How to Start a Support Group
Support groups provide an opportunity to meet other people who share similar experiences. Most often groups
provide support and advice on how...
Preventing Falls: How to Avoid Falling for Seniors
Falls rank among the top five causes of death from unintentional injuries in the United States. An estimated one-third of Americans...
Helping Your Doctor Help You
You and your doctor are partners and share a common goal - YOUR GOOD
HEALTH. As a partner, your task is to give...
7 Ways Music Is Good For Our Health
“One good thing about music is when it hits you, you feel no pain." Bob Marley
Music is pretty...
Menopause: Are You Pre, Peri Or Post?
We read and hear so much about menopause that you
would think that the definition is straightforward, and it would be easy
...
Sun Exposure: Precautions and Protection
A golden, bronze tan is often considered a status symbol. Perhaps this
supports the idea that people who have time to lie in...
HIV for Adults Over 50
What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, better known as HIV, was discovered about 20 years ago. This
deadly...
First Aid for Heat Sickness
A rather simple way to avoid most heat-related health problems is to
drink! The body's main defense to rising temperatures is perspiration.
Sweating helps...
Asian American Aging
Asian Americans are a very diverse group. According to the 1980 census, an Asian American elder
is described as an older person...
How to Move Loved One to a Nursing Home
All of us fear finding ourselves unable to care for an aging parent. Maybe your father had a severe
stroke and now...
10 Tips For Visiting a Nursing Home
Once a family member has moved to a nursing home, it is important to visit as often as time allows. Residents
of...
Improve Balance: Prevent Falls
Balance declines with age. Many factors
contribute toward making the older adult susceptible to falls. These include:
Impaired hearing...
Sensory Changes as Your Age
The prospect of a long life is a treasure not a fear! From the moment of our
conception to the moment of our...
How to Maintain Your Body as You Age
As a person ages, the body does not function as it once did. There are many
changes that take place. This fact...
So You Need a Hearing Aid
It is well known that a person who has poor eyesight would not
consider trying to function without glasses or contacts, but...
Hearing Loss and Older Adults
Accurate estimates of hearing loss are very difficult to obtain.
There are two main reasons for this. First, most of the research...
Stroke Risk
Some Facts About Stroke
Stroke is the third leading killer in the United States.Stroke is the most common...
Grandparents as Parents Again
Grandparents across the country, regardless of income, background, or race, are
becoming parents again! Grandparents who find themselves suddenly with this added
responsibility often...
Living with Arthritis
Did you know that arthritis and chronic joint symptoms are the
leading cause of disability among Americans age 15 and over? Seventy...
Quality vs. Quantity: Benefits of Weight Training in the Older Adult
What does quality vs. quantity have to do with older adult fitness? Many times,
older adults feel that exercising is not important by...
Intergenerational Programming
Intergenerational relations refers to any informal interaction between youth and
senior adults. In many countries where generations continue to live in close
proximity, the...
“Homes” for Later Years
According to the 2015 U.S. Census, 1 in 8 Americans are over the age of 65. This figure represents 35 million...
Caregiver Burnout
I'm feeling overwhelmed and guilty, what should I do? How often do those thoughts
pop up in the course of a caregiver's day...
Programming for Mature Men
Marketing educational programs for the suddenly single man, or the man living alone can be difficult. This resource will offer a few...
Systems to Keep Track of Taking Medications
To get the most benefit and to reduce potential risks, you must take
medications as directed. Organizing your medications can be difficult,
especially if...
Prescription and Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medications
Medications include Over-The-Counter medications (OTC) as well as prescription
medications. People often think medications that
do not require a doctor's prescription cannot...
Working With Health Care Professionals To Take Medications Safely
The "Prescription Triangle"
A "prescription triangle" consists of you, your doctor, and your pharmacist.
To ensure you use...
Guidelines for Using Medications Safely
Today's medications are more effective than ever before; however, any
medication, if used improperly, is potentially dangerous. Although our
government works to ensure medications...
Over-the-Counter Medication Labels
Before taking any medication it is very important to read the label.
Medication labels contain important information to help you take your
medication correctly...
Adverse Drug-Drug and Food-Drug Medication Interactions
Because older adults often take more medications than younger adults,
the incidence of adverse drug reactions does increase with age. Adverse
drug reactions, however,...
Medication Misuse Among Older Adults
Although aging affects how medications are processed in our bodies, a
major factor affecting how well a medication works is whether or not...
Aging Increases Risk For Medication Problems
As we grow older, we become more sensitive to medications and may
experience adverse drug reactions or increased side effects. Reasons for
this include:
The Role of a Caregiver
Are you feeling drained and weighted down with the struggles of balancing your work, home life, and care for an aging...
5 Tips for Choosing a Doctor
Having a primary doctor is crucial in maintaining good health and it is especially important as you get older. Your primary...
Over-the-Counter Medications Are Drugs Too
Literally thousands of drugs are available for purchase
"Over-The-Counter" (OTC), which means that a person does not
need a prescription to buy them. Just...
Head Lice: Ultimate Guide to Identification & Treatment
Description & Habits
The head louse is a tiny, soft-bodied insect that is somewhat flat.
...
How You Can Live Longer And Feel Better
Most people want to live a long life. While we still don’t have a potion for immortality, there is one secret “potion”...
How to Tell if Your Child is Hyperactive
Ask any parents if they think their child is hyperactive and they'll probably
respond with a resounding "Yes!" Children are supposed to be...
Adolescents With ADHD
In almost all cases, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) will have
been identified long before the child reaches middle school or junior high
school....
Does Your Child Need Fluoride Supplements?
Talk with your child's
dentist or pediatrician about whether your child should receive fluoride
supplements. Supplements often are recommended if...
Fluoride in YOUR Water?
Water Fluoridation: When, Where and Why
Fluoride's effect on teeth was first observed in
the 1930s. Dentists started to...
How to Quit Smoking
There are many tools available to smokers who want to quit. Although you may want to try going cold turkey (stopping smoking...
Truth About Weight Gain After Quitting Smoking
Don't Worry About Your Waistline
Many smokers worry about the weight gain that can occur when...
The Risks of Tobacco
The Effects of Smoking on Your Health
Although the health risks associated with smoking are well known, almost 45...
Online Pharmacies
Internet pharmacies are convenient, and the drugs they offer are less expensive, but they may not be safe.
Buying...
Avoid Medication Mistakes
Drug mix-ups kill thousands of people every year.Here's how to protect yourself.
Quite often, these errors are drug...
Recognizing When It Is More Than Stress
It is normal to be nervous in stressful situations. But stressors,
such as the breakup of a marriage or the loss of...
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers
Overview
Nonmelanoma skin cancers include basal cell cancers, which account
for 80% of all skin cancers, and squamous cell...
Decrease Your Risk Of Getting A Sexually Transmitted Disease
You can dramatically decrease your risk of developing a sexually transmitted disease (STD) by following a few simple rules.
Identifying And Treating Sexually Transmitted Diseases
If you suspect you have any of the symptoms of a sexually transmitted
disease (STD) or have had unprotected sex, talk with...
HIV Infection In Minority Populations
HIV/AIDS has had a devastating impact on minorities in the United
States. Racial and ethnic minorities accounted for almost 71 percent of...
Tips For Long-Term Birth Control Success
Tips For Long-Term Success
The key to long-term success in preventing unplanned pregnancy is to
use birth control consistently...
Sexual Abstinence
Abstinence means refraining from all sexual relations. This includes intercourse, as well as oral and anal sex.
Abstinence differs...
Important Points To Consider When Choosing Birth Control
Having information about birth control is your first step toward
choosing the method that is best suited for your lifestyle and family...
Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence
Domestic violence is when one person in a relationship purposely
hurts another person physically or emotionally. Domestic violence is
also called intimate...
Pelvic Exam
Before You Go
Schedule your appointment about a week before you anticipate your
period will start, or the week...
How to Talk to Your Kids about Sex
When should you talk to your children about sex and what is the best approach?
It may be easy...
Safe Sex: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You and Your Partner
Safe sex is more than a physical act. It involves the decision to
have sex in a responsible way to avoid becoming...
Combining The Old And New To Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
Arthritis of any kind can be terribly painful. But rheumatoid arthritis is among the most destructive forms of arthritis, frequently associated with...
Osteoarthritis: How it has affected my life
Almost two years ago, I had a severe car accident that changed my foot forever. I have severe stiffness, pain and swelling...
Common Prostate Cancer Causes
Prostate Cancer Can Be Inherited
Since 1992, the presence of a familial prostate cancer gene (or
genes) had been...
Determining the Severity of Prostate Cancer
Doctors use three pieces of information to decide when a prostate biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer:
Last Weeks of Pregnancy
In recent years, more women are asking to schedule
their vaginal deliveries (induction) or Cesarean sections before 39
completed weeks of pregnancy....
Alcohol Use in Pregnancy
There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink
while pregnant. There is also no safe time during pregnancy to drink...
Postpartum Checklist
With all the emotions and excitement after your baby's birth, you may
be feeling a little overwhelmed. That's why we put together...
Common Pregnancy Questions, Answered!
First Trimester
When should I tell friends and family that I am pregnant?
There is...
8 Tips for Traveling While Pregnant
Being pregnant doesn't mean you have to stay at home for
nine months; however, you may want to take a few precautions...
Common Questions About Sex in Pregnancy
Questions about sex during pregnancy are common. Many couples want to
continue an active sex life but wonder whether having sex will...
Multiple Births
In the United States, 1 in 35 are twin births. The
multiple pregnancy rate is higher in patients who have used fertility...
Coping With Stress
Stress is a part of life. But it can affect health if the stress
becomes persistent. Learning to relieve stress not only...
Improving Memory and Treating Memory Loss
Improving Memory
There is no miracle cure for memory loss. You can, however, use specific techniques to sharpen existing...
Common Memory Loss Questions, Answered!
What is memory?
Memory is the term for information that is stored in your brain and can be...
5 Natural Treatments for Lower Back Pain
Initial Treatment
Low back pain will often improve with simple measures that don't require drugs: rest, stretching, application...
Lower Back Pain History
Getting Started
Most people who see a health-care provider about back pain have two
main questions: "What could be...
Lower Back Pain: Diagnostics
After reviewing your history, your health-care provider will perform a physical examination. Depending on your symptoms and the results of...
Common Lower Back Pain Questions, Answered
What causes low back pain?
For most persons with low back pain, no specific cause...
Lower Back Pain: Risks & Causes
Knowing Your Risk Factors
Because the specific cause of most back pain is mysterious, health-care providers often can't say...
Dealing with Lower Back Pain: What You Need to Know
Your lower back is a remarkable machine, reliably carrying out a critical and all-but-invisible support role in a host of daily activities,...
Alternatives To Viagra
Viagra has been the leading way that men have been battling erectile dysfunction for the last 20 years, yet there are some...
Diabetes and Impotence
Long-standing diabetes often leads to sexual problems. By age 43,
about 45% of men with type 1 (childhood-onset) diabetes experience
impotence. This...
Treating High Blood Pressure with Medication
If lifestyle changes alone do not lower your blood pressure to a healthy level, your doctor will want you to try medications....
6 Lifestyle Changes to Lower Blood Pressure
Lifestyle is the way you live your life. It's what you eat and drink, what activities you participate in (or don't), whether...
9 Tips to Reduce Salt in Your Diet
Buy fresh, frozen or canned "no salt added" vegetables.Use fresh poultry, fish and lean meat, rather than canned or processed types.Use...
High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy
High Blood Pressure And The Fetus
High blood pressure that is present before a pregnancy or...
How Is Blood Pressure Measured?
Blood-Pressure Measurement
Blood pressure is measured using an inflatable arm cuff with a pressure gauge and...
Frequently Asked High Blood Pressure Questions, Answered!
When is high blood pressure an emergency?
High blood pressure is an emergency when it...
Types Of High Blood Pressure
Doctors classify high blood pressure (also called hypertension) based on cause and characteristics.
Essential Hypertension
High Blood Pressure: Reduce Your Pill Bill
Some of the most effective blood pressure drugs are quite inexpensive. Generally, new blood- pressure drugs — those made by ...
High Blood Pressure: What Should My Goal Be?
Te Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC) defined the following categories for blood...
Second Heart Attack Prevention Plan
If you've had a heart attack, you're at risk of another. Here's what you can do to lower that risk.
Types of Headaches
Headaches can be very different for different people. The pain may
have different qualities: throbbing, sharp or stabbing, constant or
intermittent, a...
The ‘Ripening’ of Cataracts
The first time I heard my grandmother describe her
upcoming cataract surgery, I was confused by the expression she used.
She told...
Observing A Solar Eclipse Safely
Watching a solar eclipse or a partial solar eclipse can be an illuminating experience. But sun watchers must take care. ...
Imaging Studies For Seizure Disorders
Seizures are sometimes caused by abnormal nerve-cell discharges
originating in or near a structural abnormality in the brain. Imaging
studies therefore are...
Frequently Asked Epilepsy Questions, Answered!
What Is The Difference Between Seizures and Epilepsy?
Seizures are characterized by a sudden change in movement,...
Cancer Concerns About Heartburn
Acid reflux may be doing more damage than you think.
For many of the approximately 17 million Americans who...
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed antidepressants until selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) came along. Doctors still prescribe tricyclic antidepressants,...
Mood Stabilizers
The term "mood stabilizer" usually refers to a drug that treats the up (manic) and down (depressed) mood swings that occur in...
Baby Feeding Plan
Breast-Feeding Steps for Success
Breast-feeding is very good for both infants and mothers. It is best for a woman
to...
Chronic Pain Plan
Getting Started
If you are living with chronic pain, it is important that you meet
with your doctor regularly....
Chemoprevention – The Answer to Cancer?
Recently, you may have heard the words chemoprevention, nutraceuticals,
and phytochemicals in the media. What exactly do these terms mean? With
the ever-increasing interest...
Chronic Pain Treatment
Undergoing Physical Examination and Diagnostic Testing
After completing your health history, your health-care provider will give you a thorough...
Getting Involved in Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials, Medical Teachers
Clinical trials are one of medicine's best-kept secrets. Such research can provide those suffering from...
Making Decisions About Cancer Screening
The purpose of screening tests for cancer is to facilitate early detection of the disease. Early detection of cancer increases survival...
Frequently Asked Pain Questions, Answered!
Are there different kinds of pain?
Yes. Health-care providers classify pain by its duration (how long it
lasts),...
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
What is TENS?
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a drug-free
method of pain relief that has been used...
Body, Mind & Pain
Why is treating chronic pain such a challenge? The answer: We don't
have a lab test, an X-ray, or any other test...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (FAQ)
What is the difference between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and bronchitis?
If you have emphysema...
Cancer Support Group Benefits
Cancer support groups are dotting America's landscape in ever-growing
numbers. Practically each day of the week, at any given hour, small
groups...
Living Wills and Other Advance Directives
How to see that your wishes are respected if accident or illness leaves you unable to look out for yourself.
Causes of Cancer
Scientists have identified many factors that contribute to the development of cancer. Avoiding these risk factors whenever possible could have...