Illness
Navigating health concerns can be a lot. Here in our Illness category, we gather and share news and personal stories about common conditions and health journeys. Our aim is to provide a space where you can read about others’ experiences and stay informed on general topics, helping you to feel more in control of your well-being.
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Diabetes Is Common In Seniors
Senior Diabetes Many articles and web sites begin discussion of diabetes in older adults with a scolding. The message seems to be that we become diabetic because we are over weight and under exercised. Still, there is excellent information in some of these web sites and articles so please keep reading. The National Institute on…
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Losing The Will To Live
Depression in older persons leads to suicide more frequently than in any other age group. People over 65 account for more than 25% of all suicides and among white men over 85, the suicide rate is six time more than the general population. The majority of thee suicides shot themselves to death. I can imagine…
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Depression Is Not Normal
Most of us retired people are generally happy. Maybe it’s better to say we are not unhappy. We have our coffee in the morning, bathe and groom ourselves, and move through our day. There are other people in our lives, and we enjoy beauty and peaceful moments. Yet, the highest incidence of suicide is among…
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Arthritis in Older Persons
There are many forms of arthritis and they all involve pain. Some forms, such as fibromyalgia, have historically been difficult to diagnose. Today, there is a wealth of information available about Arthritis. Overview of Arthritis The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons offers the following overview: “Arthritis literally means ‘inflammation of a joint.’ In some forms…
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Common Senior illnesses “Geriatrics Syndrome”
A new guild developed by the American Geriatric Society Foundation tells us about “geriatric syndromes” or illnesses common to older people that can lead to more serious problems. Some of these problems are caused by medications or combinations of meds. Others are caused by physical changes. Caregivers and loved ones shoud be alert for the…
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Senior Illness
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease control, by 2030, the number of Americans aged 65 and older will more than double to 71 million older Americans, comprising roughly 20 percent of the US population. The nation’s health care spending is projected to increase by 25%. Today, eighty-eight percent of those over 65 years of…
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Older People Are Quiet Alcoholics
A couple of my friends recently went on a tour of Eastern Europe. Two women pals, sharing accommodations and exploring the world. Both in their late 70s, active and curious. One of them told me that her friend brought a very large plastic container of Gin in her suitcase. Each evening, the Gin-owner would have…
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Drugs With MCI As A Side Effect
Dr. Leo Galland is an author and award-winning physician who really believes we need to know what is in the meds we are taking. He says, “numerous drungs have been shown to produce mild cognitive impairment (MCI). They may create or aggravate Alzheimer’s-type symptoms.” Dr. Galland writes that most of the drugs that cause memory…
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Beers List by Panel of Experts
The Beers List (or Beers Criteria) contains medications that cause side effects in the elderly due to changes in our bodies as we grow older. The list was originally created by geriatrician Mark H. Beers, but is now managed by a panel of experts and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. It was last…
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