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Medical conditions that affect the breast are a concern for women of all ages, but older women need to pay particular attention to breast health. According to the National Cancer Institute, the odds of developing breast cancer go up as women get older, and by age 60, older women have a 1-in-28 chance of developing…

Eating healthy and staying active are two of the most important things seniors can do for their health, but sometimes, medical conditions and injuries can make it difficult to enjoy a nutritious diet. Whether due to mobility concerns that don’t allow for meal preparation or healthcare concerns that affect digestion, suffering from malnutrition can create…

Although many medications work best when taken orally in the form of a pill, others work best when injected. Still, others work best when converted from a liquid into an aerosol to be inhaled. In this latter case, a nebulizer is used to make the conversion. Nebulizers are used for medications when the most effective…

Varicose veins are often considered a cosmetic problem, but can these enlarged veins be a medical  concern? Despite often appearing as bulging through the skin, varicose veins are usually relatively harmless. They may come along with age, but in some cases, they may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. The cause of varicose veins…

In the fight against cancer, all kinds of new technologies are making their way to the forefront. Although traditional therapies like radiation and chemotherapy are still useful as cancer treatments, newer technologies using stem cells and humanized antibodies are providing additional options for people suffering from lung cancer and other hard-to-treat cancers. Humanized antibodies are…

Vaccines are believed to have first been discovered in the late 1700s. Since then, inoculating people against various diseases has become standard practice with many people receiving vaccine administration as infants. Among the most common vaccines given today is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, although this vaccine combo didn’t become popular until the…

Obesity is a serious health problem for people of all ages in the United States. But for elderly people who are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese, the health consequences can be life-threatening. Today in this country, over 35 percent of adults 65 and older (around eight million people) are categorized as obese according to their…

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…