Healthy Eating, Alzheimer’s Patients, And The Holidays
Eating healthy during this Holiday season is difficult for all of us. All that delicious food, all of the parties, and in a flash, we can easily have put on 5 to 15 pounds. Wow! Now just try to imagine what a difficult time an Alzheimer’s patient, who needs a familiar routine and a…
Read MoreWhat is Hospice?
For centuries, the best standard of care was, as articulated by Dr. Edward Trudeau, a tuberculosis researcher and public health pioneer, “To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always.” In the 1940s, however, the development of antibiotics ushered in a golden age of medicine in which curing diseases became possible more often than “sometimes.”…
Read MoreAvoiding Prednisone Withdrawal
Doctors prescribe prednisone, a corticosteroid, to treat conditions that involve swelling and inflammation. A variety of conditions are treated with prednisone, including skin conditions that involve swelling and itching, such as poison ivy; asthma; severe allergies; arthritis; kidney problems; digestive problems; multiple sclerosis flareups; and lupus. In general, prednisone is prescribed for certain amount of…
Read MoreAging and Testosterone
Hormone replacement therapy is a standard of care for older women, but today there is new awareness of the implications of decreased hormone levels in older men. Testosterone in men, like estrogen in women, is responsible for maintaining bone density. It also helps maintain muscle strength, muscle mass, and fat distribution. Testosterone levels usually peak…
Read MoreThe Flu Shot: Just Do It
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the flu affects up to 35 million Americans each year, of whom approximately 500,000 will require hospitalization, and up to 50,000 will die from complications of the virus. But that was only until last year. Last year’s US flu season was a record-breaker: 49 million…
Read MoreCommon Complications of Diabetes
Because diabetes is a disease that affects the blood, many people are unaware that its complications are not limited to such blood-related issues as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The blood nourishes every cell of the body, and therefore diabetes can disrupt the proper functioning of virtually every organ. In honor of World Diabetes Day, which…
Read MoreFDA Warns Consumers about Unapproved Genetic Testing
The Human Genome Project (HGP) had its roots in the early 1900s, with the genetic mapping of the fruit fly, drosophila melanogaster, whose short lifecycle and large number of offspring made it a favorite for genetic research. (It also helped that 75% of disease-causing genes in humans are also found in the fruit fly.) Starting…
Read MoreCalcium: Just the FAQs
Everyone knows you need calcium for good bone health. But the benefits of calcium extend beyond strong bones. Your heart, muscles, and nerves also relying on calcium to function optimally. Some studies even suggest that calcium, in conjunction with vitamin D, protect the body against high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. How Much Calcium Do…
Read More3 Things to Do during Medicare Open Enrollment Period
Every year, you have the opportunity to review and, if you desire, to change Parts A, B and D of your Medicare plan. The time to do this is during the Open Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 through December 7. Any changes you make during that time will be effective January 1, 2019.…
Read MoreHeart Rate and Blood Pressure: What’s the Difference?
Heart rate and blood pressure are two of four measurements of essential body functions that help assess a person’s general health, and give clues to possible diseases. The other two are body temperature and respiratory rate. We are familiar with body temperature, since it is often measured at home to check for infection. Respiratory rate…
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