior housing in a wide variety of price ranges.  Here in Southern California, retirees frequently want to stay in the area and, fortunately, there are a plethora of options available to them ... from Palm Springs to the Pacific coast (shown in this photo).

Until recently, those residents who wanted to live in a senior community in Orange County were limited primarily to older communities.  Now, however, there is a new option for home buyers.

Gavilan in Rancho Mission Viejo

One of the newer communities that is gaining in popularity in Orange County, California is the gated senior community of Gavilan in Rancho Mission Viejo.  There are three builders who are developing Gavilan, each offering their own styles and price options:

Standard Pacific Bungalows - 2 bd/2 bath/2 car garages - $500,000 - $600,000

Standard Pacific Casitas - 2 bd/2 bath/2 car garages - $600,000 - $700,000

Shea Single Family Homes - 2 bd/ 2 1/2 bath/2 car garages - $750,000 - $850,000

Del Webb Single Family Homes - 2-3 bd/2 1/2 bath/2 car garages - $800,000 - $900,000+

This gives home buyers a variety of options whether they can afford to spend $500,000 or twice that amount.

Amenities at Gavilan

Most of the new, modern homes in Gavilan are one story, with the exception of a few styles for those retirees who prefer the two-story option.  Among the green amenities you can expect in your home are: tankless water heaters, Energy Star appliances, water-efficient fixtures, weather sensing sprinklers, extra insulation and high efficiency air-conditioning systems.

The homes in this community surround the beautiful adult rec center known as the Hacienda.  Built around a luxurious salt water pool and spa, the Hacienda has a large, open great-room with a giant flat screen TV and a staffed bar, which makes it an excellent spot to mingle with your neighbors.  The Hacienda also contains a yoga studio, a fitness center, a barbecue area and bocce ball courts.

The community is located just off the Ortega Highway, a short distance east of the coastal community of charming San Juan Capistrano.  

Learn More about Gavilan at Rancho Mission Viego:


http://ranchomissionviejo.com/homes/gavilan/

If you are looking for more ideas about great places to retire, check out the tabs at the top of this blog.  They contain links to hundreds of additional articles about where to retire in the United States and overseas, financial planning, medical issues, changing family relationships, and more.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com


(Photo credit:  Photo of the Southern California coast was taken by author, Deborah-Diane; all rights reserved.)