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Remember that, if you encounter a food-related medical emergency, a medical alert system can save your life. You never know how an emergency will alter your ability to seek help, especially when it’s caused by food. Medical alert systems from Alert1 can help save your life regardless of the situation.
High Risk Choking Foods
While choking can pose a risk at any age, certain foods are more dangerous to seniors. The California State Government has a useful guide to foods that can pose a choking hazard for those in older age groups. Among others, the list includes the following common household items.
- Hard candy
- Popcorn
- Fruit chunks
- Peanut butter
- Chicken with bones
- Large pieces of meat
In elderly folks, dry foods can increase risks of choking. If crackers, rice cakes, and other dry goods are a regular part of your diet, remember to drink water with your meal or snack.
Food-Drug Interaction List
Some foods and drinks can affect the way medications work. When this happens, it is called a “food-drug” interaction. Commonly, food-drug interactions render medicines ineffective, but they can also cause new or more intense side effects. Information regarding potential food-drug interactions is typically included on a “Drug Facts” section on the prescription, as well as online, but this tiny text is often difficult for seniors to read.
Below, we’ve listed some common foods that may cause drug interactions, especially in older people.
- Grapefruit – Grapefruit and grapefruit juice contain a compound that blocks a specific enzyme. When grapefruit is consumed, the enzyme’s ability to break down your prescription drug decreases significantly. The food-drug interaction typically occurs in blood pressure medications.
- Alcohol – Alcohol is known to change the effectiveness and side effects of some medications. This includes most pain killers, antidepressants, and sleeping aids.
- Tyramine – This amino acid is common in foods like aged cheese, pickled fish, brewer’s yeast, and fava beans. It helps to regulate blood sugar, but it can limit the effectiveness of certain antidepressants and some antibiotics.
Reducing Risk Starts with a Medical Alert System
Emergencies are impossible to predict, and if a food you eat causes a medical emergency, you may struggle to get the help you need. Emergencies can incapacitate people in different ways, and the safest option is to rely on a service for emergency support. A medical alert system is a fantastic option.
The medical alert systems from Alert1 offer emergency aid with the push of a button. Users can easily connect to operators, who will ask questions to better understand the situation. Then, you can be put in contact with the most relevant emergency contact – whether it be a friend, a family member, or emergency medical services.