Category Archives: General Health

There is a known link between anxiety, depression and aging in the elderly. The elderly are at an increased risk for depression, but it is not a normal part of aging. Depression is far more severe than feeling down. Depression can last for months, and not only does it have a psychological toll, but a ...click here to read more

Excessive alcohol consumption during Christmas can be harmful to your liver. The holiday season is a time of togetherness and celebrating and often times celebrating is associated with alcohol consumption. Whether you’re toasting champagne or sipping on wine alcohol becomes a large focus during the holidays. You may not think that drinking for a few ...click here to read more

Seniors are living longer and healthier lives, so naturally they are having more sex. One large study showed two-thirds of men and 40 percent of women over 65 are still having sex, and although the percentages decrease for those over the age of 80, there are plenty of grandparents still doing the deed. Having sex ...click here to read more

Shingles (herpes zoster) can increase heart attack risk in seniors according to a new study. The study examined 67,000 seniors with newly diagnosed shingles who were 65 and older. The findings uncovered that stroke risk and heart attack risk increase within the first three months of shingles diagnosis but then normalize again after six months. ...click here to read more

Amyloidosis (excess amyloid protein) can increase the risk of kidney failure and heart failure. Amyloid is an abnormal protein that when it builds up in organs and tissues it can affect how they function and look which can lead to serious health consequences – primarily amyloidosis which can be life-threatening to organs. Amyloid is produced ...click here to read more

Multiple sclerosis paroxysmal symptoms can be confused with seizures due to its sudden onset. Paroxysmal symptoms are unique to multiple sclerosis (MS) and involve unusual sensations or muscular contractions. The main differences between multiple sclerosis paroxysmal symptoms and epileptic seizures are that paroxysmal symptoms do not cause short-circuiting of brain waves and do not have ...click here to read more

Grave’s disease increases the risk of hyperthyroidism and goiters. Grave’s disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism – a condition where the thyroid overproduces hormones that can have negative consequences on the body, such as speeding up the metabolism, sudden weight loss and an irregular heartbeat. Grave’s disease is an autoimmune disease where the ...click here to read more

Chronic pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation) is likely associated with smoking, alcohol and gene mutation. Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term progressive inflammatory disease of the pancreas, which can lead to permanent damage and malfunction of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen and is responsible for producing enzymes and hormones to help digest ...click here to read more

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix and can lead to severe abdominal pain. The appendix is a tube of tissue that extends from the large intestine. Although many do not know what the function of the appendix is, we do know that we can live without it. Therefore, we know that if we develops appendicitis, ...click here to read more

Pet therapy for seniors in assisted living can help with depression and mood disorders. Pet therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes animals to help individuals cope with health problems. Pet therapy can involve just about any animal – although cats and dogs are most common – and can be beneficial for recovery from ...click here to read more

There are two types of people in the world: those who love winter and those who hate it. There is a very long list of pros and cons for winter, but when it comes to the cold and snow, people usually aren’t on the fence about their feelings. Unless you live in a tropical or ...click here to read more

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a contagious respiratory infection that causes severe hacking, coughing, followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound when the person takes in their next breath. Prior to the development of the vaccine, whooping cough was common among children, but now cases are limited to children who are too young to receive the vaccination. ...click here to read more

Migraine headaches may double the risk of Bell’s palsy (facial paralysis). Bell’s palsy is a condition categorized by a sudden weakness in facial muscles. This muscle weakness can cause half of your face to droop and make your smile look one-sided or as if one eye is nearly closed. Bell’s palsy can occur at any ...click here to read more

Hypothermia and frostbite are two winter health risks that seniors should be mindful of. Hypothermia occurs when the body’s internal temperature drops abnormally low. Normal body temperature is 98.6 °F (37 °C) and hypothermia is classified with a body temperature below 95 °F (35 °C). Seniors are more susceptible to hypothermia because they have a ...click here to read more