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19 Jul

High Out-of-Pocket Costs For Childbirth, Even With Insurance

Giving birth in the U.S. now costs nearly $19,000 and insured patients are responsible for paying about $3,000 of that bill, researchers say.

Health News Results - 518

Injury-Proof Homes: Creating Safe Spaces for Older Adults

There’s nothing like the comfort and security of home. For many, a home is a place filled with fond memories of happy times.

It’s no wonder older adults choose to extend their independence by trying to stay in their homes as they get older, an experience called aging in place.

But as a person ages, what used to be ordinary in the home can be challenging or even a hazard. Almost ...

How to Find a Caregiver: A Guide

Choosing a caregiver for a loved one is a decision no one takes lightly.

Figuring out the level of care your loved one needs can help make the process go more smoothly. That’s why it’s a great place to start your journey.

“The goal is to pick up clues early, before they start to impact day-to-day life in a significant way, so we can do something about them,” Cleveland Clini...

Walking & Talking at Same Time: Aging Brain May Make It Tougher

Problems walking and talking or thinking at the same time might be a warning sign of impending dementia, a new study suggests.

Being unable to juggle two tasks simultaneously has been recognized as a sign of mental (or "cognitive") decline after age 65, but this research shows that the ability actually starts to fall off in middle-age. The finding could spur calls for earlier screening, r...

Cases of Dangerous Drug-Resistant Fungal Infections Are Spreading

The hit HBO series "The Last of Us" portrays a zombie apocalypse caused by a fungal infection that hijacks human brains.

Back in the real world, there’s an emerging fungal threat rampaging through the United States, a new study warns — one that doesn’t turn humans into zombies, but does endanger lives.

Candida auris has surged across the nation since the first case oc...

Diabetes, Tooth Loss Can Be Double Trouble for Aging Brains

Diabetes is a known risk factor for mental decline and dementia. Paired with total tooth loss, the potential harm to the brain is even more significant, new research indicates.

The findings highlight the importance of good dental care and diabetes control in aging adults, said

Yoga Can Help Seniors Regain Their Strength

Practicing yoga might help older adults become a little surer on their feet, a new research review suggests.

The review, of 33 small clinical trials, found that older adults who participated in yoga programs typically gained some lower-body strength and boosted their walking speed.

Experts said the findings suggest that yoga might help older adults manage some of the strength and m...

Reducing Home Hazards Cuts Seniors' Risk of Falling

Nearly one-third of older people fall each year, most of them in their own homes. But it's possible to reduce those numbers by a quarter, according to a new study.

Five steps can cut the risk of falls by 26%, the researchers reported in the March 10 issue of the Cochrane Database of ...

Vitamin D Might Help You Avoid Dementia

Can vitamin D lower dementia risk?

Quite possibly, a team of British and Canadian researchers report.

In their study, investigators spent roughly a decade tracking more than 12,000 older people. None had dementia at the start of the study period. In the end, the team determined that those who had been taking vitamin D supplements during that time appeared to face a 40% lower ri...

Tough Journeys: When Cancer Strikes People Living With Dementia

America’s aging population means that more families are soon going to be grappling with a heartbreaking issue -- a loved one living with dementia who then develops cancer.

These families will have to work their way through a series of tough decisions regarding screening, treatment and end-of-life care, a new report warns.

People with dementia already start out at a disadvantage as...

Bed Rails Can Help and Harm: FDA Gives Guidance

While adult bed rails are marketed with safety in mind, they need to be used with caution, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises.

"Many death and injury reports related to entrapment and falls for adult portable bed rail products and hospital bed rails have been reported to the FDA and the CPSC [U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]," the FDA said in a new

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 1, 2023
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    • 10 Ways You Can Cut Your Risk for Dementia

    Causes of different kinds of dementia vary, but about 40% are affected by risk factors a person can influence through lifestyle choices.

    Two University of Michigan neurologists offer 10 tips for modifying those risks.

    1. Keep blood pressure in check.
    2. Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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    4. February 25, 2023
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    Exercise Just Once a Month Could Help Your Brain Decades Later

    Regular exercise at some point in life is a key to better cognitive health in old age, researchers say. Starting sooner is better and sustaining it longer are, too.

    A new British study has found that exercising at least once a month at any time in adulthood is linked to better ...

    President Biden is the Picture of Good Health, His Doctor Reports

    FRIDAY, Feb. 17, 2023 (HealthDay News) – In a routine physical that will likely be the last before he announces whether he’ll run again, President Joe Biden was found to be both healthy and vigorous.

    White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor released the

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 17, 2023
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    • Two Vaccines May Soon Shield Seniors Against RSV

    Older people have vaccines available to prevent severe influenza and COVID-19, but there’s been nothing to protect against the third respiratory virus that contributed to this season’s wretched “triple-demic.”

    Until now.

    Two major pharmaceutical companies published clinical trial results this week that pave the way for an RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine to be avail...

    Cutting Calories May Slow Aging in Healthy Adults

    The key to living longer could be eating less.

    In a new study published in the journal Nature Aging, researchers found that a calorie-restricted diet had substantial health benefits, including delayed aging.

    “The main take-home of our study is that it is possible to slow the pace of biologi...

    Seniors' Dental Care Declines After Medicare Kicks In

    Without dental coverage, many American seniors on Medicare stop getting the fillings and crowns they may need, a new study finds.

    The result isn't pretty.

    “Without dental coverage for adults who are eligible [for] Medicare, we are seeing a rise in loss of teeth after age 65 among nearly 1 in 20 adults, which represents millions of Americans,” said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 9, 2023
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    • There's Been a Big Decline in the Rate of Americans Hit by Disability

    A new study delivers some great news to older Americans, something many likely already realize in their daily lives.

    The prevalence of disabilities among seniors is down sharply from what it was just a decade before, researchers say.

    Fewer older adults have limitations in the activities that are an important part of daily life, from climbing stairs or walking without difficulty to...

    Golf Is Healthy Exercise for Seniors, Study Confirms

    Want to stay healthy well into your golden years? Grab a bag of clubs and hit the green, new research suggests.

    Golfing beat walking or even Nordic walking (a full-body workout that consists of walking using specialized poles) when it came to improving several key measures of heart health in the small study.

    “The results of this study are meant to encourage older adults to spend m...

    Sports-Linked Cardiac Arrest Rare in Seniors, Study Finds

    The saga of Damar Hamlin's recent collapse during a football game has thrown the dangers of sports-related cardiac arrest into the spotlight.

    What about this happening to someone much older?

    A new study brings reassuring news: It’s rare for an older adult to have a sudden cardiac arrest during exercise, and those who do tend to have fewer health issues than those who experienc...

    Marriage Could Be a 'Buffer' Against Dementia

    Tying the knot is now tied to healthier aging brains: People who stay married for the long haul may gain some protection from dementia, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that compared with both divorced people and lifelong singles, older adults in a long-term marriage were less likely to develop dementia. Roughly 11% were diagnosed with dementia after age 70, versus 12% to 14% of t...

    Home Workouts Help Your Brain, But Group Exercise May Be Even Better

    A good physical workout benefits an older brain. So does socializing. Put those two together and the payoff may be even bigger.

    Researchers in Japan found that link in a new study that looked at exercising solo and in a group.

    "Exercise is manageable for many older people, and we saw cognitive benefits from it compared with those who don't exercise," said study senior author

    Marijuana-Linked ER Visits by Seniors Are Rising

    New research out of California finds seniors are being treated in emergency rooms in significantly higher numbers for adverse side effects from cannabis consumption.

    Researchers from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) said they studied the issue because they noticed more primary care patients ending up in the ER after using marijuana products.

    "While we did expect to see...

    Seniors, Make This Winter an Active & Healthy One

    Winter may feel like a time for hibernation, but it’s important for seniors to safely keep up their hobbies and physical activity in the cold weather.

    “It’s important to get outside as much as possible, whether it’s temperate or even if it’s colder, as long as it’s safe to do so,” said Dr. Angela...

    For Seniors, Declining Sense of Smell Could Signal Frailty

    Doctors already test seniors’ hearing and vision. Sense of smell could be added to screenings one day, according to researchers who found links between its loss and risk of frailty in older adults.

    “We use our sense of smell to identify the threat of a fire or to enjoy the fragrance of flowers on a spring day. But just like vision and hearing, this sense weakens as we age,” said stu...

    New Year: Time for Your Memory Screening Appointment

    Many conditions cause memory issues, and early detection is essential for effective treatment, according to a national Alzheimer’s disease organization.

    The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) encourages people to get a memory screening in the new year.

    The foundation offers free, confidential virtual memory screenings. It doesn’t set a minimum age and there are no insura...

    Staying Hydrated Could Mean Less Disease, Slower Aging

    Could hydration hold the key to longevity?

    Maybe, suggests new research that discovered older adults who are properly hydrated may be healthier and live longer than those who aren't, having less incidence of conditions like heart and lung disease.

    "Staying well-hydrated may slow down aging, prevent or delay development of chronic diseases, and therefore prolong disease-free life," s...

    Doctors' Group Updates Guidelines on Treating Osteoporosis

    As millions of Americans born in the baby boomer generation are already finding out, bone loss is a common sign of aging.

    And now experts at the American College of Physicians (ACP) — one of the leading groups representing primary care doctors — is issuing updated guidelines on how best to prevent and treat weakening bones.

    "Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characteri...

    Could Estrogen Help Ease the Delirium That Can Come With UTIs?

    TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Older women with urinary tract infections (UTIs) often experience delirium along with them, and researchers may have found a solution.

    Estrogen, often given as part of hormone replacement therapy after menopause, may prevent these mental changes, according to researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 3, 2023
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    • Neighbors Make the Difference for Isolated Chinese-American Seniors

    Living in tight-knit communities where neighbors are connected to one another helped improve health outcomes for older Chinese Americans, a new study found.

    Rutgers University researchers used data from a study of more than 3,100 elderly Chinese people in the Chicago area to investigate whether the perception of trust and connection among neighbors had an impact on their risk of death.

    Vitamin D May Help Maintain Muscle as You Age

    One way to maintain muscle strength with age: Get enough vitamin D.

    Researchers in Brazil and the United Kingdom found that older folks who were deficient in the vitamin increased their risk of losing muscle strength by 78%.

    "Vitamin D is known to participate in various functions. …," said study co-author

    Americans' Odds for Parkinson's May Be Higher Than Thought

    Parkinson's disease is a much bigger problem than previously thought, particularly for aging Americans, a new study finds.

    There are about 50% more new cases of the degenerative disorder diagnosed each year in North America than currently estimated, researchers concluded after an extensive data review.

    "We used to say 60,000 people a year were getting diagnosed, but really it's 90,0...

    Exercise, Mindfulness May Not Boost Seniors' Thinking, Memory

    Exercise and mindfulness are known for their health benefits, but a new study found that didn't extend to boosting memory or thinking skills in healthy seniors.

    That doesn't mean these activities wouldn't be beneficial for memory if practiced for a longer period of time or in adults with impairments, the researchers noted, just that there were not apparent benefits during the study.

    <...

    Are Retired NFL Players Aging Faster Than Other Men?

    Former elite football players may age faster than their more average peers, a new study suggests.

    NFL players, especially former linemen, had fewer disease-free years and earlier high blood pressure and diabetes diagnoses. Two age-related diseases, arthritis and dementia, were also more commonly found in former football players than in other men of the same age.

    This research was p...

    Twins Study Shows Exercise Altering How Genes Behave

    One might expect identical twins to have the same health outcomes.

    But it's not just genetics that makes a notable difference in their weight and in how their genes behave, according to a new study. Exercise can alter genetic markers of metabolic disease -- any of the diseases or disorders that disrupt norma...

    Vitamin D Might Help Shield the Aging Brain

    Older adults who harbor more vitamin D in their brains may stay mentally sharper, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that when older adults had higher levels of vitamin D in their brain tissue, they tended to perform better on standard tests of memory and thinking. They were also less likely to have dementia or milder cognitive impairments.

    Experts stressed that

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 8, 2022
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    • Seniors Urged to Get Flu Shots as U.S. Cases Rise

    Experts are asking seniors to get their flu shots ASAP as an exceptionally nasty flu season unfolds across the United States.

    Already, 8.7 million flu cases have been reported, with 78,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the last week alone, the nu...

    Aerobic Exercise Reinvigorates the Aging Brain

    Regular aerobic exercise improves blood flow to the brain, which should help keep seniors sharper as they age, a new trial has revealed.

    At least a half-hour of power walking or jogging four to five times a week promoted better blood flow in and out of the brain among a small group of older adults, said study co-author

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 16, 2022
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    • Dementia Rate Declining Among Older Americans: Study

    There's good news for aging adults: Prevalence of dementia declined in the United States from 2000 to 2016, a new study reveals.

    In people ages 65 and up, prevalence of dementia dropped by 3.7 percentage points. Disparities also decreased between white and Black men and between men and women.

    "The ...

    Vision Is Vulnerable With Age: Here's What to Look For

    Routine eye checks can help ensure seniors know if they're developing any age-related vision issues.

    An expert from Baylor College of Medicine spells out what seniors need to know.

    "Don't blame vision issues on just aging eyes. Get your eyes checked out because it can be a more serious issue that can be treated," said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 6, 2022
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    • Almost 20 Million Older Americans Live With Sight-Robbing Macular Degeneration

    In a finding that suggests more Americans than ever are struggling with their sight as they get older, researchers report that nearly 20 million adults have age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

    Broken down, about 18.3 million people aged 40 and up had an early stage of the condition in 2019, while almost 1.5 million people had late-stage AMD.

    "There haven't been many new examin...

    Half of Americans Over 50 Are Now Caregivers

    More than half of Americans aged 50 and up are helping an older adult manage tasks ranging from household chores to care for medical conditions, a new national poll shows.

    Researchers said the findings highlight the critical ro...

    Bad Sleep Might Raise Your Odds for Glaucoma

    Poor sleep may be linked to glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, new research suggests.

    The study drew on a database of more than 400,000 people to explore links between sleep and vision loss.

    Glaucoma is marked by progressive loss of light-sensitive cells in the eye and optic nerve dama...

    Get a Free Memory Screening From the Alzheimer's Foundation This November

    Early detection of memory issues is important.

    It can help rule in or out a variety of health issues, including vitamin deficiency, thyroid condition, sleep apnea, urinary tract infection and, of course, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

    The Alzheimer's Foundation of America suggests getting scr...

    Heading South for the Winter? Check This Medical Checklist

    Escaping from a cold, wintery place to a warm climate can be fun for so-called "snowbirds" who migrate south for the winter.

    Still, experts say it's a good idea for older adults to prepare by having a "medical checklist" to ensure both regular care and help in case of an emerging issue while away from home.

    "Snowbirds should have their medical checklists completed a month before th...

    Many Urban Seniors Rely on 'Broken' City Transit to Get to Medical Appointments

    More than 700,000 older Americans rely on public transportation to get to and from their medical appointments.

    That's roughly 1 in 10 seniors who live in cities.

    But when individuals were frail, or used a wheelchair, or sidewalks along their route were damaged, they were less likely to take the subway or bus, pointing to a need for improvement, according to a

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 27, 2022
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    • No Change in Number of Post-Op Opioid Prescriptions, But Dosages Drop

    New research out of Canada offers some encouraging news amid concerns about the opioid epidemic.

    Doctors are prescribing a lower dose of the painkillers after older adults have surgery, the study found. They are not, however, writing fewer prescriptions for the potentially addictive drugs.

    "While it's good news that the dos...

    Tips on Keeping Joints Limber, Healthy as You Age

    For many people, it is possible to slow the loss of joint cartilage as they age and avoid surgery to boot.

    Certain steps can help with that, said one orthopedic surgeon from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who offered...

    1 in 10 U.S. Seniors Has Dementia; Minorities Hit Hardest

    One in 10 older Americans has dementia, and twice as many have mild mental impairment, a new study finds.

    As the nation's population grows older, the burden on families and society is likely to grow, and minorities will be affected most, experts say.

    "As the population in the U.S. ages, it is projected that there will be more cases of cognitive impairment, unless and until effective...

    Good Sleep Could Keep Illness at Bay as You Age

    As men and women enter their golden years, those who regularly fail to get a good night's sleep face a higher risk for developing not one but two serious chronic illnesses at the same time, new research shows.

    Researchers from France, Finland and United Kingdom tracked the self-reported sleep routines and health status of nearly 8,000 Britons from ages 50 to 70.

    While the new analys...

    There's a Push to Expand Medicare's Coverage of Dental Issues

    Dental coverage under Medicare could soon start expanding for seniors under a new proposal from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

    Still, the proposed rules would not provide full coverage for regular dental care, which has been explicitly excluded from Medicare since...

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