A 2024 study suggests that older adults who fall for financial scams may have brain changes associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The FDA added a boxed warning in December 2024 to fezolinetant (Veozah), a nonhormonal drug that reduces hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal women. The drug may cause rare but serious liver injury.
A 2024 study observed that people who eat at least five servings of dark chocolate each week were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
An estimated six in 10 women will at some point experience symptoms from pelvic floor weakness. Risk factors include pregnancy (especially with vaginal delivery), chronic constipation, family history, smoking, aging, menopause, obesity, chronic coughing, and occupations involving heavy lifting. Women with pelvic floor weakness may experience signs such as leaking urine, having trouble using a tampon, being unable to fully empty their bladder or rectum, and feeling a bulge in their vagina.
A portion of the two million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year choose to keep the news private or tell only a select few people. These patients may wish to avoid extra attention, sympathy, or different treatment; bypass burdening or alarming others; protect their job; feel in control of an uncertain situation; or sidestep judgment if their cancer is related to lifestyle choices. But opting for secrecy can pose several disadvantages, depriving patients of practical and emotional support and aggravating stress, anxiety, and depression.
Sepsis causes or contributes to an estimated 20% of all deaths worldwide. The condition begins with an infection that spreads and over activates the immune system, which releases damaging inflammatory chemicals that lead to organ failure. Any infection can trigger sepsis, but those that begin in the lungs, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, or skin are more likely to do so. Older people are more susceptible to sepsis. The condition may be avoided by stopping bacterial or viral infections from occurring or worsening.
Several strategies can help people cope when stress incontinence leads to urine leaks during exercise. For example, doing low-impact (rather than high-impact) exercise will put less stress on the pelvic floor muscles, helping to reduce leakage. Wearing absorbent “bladder leak” underwear can keep someone dry and comfortable during activity. Regularly strengthening the pelvic floor, abdominal, and hip muscles will bolster the body’s ability to keep urine from leaking out of the bladder.
When debating whether to use a pain pill or a pain patch to treat discomfort, it helps to note the main differences between the two. Pain pills are the first choice to relieve sudden or immediate pain. For more persistent or chronic pain, patches can be used alone or combined with certain pain pills. Before using multiple therapies at the same time, check with your doctor or pharmacist for safety.
As people age, their teeth and gums can change. Examples include receding gums, shifting teeth, changing tooth color, and reduced tooth pain. These changes can be due to the wear and tear that comes with age, the development of disease, or natural changes in the components of tooth material. Dentists stress the importance of brushing and flossing teeth daily, getting teeth professionally cleaned twice a year, and talking to a dentist about solutions to dental problems.
Many people worry about occasional memory lapses that occur as they get older. To cope, it helps to talk to a doctor and also reduce stress by following healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and meditating. Using strategies to help retain information is also important. Examples include placing keys in a designated spot, taking medication at the same time each day, and using notebooks—not just memory—to organize and store information for fast retrieval.