Should dementia patients stop driving?
You’ve just seen your doctor, and you’ve been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. Does that mean you shouldn’t be driving? Driving is a complicated skill and a dangerous activity. Almost 43,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2021. In addition to good physical health, driving requires many brain systems to function... READ MORE
Q & As: Wellness visits & swollen ankles
Q: I consider myself a healthy man. Do I really need a yearly physical exam? A: While men often call it the yearly physical, the annual ritual is better named a wellness visit or preventive health appointment. Whatever you call it, men should still have one every year as it remains an important part of primary care. For many men, this is one of the few extended opportunities for an... READ MORE
Radiation may reduce heartbeat danger
Doctors are zapping the heart with radiation normally reserved for cancer in a highly experimental bid to better treat people with life-threatening irregular heartbeats who’ve exhausted other options. Surprising early research suggests the method may reprogram misfiring heart cells to control heartbeats more like younger, healthier cells do. “It may actually rejuvenate sick... READ MORE
How much Tylenol can one safely take?
Q: I take about four extra-strength Tylenol most days. Do I need to worry about my liver? A: Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol (and other brand names), is widely considered to be a very safe medication. For the vast majority of those taking it, acetaminophen appears to have no harmful effect on the liver or other parts of the body. Still, your question is a good one... READ MORE
One-pan chicken dinner inspired by Peru
Who knew one sheet pan could provide so much depth in flavor in one dish? For this recipe, before you get everything together on the pan, start with the marinade in a blender. The marinade features refreshing mint, herby oregano and pungent garlic. It also gets a subtle earthiness from cumin and smoked paprika, plus a little kick from half a habanero chile, and brightness from lime... READ MORE
Drug companies test flu + Covid vaccine
Older adults have a lot of vaccine requirements: a seasonal flu shot, a series of shingles shots, and now a COVID-19 booster, too. To streamline the vaccination process, Pfizer and BioNTech have developed a single dose, mRNA-based combination vaccine that protects against both seasonal influenza and Covid. The drug companies are testing the vaccine candidate now in a phase 1... READ MORE
Prescription drugs promising weight loss
WeightWatchers, the 60-year-old diet firm, announced in March it would acquire a telehealth company whose providers prescribe anti-obesity drugs for growing numbers of eager online subscribers. The $132 million deal with Sequence is just the latest commercial push into the red-hot market for prescription drugs that promise significant weight loss. For months, the diabetes drug Ozempic ... READ MORE
What is dyspepsia and how is it treated?
Dear Mayo Clinic: I have dealt with digestive issues for much of my 30s. Ulcers run in my family. My doctor said that while I could have an ulcer, testing could determine if it is functional dyspepsia. What is the difference, what causes functional dyspepsia, and is it treatable? A: Functional dyspepsia, also called nonulcer dyspepsia, and peptic ulcers can feel much the same. But... READ MORE
Tools and methods to safely trim toenails
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good toenail clipping solutions? My toenails have gotten increasingly thick since I’ve gotten older and have become very difficult for me to reach down and cut. —Almost 80 Dear Almost, Trimming your toenails is a task that can become very challenging as we get older. For many, toenails can become thicker and harder to cut, and our... READ MORE
Pulse oximeters show racial disparities
The clip-on devices that use light to measure oxygen levels in the blood are getting a closer look from U.S. regulators after recent studies suggest they don’t work as well for patients of color. The devices, called pulse oximeters, usually snap onto a finger and are widely used in hospitals across the globe to help guide treatment. At-home versions became popular during the Covid... READ MORE
