Aging well, and with attitude
Look good for a longer period of time. Find out what you need to know and what products, attitude and social circle make your wiser years even better.
3:50 PM EDT, May 13, 2013
New fitness centers cater to aging baby boomers
Baby boomers, the generation that vowed to stay forever young, are getting older, designing senior-friendly gyms and becoming their own personal trainers.
12:10 PM EDT, May 7, 2013
Fluids may prevent constipation better than fiber
Everyone knows that getting enough fiber is a secret to staying "regular," but a large new study finds that people who got plenty of fluids were the least likely to suffer constipation.
4:54 PM EDT, May 3, 2013
Supplement builds strength in fibromyalgia trial
Creatine, a supplement favored by bodybuilders, modestly boosted muscle strength in patients with fibromyalgia, Brazilian researchers report.
8:23 PM EDT, May 1, 2013
Over-the-counter dementia?
It started with a conversation about insomnia. My friend smiled, as if she were giving a wonderful gift. "Don't spend money on sleeping pills or take a narcotic. Cold pills will do the trick," she said.
4:04 PM EDT, April 29, 2013
Should old, sick patients get skin cancer surgery?
More than two-thirds of people with non-melanoma skin cancer underwent surgery to treat the condition, according to a new study - including patients who were at least 85 years old or had multiple other chronic diseases.
9:00 AM EDT, April 25, 2013
Physicians debate whether patients need to know they're dying
physicians have not ceased debating one of the stickiest and most universal ethical quandaries of medical practice: How, when and why does one inform a patient that he or she is dying?
1:03 PM EDT, April 24, 2013
Fruit, Mediterranean diet tied to fewer hot flashes
Women who eat diets high in fruit, certain vegetables, pasta and red wine are less likely to have hot flashes and night sweats during menopause, a new study from Australia suggests.
2:20 PM EDT, April 24, 2013
Aging U.S. to drive up heart-related health costs: study
The costs linked to heart failure in the United States are expected to more than double within the next two decades as the population ages and treatments help patients with the disease live longer.
8:06 PM EDT, April 24, 2013
Can stem cells help those with arthritis?
Stems cells taken from just a few grams of body fat are a promising weapon against the crippling effects of osteoarthritis.
5:00 PM EDT, April 19, 2013
Extra fiber tied to lower risk of stroke
People who get more fiber in their diet are less likely to have a stroke than those who skimp on the nutrient, according to a new review of existing research.
3:20 PM EDT, April 18, 2013
Brain work-outs may help preserve mental function
A review of the best evidence for interventions to prevent declining brain power finds that only one — mental exercise — consistently makes a difference.
5:14 PM EDT, April 12, 2013
Pool exercise may build strength, reduce falls
Women who did a high-intensity aquatic workout for six months increased their strength and suffered fewer falls, in a new study that suggests bone- and muscle-building resistance can be achieved with the right kinds of water exercises.
7:37 PM EDT, April 10, 2013
Should seniors qualify as living donors?
Robert Brown was healthy, willing and a good match: So why not give a kidney to his wife, who otherwise would need dialysis?
9:15 AM EDT, April 8, 2013
Fitness after 65 is no one-size-fits-all endeavor
America's ageing population is posing special challenges, fitness experts say, because it is difficult to design effective workout routines for people with such a wide range of abilities.
11:49 AM EDT, April 8, 2013
Ways to help you find your best self
After searching for years, Mariel Hemingway has found the happiness equation that works for her. Her hope now is to inspire others to do as she did and find their best lives with her new documentary film.
April 6, 2013
Food as medicine? What to make of the claims.
What's a healthful food and what's a healing food? Is there a difference? At least since the mid-19th century, when the Battle Creek Sanitarium opened its doors and people flocked there to follow John Harvey Kellogg's regime of whole grains, nuts and frequent enemas, many Americans have sought food as medicine.
5:30 PM EDT, April 3, 2013
Dementia care costs more than treating heart disease or cancer
The financial toll of caring for Americans with dementia adds up to at least $159 billion a year, making it more expensive than treatments for patients with heart disease or cancer, according to a new report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
7:45 PM EDT, April 3, 2013
Re-balancing your workout to lessen likelihood of injury
In her 20s, Lori Popkewitz Alper loved the intense cardio workouts at her Boston gym. But, as her life and her body changed, so did her fitness repertoire.
6:45 PM EDT, April 2, 2013
Another vaccine fails to prevent staph infections, study finds
Staph infections remain a significant problem for hospital patients, and scientists are trying to develop vaccines to prevent Staphylococcus aureus bacteria from establishing itself in vital areas like the heart, lungs or blood. But it’s turning out to be a difficult task: A promising vaccine intended to protect heart-surgery patients from staph infections worked no better than a placebo, a new study reported.
1:35 PM EDT, March 29, 2013
Chinese herbs may reduce hot flashes
Women taking a Chinese herbal formula experienced less than half the number of menopausal hot flashes they had before the treatment, according to a new study from Hong Kong.
12:51 PM EDT, March 28, 2013
Upping vigorous exercise may improve fibromyalgia
For those who are able, exercising once or twice more weekly may alleviate some symptoms of a chronic pain condition without making joints feel worse, according to a new study.
8:46 PM EDT, March 27, 2013
Complementing end-of-life care
Of the countless painful decisions surrounding a loved one's end-of-life care, among the trickiest is how to provide physical comfort in a way that also provides a dignified ending.
9:05 PM EDT, March 27, 2013
Videos illuminate realities of end-stage procedures
End-of-life choices and treatment decisions are rarely discussed in the medical community, despite expert advice meant to encourage communication, studies suggest. As a result, many patients spend their final days receiving invasive treatments that they might not have chosen if they had known more about them.
8:55 PM EDT, March 27, 2013
Knowing when to let go
My father, sister and I sat in the near-empty Chinese restaurant, picking at our plates, unable to avoid the question that we'd gathered to discuss: When was it time to let mom die?
8:00 AM EDT, March 26, 2013
Which is worse, isolation or loneliness?
Henry David Thoreau relished isolation but didn't feel lonely. Marilyn Monroe was a social butterfly but died lonely.
2:36 AM EDT, March 27, 2013
Adding fiber to your food
According to the National Fiber Council, fiber is the go-to item to lower cholesterol, feel full longer, lowers the risk of certain diseases (heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and certain cancers) and helps with intestinal regularity. Click this photo gallery for food fiber shopping ideas and NFC's infographic to find out more about how fiber works in your body.
8:20 PM EDT, March 20, 2013
Through Feldenkrais, simple movements ease muscle pain
By the time people come to see Lisa Walker, they're usually desperate.
8:16 PM EDT, March 13, 2013
Mounting trouble with artificial hips
Two months after hip replacement surgery, Scott Ebert's leg started giving way. His joint began slipping. Razor blades of pain pierced his foot. An inexplicably large bruise grew along his calf. An excruciating burning feeling filled his hip. His ears rang. Doctor after doctor didn't know why. Finally, blood tests showed the metal from Ebert's artificial hip was leaching into his bloodstream.
2:40 PM EST, March 6, 2013
Sleep aids tied to hip fractures in the elderly
Nursing home residents taking sleep aids such as Ambien are more likely to fall and fracture a hip than residents not being treated for insomnia, new research suggests.
4:21 PM EST, March 5, 2013
Goggles-and-laptop device might help detect some strokes
Researchers believe that someday, doctors may be able to use specially-equipped laptops and smartphones to figure out if sudden-onset dizziness in patients is the result of a stroke, or of a (more likely) benign disturbance in the inner ear.
3:23 PM EST, March 5, 2013
Mid-life optimism linked to healthier cholesterol
U.S. researchers found better levels of "good cholesterol" and other markers of heart health in the blood of middle-aged study subjects with a sunny outlook on life.
March 6, 2013
Study to test benefits of dance for Latin seniors
A group of Latino seniors soon will be stepping out on the dance floor in the name of medical research.
5:17 PM EST, February 22, 2013
U.S. sticks to limits on health insurance charges for older people
The Obama administration on Friday finalized new consumer safeguards for health insurance that impose tighter restrictions on what insurers can charge older customers, despite industry warnings that the young may be forced to pay more as a result.
4:19 PM EST, February 20, 2013
Antioxidants may not ward off strokes, dementia
Older adults who eat diets high in antioxidants may not have a lower risk of dementia or stroke, a new study suggests.
8:15 PM EST, February 13, 2013
Ashes to trashes?
When Uncle Leo was alive, he'd come to the house, park himself in a chair with a drink and hang around until you told him it was time to go.
12:29 PM EST, February 11, 2013
Costs of hip replacement hard to find, vary widely
Many hospitals are hard-pressed to tell people needing a hip replacement how much their procedure is likely to cost, according to a new study.
3:01 PM EST, February 6, 2013
Baby Boomers' health worse than past generation's
Members of the baby boomer generation are in worse health than their parents were at the same age, according to a new study.
7:04 PM EST, February 4, 2013
Baby boomers may live longer, but their elders were healthier
At midlife, the nation’s 78 million baby boomers appear to be in worse health than the generation that preceded them, a new study finds.
6:21 PM EST, January 25, 2013
Hearing loss linked to memory loss in the elderly
Adults who lose their hearing later in life also are more likely to have a hard time concentrating on a book or remembering a simple conversation, Johns Hopkins research has found.
2:44 PM EST, January 23, 2013
Regular aspirin use tied to age-related vision loss
Taking at least one aspirin every week is linked to the development of age-related vision loss, according to a new study.
8:26 PM EST, January 23, 2013
Fending off stiffness
For a disease that affects 50 million adults in the United States, or about 1 in 5 people, arthritis is remarkably misunderstood.
5:29 PM EST, December 24, 2012
Pacemaker could help treat Alzheimer's
Pacemakers regulate the beat of a weak heart and ease the tremors caused by Parkinson's disease, and now Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers hope the devices also will slow down the symptoms of Alzheimer's.
8:40 AM EST, December 18, 2012
A single day of overindulgence: Hours off your life?
The risks of bad behaviors are well known but not necessarily well understood. Most people are aware that binging on red meat, cigarettes and whiskey on a regular basis isn't good for us -- but how to make sense of the severity of the risk? When a study reports that adults who ate an extra portion of red meat had a 13% greater chance of dying over the course of a study that spanned more than 20 years, what does that really mean? And what is a sensible person to do about it?
11:38 PM EST, December 6, 2012
Vitamin D, calcium disappoint in dementia study
Vitamin D and calcium supplements taken together in low doses offered no protection against dementia in a large U.S. study of older women, but scientists are still holding out hope for vitamin D alone.
November 19, 2012
Chronically ill still facing high drug costs
For one in six Americans on Medicare, mostly seniors age 65 and older, the "doughnut hole" remains an expensive gap in coverage. The addition, in 2006, of Medicare Part D to the government's health insurance program, promised prescription coverage — up to a point.
9:05 PM EST, November 13, 2012
Visible signs of aging signaled increased risk of heart disease, study finds
Visibly aging but young at heart? Don't count on it, researchers suggested.
November 7, 2012
Medicine has answers for pelvic floor disorder sufferers
The term "pelvic floor" was not part of polite conversation a generation ago, when women with pelvic floor disorders, or PFDs, often suffered in silence.
October 13, 2012
Growing number of seniors are living alone
Every weekday morning, between 7:30 and 8 a.m., regular as clockwork, the phone rings in the home of John Babbs. Each day, when the 95-year-old picks up, he's greeted by a cheery voice checking on his well-being. Most often they're the welcoming tones of Gloria Johnson or Wanda Sigler, both members of the Newport News Sheriff's Office.
7:53 PM EDT, October 10, 2012
Growing through grief
Almost four years after her husband's death from Parkinson's disease, former Sacramento County, Calif., supervisor Sandra Smoley has reinvented her life.
September 26, 2012
Lifelong friends are good for your health
Seventy years have passed since four little girls in crisp white blouses and plaid skirts shared graham crackers, nap mats and giggles at St. Barnabas School in Chicago's Beverly community.
11:35 AM EDT, September 24, 2012
Ten-minute workouts lure time-challenged exercisers
The procrastinators, the super-busy, and the easily bored in pursuit of a manageable fitness routine may find what they seek in the 10-minute workout.
4:10 PM EDT, September 24, 2012
Variation in antibiotic prescribing hints at overuse
Seniors in the U.S. are prescribed at least one antibiotic each every year, on average - but the rate of prescribing varies quite a bit across the country, a new study finds.
September 16, 2012
NN family takes on Alzheimer's publicly
Four years ago, Karen Garner received a phone call she'll never forget.
2:45 PM EDT, September 12, 2012
Preventing falls in seniors is possible
A fresh look at earlier studies shows there are several steps seniors can take to prevent falls - a major health concern for the world's aging population.
9:01 PM EDT, September 12, 2012
Seeking improved end-of-life care
Efforts in La Crosse, Wis., to improve end-of-life care for people with serious illnesses has drawn national and international attention.
September 5, 2012
Stroke patients' walking improved with insoles
A shoe insert less than half of an inch high helped Phillip Conybear regain his balance after he suffered two strokes.
September 1, 2012
Gadgets: Pillow designs stuffed with health and beauty claims
Pillows. They're not just for nestling your noggin anymore. They're also for keeping your stiff neck from aching, your sinuses from congesting, your acids from refluxing, your snores from snorting, your tinnitus from tintinnabulating and — yes! glory be! — your face from turning into a prune.
4:56 PM EDT, August 27, 2012
Less chronic disease in store for fit 50-year-olds
Fit 50-year-olds are less likely to get chronic diseases as they age than are couch potatoes, according to a new U.S. study.
4:13 PM EDT, August 23, 2012
Driver's seat safer than sidewalk for older adults
Driving gets more dangerous with age, but older adults may be more vulnerable while walking on the sidewalk than behind the wheel, says a new study.
11:50 PM EDT, August 23, 2012
Family history foretells early heart disease
If you have a relative who died of heart disease before age 60, your own risk of early heart trouble is higher as well, a study involving millions of people in Denmark over three decades has determined.
4:10 PM EDT, August 20, 2012
Dental health linked to dementia risk
People who keep their teeth and gums healthy with regular brushing may have a lower risk of developing dementia later in life, according to a new study.
August 22, 2012
New study gives insight into resistance to Alzheimer's
Everyone will exhibit some kind of cognitive decline with advancing years. But the idea that we can shield ourselves from the most devastating brain diseases,Alzheimer's disease and dementia, is an intriguing prospect and an area of great interest to scientists and an aging population.
4:06 PM EDT, August 17, 2012
Fall risk may rise after cataract surgery
Contrary to some past research, a new study finds that elderly adults who have cataract surgery could face an increased risk of falls and fractures in the next year - at least if they have only one eye done.
August 17, 2012
Researchers tracking some particularly sharp seniors
Barb Shaeffer would love to meet with you this afternoon, but not until 2.
8:05 PM EDT, August 15, 2012
Taking time out for exercise pays in spades
The impending doom is that inactivity is a major health burden. The longer you stay glued to that couch, the greater the risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers, according to Bill Kohl, a professor of epidemiology and kinesiology at the University of Texas at Austin. "Continued inactivity into the 60s and 70s results in balance insufficiencies and lack of strength," Kohl told me. "Daily living becomes much harder."
5:28 PM EDT, August 14, 2012
Insight: What if baby boomers don't live forever?
What if the generation that once rocked out to The Who's "hope I die before I get old" line actually does?
August 15, 2012
New class of drugs could help people with Alzheimer's disease
Northwestern University and University of Kentucky scientists have created a new drug that could successfully prevent harmful inflammation in brains of people suffering fromAlzheimer's disease.
5:04 PM EDT, August 13, 2012
Hearing test benefits unknown in older adults: panel
There's not enough evidence to say whether older adults should be screened for hearing loss if they don't have any symptoms, according to a new statement from a government-backed panel.
10:08 PM EDT, August 7, 2012
Older Americans upbeat about aging, future: survey
Baby boomers are upbeat about aging and expect the next phase of their lives to be better than the last, but many are concerned about their financial future and long-term health costs, a survey released in Tuesday showed.
4:34 PM EDT, July 31, 2012
Exercise may help ease depression in heart failure
People with heart failure who are also depressed may benefit from regular, moderate exercise, a new study suggests.
August 1, 2012
New laser technology available for removing cataracts
After learning she needed cataract surgery for her weakening eyesight, Merle Gordon decided to wait a few months until her ophthalmologist could offer laser surgery with more precision.
4:38 PM EDT, July 23, 2012
Hip and knee replacements tied to heart attack risk
Older patients having a hip or a knee replaced have a higher risk of heart attack in the two weeks after the procedure compared to those who don't need joint surgery, according to a new study.
4:54 PM EDT, July 17, 2012
Retinal detachment risk from cataract surgery falls
The risk of a person's retina detaching after having a cataract removed is dropping, says a new study.
July 14, 2012
Fruitful news from tart cherry studies
Kuehl is a coauthor of a new study suggesting that tart cherries could someday provide an alternative treatment for patients with inflammatory osteoarthritis who can't tolerate the standard drug therapy.
8:54 PM EDT, July 11, 2012
Skin irregularities may signal serious health issues
Q: A brown age spot on my face seems to be getting larger. Should I be concerned?
July 11, 2012
Taking small steps pays off, Northwestern health study says
It may seem obvious to everyone but the guy on the couch, but a recent study by Northwestern University says that small steps are key to achieving a healthier lifestyle. In other words, get up from that couch, turn off the TV, and take your hand out of the potato chips.
12:30 PM EDT, July 5, 2012
Check on seniors during the heat wave
The heat wave continues and officials are reminding people to check on their older family members and neighbors because they can be particularly vulnerable.
4:01 PM EDT, July 5, 2012
High-dose vitamin D prevents fractures in elderly
A new analysis of nearly a dozen studies testing vitamin D in older individuals has concluded that it takes a daily dose of at least 800 international units (IU) to consistently prevent broken bones.
12:58 AM EDT, July 4, 2012
Age has no limits, unless it's a finish line
Move it or lose it. Chuck Freuler lives by this simple credo. Which explains why, at age 84, he still does triathlons.
7:48 PM EDT, June 27, 2012
Heart disease shouldn't rule out sex
For the first time, the American Heart Association is weighing in on a very personal subject: sexual activity. The organization has issued a scientific statement noting that sex is safe for the majority of heart disease patients and that patients should discuss the subject with their doctors.
8:14 PM EDT, June 27, 2012
Alternatives for back pain
Back pain. Eighty percent of us have it at some point, and it's notoriously hard to treat because the source of the pain can involve the muscles, ligaments, joints or tendons.
8:16 PM EDT, June 27, 2012
Trying to figure out if a nontraditional approach to wellness works for you
Your body's ability to heal itself is a guiding principle of integrative medicine. That doesn't mean you can't help it along a bit.
June 27, 2012
Start the revolution, but first, a joke
My mom nearly started a revolt at her assisted living facility.
9:05 PM EDT, June 20, 2012
Getting back to work after a heart attack
Q: My 59-year-old husband just came home after being hospitalized for a mild heart attack. He was only in the hospital for five days, and he feels great, though he does have to take three prescription medicines plus aspirin. I'm writing because my husband's doctor doesn't want him to go back to work for another six weeks, even though his job doesn't involve any lifting. I think the stress of staying home would be worse than going to work. Any advice?
7:47 PM EDT, June 13, 2012
Shaken by shingles
It wasn't just any raking job; it was dethatching to get all the old, dead grass out. That's hard work. You have to dig in and put some real muscle into it.
7:56 PM EDT, June 13, 2012
Forget about worrying
By age 60, more than half of adults have concerns about their memory. However, minor memory lapses that occur with age are not usually signs of a serious neurological disorder, such asAlzheimer's disease, but rather the result of normal changes in the structure and function of the brain.
2:36 PM EDT, June 12, 2012
Is genetic testing for dementia appropriate?
Would you want to know if you had a genetic risk factor forAlzheimer's or dementia? And, if you did know, would you change your behavior accordingly?
8:01 PM EDT, May 30, 2012
Some nutrients can stave off vision loss and eye disease that occurs as we age
Even if you are reading this without glasses, it's not too early to start taking your eye vitamins. Some nutrients can stave off the burdensome vision loss and eye disease that occur as we age, mounting research suggests.
7:52 PM EDT, May 30, 2012
Wait, what does chewing gum do again?
Having trouble remembering phone numbers or a professor's lecture? Try spitting out your chewing gum.
7:33 PM EDT, May 9, 2012
Weighing the pros and cons of cortisone shots
Q: I'm in my late 70s and have been getting four cortisone shots a year for the past several years for arthritis in my knee. They really help with the pain, but I've heard that, long-term, there could be bad side effects. Should I be worried?
7:38 PM EDT, May 9, 2012
Wrists overworked? Take regular breaks — and ice the pain
Maybe your wrists and fingers swell when you leave work. Or maybe they ache or go numb in the middle of the night.
May 9, 2012
Pay attention to your feet
As we age, several factors can contribute to changes in nails. The most common issue is the development of a fungus infection called onychomycosis.
4:02 AM EDT, April 30, 2012
Good health keeps wealth in old age
Ruth H. Clark of Pompano Beach is a 95-year-old aerobic wonder, working out seven days a week.
May 2, 2012
Pollution can put minds in a fog
Researchers recently found that older women are especially vulnerable to air pollution in urban areas, experiencing higher rates of mental decline when exposed to fine and coarse particulate matter over time.
March 7, 2012
What women can do about thinning hair
No one wants to lose their hair, but for a woman it is particularly distressing. While men can look perfectly presentable — even sexy — with their exposed scalp, no such options exist for the 30 million American women who grapple with thinning tresses. Dr. Maria Colavincenzo, a dermatologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has a practice that specializes in preserving those precious strands — especially in cases of androgenetic alopecia, a hereditary condition that causes hair loss, mainly on the top and crown of the scalp. Without an appointment, she answered some of our questions:
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