Articles

No matter how long you’ve been smoking, or how old you are, it’s never too late to kick the habit. Most people know that smoking is dangerous. It not only shortens your life, but it can cause a long list of diseases and health conditions, including:  Lung diseases like chronic bronchitis or emphysema Heart disease Stroke Increased…

Most seniors who are over 55 years old plan to live in their homes as they age. Reasons for wanting to “age in place” are varied. Most simply like their home, want to live near their families and friends, or hope to avoid the inconvenience of moving. For many people, aging in place isn’t a problem,…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 40 million people in the United States suffer from some form of diabetes. For some, diabetes is a genetic condition, but for others, lifestyle factors have led to the development of this potentially life-threatening condition.  While exercising and making adjustments to your diet can…

How do you know if you may have a hernia? When tissue or an organ pushes through the surrounding muscle wall, you may experience any of the following common symptoms:  An abnormal bulge or lump in the area where the hernia is located Pain or discomfort in the area where the hernia is  Hernias are…

Although Medicare is usually associated with retirees who are past their reproductive years, millions of Americans under the age of 65 qualify for Medicare due to disability. If you have Medicare, are pregnant and are considering nursing, you may be wondering if Medicare will help cover the cost of a breast pump. Breastfeeding a newborn…

Becoming eligible for Original Medicare benefits is one of the changes you’ll experience as you reach retirement age. Millions of seniors rely on Medicare coverage to help pay for everyday medically necessary healthcare expenses like doctor visits and hospital care.  For many Medicare recipients, Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) is available with no premium required…

It’s important for people to get routine dental care throughout life, but especially in their senior years. Everyone should visit their dentist for regular check-ups and have regular cleanings. If you need fillings, extractions or more serious dental work, it’s better to have those procedures done early to avoid infection or complications. If you will…

Pain treatment can be a complicated thing. Pain affects people differently, and response to therapy can vary from person to person. In some cases, simple physical exercises and the application of a hot or cold pack are enough to alleviate pain when stiff joints or muscles are causing discomfort. In other cases, prescription medications may…

Earwax may not be the most pleasant thing to deal with in life, but it is actually a vital part of keeping your ears healthy. Cerumen is the medical terminology used for the waxy substance produced in the ear canal. Everyone’s ears produce cerumen, and along with hair follicles in the ear canal, cerumen helps…

A medical emergency can occur to anyone at any time, but studies show that trips to the emergency room become more common as people get older. In fact, these numbers reveal that over 16 percent of adults in the United States who are 65 and older are treated in hospital emergency rooms annually.  Most people…

Getting to and from medical appointments can be a challenge for seniors. If you need transportation for healthcare services, you may be questioning if Medicare covers the cost. The answer is that it depends on the type of Medicare plan you have, the destination healthcare facility, the medical necessity and whether or not the situation…

X-rays have been used to investigate medical conditions and aid in the diagnosis of healthcare concerns since the early 1900s. In the late 1800s in Germany, Wilhelm Roentgen discovered the effects of current being passed through a cathode-ray tube. Today, having x-rays taken is a common type of test used in doctor’s offices as well…