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A FACILITY/WELLNESS CENTER
Anti-Aging Doctors Continue Their Education
Doctors rely on a large body of historic findings to treat their patients. However, doctors must also look to the future in order to find new ways of offering better services to the people that they are working with. This is true of all areas of medicine but is particularly true in ati-aging medicine where there remain many new advances to be made.
A large group of anti-aging doctors is going to be able to make even better progress in this area by having a whole new world of education opened up to them. Those doctors that attended last week's Women's Health conference in Boston will be able to access a special library of information which can further educate them about new and existing ways to treat their patients.
The focus of this conference was on the health of aging women so it discussed issues such as treating women for menopause. There are many established, controversial and emerging methods of menopause treatment so it's important for these doctors to know all of the options out there in order to best treat their patients.
Read more about this here.
Question of the Day: Should doctors be obligated to regularly update their education?
June 3, 2008
Live Longer; Play Golf
If you have an interest in prolonging your life while maintaining a high quality of life, you've probably already started looking in to all of the anti-aging and life extension options that are out there. However, the best way to do that might be something that you've overlooked - and something that you're already enjoying doing on a regular basis. Studies indicate that people who play golf are more likely to live longer than people who don't.
"The death rate for golfers is 40 per cent lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status, which correspond to a 5 year increase in life expectancy. Golfers with a low handicap are the safest."
The most obvious reason that golf extends life is because of the fact that it's a great form of exercise. People who exercise regularly are going to be healthier and will therefore have a higher quality of life for a longer period of time. There is probably also something to the fact that golf is a relaxing leisure activity; this makes people happier with life and therefore allows them to be healthier and more capable of fighting off disease.
Question of the Day: Why would golf prolong life?
June 4, 2008
The Importance of Taking Care of your Teeth
People who have an interest in living a healthy, long life should make sure that they're keeping the regular appointments they're supposed to make twice a year with their dentist. Studies indicate that people who fail to take care of dental problems are more likely to suffer from tooth issues that could ultimately be fatal. Problems with the teeth may also cause infections and immune system problems which reduce overall healthiness of the body.
Recent studies show that there are problems associated with not taking care of your teeth. A common problem seems to be the development of tooth abscesses which can worsen and become life-threatening if not dealt with. People who let this problem go may not be able to be treated by a dentist but will actually have to go to an emergency hospital service to take care of the problem.
In addition to this problem, problems with the teeth can cause overall health concerns. The teeth and gums are important to the health of the body and shouldn't be underestimated when looking at your overall health. You should make sure to brush and floss regularly and see a doctor as scheduled.
Question of the Day: Is dental health an important part of overall health?
June 5, 2008
Avoid Diabetes by Eating Greek
One of the leading diseases that people seek to avoid as they get older is diabetes. Studies indicate that a terrific way of preventing the development of this disease is to start eating a traditional Mediterranean diet. This type of diet has been known to be healthy in terms of preventing cardiovascaular disease and may now be proven to be good in terms of preventing diabetes.
The traditional Mediterranean diet includes a number of foods that are important to your overall health. Common foods that should be included are fruits and vegetables, nuts and grains and of course that good old favorite - olive oil. However, it may also be just as important to note the foods that absent from this traditional diet - namely lots of meat and alcohol. Basically, you need to eat healthy if you want to be healthy.
Question of the Day: Are you more interested in eating diabetic-approved foods or switching to a Mediterranean diet before contracting diabetes?
June 6, 2008
Risk of Stroke is High with Even Low Pollution Exposure
There are many different not-so-nice medical things that can happen to us as we age. Stroke is a common one. In order to avoid suffering from this problem, you may want to think about moving out to the country where the air is free of pollution. That's because studies are showing that the risk of stroke is increased even when the levels of pollution exposure are relatively low.
One study observed the situation in a specific town in Texas where there are petroleum plants that pollute the air. The levels of pollution are within the allotted guidelines as regulated by the state and are actually lower than in many other parts of the nation as a result of location and wind patterns there. Despite this, it was found that recent exposure to this pollution was relevant to the likelihood of experiencing a stroke.
The reality of our lives is that it's hard to get away from pollution. However, this is something to keep in mind if you're going to be making a move during your later years and want to know the safest places to live in terms of your ongoing health.
Question of the Day: What is causing the link between pollutants and strokes?
June 9, 2008
At-Home Medical Tests Offer Peace of Mind
It is increasingly common to see at-home medical tests available for a range of different medical issues. Whereas pregnancy tests used to be about the only thing that you could do at home yourself, it's now possible to do at-home testing for everything from HIV to menopause.
There are some great things about doing this kind of at-home testing. The major benefits are that you're going to get peace of mind and you're going to get it with convenience. You may be worrying that you're going crazy because you're emotions are all out of whack; an at-home test can tell you that the issue is menopause and get your mind back on the right track.
However, there are also drawbacks to doing at-home testing. First of all, the results are never going to be as accurate as if you do testing with a medical professional. Additionally, the test results don't tell you what to do about the issue. For example, you may need hormone replacement therapy to assist with mitigating the impact of menopause on the body. A test can't tell you that.
These at-home tests definitely offer peace of mind but they should only be a first step in the process of figuring out what to do about your health. You should follow up with a doctor to discuss the findings of any tests that you do at home.
Question of the Day: What procedure do you wish had an at-home test available for it?
June 10, 2008
Natural Treatment for Menopause Symptoms
Women who experience negative side effects of menopause may wonder what their options are for treatment that reduces these symptoms. It is possible to be prescribed medications such as hormone replacement therapy that can reduce the impact of going through this hormonal change but some women find that they suffer side effects from the medication that makes them seek out other alternatives. In such a case, a woman may want to try natural healing alternatives to hormone replacement therapy.
One of the most popular alternative options at the current time is the use of soy to treat symptoms of menopause. It is believed that soy is effective in treating specific menopause symptoms, especially hot flashes. If you find that you're experiencing hot flashes but not too many other symptoms, then this could be a solution for you.
The realit about menopause is that the experience of it is different for each woman. Some women go through it without any problems at all. Others suffer many awful side effects and symptoms. For those who seek treatment, hormone replacement therapy may be terrific or it may not be the right answer. Keep working with your doctor to find the solution that works for you.
Question of the Day: Do you think natural healing alternatives are a good choice for dealing with symptoms of menopause?
June 11, 2008
Sleep Patterns May Indicate How Long Aging Men Will Live
A new study has revealed that there appears to be a correlation between patterns in a man's sleep and the number of years that he is going to live into old age. Unfortunately, it is not clear whether the sleep patterns cause changes in the mortality rate or whether they are simply a symptom of aging. Nevertheless, the relationship provides an interesting area of study for those people who want to know more about anti-aging and longevity.
The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging for the purpose of observing the relationship between rest/activity rhythm disruptions and mortality rates in aging men. It is well-known that lack of sleep can cause many different health problems as we age. The study shows that it may even be related to earlier ages of death.
Learn more here.
Question of the Day:Is it possible that problems with sleeping actually cause us to die at a younger age than we would if we slept well?
June 12, 2008
Be Empathetic To Dad's Aging Issues
As Father's Day approaches, many adult children are trying to figure out what to do with dad to celebrate. And many of those people are thinking that a whole day spent with dad doesn't actually sound like that much fun. People often have difficult relationships with their fathers but that should be overlooked this weekend as we celebrate our dads. One of the keys to this is to learn to be empathetic to your father's situation in life.
Aging fathers are dealing with hormonal issues that many of them don't understand. Andropause isn't something that we talk about a lot but it's something that can wreak havoc on a man's physical and emotional health. Male aging changes the way he feels and acts, causing him to be more tired, less virile and somewhat confused about what's going on.
And most fathers aren't talking about these things. As a result, the way they cope is often reflected in behavior that annoys their adult kids. This weekend, take into consideration the fact that your dad may just not feel well a lot of the time and he doesn't really know why. Think about the impact of aging and appreciate the fact that he's around for you to enjoy the weekend with - even if he does sometimes get on your nerves!
Question of the Day: What will you do to celebrate your aging father's life this weekend?
June 13, 2008
Old Doesn't Mean Alzheimer's
Many people fear that getting older means that they are going to get Alzheimer's or dementia. That's a reasonable fear considering the prevalence of these diseases amongst aging adults and the devastation that these health problems cause to the individual who experiences them as well as to their loved ones. However, getting older doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to suffer from these problems. That's been proven by the fact that the world's oldest women who recently passed away was shown to have a completely healthy brain with no indiciations of either disease.
The woman lived to be 115 and was reportedly mentally alert throughout the late years of her life. Many people have believed that if we live long enough, we will inevtiably have deteriorating brains, a fear that has caused some people to say that we shouldn't push for human longevity. However, this shows that the fear is unwarranted and that it is possible to live past age 100 and maintain all of your faculties.
Learn more about this woman here.
Question of the Day: Do you fear getting older because of the risk that you'll get dementia?
June 16, 2008
Diet and Hormone Replacement Therapy
Women who use hormone replacement therapy to deal with the effects of aging and the symptoms of menopause report varying results in regards to the success of the medication. This is due to a large number of personal factors one of which may be diet. People have to be aware of the fact that different foods can impact the way that different medications work within the body. As a result, it's important to discuss good diet with your doctor whenever you begin taking a medication such as HRT.
For example, a review of the different interactions that foods may have on the effectiveness of birth control pills also shows a link between certain dietary needs that arise when taking hormone replacement therapy. One of the issues that was pointed out here was that your magnesium levels may decrease when taking hormone replacement therapy. Magensium deficiency is a factor in problems ranging from anxiety to asthma so it's clear that you need to be aware of these types of issues.
Question of the Day: Would you think to discuss dietary changes with your doctor when being prescribed something like HRT?
June 17, 2008
Drinking Coffee May Help You Live Longer
There are a lot of rules and beliefs about what we should and shouldn't drink as we get older. We should drink more water and drink less soda. We should moderate the amount of juice that we drink and only drink juices that are natural and fresh. We should give up alcohol except for red wine which we should drink regularly. And apparently we might want to consider having that second cup of coffee in the morning because it might be the key to living a longer life.
In the past, people believed that drinking coffee into the older years was bad for the body. However, a new study has revealed that drinking up to six cups of coffee per day has no negative effects on longevity. In fact, moderate coffee drinking is linked with a slightly lower incidence of heart problems in both men and women. Additional factors indicate that it's coffee specifically, and not caffeine alone, that has this effect.
Learn more about this study here.
Question of the Day: Would this be true for people who start drinking coffee now or only for people who have been drinking it throughout their lives?
June 18, 2008
Massive U.S. Doctor Shortage Expected by 2025
How old are you going to be in the year 2025? Chances are that you're going to be at an age where you're at least moderately concerned about health and medical issues. As a result, it may cause you some concern to find out that experts are predicting a massive shortage of primary care doctors in the United States by that time.
It is believed that there will be over 40,000 less primary care physicians and general internists than are going to be needed in the U.S. at this time. This is due in part to increasing demand for doctors but is due primarily to the fact that our medical system rewards doctors who specialize and not those who provide general care.
This same concern was raised back in the 1960's but then there was a steady increase in the number of general doctors after that time. Recently we have once again seen a decline in general practitioners which could lead to a revival of this important health concern.
Learn more about this issues here.
Question of the Day: Is it of concern that we may have significantly more specialist doctors that general doctors in the near future?
June 19, 2008
Decrease in HRT Use in Canada
The use of hormone replacement therapy has been highly controversial in the past few years. There are some women who insist that there is a link between HRT and certain kinds of cancer. There are others who say that this isn't the case and that HRT makes life during and after menopause bearable when nothing else will. It's something that ultimately has to be a personal choice made by the individual with assistance and information from her doctor.
The choice that women in Canada are making appears to be not to use HRT as often. A study has shown that hormone replacement therapy usage rates are down in that North American country. It is believed that the change is the result of fears that the risks of HRT outweigh the benefits.
Studies regarding this issue have consistently been inconclusive. For every study that says that HRT is dangerous, another proves that it is safe. This means that the individual woman has to weigh the pros and cons in her own life. Some will find HRT to be the right choice. Some will find bio-identical HRT and other HRT alternatives to be an option. Others will turn to different methods of treating the symptoms of menopause as appears to be the case for Canadian women today.
Question of the Day: What has caused the decrease in HRT usage in Canada?
June 20, 2008
Breast Cancer Can Be Detected Through Hair
What type of screening do you think that you would get done to see if you have signs of breast cancer? You'd probably think that you have to get a mammogram to screen for this serious disease. If you're on top of the news regarding breast cancer imaging, you may even be aware that some people get a breast MRI to reduce their risks. But new technology is being explored in Australia that could make it possible to get screened for breast cancer simply by having your hair tested.
"The Fermiscan Test is based on the discovery that women with breast cancer have a change in the structure of their hair which is detected using a technique called X-ray diffraction. This change is seen as a ring superimposed on the normal X-ray diffraction pattern of hair." (source)
The study appears to have approximately a seventy percent accuracy rate in the detection of breast cancer. This is highly impressive considering that mammograms alone have only about a fifty percent accuracy rate in detection of the disease. This is also promising because it offers a non-invasive screening option for women who are not getting screened because of the fears they have about getting a mammogram done.
Question of the Day: When will we see this type of breast cancer imaging technology move forward?
June 23, 2008
Better Health in Old Age May Be As Easy as Drinking Water
You probably already know that you're supposed to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. But did you know that you might vastly improve the quality of life that you have in old age if you actually do this thing that you know you're supposed to be doing? A new report indicates that simply changing your lifestyle to drink more water can significantly improve how you feel every day.
The report comes from an elder care home which institute a "water club" to encourage residents to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. They made it easy for the group to remember to drink their water. And everyone saw immediate and long-term benefits. Some of these benefits include being more alert, falling less, feeling happier, sleeping better and having better digestion.
The report reminds us that older people have a greater tendency to become dehydrated due to hormonal changes in the body as well as issues related to common medications. As a result, it is even more likely that you'll benefit from drinking water in later years as it is that you'll see results today. But it's never too early - or too late - to start drinking water!
Question of the Day: Do you find it difficult to drink at least eight glasses of water per day in order to maintain your quality of life?
photo link
June 24, 2008
New NAMS Report on Breast Cancer Risk
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) has issued a new report discussing the risk of breast cancer in women who have gone through menopause. The report was considered to be of great importance because the risk for women is high and can be reduced through proper education about the issue.
“The single most important risk factor for breast cancer is age. The risk of breast cancer increases among women older than 50 years of age who have either atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ, a first-degree family history of breast cancer, and BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutations." (source)
Since age is directly related to breast cancer risk, it is important for aging women to pay attention to the signs of breast cancer and to get breast cancer screening on a regular basis. The beginning of menopause should be a reminder that it's time to make sure that you're adding this check-up to your regular screening.
Question of the Day: Is it a good thing that NAMS is paying attention to breast cancer education in postmenopausal women?
June 25, 2008
Neurological Tests Recommended for All Aging Patients
Doctors who work with older patients are recommended to make regular use of neurological exams in their check-ups of these patients. That is because it is believed that standard neurological exams can successfully predict the future health of the brain and may give some clue as to the quality of life that the patient can expect in older years.
"Until now we haven't had proof of value of the standard neurological exam. We now know that the test is a good value for older adults and could even be used as a "cheap biomarker" of future cognitive decline because it appears to have predictive value similar to biomarkers," said Dr. Boustani.(source)
Working with patients on these issues while they are still fully cognizant of what's going on with their health could lead to better treatment of patients with Alzheimer's and dementia because the patient would be able to make more decisions about his or her health care before the onset of these aging problems.
Question of the Day: Should doctors working with aging patients use standard neurological exams to predict future quality of life?
June 26, 2008
New Alzheimer's Gene Link Discovered
Alzheimer's is a medical issue that causes grave concern to many people. This is due to the fact that it's such a widespread disease associated with aging. It is also due to the fact that the detrioration of the mind as we age is such a terrifying prospect. And another factor in this concern is that we don't really know what causes Alzheimer's.
The latter issue may be changing slightly as more research is done to gain an understanding of the disease. A step forward in this area has been made since researchers have found a new gene that they believe is linked with the development of late-onset Alzheimer's.
"The early-onset form of Alzheimer's is thought to be linked to a few dominant gene mutations, but the vast majority of late-onset cases are believed to stem from complex interactions of genes and environment factors." (source)
Gaining a better understanding of the genes that may be at play in the development of late-onset Alzheimer's will increase the likelihood that we can do something to detect, prevent and treat the disease in the future.
Question of the Day: What can we do to treat Alzheimer's today and in the future?
June 27, 2008
Brain Function of Diabetic Seniors Affected by Diet
One of the diseases that many people find themselves dealing with as they age is diabetes. And one of the worst fears that people have about aging is that they are going to lose their brain function. The latter issue may potentially be related to the former issue if the results of a new study are correct. It also may be easy to fix. The study showed that adults dealing with diabetes may find themselves with compromised brain function as a direct result of their diet.
"There is already growing evidence linking diabetes to cognitive complications in humans. Adults with type 2 diabetes are especially vulnerable to acute meal-induced memory deficits after eating unhealthy foods." (source)
The study revealed that there are two solutions to treating this issue if it is indeed the case. The first is, of course, to stop eating those unhealthy foods so that the problem doesn't occur anymore. The second is to start eating more antioxidants to counter the effects of eating some of those unhealthy foods. In both cases, these healthier eating habits could allow for improved brain function in seniors dealing with diabetes.
Question of the Day: Does diet impact the brain function of seniors with diabetes?
June 30, 2008
Hypothyroidism Treatable With Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which not enough hormones are being made by the body which means that certain problems come up as a result of hormone deficiency. These problems include weight gain, fatigue, memory loss, hair loss and sensitivity to cold. Of course, these problems can also be caused by many other things so hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed. This is highly unfortunate because diagnosis of this disease is a very simple blood test.
Treatment for this common condition is also really simple. You just need to use hormone replacement therapy to get the hormones back that you're body is not producing. With the use of HRT, you can reduce the sleepiness, weight gain and other problems that are caused by a thyroid that's not working properly.
Learn more about this issue - as well as the opposite issue called hyperthyroidism - here.
Question of the Day: Should we be encouraging doctors to look more closely for signs of hypothyroidism?
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About June 2008
This page contains all entries posted to Wellness Corner in June 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.
May 2008 is the previous archive.
July 2008 is the next archive.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
