Many of the risk factors for heart disease are also risk factors for vascular cognitive impairment, which can lead to dementia. Controlling these risk factors can delay or prevent this kind of mental decline.
It appears older adults with diabetes who experience at least one severe bout of low blood sugar may have double the risk for developing dementia. It also appears that low blood sugar occurs more often in people with dementia.
Aging brings physical changes that can jeopardize driving skills. It’s important to address potential driving issues as soon as possible to stay safe on the road.
Learning to focus attention on the present moment can have benefits that affect attention span as well as health. That’s why a practice called mindfulness has become a popular meditation.
Statins to lower cholesterol are available in generic and brand-name versions. The cost differences can be significant, with some generics costing about $12 a month, compared with brand-name statins that can run $500 a month.
Exposure to secondhand smoke raises the risk of lung cancer and heart disease. The science on this is as solid as a rock.
Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, which is needed to maintain a range of motion in the joints. If possible one should stretch daily, focusing on the lower extremities. It's important to stretch after a workout, not before.
Shortness of breath can indicate serious heart or lung disease. Sudden or rapidly worsening shortness of breath should be reported to the doctor immediately.
Eating disorders are usually associated with teenagers, but they are also common among older Americans. Such eating disorders include bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and anorexia.
Avoiding some tests and practices often done in hospitals can save money, without affecting quality of care, an expert group says. The Journal of Hospital Medicine published the recommendations online August 19. The advice comes from the Choosing Wisely campaign, an alliance of doctors. The group recommends ways to reduce waste in medicine. It has focused on releasing lists of tests, procedures and treatments that often are not needed. The list just published comes from the Society of Hospital Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation. It lists five items that often are not needed for children in the hospital. For example, the group says not to order chest X-rays for most children with asthma or bronchiolitis. Drugs to suppress acid in babies with reflux also don’t work, the group says. Five more items are listed for adult patients.