A Healthy Retirement? Part I—"The Cookout" by Ann Henninger Biology Department Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa

Late afternoon on a Monday in June

"The backyard is ready for tonight's cookout," Jim announced as he entered the kitchen and dropped into a chair.  "The tables and chairs are set up, the grill is clean, and the drinks are on ice.  Sure glad I cut the grass yesterday.  I don't think I would have had time to do that today too.  What are you doing?  Do you need any help?"

"No, thanks," said his wife Nancy.  "I'm almost done with these snacks.  Why don't you fix us a drink so we can sit and relax a little before the neighbors arrive.  Getting ready for these parties used to be a breeze, but right now I'm pooped.  Can't understand why I feel so tired all the time."

"OK, Hon.  Put your feet up for a bit.  I'll be the waiter." He gave her shoulders a good rub and then headed to the refrigerator, returning shortly with two cool drinks.

As they sat on the porch swing and sipped their drinks, Jim and Nancy went over the list of things they had done and the things they had yet to do before their cruise to Alaska.  Planning had been intense.  It was the middle of June and the Towers had been working hard to get their garden beds planted and odd jobs finished around the house before they left on their two-week vacation.

Jim retired last year after 40 years in sales.  He had suffered a massive heart attack a few years earlier and now takes medication to control his blood pressure as well as an aspirin every night.  He is 68 years old, overweight, and keeps promising to quit smoking.

Nancy is 62 years old and just retired from teaching mathematics at the college level.  She's still trying to find a place at home for the books and papers she decided to keep.  Although she swims a few laps and lifts weights several times a week at the local Health and Wellness Center, Nancy weighs more than she should.  She has been taking hormone (estrogen) replacement therapy since she had a hysterectomy at age 45.  Now she's concerned about developing osteoporosis because her sister was recently diagnosed with it, and their mother died in early April from complications following a broken hip.

Later that evening

The neighborhood cookout was a success.

"I'm stuffed," sighed Nancy as she finished her last bite of pie.  "Let's just sit and talk some more before we start cleaning up.  I don't know if I can move!  I've had a pain in my back all week, and now I have a burning sensation in the lower part of my chest.  If I didn't know better, I'd say that something happened to me last month when I retired.  I suddenly seem to be falling apart!"

"You probably just ate too much.  Why don't you take some antacid?" suggested her friend Harry.  "It helps my indigestion every time."

Others agreed with Harry's suggestion, and Nancy left to search the medicine cabinet.  The pain in her chest eventually lessened, and Nancy enjoyed the rest of the evening with Jim and their friends.

The next day, Tuesday

After cleaning up the remains of their cookout Jim and Nancy began their final packing in earnest.  A few neighbors stopped by to confirm house-sitting duties and to see if they could help with any last minute details.

"Jim and I are really looking forward to getting away.  It's been years since we splurged on a vacation.  But, getting ready to go is so much work!  We thought we'd never get the garden ready in time.  Sometimes I think it would be better just to stay home," said Nancy.

"I know what you mean," said their next door neighbor Jill.  "But I'm sure you'll love the cruise and Alaska.  Don't worry, everything back here will be fine."

In the midst of the day's hubbub, Nancy's test results from an early morning screening at the local Health and Wellness Center arrived in the afternoon mail.  She glanced at them briefly and stuck the paper into a book she was taking along on vacation.  "Maybe later I can figure out what all of this means," she said to herself.

Nancy's test results (at rest and fasting levels):

Questions:

1. Assess the health of Jim and Nancy by listing the healthy and not-so-healthy things we know about each of them.  Fill out a table similar to the one below to list your observations about their health status.

2. What diseases are Jim and Nancy at risk for and why?
3. What other information might be helpful to know in assessing their health?  How would this information help?

Date Posted  03/29/03 nas
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