Rates of heart disease, strokes and limb amputations are down sharply among older adults with diabetes today, compared with the 1990s, a study finds. But now hypoglycemia (episodes of low blood sugar) is one of the top problems for this group. Researchers said doctors may need to adjust drug doses as people get older in order to prevent low blood sugar. The study included more than 72,000 adults age 60 or older. They were all patients of the same managed care system. Cases of heart and blood vessel disease increased with age, and with how long people had diabetes. Overall, though, heart problems were only about one-seventh as common as another study found in the 1990s. Dangerous levels of high blood sugar and amputations also declined. But in the new study, low blood sugar became a more common problem among those who had diabetes longer.
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There is no clear evidence that widespread, routine testing for dementia among people 65 and older is helpful in the long run.
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A diet rich in added sugar is associated with an unhealthy diet. Using artificial sweeteners isn’t necessarily the answer, because these may heighten craving for sugary foods. For a healthier diet, gradually reduce added sweeteners.
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New guidelines may expand female candidates for these cholesterol-lowering drugs.
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Connected health means sending health information collected at home to doctors and nurses so they can help their patients with high blood pressure and other common conditions to improve their health.
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Walking for seven hours a week may help lower breast cancer risk. The more exercise women get, the lower their risk drops.
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Currently, most diseases that are detectable by urine tests can be diagnosed earlier with blood tests. Since blood testing is more common in doctors’ offices now and urinalysis adds little new information, many doctors do not do it routinely.
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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) doesn’t apply to women on Medicare or to the vast majority of women currently covered by their employers.
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Cosmetic techniques such as fractional laser resurfacing, neuromodulators, and dermal fillers can help improve the skin’s appearance by minimizing wrinkles and discoloration.
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People who take a cholesterol-lowering statin drug may be slightly more likely to develop cataracts.
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