DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9710310099

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E2   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: IMPERFECT NAVIGATOR

SOURCE: ALEXANDRIA BERGER

                                            LENGTH:   73 lines

SOME PLACES TO LIVE IF YOU'RE RETIRED, DISABLED

GET OUT your scissors. Every time I run across useful information, I clip and save it. Sometimes it becomes a column. Sometimes, although worthy, it's just a tidbit.

So here are some selections from the bulging ``tidbit'' file:

In 1995, 369,629 Americans received their Social Security benefits in a foreign country. The September issue of International Living magazine lists the best places in the world to retire. If you're disabled or on a fixed income and have dreamed about living someplace exotic, the top 10 hot spots for value are Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Malta, Panama, Belize, Spain, Ireland, Portugal and France.

According the the survey, among these bargain countries, Mexico, Malta, Belize, Spain, Portugal and France offer excellent health care. Even though the United Kingdom (14th) and Canada (19th) top the list for best health care, they fall short in other categories, like cost of living, climate and benefits. The United States tied for 15th with the Czech Republic and Australia.

Health care should rank first among priorities. In addition, real estate, cost of living, safety, special benefits to foreigners, climate, government, currency stability, infrastructure and culture should be part of any decision you make.

International Living periodically gives retirement seminars. For more information, write to International Living, 105 W. Monument St., Baltimore, Md. 21201 or phone (410) 223-2611, fax (410) 223-2696 or e-mail 1031142472(AT)compuserve.com. The magazine is published monthly. A year's subscription costs $58.

Pen pals can connect you to the world if you're disabled or elderly and can't travel. For just $20 a year, consider International Pen Friends, the world's largest pen pal service. Part of the non-profit World Cultural Foundation, they cover 251 countries. You can meet up to 20 pals of similar age, interests and language. Contact International Pen Friends, Post Office Box 1129, Snoqualmie, Wash., 98065-1129 or phone: (425) 888-7275. Their Web site is http://www.wct.org.

Health bits:

If you're over 40 and aren't taking one baby aspirin a day, you should be. Large studies have shown conclusively that this will reduce your chances of a heart attack by 30 percent.

At the first sign of chest pain, dial 911 and take one adult aspirin, STAT! It may save your life.

Investors Business Daily (Oct. 23, 1997) reports that Ginkgo Biloba, a natural extract, can slow Alzheimer's disease a bit in some patients.

In this same issue, a study found elderly people are more at risk for malnutrition and food poisoning because we lose our sense of taste and smell as we age. Sustecal and Ensure aren't the only supplements available.

Try All-In-One Vitamin Powder, along with a high-calorie body-building powder or Myoplex. Mix two scoops of each in a blender with ice, orange juice, 2 percent chocolate or vanilla-laced milk. Serve three times a day. I call it, ``Juice a la Moo Moo!'' Available at health food stores.

Control hemorrhoids (that miserable condition I call ``The Grapes of Wrath'') or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Several top physicians recommend eating one cup of bran flakes or three Metamucil wafers every day. You can miss one day but not two. Try it.

From the Epidemiology Bulletin: You have two options to prevent the flu. Get the shot or take an influenza-specific antiviral drug, either amantadine or rimantadine. The drugs are only good for Type A influenza, when taken during flu season or if you're exposed. It is strongly recommended for any person over 6 months of age who, because of age or underlying medical condition, is at increased risk of complications.

Even if you're not at risk, a flu shot will reduce your chances of becoming infected. The shot is 50 percent to 60 percent effective in preventing hospitalization and pneumonia, 80 percent effective in prevent death. SHOOT THE FLU, NOW! MEMO: Write to Alexandria Berger, c/o The Virginian-Pilot, 150 W.

Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, Va. 23510.

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