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What is osteoporosis?

By Health

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone density and bone quality are reduced. Osteoporosis causes bones to become more porous and brittle, which increases the risk of fracture. An estimated 54 million Americans over the age of 50 are affected by low bone mass or osteoporosis, and that number is expected to rise another 14 million by 2020.

The body is constantly absorbing and replacing bone tissue, but with osteoporosis the development of new bone cannot keep up with the removal of old bone. Generally, patients with osteoporosis do not experience any symptoms until the first bone fracture occurs. Though osteoporosis cannot be cured, it can be treated.

To prevent osteoporosis, adults should:

  • Maintain a healthy, nutritious diet
  • Consume adequate amounts of calcium
  • Maintain an appropriate supply of Vitamin D
  • Avoid drinking heavily
  • Avoid smoking
  • Participate regularly in exercise
  • Avoid malnutrition
May 22, 2018
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The Different Types of Macular Degeneration: Dry Macular Degeneration

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As explained in the last installment of our blog regarding this topic, macular degeneration is an eye condition affecting the macula that causes central vision loss. Additionally, age-related macular degeneration is the most common form of macular degeneration and it comes in two forms: wet and dry.

85-90% of people afflicted with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) suffer from the dry form. Dry macular degeneration results in the deterioration of layers in the retina due to the gradual breakdown of light-sensitive cells in the macula. These cells are responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain, and when they break down it results in a blurring of an individual’s central vision. Symptoms of this form of macular degeneration usually develop gradually and without pain. These may include, but are not limited to:

  • Multiple small, round, yellow-white spots in the back of the eye (can be detected through use of an ophthalmoscope)
  • Visual distortion
  • Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
  • Difficulty recognizing faces
  • Difficulty adapting to low light levels
  • Blurriness of printed word
  • Visual distortions
  • Decreased intensity of colors
May 18, 2018
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The Different Types of Macular Degeneration: Wet Macular Degeneration

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Macular degeneration is an eye condition that is caused by deterioration of the retina (the interior layer of the eye). Macular degeneration affects the macula, which is the part of the retina that gives us clear, detailed vision. With macular degeneration, an individual loses their central vision and cannot see fine details, but their peripheral vision remains unimpaired (imagine looking at someone and having a blurry, black dot where their face should be but still being able to see the outline of their figure).Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common type of macular degeneration and is also the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 55. There are two types of AMD: the wet form and the dry form.

Wet macular degeneration is the most advanced form of AMD and, though it only afflicts 10-15% of individuals with macular degeneration, it causes 90% of the severe vision loss caused by this condition. Wet macular degeneration is generally caused by abnormal blood vessels that grow under the retina and leak fluid or blood into the macula. The symptoms of wet macular degeneration usually appear suddenly and advance quickly. These symptoms may include, but are not limited to:

  • Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
  • Visual distortion
  • Hazy vision
  • A blurry or blind-spot in your field of vision
  • Decreased ability to view colors
  • Impaired ability to see detail
  • Rapid onset and development of symptoms
May 15, 2018
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Warning Signs of Dementia

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Dementia is defined as a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury. Dementia is traditionally marked by symptoms such as memory disorder, personality changes and impaired reasoning. Dementia is a very complex and progressive condition, with negative effects that can manifest themselves as a variety of different symptoms.

To help you be able to identify the possible emergence of dementia in an individual, here’s a list of warnings signs and symptoms:

  • Memory loss
  • Communication impairment
  • Impaired visual perception
  • Repetition in conversation or in daily activities
  • Confusion
  • Mood swings
  • Inability to perform tasks that they are usually able to complete in an adept manner
  • Apathy
  • Frequent falls

If a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms or you think that they make be suffering from an affliction such as dementia, schedule an appointment with their doctor immediately and get their condition diagnosed and treated.

April 24, 2018
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Parkinson’s Awareness Month

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April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Parkinson’s is a chronic and progressive movement disorder that affects the nervous system and causes tremors. Nearly one million people in the United States are living with Parkinson’s today. Currently, the cause of Parkinson’s is unknown, as is the cure. However, there are treatment options available, including medication and surgery, to manage its symptoms.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s include the following:

  • Tremors (these usually begin in a limb, most often the hands or fingers)
  • Slowed Movement (ex: steps getting shorter, dragging of one’s feet, difficulty getting up)
  • Muscle Rigidity
  • Impaired Posture and Balance
  • Loss of Automatic Movements   (decreased ability to perform movements such as smiling or blinking)
  • Speech Impairment (ex: speaking softly, slurring words, lacking inflection)
  • Writing Changes

Generally, Parkinson’s symptoms develop gradually, and may even go unnoticed at first. If you start to realize that yourself or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, visit a physician immediately so that you can explore treatments options.

April 3, 2018
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Why Being Able to Communicate with Your Doctor Effectively is Important

By Health

A strong doctor-patient relationship is one built on honesty and communication. Being able to talk openly with your doctor is one of the best ways to ensure that your health care needs are met in the most effective manner possible. When you go to a doctor’s appointment, be sure to share any symptoms you may be experiencing, give your doctor information about your medications, talk openly about your diet as well as your lifestyle choices, and voice any other concerns that you believe are important. Additionally, if anything your doctor says does not make sense or if you need further clarification on a topic, ask them to explain it to you again. It is important to have a clear understanding of what your doctor is saying to you and to give them a clear understanding of what you are trying to communicate to them. Do not feel uncomfortable talking about any sensitive issues with your doctor, as they are trained in these matters and should do everything they can to help you alleviate any problems you are facing as the result of a medical condition.

 

March 23, 2018
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Reducing the Risk of Dementia

By Health

A new international study featured in the Lancet has released nine factors that contribute to the risk of dementia. This study was recently presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London and suggests that lifestyle changes can aid in the prevention of dementia.

The scientists who presented this study suggest that these nine preventable factors (listed below along with the percentage of the risk they cause) make-up 35% of dementia risk in individuals and states that behavioral changes can help reduce or eliminate this percentage of risk.

  1. Mid-life hearing loss (9%)
  2. Failing to complete secondary education (8%)
  3. Smoking (5%)
  4. Failing to seek early treatment for depression (4%)
  5. Physical activity (3%)
  6. Social isolation (2%)
  7. High blood pressure (2%)
  8. Obesity (1%)
  9. Type 2 diabetes (1%)

These nine factors, which are considered to be modifiable, can contribute to the risk of developing dementia. The other 65% of dementia risk is thought to be non-modifiable, so making lifestyle changes that help an individual avoid from falling into any of these above categories may be one of the only ways to decrease the risk of developing dementia.

March 2, 2018
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Helping Seniors Avoid Isolation

By Health

As your loved one ages, the likelihood that they will become more isolated increases. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as the death of a spouse or close friend, decreasing physical or mental ability and injury. Isolation can increase if a person feels their faculties declining but does not want to burden their loved ones, so they attempt to rely solely on themselves. If you believe that a loved one in your life may be isolating themself or facing obstacles that cause them to become isolated, there are ways to help.

Visit your loved one often. Whether they are living at home, in an assisted living facility or in a nursing facility, visits from family members or friends can help reduce isolation and increase happiness. If possible, plan weekly visits so that your loved one has something to look forward to and is able to spend a substantial amount of time socializing with you and your family. You can also arrange plans for your loved one to spend time with a close friend or others in their community.

Another step you can take to reduce a senior citizen’s isolation is providing them with transportation if they are unable to drive. The inability to drive may contribute to a senior citizen’s feelings of aloneness, as it can cut them off from the rest of the world. Offering a ride to your loved one can also alleviate any stress regarding transportation to outings or appointments, while increasing the amount of time that they spend interacting socially.

Helping your loved on around the house can be a great way to keep them from feeling lonely or isolated. If they are having trouble doing chores or are in need of redecoration, help them accomplish their goals. By sprucing up their environment and making it more welcoming, this will not only increase the comfort they feel in their surroundings, it will also increase their desire to have others over and interact socially.

February 20, 2018
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Cyber Safety Tips for Seniors: Part 2

By Health

In the second installment of Cyber Safety Tips for Seniors, we will be discussing more techniques that senior citizens can use to avoid the perils of the online world.

In hopes of reducing the online exploitation of elderly individuals in the modern world, here are some more tips to help senior citizens use the internet safely and effectively:

  • Never enter your Social Security Number online unless you know you are on a legitimate site that needs your personal information for a specific, important purpose
  • Don’t enter contests, join clubs, or share personal information on any website unless you are positive that it is reputable
  • Before using services such as online banking, make sure the site you are on is secure
  • Do not use public Wi-Fi for any online activities that involve disclosing important personal information or transfers of money
  • Never click on pop-up ads, they may automatically download viruses to your computer
February 2, 2018
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Recognizing Signs Of A Stroke

By Health

Every year, almost 800,000 people in the U.S. experience a stroke. A stroke occurs when the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off, depriving brain cells of oxygen. If a stroke is not caught early, permanent brain damage and death can result. The first step to preventing a stroke is being able to recognize its warning signs.

The most common symptoms of a stroke are:

  • Loss of vision in one or both eyes
  • Loss of speech
  • Sudden confusion
  • Trouble speaking or understanding what another person is saying
  • Severe headaches with no known cause
  • Loss of balance or unstable movements
  • Weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body

If you observe any of these symptoms or believe that an individual may be having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.

 

January 30, 2018
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