Arthritis refers to the general umbrella term for a group of over 100 different conditions that all have the common factor of affecting the joints in our bones and/or the tissues around the joints. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, followed up by rheumatoid arthritis and gout. There are a number of factors that combine to result in arthritis, genetic factors, lifestyle, and environment. And while people of any age can have arthritis, one of the top risk factors is age.
Everyone has heard the adage that couples shouldn’t go to bed angry. What you may not know is that this advice can apply to your other relationships as well. Research done by Oregon State University found that the emotional response after any unresolved argument can be stressful.
With heart disease being the number one killer in the United States, many of us are thinking about ways that we can all take good care of our hearts. Maybe we make a resolution to get more exercise, lower our stress levels, and control our blood pressure, making sure to keep it within recommended levels. For most people, the first step is to examine our eating habits, and look at all the ways we can switch to a healthier diet. Many of us may do this and then experience the disappointment of learning we have to give up some of our “guilty favorites” when we create our meal plans for the week.
These days more of us are spending extra time at home, either working remotely, cooking for ourselves, tackling DIY projects or spending more time gardening or any other ways to find recreation at home. But you may not know that many of the activities we engage in at home can pose a risk of eye injury. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2.4 million people in the United States suffer an eye injury each year. And on average, more than half of these injuries occur at home.
Gout is a painful type of arthritis that commonly affects the joints of the big toe, but can also affect the ankle, heel, knees, wrists, fingers, or elbow. Like any other joint disease, gout can be painful and disabling, and yet many people with this condition sometimes fail to seek treatment due to misinformation.
Osteoporosis is a disease where the bones gradually lose density, thinning and weakening over time. It is common among older adults of all genders, not just women. And yet many people mistakenly believe that it’s only a health concern for women, and not something men should be at all concerned about either. While it is true that the disease more commonly affects women, the truth is that men can and do get it too.
Ever since the coronavirus pandemic began and brought the idea of disease prevention to the front of our minds, many people have been wondering about what extra steps they can take to protect themselves. Though we have vaccines for the COVID-19 virus and for seasonal influenza, there are always extra measures and tools at our disposal. We learned during the pandemic that distancing, masking, and frequent hand washing and disinfection protocols can lower our risk of contracting diseases of any kind. But many of us are also wondering what we can do to boost the strength of our immune system and help our body’s natural line of defense. For seniors, this is a greater challenge due to the changes brought about from age.
Seniors are vulnerable to mental health concerns. Find out common mental health issues your senior loved one may be facing and learn how to address them today.
Staying socially connected is essential for seniors' overall well-being. Learn valuable tips on how your senior loved one can stay connected with their family, friends, and the community.
As we age, some of the changes that our bodies go through can make driving a less safe activity for seniors. Eye diseases, arthritis, memory problems, side effects from medications, and more, can all make it harder to street, react to conditions on the road, and make decisions behind the wheel.
There has been a great deal of research done recently which has shed light on what has been called an “epidemic” of loneliness among seniors. The University of Michigan published a study which found that 25% of adults have reported feeling lonely. And you may not know this, but loneliness is in fact a health problem. Many experts have listed it among health concerns such as smoking or obesity in terms of causing negative health outcomes.
While it is entirely possible to work out at home or outside, joining and working out at a gym has numerous advantages. For one, there is a large amount of space and a wide variety of equipment and machines, all allowing you to perform many exercises that would be otherwise difficult or impossible at home. Staff and instructors teach classes for you to follow along with, and can show you the correct and safe way to use machines and perform exercises. Gyms also provide a place to exercise in the event of bad weather, and many health insurance plans offer discounted or even free gym memberships.
There is certainly no doubt that you’ve heard something about the terrible epidemic of opioids that is sweeping the nation, ruining and costing so many lives in the United States.
Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a large vein, most often in the lower leg, thigh, pelvis, or arm. The clot can not only cause temporary or permanent damage in the vein where it forms, but there is another risk of it breaking free. Once free, it can travel through the bloodstream and enter the lungs, which can result in a pulmonary embolism, an arterial blockage that can be fatal.
In the United States, more than 30 million people are currently living with diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that happens when levels of blood glucose, more commonly known as blood sugar, are too high.
Staying hydrated during spring activities is of utmost importance for seniors. Read more and learn about the importance of hydration so you can fully enjoy your spring outdoor activities.
Maybe your trips to the supermarket produce section are limited to grabbing a few tomatoes, bananas, apples and an onion or two for a basic selection of fruits and vegetables.
Staying safe during the spring season allows seniors to fully enjoy the beauty and warmth this time of the year has to offer. Read on to learn safety tips seniors need to be aware of so they can make the most of springtime.
When the word travel comes up, most people have different images come up in their minds. For some, it means jet-setting off to a exotic, tropical locale. For others, a simple road trip out to see tourist stops along the highway, or maybe an all-inclusive cruise through the Gulf of Mexico.
Our teeth and gums change as we age. The years of wear and tear will take a toll, often leading to thinning enamel and broken or lost teeth. And even when teeth are repaired, with crowns, fillings, root canals or bridges, they are still less hardy. And gums recede, leading to sensitive areas of the teeth not covered by enamel to be exposed.
Dementia is a collection of symptoms that can occur due to a variety of diseases. They include impairments in thought, communication, and memory. Currently, there is no cure for the symptoms or the diseases that cause them, and the best way to combat it is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and hopefully prevent it. For care providers and family members of the elderly, it is important to be aware of the early signs of dementia.
Many of us are not alone in feeling tired and sleepy. According to the CDC, one in five adults suffers from insufficient sleep every day. As we get older, adequate, restful sleep can seem to slip away from us. Creating good sleeping habits when you can will pay off later in life.
One thing that seems to be in the air today is that good feelings for other people can be in short supply. Whether it’s arguments shooting back and forth from either side of the political divide, snarky comments on Facebook or Youtube, mean and inflammatory tweets, and news sites about one misery or another happening in the world somewhere, it seems like everything is designed to make us all feel prickly, judgmental, and self-focused.
With Daylight Savings past us and an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings as the days get longer as we travel through Spring on into Summer, it’s a good time to remind everyone that sunburn season is officially upon us. That means that it is time to start thinking about protecting our skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays that can give us painful sunburns as well as raise our risk of contracting skin cancer.
There are many things that must be taken into account when planning out our retirement years. Sorting out health care plans, looking over financials and planning for the future monetarily, securing living arrangements and planning for necessary changes, and how to maintain a healthy social network of connections with friends and family. But there is one thing that many seniors may neglect to plan for, which is taking steps to prevent a fall.