Falls are a marker of frailty, immobility, and acute and chronic health impairment in older persons. Falls in turn diminish function by causing injury, activity limitations, fear of falling, and loss of mobility. Most injuries in the elderly are the result of falls; fractures of the hip, forearm, humerus, and pelvis usually result from the […]
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week.1 Many people do not reach this mark because they either don’t enjoy workouts or have medical issues that make traditional exercise a challenge. People also sometimes think it takes too much time and effort. […]
The term “silent heart attack” refers to when a person has a heart attack but didn’t know. Surprisingly, a study published recently in Circulation, the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that 45% of heart attacks happen without people being fully aware.1 The problem is that silent heart attacks cause just as much damage […]
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage that can occur in people with diabetes. Different types of nerve damage cause different symptoms. Symptoms can range from pain and numbness in your feet to problems with the functions of your internal organs. Over time, high blood glucose levels, also called blood sugar, and high levels of fats, such […]
Loneliness increases with age, and it is connected with a surprising number of health effects such as high blood pressure, heart disease, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even mortality. When it comes to loneliness, we all feel it in different ways. Some people feel lonely when they are by […]
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), half of all Americans over the age of 50 have weak bones. There is good news, no matter how old we are, there are things we can do to prevent bone loss. Our bones support us and allow us to move. They protect our brain, heart, and […]
With the ever-changing climate, sinuses are working overtime. As overlooked as it is, geriatric sinusitis is very common. Patients with nasal obstruction or congestion, a runny, itchy, or even dry crusting nose may be experiencing geriatric sinusitis.[1] What are the symptoms: The three types of sinusitis are allergic, non-allergic, and atrophic. When treating patients with […]
Social isolation and loneliness are common problems among older adults, and are linked to several health conditions, such as depression and heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social isolation is a lack of social connection, and loneliness is the feeling of being alone, regardless of the amount of social […]
A recent study finds that night owls are more at risk for health problems such as diabetes, sarcopenia (a condition where the body gradually loses muscle mass), and metabolic syndrome (a collection of health conditions that increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke). This is true even if the night owls sleep the […]
Recent studies find that learning a musical instrument can be one of the best workouts for our mind and cognition. In addition, research shows that it can also benefit us physically as we age and of course we all know that music is good for the soul. A study from Northwestern University reveals that musicians […]
