Arthritis affects more than 50 million Americans, making it the leading cause of disability in the country. What is arthritis? Actually, it’s an umbrella term, covering a number of different conditions that affect the joints. The two most common are osteoarthritis, where the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones and provides cushioning begins [...]
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness and understanding of alcoholism, its causes, effective treatment and recovery. How serious a problem is alcoholism in the U.S.? Consider the following: An estimated 6.8 percent of adults engaged in heavy drinking in the past month. About 16.6 million adults in the U.S. have [...]
How Is Your Sleep? Getting a good night’s sleep is important for your overall health and your mood at any age. However, it can be particularly important in older adults. With National Sleep Awareness Week this month, now is a particularly good time to discuss your sleep (or lack thereof). Sleep problems in older adults [...]
There is no better time to exercise than when you’re older. Although many older people know the importance of physical fitness, it is estimated that about 85 percent fail to exercise on a regular basis. They don’t do it for the same reason younger people don’t exercise – it’s too hard, it’s too boring, or [...]
Regardless of your age, January is a great time for New Year’s Resolutions. It’s a time to turn the page, to start over, to take a “mulligan” for all the things that weren’t done the right way in the past. The problem is that while resolutions are all well and good, the odds are overwhelming [...]
Not noticing a small patch of ice as he carried groceries on the way to his car, the 82-year-old man slipped and fell, shattering his pelvis. Forgetting that she had left her shoes in the darkened room, the 6-year-old woman tripped and fell over them, smashing her head on a table. According to the Centers [...]
November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month It’s been estimated that 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. As of now, it is the only one of the common causes of death that has no cure, effective treatment or prevention. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. [...]
October is Healthy Lung Month, a good time to pay attention to those symptoms that could be the first signs of lung disease, including COPD, asthma, emphysema and lung cancer. Knowing the early warning signs can help you receive treatment before the disease becomes serious or even life threatening. If you experience any of the [...]
Alzheimer’s patients often cover up so well that even adult children or siblings may see a totally different side when they visit or call. Yet, caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, can be an all-consuming 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week challenge. Anna first began to notice when her husband, Peter, began to show some difficulty recalling words. [...]
With September being Pain Awareness Month, now is a good time to discuss a problem that affects an estimated 100 million Americans – more than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Pain is associated with a wide range of injury and disease, and is sometimes the disease itself. Some conditions may have pain and associated [...]