_ Solve the Medical Riddle: Her Left Arm Is Painful and Her Fingers Tingle, First Week By article EditorΓÇÖs note: Welcome to our ThirdAge feature that gives you a chance to play medical sleuth as we share the … Read More→
_ Solve the Medical Riddle: She Suspected That Her Husband Was a Closet Drinker, First Week By article By Marie Savard MD EditorΓÇÖs note: Welcome to our ThirdAge feature that gives you a chance to play medical sleuth … Read More→
Mental & Emotional Health Why Are the Holidays So Hard and How Can You Get Through Them? ΓÇ¿ By Jane Farrell article We’re supposed to be excited for the holidays. But if you’re like many people, you may ΓÇ¿find yourself dreading the … Read More→
_ Constipation Solve the Medical Riddle: The Patient Is No Longer ΓÇ£RegularΓÇ¥, Fourth Week By article By Marie Savard MD EditorΓÇÖs note: Welcome to our ThirdAge feature that gives you a chance to play medical sleuth … Read More→
_ Pain Management Chronic Pain & Painkillers: Why You ΓÇ¿Should Consider AlternativesΓÇ¿ By Sondra Forsyth article By Dr. Frank King Roughly 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain lasting more than six months, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine. Throughout the past decade, the use of painkillers such as Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin has soared by 300 percent. For many ΓÇô 17,000 people per year, or 46 each day ΓÇô the treatment is worse than the pain. ThatΓÇÖs the number of users who die from the medicine, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Doesn't Anyone Know What Dying Looks Like? By blog I live and work in the house of medicine. You would think that those of us who have chosen this profession would actually know what dying looks like. Furthermore, one would hope that if the doctor could identify dying, he or she could share this with the patient and family (given that this is fairly significant medical information!). I never cease to be amazed that most doctors cannot speak straightforwardly and compassionately about the reality of death and dying.
Aging Well Seniors Have Roomies, Too By Jane Farrell article By Judy Santamaria, MSPH Most of us know that loneliness isn't good for us -- but as we age, many of us find our circle of friends and family diminishing in size for various reasons. Sometimes consciously, sometimes not, loneliness can creep in, and begin to affect our spirits in a less-than-healthy way. Recently, I've been hearing about some really interesting ways seniors are stacking the deck in their own favor to combat loneliness associated with aging, and I wanted to share a few of them with you here.
_ 5 Ways to Stop Being a Passive Patient By article By Frederick Frost, MD It’s high time for patients to take an active role in their own healthcare. There was a time when many people had long-term relationships with a family doctor – someone who knew them and their families well.
Facebook And The Doctor's Office By Jane Farrell blog I like a lot of things about Facebook. It allows me to see pictures and videos of my nephews and niece and of friends’ children, it quickly lets me know when something big (either happy or sad) is going on in people’s lives, it lets me know what people are thinking about, and it gives me the opportunity to share my own news, thoughts, pictures, or occasional videos with others.
_ Money Matters Is It Smart To Buy A Condo? By Jane Farrell article Editor’s Note: As we get older, many of us think about downsizing from a house to a condo, because it’s easier to manage our lives in a simpler place. And we’d like to save as much money on home repairs as possible, because fixed incomes and Medicare don’t cover all essential expenses. Sometimes, though, the decision to buy or lease a condo isn’t as clear-cut as you’d like. Here, from a top expert, are some smart questions to ask yourself before making a move.
Finding Delight In The Seasons By blog I think we can all agree that the month of February was a discouraging combination of harsh winds, bitter cold and one storm after another. In general, I’m a happy, enthusiastic person, but on many days I found myself feeling blue. Life is too short to feel like this, but I couldn’t figure out a way to find delight during such bleak days. I then had a little conversation with Mother Nature. Here is what she said:
Breast Cancer Health Close-Up: Stage IV Breast Cancer By Jane Farrell article By Judy Kirkwood Editor's note: October is Breast Cancer Month. This article is ThirdAge's contribution to awareness about a form of breast cancer that is seldom discussed and is underfunded even though a third of patients have it. Read on for the courageous story of one of those patients and learn how easy it can be for you to help the cause.