December 17, 2018 —
Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? Maybe you’ve vowed to lose weight, save money, read more books or clean the garage? We’d like to suggest another worthy resolution that could benefit you, your older loved ones, and even the young folks in the family: fighting ageism. Today, there is an increased emphasis on... Read More
December 3, 2018 —
Recent studies confirm that loneliness is a serious issue for older adults today. The health impact of social isolation rivals obesity and even smoking. Loneliness raises the risk of heart disease, depression, sleep problems, stroke, hypertension and dementia, and can shorten life. The holidays are considered a time of comfort and joy, when families get... Read More
November 28, 2018 —
December 1 is World AIDS Day, when health agencies worldwide call attention to the fight against HIV infection, and the need to support people who are living with the HIV virus. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. If not treated, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. There is at present no cure for HIV,... Read More
November 12, 2018 —
November is the month when families traditionally get together for Thanksgiving visits — and it’s also National Family Caregiver Month. Sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, November also is American Diabetes Month. So that makes this month a great time to discuss your family’s risk of diabetes. On the global level, the International Diabetes Foundation... Read More
October 19, 2018 —
With so much coverage of today’s opioid epidemic, there is new emphasis on alternative pain treatment. For many people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal pain, this includes the use of medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). This class of drugs includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and Celebrex. But while NSAIDs are overall safer than... Read More
October 16, 2018 —
Podiatrists report that autumn brings an increase in patients coming in with foot pain—specifically, the pain caused by bunions. Why? According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), it’s because people, especially women, often wear sandals and other lighter shoes all summer. When the temperature drops, out come the enclosed-toe shoes—and bunion... Read More
October 9, 2018 —
Did you get your flu shot yet? Last year’s severe flu season provided a big reminder of how dangerous seasonal influenza can be! Flu season 2017 – 2018 took the lives of 80,000 people, and caused 900,000 people to be hospitalized. Experts say it was the most deadly since the infamous Spanish flu epidemic of... Read More
October 4, 2018 —
Neurologists tell us that one of the best ways to protect our brains is to exercise our bodies. Exercise not only protects us from heart disease and other health conditions that damage the brain … but in its own right, it increases brain size and builds connections in the brain that keep us sharp. Anything... Read More
September 24, 2018 —
Last year’s flu season was unusually severe. This year—which is incidentally the 100th anniversary of the devastating 1918 Spanish flu pandemic—it’s important to pay attention to the dangers of seasonal influenza. The flu can be a serious illness for people of every age, and older adults are at highest risk of dangerous, even fatal, complications.... Read More
September 17, 2018 —
September Is Pain Awareness Month People who are living with chronic pain can feel discounted and insulted when someone says “It’s all in your head.” But studies show that the way we think about pain can make a real difference in how we perceive it, and how it affects our lives. It’s not just a... Read More