By Sherry Amatenstein, LCSW We’ve all seen that campy early nineties commercial featuring the immortal line: “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” The commercial starred an elderly woman who took a tumble in her home. Mrs. Fletcher was saved because she shouted for help into the Life Alert pendant around her neck, which connected… Continue reading Personal Emergency Response Systems Are No Joke!
Tag: depressive symptoms
Decreased Sex & Desire May Lead to Decline in Testosterone in Older Men
In older men, decreased sexual activity and desire, not erectile dysfunction, may cause serum testosterone to decline, according to a study done in Australia and presented March 7th at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in San Diego. A release from the society quotes lead study author Benjumin Hsu, MPH, PhD candidate… Continue reading Decreased Sex & Desire May Lead to Decline in Testosterone in Older Men
The Protein That Zaps Toxins
Researchers from Ohio State have discovered how a small protein in the immune system can disable dangerous bacterial toxins. The toxins have surfaces that help the bacteria to stay alive. At the same time, though, the pliability of the surfaces make the toxins vulnerable to the immune-system proteins called defensins. Defensins, peptides that consist of… Continue reading The Protein That Zaps Toxins
Women’s Pain Is Often Mismanaged
Despite the variety of effective treatments, and the number of physicians who specialize in treating pain, women often suffer unnecessarily from conditions ranging from backaches to pain after cancer surgery. Women also frequently try to manage their pain with medications that may be ineffective and possibly harmful. Those are the findings of a review of… Continue reading Women’s Pain Is Often Mismanaged
Sticking to Lifestyle Guidelines May Reduce Cancer Risk
A study of nearly a half-million Americans has found that following cancer prevention guidelines from the American Cancer Society may modestly reduce your overall risk of developing cancer and have a greater impact on reducing your overall risk of dying. Having a healthy body weight and staying active appeared to have the most positive impact.… Continue reading Sticking to Lifestyle Guidelines May Reduce Cancer Risk
Update on Mild Cognitive Impairment
A new comprehensive review of studies about mild cognitive impairment (MCI) says that physical and mental activity can help reduce the risk of the frightening condition. The doctors, from the University of Michigan Medical School, published their review in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “MCI is hard for both clinicians and for patients… Continue reading Update on Mild Cognitive Impairment
Solve the Medical Riddle: She Suspected That Her Husband Was a Closet Drinker, Second Week
By Marie Savard MD Editor’s note: Welcome to our ThirdAge feature that gives you a chance to play medical sleuth as we share the details of what happened when a patient presented with a problem that stumped the physician at first. Last week, the patient reported his symptoms. The doctor proceeded with the examination using… Continue reading Solve the Medical Riddle: She Suspected That Her Husband Was a Closet Drinker, Second Week
Prostate-Cancer Treatment Can be Fatal In Less Serious Cases
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a common treatment for advanced prostate cancer, has been linked with increased risk of death in men with localized cancer and longer life expectancies, according researchers at Henry Ford Hospital. In ADT, an injectable or implanted medication is used to disrupt the body’s ability to make testosterone. In patients with advanced… Continue reading Prostate-Cancer Treatment Can be Fatal In Less Serious Cases
Biological Causes of Mental Illness Decrease Docs’ Empathy
Give therapists and psychiatrists information about the biology of a mental disorder, and they have less — not more — empathy for the patient, according to a study done at Yale and published in Decemberr 2014 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A release from the university written by Bill Hathaway notes… Continue reading Biological Causes of Mental Illness Decrease Docs’ Empathy
Four Tips for Healthier Bones and Teeth
By Jean-Max Jean-Pierre DDS When people think of aging bones, they usually imagine breaks and sprains. But did you know one of the most critical consequences of weak bones is actually the impact bone deterioration can have on your dental health? Current research suggests a significant connection between oral health and overall wellness, which means… Continue reading Four Tips for Healthier Bones and Teeth
New approach to treating ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily kills motor neurons, leading to paralysis and death two to fiv years from diagnosis. Currently ALS has no cure. Despite promising early-stage research, the majority of drugs in development for ALS have failed. Now researchers at Thomas Jefferson University… Continue reading New approach to treating ALS
The Best Gift of All
Editor’s note: In the middle of the holiday season – a season of gift-giving that can be expensive, stressful and unproductive – Dr. Bernie Siegel, author of the multimillion-copy bestseller Love, Medicine & Miracles, reminds us that the greatest gift we can give – and get – costs nothing but means everything. Here, an exceprt from… Continue reading The Best Gift of All
8 Ways to Reorganize Your Bedroom for Better Sleep
By Robert Rosenberg This article originally appeared on DemosHealth.com http://www.demoshealth.com/w/8-ways-to-reorganize-your-bedroom-for-better-sleep/ Your bedroom environment plays a critical role in your ability to sleep well. For people who have trouble sleeping at night, simple changes to your bedroom can yield quick results. Design and organize your own sleeping space as a sanctuary where you can retreat from… Continue reading 8 Ways to Reorganize Your Bedroom for Better Sleep
Calcium Channel Blockers Don’t Up Breast Cancer Risk
Women who take calcium channel blockers, a common type of medication to control high blood pressure, are not at increased risk of developing breast cancer due to the drug, according to study done in November 2014 by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray, Utah. A release from the medical center explains… Continue reading Calcium Channel Blockers Don’t Up Breast Cancer Risk
5 Tips to Prevent Dry Eye This Winter
1. Warm Compresses Dry eye is caused by a lack of natural tears, which are composed of water and a much-needed oily substance. Over time, cells in the glands may harden, keeping the oil from getting into the tear film. Without that oil, the water in tears evaporates too quickly, leaving eyes feeling dry. A… Continue reading 5 Tips to Prevent Dry Eye This Winter
An Ebola Vaccine – Without a Needle?
A single-dose Ebola vaccine, given without a needle, has protected primates against infection for at least 21 weeks, according to a new study. The vaccination was given to macaques, a kind of Asian monkey, through their nose and lungs. The study was reported in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics. The researchers noted that the current Ebola… Continue reading An Ebola Vaccine – Without a Needle?
Older Women With Breathing Problems During Sleep
Older women with disordered breathing during sleep were found to be at greater risk of decline in the ability to perform daily activities, such as grocery shopping and meal preparation, according to research led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of California, San Francisco. The study was… Continue reading Older Women With Breathing Problems During Sleep
The Great American Smokeout
The American Cancer Society marks the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November each year by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step… Continue reading The Great American Smokeout