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Alzheimer's Disease Is Sharply Rising, But You Can Lower Your Odds
Sarah Baldauf

Nations around the globe are staring down a rising tide of people who will grapple with the ravages of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. According to Alzheimer's Disease International, some 35.6 million people worldwide will have a form of dementia in 2010. That number is expected to nearly double every 20 years. Research is mounting that diet, exercise, and social and mental engagement play a protective role.

Staying Attuned to Blood Pressure
Harvard Health Letters

Maybe your blood pressure has been normal for as long as you can remember, but that doesn't mean you should let it slip beneath your health radar. The older we get, the greater our chances of developing high blood pressure (also known as hypertension). Even if you don't have high blood pressure by age 55, your chances of developing it eventually are 90 percent.

What Causes Ice-Cream Headache
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.

Ice-cream headache, also known as "brain freeze" or cold-stimulus headache, is a headache some people get when they consume a cold food or beverage quickly. The pain is usually in the forehead or both temples, and it usually lasts less than five minutes. The cause is ...

Vitamin D Deficiency Common But Easily Treated With Supplements
Philip Hagen, M.D., Preventive Medicine, Mayo Clinic

It's well established that vitamin D helps with calcium absorption and helps keep bones strong. There's also evidence that vitamin D helps reduce the risk of common cancers, muscle and joint pain and perhaps even multiple sclerosis. For some people, it's difficult to get proper amounts of vitamin D from the usual sources, which are diet and sunshine. Dr. Philip Hagen of the Mayo Clinic provides suggestions in this article to compensate for Vitamin D defiency.

Osteoporosis - Bone Up On Bone Health
by Randy Boyer and Andrea Donsky

Osteoporosis is a silent condition in which bones become less dense and more likely to fracture. It's a major health threat for an estimated 10 million Americans with the disease and 34 million Americans with low bone mass. Often called a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences, bone density decreases partly because hormone levels (such as estrogen and testosterone) decrease as people age.

8 Facts to Know About Palliative Care: Misconceptions abound
Sarah Baldauf

The term "palliative care" often conjures tones of a death knell, but the reality of what such services provide -- and when they can and should be recruited -- might be surprising. While death might ultimately become a part of the conversation, recruiting such care is not just about dying.

Can You Avoid Arthritis Knee Pain by Building Thigh Muscles
Deborah Kotz

Millions of older women suffer the pain and stiffness of arthritis, especially in their knee joints, which can severely curtail everyday activities like climbing stairs or getting out of a car. It turns out there may be a way to protect our knees and avoid the discomforts of aging: strong thigh muscles.

Long-Distance Caregiver: Careful Planning Key to Protecting Aging Parents
Christopher J. Gearon

Adult children often first realize that Mom or Dad needs help when there's a sudden hospitalization or a frantic call from an overwhelmed parent. In many instances, a child will discover evidence of a parent's deterioration during a visit. If you're too far away to monitor a parent, you have a couple of options ...

Finding Health Coverage Before Medicare: A Primer
Susan B. Garland

It's bad enough that your retirement savings are evaporating. But if you lost your job, retired early, or are turning to self-employment, you'll need to budget for health coverage. And the tab could be hefty. However, You do have options if you need to find insurance on your own ...

Mayo Clinic: Hip Pain May be Relieved by Treatments Other Than Surgery
Edward Laskowski, M.D.

Hip pain can be a sign of many medical conditions. Some disorders, such as severe arthritis could, in time, require a hip replacement. But others, such as bursitis, can be managed with much less invasive treatment options. Exercise may help in some situations, but not all. Before you pursue treatment for hip pain

Calorie-Restricted Diets and Other Ways to Avoid Aging
Deborah Kotz

University of Wisconsin researchers found that feeding rhesus monkeys 30 percent fewer calories over a 20-year period seemed to slow down the aging process, protecting them from age-related illnesses like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Animals fed less "appear to be biologically younger than the normally fed animals," the study authors wrote.

Alzheimer's Caregiving: Day-to-Day Challenges

Alzheimer's Caregiving: Day-to-day Challenges
Harvard Health Watch

Bath time, mealtime, and bedtime are among the hardest parts of the day. The Alzheimer's disease has a profound emotional impact on the family members who must cope with a loved one's irrevocable decline.

Research Finds that Many Older People Can't Get Up After a Fall
Harvard Health Letters

About 35 percent of people over age 65 fall in their homes at least once each year. That figure increases to 50 percent for those ages 75 and over. Most of the resulting injuries are minor, but falls can also cause major lacerations, fractures, head trauma, and other injuries that may lead to hospitalization, disability, nursing home care, and premature death.

Falls in Older Individuals May Be Preventable
Eric Tangalos, M.D. - Mayo Clinic Medical Edge

With a little effort and some medical problem solving, many falls might be preventable. The Rand Corporation, a nonprofit research group, conducted a large study called Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders (ACOVE). One focus of the study was falls and how to prevent them. The research wasn't a single study, but an analysis of hundreds of previously published studies. Some of the key findings from ACOVE and updates that have been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society include ...

A New Model for Aging in Place
Howard Gleckman

As all of us age, we face a difficult choice: Should I stay in my home, or move to a senior community or perhaps an assisted-living facility? Now, a growing number of neighborhood networks are providing the resources to help the elderly remain independent for as long as possible.

Dual Heart Tests Best for Young Athletes
Title: Dual Heart Tests Best for Young Athletes
Category: Health News
Created: 11/19/2009 10:47:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/19/2009 10:47:49 AM

No Increased Pregnancy Risk for MS Patients
Title: No Increased Pregnancy Risk for MS Patients
Category: Health News
Created: 11/19/2009 10:42:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/19/2009 10:42:22 AM

Diuretics Still Best Treatment for High Blood Pressure
Title: Diuretics Still Best Treatment for High Blood Pressure
Category: Health News
Created: 11/18/2009 2:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/19/2009

Lifelong Exercise Keeps Seniors Young at Heart
Title: Lifelong Exercise Keeps Seniors Young at Heart
Category: Health News
Created: 11/18/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/19/2009

Incidence of High Cholesterol Drops in U.S.
Title: Incidence of High Cholesterol Drops in U.S.
Category: Health News
Created: 11/17/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/18/2009

Obesity Rolling Back Gains in Heart Health
Title: Obesity Rolling Back Gains in Heart Health
Category: Health News
Created: 11/17/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/18/2009

Moderate-Fat Diet May Be Better at Reducing Heart Risks
Title: Moderate-Fat Diet May Be Better at Reducing Heart Risks
Category: Health News
Created: 11/16/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/17/2009

U.S. Scores a 'D' on Preterm Birth Report Card
Title: U.S. Scores a 'D' on Preterm Birth Report Card
Category: Health News
Created: 11/17/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/17/2009

Alternative to Warfarin May Cut Risk of Bleeding
Title: Alternative to Warfarin May Cut Risk of Bleeding
Category: Health News
Created: 11/15/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009

Sudden Cardiac Death Much More Likely to Strike Men
Title: Sudden Cardiac Death Much More Likely to Strike Men
Category: Health News
Created: 11/15/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009

Health Tip: Dealing With Peripheral Artery Disease
Title: Health Tip: Dealing With Peripheral Artery Disease
Category: Health News
Created: 11/13/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/13/2009

Surgery Not Always Best for Narrowed Kidney Arteries
Title: Surgery Not Always Best for Narrowed Kidney Arteries
Category: Health News
Created: 11/11/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/12/2009

MedicineNet High Blood Pressure General
MedicineNet High Blood Pressure General

Link Between Alzheimer's, Heart Failure
Title: Link Between Alzheimer's, Heart Failure
Category: Health News
Created: 11/17/2009 10:06:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/17/2009 10:06:16 AM

Tapping Into Curry's Health Benefits
Title: Tapping Into Curry's Health Benefits
Category: Health News
Created: 11/13/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009

Muscle Weakness Linked to Alzheimer's Risk in Seniors
Title: Muscle Weakness Linked to Alzheimer's Risk in Seniors
Category: Health News
Created: 11/10/2009 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/11/2009

Early Use of NSAIDs Might Prevent Alzheimer's
Title: Early Use of NSAIDs Might Prevent Alzheimer's
Category: Health News
Created: 11/10/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/10/2009

High Blood Pressure Likely in Alzheimer's Offspring
Title: High Blood Pressure Likely in Alzheimer's Offspring
Category: Health News
Created: 11/2/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/3/2009

Surgery, Illness Not Linked to Mental Decline in Seniors
Title: Surgery, Illness Not Linked to Mental Decline in Seniors
Category: Health News
Created: 10/30/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/2/2009

Flu Deaths Higher Among Seniors With Dementia
Title: Flu Deaths Higher Among Seniors With Dementia
Category: Health News
Created: 10/30/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/2/2009

Big, Beefy Football Players May Face Heart Problems Later
Title: Big, Beefy Football Players May Face Heart Problems Later
Category: Health News
Created: 10/26/2009 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 10/27/2009

Does Diabetes Slow Alzheimer's?
Title: Does Diabetes Slow Alzheimer's?
Category: Health News
Created: 10/26/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 10/27/2009

Swine Flu Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Vaccination
Title: Swine Flu Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Vaccination
Category: Doctor's Views
Created: 10/23/2009 11:51:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/23/2009 11:51:45 AM

American Cancer Society Stands By Cancer Screening Guidelines
Title: American Cancer Society Stands By Cancer Screening Guidelines
Category: Health News
Created: 10/21/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 10/22/2009

Health Tip: You Need Vitamin B-12
Title: Health Tip: You Need Vitamin B-12
Category: Health News
Created: 10/21/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/21/2009

MedicineNet Alzheimer's General
MedicineNet Alzheimer's General

Health Tip: Help Prevent Bunions
Title: Health Tip: Help Prevent Bunions
Category: Health News
Created: 11/18/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/18/2009

Low Vitamin D Levels May Raise Heart Risk
Title: Low Vitamin D Levels May Raise Heart Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 11/17/2009 9:59:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/17/2009 9:59:51 AM

FDA OKs Menstrual Drug Lysteda
Title: FDA OKs Menstrual Drug Lysteda
Category: Health News
Created: 11/16/2009 11:45:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009 11:45:22 AM

High-Impact Activity May Be Good for Old Bones
Title: High-Impact Activity May Be Good for Old Bones
Category: Health News
Created: 11/14/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009

Hair Loss
Title: Hair Loss
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 9/24/1999 7:06:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/13/2009

Laser Therapy Seems to Relieve Neck Pain
Title: Laser Therapy Seems to Relieve Neck Pain
Category: Health News
Created: 11/12/2009 6:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/13/2009

How Rheumatoid Arthritis Spreads
Title: How Rheumatoid Arthritis Spreads
Category: Health News
Created: 11/10/2009 9:50:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/10/2009 9:50:12 AM

Breast Cancer Drugs May Fight Cervical Cancer, Too
Title: Breast Cancer Drugs May Fight Cervical Cancer, Too
Category: Health News
Created: 11/9/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/10/2009

Health Tip: What's Behind Hip Bursitis?
Title: Health Tip: What's Behind Hip Bursitis?
Category: Health News
Created: 11/6/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/6/2009

Restless Legs May Vary by Race and Gender
Title: Restless Legs May Vary by Race and Gender
Category: Health News
Created: 11/2/2009 2:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/3/2009

Study Eases Arthritis Drug Cancer Fears
Title: Study Eases Arthritis Drug Cancer Fears
Category: Health News
Created: 10/30/2009 10:05:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/30/2009 10:05:56 AM

Better Drug Emerges for Steroid-Induced Bone Loss
Title: Better Drug Emerges for Steroid-Induced Bone Loss
Category: Health News
Created: 10/29/2009 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 10/30/2009

MedicineNet Arthritis General
MedicineNet Arthritis General

Gene Mutations Linked to IBD in Children
Title: Gene Mutations Linked to IBD in Children
Category: Health News
Created: 11/19/2009 10:36:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/19/2009 10:36:15 AM

Morphine May Help Tumors Spread in Cancer Patients
Title: Morphine May Help Tumors Spread in Cancer Patients
Category: Health News
Created: 11/18/2009 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/19/2009

Health Tip: When Infants Get Diarrhea
Title: Health Tip: When Infants Get Diarrhea
Category: Health News
Created: 11/19/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/19/2009

Mummies Had Heart Disease, Too
Title: Mummies Had Heart Disease, Too
Category: Health News
Created: 11/18/2009 10:43:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/18/2009 10:43:50 AM

Swine Flu
Title: Swine Flu
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 4/21/2009
Last Editorial Review: 11/18/2009

Certain Reflux Drugs Tied to Higher Post-Angioplasty Death Rate
Title: Certain Reflux Drugs Tied to Higher Post-Angioplasty Death Rate
Category: Health News
Created: 11/16/2009 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/17/2009

FDA OKs Menstrual Drug Lysteda
Title: FDA OKs Menstrual Drug Lysteda
Category: Health News
Created: 11/16/2009 11:45:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009 11:45:22 AM

Child Food Allergies on the Rise in U.S.
Title: Child Food Allergies on the Rise in U.S.
Category: Health News
Created: 11/16/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009

Health Tip: Help Control Constipation
Title: Health Tip: Help Control Constipation
Category: Health News
Created: 11/12/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/12/2009

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Title: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Category: Doctor's Views
Created: 11/11/2009 2:29:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/11/2009 2:29:15 PM

Stroke Puts Stress on Spousal Relationship
Title: Stroke Puts Stress on Spousal Relationship
Category: Health News
Created: 11/10/2009 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/11/2009

MedicineNet Digestion General
MedicineNet Digestion General