May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Osteoporosis, which means “porous bone,†is the most common bone disease, and it is marked by bone weakness and the loss of bone density over time. Either the body fails to produce new bone, or too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both. Maybe you've seen an elderly person who has shrunk over the years, walks with a shuffle, or whose spine curves forward like a hunchback's. Chances are that person may have osteoporosis.
One in 5 American women over the age of 50 has this disease, and 50
Osteoporosis: Symptoms and Prevention
by R. Carnavale May 22nd, 2012 | Health Observance, Prevention Read More
Cancer and Family Relationships
by Lori Sciame May 21st, 2012 | Relationships
As I sit in a recliner next to the adjustable bed, I hear nothing except my mother's gurgling gasps for air. It's the middle of the night, and I'm watching over the woman who gave me life while my dad sleeps in the other room. Soon, my mother stirs from the pain. She needs another round of medication. Â As I patiently hold the glass to her lips, she manages to wash the tiny pill down with a sip of water. Â After I tuck her back in bed, she looks up at me through half closed eyelids and says "I
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Understanding Stroke
by Dean Heller MD May 18th, 2012 | Ask the Doctor
My aunt, who is 83, keeps on getting episodes of confusion, and at other times she is ok. She has been diagnosed with dementia, but because the episodes come and go, we are very concerned about an early stroke. What should we be looking for to prevent stroke?
First of all, people with dementia can have varying degrees of loss of memory and what appears to be confusion. So it is likely that these symptoms are just related to the dementia. While confusion can be a sign of a stroke, the most common symptoms are slurred speech and weakness on one side of the body. Sometimes
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First of all, people with dementia can have varying degrees of loss of memory and what appears to be confusion. So it is likely that these symptoms are just related to the dementia. While confusion can be a sign of a stroke, the most common symptoms are slurred speech and weakness on one side of the body. Sometimes
Heart and Gum Disease: Health Connection
by R. Carnavale May 15th, 2012 | Dental Health, Illness
There’s a strong link between gum disease and heart disease and strokes; however, gum disease hasn’t been definitively proven to cause heart disease or strokes, according to a scientific statement issued in Circulation, an American Heart Association (AHA) journal. After reviewing more than 500 studies, researchers Peter Lockhart and Ann F. Bolger determined that currently, there is no conclusive evidence to indicate that gum disease causes heart disease or strokes: “Much of the literature is conflicting, but if there was a strong causative link, we would know that by now,†he says. Lockhart suggests a large, long-term study is
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Building Bones: Older Women
by Lori Sciame May 14th, 2012 | Exercise, Health Observance
It's a fact. Many women will develop osteoporosis after the age of 50 because of declining hormone levels due to menopause. Don't despair, however, as you can still work to prevent this bone thinning disease from affecting you. What you need to do is continue to fight bone loss as you age.  One of the best ways to do this is through weight bearing exercises. Read on to learn how easy it really is to exercise your way to bone health.
First, get moving! Walk, jog in place in front of the television, or even jump rope. All of these forms of exercise can help
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First, get moving! Walk, jog in place in front of the television, or even jump rope. All of these forms of exercise can help