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Diseases/Conditions
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Diseases and Conditions You May Want to Know More About
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Osteopenia: An Early Osteoporosis Warning For You and Your Elders
Osteopenia refers to a condition where the density and strength of our bones (the bone mineral density, or BMD) is lower than normal, but not low enough to be classified as full blown osteoporosis. Having osteopenia means there is a greater risk that, as time passes, someone may develop osteoporosis, which is a very low bone mineral density . . . keep reading
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MRI and Pacemaker: A Possibly Dangerous Combo
It's something else for seniors and caregivers to remember: If someone has a pacemaker, newly released research indicates that an MRI might not be a safe procedure. With potentially one of every four people receiving an MRI also having an implanted pacemaker, this raises some serious concerns . . . keep reading
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Feeding Tubes For End Stage Dementia
Patients with Alzheimer's Disease who live to the end stages will almost certainly lose the ability to eat normally. They may become unable to mentally process the mechanics of what to do with food. The reflexes that enable them to swallow safely may be lost. In these cases, many have their lives extended with feeding tubes, whether or not that may have been what they wished . . . keep reading
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Medications and Conditions That Increase the Risk of Frostbite
When the body is exposed to cold, the blood vessels close to the skin begin to narrow in order to preserve core body temperature. While this is perfectly normal, people with the following medical conditions, or who are taking the following medications, have a much higher risk of frostbite. You should be particularly alert to the signs of frostbite in seniors who . . . keep reading
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Watch For Cellulitis: It's More Than Just a Rash
Cellulitis, a potentially very serious skin infection that frequently plagues older individuals, is something that we all need to watch for. Because the bacteria that cause it are everywhere, and it can spread rapidly into the bloodstream if not vigorously treated, cellulitis can even be life-threatening if not caught and treated promptly . . . keep reading
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Pressure Sores - A Caregiver's Nightmare
Christopher Reeve reportedly died from complications resulting from pressure sores, also known as bed sores or decubitus ulcers. If Mr. Reeve, with all his resources and private care developed pressure ulcers, then anyone who can't turn easily and frequently is certainly at risk . . . keep reading
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Cold or Flu: When to Call The Doctor
Because it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between a cold and the flu, here are some warning signs to watch for, courtesy of the Centers For Disease Control (CDC). If someone with bad cold or flu-like symptoms develops any of these signs, it's time to get medical advice right away . . . keep reading
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Chemo, Nausea and Nutrition
Weight and fluid loss are our enemies when we care for someone with cancer. Our impulse is to focus much of our energy on food: preparing nutritious meals, offering food frequently, and bulking up our menus with rich and tempting offerings. Often this will backfire for someone experiencing nausea . . . keep reading
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Clinical Trials
At any particular moment there are over 80,000 clinical trials occurring across the country and around the world. Choosing whether or not to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision. The following information may be helpful when deciding whether to look into participating as a volunteer in a clinical trial . . . keep reading
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The Alzheimer's Eye Sees Things Differently
The changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer's Disease can also cause changes in how the affected person sees things. Although an opthalmologist may not be able to detect any actual changes in the eyes, the ability of the brain with Alzheimer's to interpret what it sees can be reduced. The inability to "see" clearly can make coping with the disease even more difficult, both the the affected person and for caregivers . . . keep reading
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Constipation, A Big Problem For Some Seniors
You can't watch television for more than 5 minutes these days without hearing a commercial for something to cure your "irregularity." No wonder our elderlies are fixated on the issue. As a group they watch more television than anyone. As a group the ones we care for also have more time to think about their aches and pains, too, which doesn't help . . . keep reading
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Guiding a Person With Impaired Vision
Many seniors experience vision changes that can leave them with serious disabilities. Learning to walk and navigate in unfamiliar territory can take time. Some learn quite quickly, others need help longer. These are proven techniques to guiding and assisting someone with low or no vision (with video) . . . keep reading
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Words Can Be a Dementia Warning
Contrary to what you may have heard, the first signs of early dementia may not be leaving the car keys in the refrigerator or getting lost on the way to the hairdresser. Some people show much more subtle early signs in their speech and language . . . keep reading
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Shingles - An Ounce of Prevention
When Mary Ann came down with Shingles she didn't realize what was happening for several days. By the time she saw her doctor she was in severe pain and it was too late for the available treatment to do her much good. She was in severe pain for weeks, and she still feels the kind of residual pain called postherpetic neuralgia which may never go completely away . . . keep reading
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Joint Pain and the Weather: Real or Old Wive's Tale?
"There's a storm coming, I can feel it in my left knee." We've heard the older folks say it time and again, but is this just another hypochondriac's way to get attention, or is it true that your joints can sometimes predict a change in the weather? . . . keep reading
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PET Scans for Dementia Diagnosis
Doctors seem to be having some success is determining what is causing dementia symptoms using PET (Brain Positron Emission Tomography) scans. Because dementia symptoms can be caused by a variety of things, and prescribing the right treatment depends on what's causing the dementia, knowing the cause of dementia symptoms is obviously important . . . keep reading
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Alzheimers Disease
