Cataracts: what we do and don’t know
Q. Is it true that cataracts are made of calcium? Can I do anything to avoid getting a cataract? What about diet?A. A cataract is a vision-clouding area in the lens of the eye. About half of all people ages 65 to 74, and 70 percent of those ages 75 and over, develop cataracts, which are the leading cause of blindness worldwide.Fortunately, surgery is safe and effective. In places like the... READ MORE
When nothing helps you to quit smoking
Q. I’m an 84-year-old woman who recently had stents placed in two coronary arteries. My doctors have long told me to quit smoking. I have tried, but just can’t.I’ve tried the patch and Chantix, but neither worked. Support groups aren’t for me. I have cut back, but that’s as far as willpower goes.Is there some news about current or future approaches that might... READ MORE
The good bacteria we can’t do without
Antibiotics can temporarily upset your stomach, but now it turns out that repeatedly taking them can trigger long-lasting changes in all those good germs that live in your gut, raising questions about lingering ill effects.Nobody yet knows if that leads to later health problems. But the finding is the latest in a flurry of research that raises questions about how the customized bacterial... READ MORE
How to fight four primary causes of aging
Benjamin Franklin once declared that “we get old too soon and wise too late.” Applying a little wisdom, though, may keep you from aging before your time.“Only about 5 to 20 percent of the aging process has to do with our genes,” said Jonny Bowden, a nutritionist and best-selling author of numerous books, including his recently released The Most Effective Ways to Live ... READ MORE
Older adults need higher-dose flu shots
It’s flu-shot season, and for the first time health authorities are urging nearly everyone to get vaccinated. There is even a new high-dose version for people 65 or older.What a difference a year makes: Crowds lined up for hours for scarce shots during last fall’s swine flu pandemic, when infections peaked well before enough vaccine could be produced. This year, a record vaccine ... READ MORE
Stable weight but growing waist? Beware
If you are feeling a bit big around the waistline, take note: Belly bulge can be deadly for older adults, even those who aren’t overweight or obese by other measures.One of the largest studies to examine the dangers of abdominal fat suggests men and women with the biggest waistlines have twice the risk of dying over a decade compared to those with the smallest tummies.Surprisingly,... READ MORE
Medicare drug plans to change, cost more
Big changes to many plansMarketing for next year’s drug plans started Oct. 1, and seniors will see some of the biggest changes since theMedicare prescription benefit became available in 2006. More than 17 million are enrolled in private drug plans offered throughMedicare.“People are just going to have to get on top of this and shop around,” said Dan Mendelson, president of ... READ MORE
Older adults need higher-dose flu shots
It’s flu-shot season, and for the first time health authorities are urging nearly every one to get vaccinated. There is even a new high-dose version for people 65 or older.What a difference a year makes: Crowds lined up for hours for scarce shots during last fall’sswine flu pandemic, when infections peaked well before enough vaccine could be produced. This year, a... READ MORE
Baltimore City moves senior programs
Earlier this summer, Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake proposed moving responsibility for the city’s older adult services from a cabinet-level agency operated by the Commission on Aging & Retirement Education (CARE) to a program of the Baltimore City Health Department’s Division of School Health and Older Adult Programs. CARE, a city-chartered advocacy... READ MORE
Ten minutes’ exercise = hour-long effects
Ten minutes of brisk exercise triggers metabolic changes that last at least an hour. The unfair news for panting newbies: The more fit you are, the more benefits you just might be getting. We all know that exercise and a good diet are important for health, protecting against heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. But what exactly causes the health improvement from working up... READ MORE
