Aging well, and with attitude
Look good for a longer period of time. Find out what you need to know and what products, attitude and social circle make your wiser years even better.
10:24 AM MDT, May 11, 2012
Seniors, doctors should speak freely at check-ups
An annual check-up should be quality time between older patients and their doctors. It's a chance for both parties to carefully discuss medications, problems with everyday activities like sleeping or walking, and how to stay healthy.
1:58 PM MDT, May 6, 2012
When 'Time Is Brain'
A new tool to treat stroke
When Linda Ortega came home a couple of weeks ago and saw her husband slumped over in the kitchen and slurring his words, she had a good idea that he was suffering a stroke. She and her daughter put his shoes on and took him to Hartford Hospital.
5:33 PM MDT, May 9, 2012
Weighing the pros and cons of cortisone shots
Q: I'm in my late 70s and have been getting four cortisone shots a year for the past several years for arthritis in my knee. They really help with the pain, but I've heard that, long-term, there could be bad side effects. Should I be worried?
5:38 PM MDT, May 9, 2012
Wrists overworked? Take regular breaks — and ice the pain
Maybe your wrists and fingers swell when you leave work. Or maybe they ache or go numb in the middle of the night.
May 9, 2012
Pay attention to your feet
As we age, several factors can contribute to changes in nails. The most common issue is the development of a fungus infection called onychomycosis.
2:02 AM MDT, April 30, 2012
Good health keeps wealth in old age
Ruth H. Clark of Pompano Beach is a 95-year-old aerobic wonder, working out seven days a week.
May 2, 2012
Pollution can put minds in a fog
Researchers recently found that older women are especially vulnerable to air pollution in urban areas, experiencing higher rates of mental decline when exposed to fine and coarse particulate matter over time.
6:18 PM MDT, April 18, 2012
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
You're never too old to reduce Alzheimer's risk with exercise
Even if you’re 80 or older, it’s not too late for daily exercise to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study. And if hitting the gym isn’t quite your style, here’s more good news: You can also benefit by doing housework, researchers say.
March 31, 2012
Try this! Homemade moisturizer
It's cooking class this week at Try This — for skin cream. If mixing your own cosmetics sounds like fun, here's a recipe we think is worth the effort.
1:42 PM MDT, March 26, 2012
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
Dick Cheney: Are heart transplants unusual for older patients?
Is it unusual for senior citizens to receive heart transplants? The question is being asked in the wake of news that former Vice President Dick Cheney just got one at age 71. The short answer: less unusual than it used to be.
4:41 PM MST, March 6, 2012
Hormone replacement therapy questions continue
Perhaps if there were other really effective medications to treat menopausal symptoms people wouldn't care so much about the safety of hormone replacement therapy.
March 7, 2012
What women can do about thinning hair
No one wants to lose their hair, but for a woman it is particularly distressing. While men can look perfectly presentable — even sexy — with their exposed scalp, no such options exist for the 30 million American women who grapple with thinning tresses. Dr. Maria Colavincenzo, a dermatologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has a practice that specializes in preserving those precious strands — especially in cases of androgenetic alopecia, a hereditary condition that causes hair loss, mainly on the top and crown of the scalp. Without an appointment, she answered some of our questions:
March 7, 2012
Treatment improves for age-related sight loss
Peter Miller was a high-powered businessman who owned several electronic security firms when he was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 1999.
5:53 AM MST, March 1, 2012
Susan Reimer: Some memory changes in aging brain are normal
Dementia and its evil twin, Alzheimer's, may have moved ahead of cancer on the list of most feared diseases, especially among baby boomers, who have begun to believe it is their inescapable fate if they have the bad luck to live too long.
12:20 PM MST, March 1, 2012
Sleep doesn't worsen with age, study shows
The myth that you sleep worse as you get older isn’t true, scientists argued in a study published Thursday. While older people may have more sleep disturbances than younger people, those problems are linked to illnesses and health issues and have little to do with aging, researchers said.
9:46 AM MST, March 1, 2012
Countdown to better habits
We rounded up the advice from our favorite physical therapists to make sure you never need to see one of them. Heed their top 10 tips to ward off aches and pains.
7:08 PM MST, February 28, 2012
The path to nirvana
Fresh-from-the-farm breakfasts, Tibetan stretching and miles upon miles of hiking trails are just some of the reasons adults are happily forgoing their vacations for health retreats.
February 27, 2012
Keeping your lower back pain-free
On a recent ski trip, my best friend handed me a flask of cinnamon schnapps. He called it "courage in 100-proof form," and I needed it. I was perched at the edge of a cliff, looking at a 20-foot drop into thigh-deep powder.
4:03 PM MST, February 22, 2012
Obama's Alzheimer's plan focuses on treatment, care
The Obama administration's plan to fight Alzheimer's disease aims to harness the nation's expertise to find real treatments by 2025 and improve the care and treatment of the 5.1 million Americans already afflicted with the brain-wasting disease.
12:04 PM MST, February 22, 2012
What living past 90 looks like for most
Living to age 90 is a worthy goal Americans are increasingly meeting. The number of people age 90 and older almost tripled from 720,000 people in 1980 to 1.9 million in 2010, according to a new Census Bureau report. And the 90-plus population is expected to more than quadruple between 2010 and 2050.
1:13 PM MST, February 15, 2012
The science behind frontotemporal dementia
When Times staff photographer Rob Gauthier and I first visited the Bryant family last April to begin reporting a story, Little-known brain disease rips apart lives of victim, loved ones,”), about a rare type of dementia, known as frontotemporal dementia, we realized that we needed to explore the science behind the malady. FTD, as the disease is known, is similar to Alzheimer's but affects the front portions of the brain and leads to behavioral problems such as the Bryants experienced with Stu.
7:31 PM MST, February 14, 2012
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
Alzheimer's: Trouble sleeping could affect memory later on, study finds
People who have trouble sleeping may be at higher risk of developing memory problems, new research shows.
February 1, 2012
Seniors offer tips for happy lives
Wouldn't it be great if we could get a "do-over" in life, like when you were a kid and a ball rolled into traffic? Karl Pillemer, a gerontologist at Cornell University, can't fix the mistakes of the past, but he does have some ideas on how we can have fewer regrets in the future.
January 30, 2012
Music keeps minds active and memories alive
My name is Bob, and I know what it's like to be flat on your back for more than two months. My first encounter was for a form of arthritis called Reiter's syndrome -- a three-month stay in a Veterans Affairs hospital marked by boredom and depression. Fifty years later, I was confined again, by a broken hip, but this time my stay turned out to be surprisingly productive.
January 18, 2012
Trying to get ahead of Parkinson's
It has been a year since Delores Slezak noticed something unusual with her body.
January 18, 2012
New implant addresses hearing loss caused by inner-ear damage
Since her teens, Lesa Merlo, of Hinsdale, had learned to compensate as her hearing declined. She used the television's closed-captioning feature. She read lips and paid attention to body language. Often, it meant only being able to do one thing at a time, explained the mother of three young children.
9:18 PM MST, January 17, 2012
Parkinson's patients give dance a whirl
At first glance, most wouldn't think that dancers and those with Parkinson's disease have much in common, said dance instructor David Leventhal. But they do.
January 9, 2012
Hearing-impaired people need friends and some patience
Imagine yourself in a country where nobody speaks your language. It becomes a necessity to rely on your other senses and hone your powers of observation. You welcome the times when you can "fill in the blanks" and get the gist of a conversation. Each situation is stressful: Will you be a participant or an observer?
1:28 PM MST, December 29, 2011
Estrogen helps nighttime hot flashes, not sleep
Women who wake up at least three times during the night from bothersome hot flashes wake up less when they take estrogen, but the quality of their sleep remains the same, according to a new study.
1:17 PM MST, December 28, 2011
Medical screenings: Time is of the essence
Deep down inside, we all know it: It's inevitable, this living, breathing, beautiful, multipart machine, the human body, is — at some point, somewhere — going to break down.
12:07 PM MST, December 21, 2011
Fashion alert on medical bracelets
After Eileen Smith was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes four years ago, she went in search of a medical ID bracelet to wear in case she suffered a hypoglycemic episode away from home.
12:39 PM MST, December 14, 2011
Thriving through touch
The woman — in her 80s — hadn't spoken in months. The nursing home staff figured she had lost the ability. But after six silent months of regular massage sessions, massage therapist Dawn Nelson heard a soft voice utter: "That feels good."
Pulmonary hypertension woman stays active
Joan Stevenson has pulmonary hypertension but still leads an active life.
10:40 PM MDT, October 15, 2011
Weight-lifting gives ex-smoker a new lease on life
With 225 pounds of weight hoisted above his head, his arms begin to shake as he reaches the final repetition. His breathing, however, remains unchanged, steady and rhythmic, "do-phew, do-phew, do-phew."
12:36 PM MST, November 9, 2011
Ellen Warren: Exercise can keep you from losing your mind
It's not news that we should exercise. We know it, but we don't do it. It's hard to get started and harder still to keep at it. It's so easy to come up with excuses.
October 31, 2011
Seeing through skin supplements' claims
You wouldn't last very long without oxygen. But just as rust slowly eats away at a nail, oxygen can age your body. As your cells use this vital element, they produce free radicals — unstable molecules that can damage your tissues and add wear and tear to your entire body, including your skin.
10:16 AM MDT, October 27, 2011
Soy supplement may improve crow's feet
An experimental supplement derived from soy may help postmenopausal women smooth their "crow's feet" a bit, a small pilot study suggests.
October 17, 2011
Robot-assisted hair restoration?
Hair-transplant surgery could become cheaper and more accessible with a new robot that plucks hair follicles from the back and sides of the head so they can be moved to the top and front of a balding pate.
12:00 PM MDT, October 12, 2011
How old do you feel inside?
Those of us lucky enough to grow old must contend with the miserable stereotypes of what it's like: the frailty, the forgetfulness, the early bird specials.
3:13 PM MDT, October 2, 2011
Brain gyms that work out mind and body gain in popularity
Hop off the treadmill. Hit the weight machines. Then head over to the computer for some push ups for your cerebellum. Programs and centers that combine physical and mental exercise are springing up, with a new one recently opening in South Florida.
11:49 AM MDT, September 28, 2011
Future focused? Creating a Plan B
With national unemployment stuck at 9.1 percent, a record number of home foreclosures and a national landscape of pessimism, backup plans are a stark and prevailing reality. They're necessary and grown-up and fiscally responsible.
September 21, 2011
Hearing aids can help dementia patients
Hearing aids might help increase memory, reduce anxiety and increase social interaction among dementia patients, local health experts say.
2:02 PM MDT, September 14, 2011
Always running to the bathroom?
For the 25 million U.S. adults with urinary incontinence, a little leakage can carry a lot of shame. But many people don't do anything about it.
12:20 PM MDT, September 13, 2011
Straighten up, sloucher
Poor posture can make you look 10 pounds heavier. It could sabotage a promotion. And slumped or hunched shoulders are a major reason why back pain affects 80 percent of Americans at some point in their life.
12:18 PM MDT, August 31, 2011
The midlife review
Ladies, it's never too late to benefit from a little talk therapy
By midlife, you've probably spent years thinking of yourself as a certain kind of person — outgoing or introverted, high-strung or easygoing, optimistic or pessimistic. You may have become accustomed to certain roles and styles of communication in your relationships and certain ways of coping with stress. Even if you're dissatisfied with those roles and your patterns of coping aren't working so well anymore, you may think it's too late or too bothersome to question your perceptions or seek changes in important relationships.
August 31, 2011
Too few with arthritis are exercising, study finds
Though research has shown that exercise can reduce pain, ease stiff joints, fight depression and help with a host of other health problems, a study published this month by researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine found that even fewer people with arthritis than previously thought are getting enough exercise.
10:22 AM MDT, August 23, 2011
Men, boomers fuel growth in spa industry
In the United States, men wanting to look younger to compete in a tough job market are heading to spas. "Twenty five years ago hardly any man would go to a spa. Now in some spas half of their clientele are men," said Ellis.
2:34 PM MDT, August 10, 2011
It's time to make a useful journal of your health
A written record of your health history can help prevent many medical errors, doctors say. "If you record details when they're fresh in your mind, you won't forget to tell your doctor something important," says associate professor Dr. Michael Weaver.
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Animal assisted activity programs popular at senior communities
As any dog lover knows, canines have special powers. Dogs can engage us in ways humans can't. This is especially true with seniors. There is a growing body of medical research that shows how interacting with dogs (and other pets) improve seniors' emotional and physical well-being.
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Put your time, experience and passion to good use
If you are someone who wants to put your time and talent to good use — or learn new skills as you reap personal benefits, volunteerism is one step away from achieving those goals.
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Advocates navigate the health care hurricane
Our health care system is not exactly user-friendly for anyone, let alone seniors.
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Semi-retired pastor finds solace in familiarity
The Reverend Lee Iseley and his wife Jerrianne have called a lot of places home throughout the South and the Midwest. So as they get as close as they likely ever will to retirement, it was only fitting the senior living community they chose is called Monarch Landing.
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A procrastinators' guide to retirement savings
Everyone knows it pays to start saving early for retirement. But for some older adults, that didn't happen. Food, clothing, mortgages, vacations, college educations and other costs conspired to keep them from socking funds away for retirement.
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Devices help make it easier to stay healthy
These days, gadgets that promote health and wellness are everywhere. Here are some that use technology to keep you feeling good in clever new ways. Some are designed to make everyday activities easier and more comfortable, others help you keep track of things like blood pressure and medication.
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Primetime Views: More opportunities today to explore life after 55?
We asked several people: 'Do you think there are more opportunities today to explore life after 55 compared to past generations?'
12:10 PM MDT, July 27, 2011
How to prevent age spots
Ask any dermatologist how to prevent brownish spots as you get older and you'll likely get the answer given by Dr. Elizabeth McBurney, clinical professor of dermatology at Louisiana State University School of Medicine: "Sunscreens, sunscreens, sunscreens!"
July 13, 2011
Laughter is the test medicine
To an Alzheimer's patient, there's nothing funny about forgetting to turn off the oven, losing a telephone number or misplacing books from the library. But turning those mishaps into punch lines might turn out to be therapeutic.
11:00 AM MDT, July 26, 2011
Live health chat
Staying out of the nursing home
What are the most common reasons that seniors end up going to a nursing home? How can older people stave off problems, avoid giving up their independence and prepare to stay safely at home? We ask doctors who have devoted their careers to helping people live well in their communities as they age. This live health chat discussed just that.
9:41 AM MDT, June 8, 2011
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
Wrinkles might be linked to bone density in post-menopausal women
As if wrinkles weren’t enough to worry about: Deepening smile lines and crow’s feet just might indicate weak bones, a risk for future fractures, new research suggests.
May 30, 2011
Put your stress on vacation
Got stress? But if you answered yes, you're likely heartened by the arrival of vacation season. Just the ticket for a little stress-reduction. And that can have some big payoffs. It can lower your blood pressure, boost your immune system and help you live longer. It may even make you smarter.
1:11 PM MDT, March 30, 2011
How to keep joints healthy longer
Even youngish joints can feel creaky and painful without proper care. Luckily, lifestyle changes can help you stay active longer. "With an average life expectancy of more than 70 years, it's more important than ever for us to protect our bodies," says Dr. Kevin Bonner, an orthopedic surgeon who practices at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Va. Some tips:
Sodium countdown
How much does one teaspoon of salt hold? More and more Americans will likely find out the hard way, now that federal officials want people to reduce their daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams, or about 1 teaspoon of salt.
2:14 PM MDT, March 16, 2011
What is Qigong?
Sometimes called Chinese yoga, Qigong ("chee gong") is a mind-body practice that melds slow, graceful movements, mental focus and deep abdominal breathing to boost and balance a person's vital energy, or qi.
March 16, 2011
Taking stress out of mammograms
The words "party" and "mammogram" aren't used in the same sentence often.
September 24, 2010
How to prevent (or at least delay) cataracts
Cataracts, a clouding of the eye's lens that blocks vision, are common in people 65 and older. But although age is a major risk factor, you may be able to slow the process. Some tips:
May 28, 2010
Senseless deprivation
As people age, the senses through which they come to know the world often deteriorate, altering what they can see and hear.
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