Falls are a leading cause of injury and death in older adults, and research suggests that prescription drugs such as opioids and antidepressants may be fueling the trend. A research review published in JAMA warns that the rising use of medications that impair balance or cause drowsiness may be contributing to a surge in fall-related deaths. Studies show that 65%-93% of the older adults who had a fall-related injury took at least one "fall risk-increasing drug" (FRID) at the

Why Is It Important to Identify Respiratory Problems? Breathing problems can indicate a medical emergency. If ignored, you could possibly suffer from serious medical complications of the respiratory system like pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, problems with the bronchi, trachea, or other parts of your airway system, or any other conditions that could potentially damage the nerves or muscles of breathing control. The following are signs that should never be ignored when it co

What Is Frailty? Frailty isn't just normal aging. It's when your body becomes less able to handle stress and recover from illness or injury. You might feel weaker, move slower, or get tired more easily. The good news? Catching early signs can help you take steps to stay stronger longer. You're Feeling Weaker Than Before Having trouble opening jars, carrying groceries, or getting up from chairs? Muscle weakness is often the first sign of frailty. You might notice tasks that u

Arthritis is a common condition characterized by inflammation, swelling, and tenderness in the joints, and it doesn’t only affect humans — dogs can experience arthritis, too. Arthritis in dogs can occur due to wear and tear on their joints throughout their life, or it may be caused by other factors, such as genetics, injury, or disease. Its symptoms include: limping reluctance to move or exercise difficulty getting up or down from a lying position changes in posture, such as

Proper food storage isn’t just about flavor and quality, although storing food correctly does preserve both of these elements. Storing food properly is about safety. Whether you are a meal prep enthusiast, enjoy stocking up on food, or simply want to learn about proper food storage, keep reading to discover different food storage methods and their appropriate uses. Refrigeration Your refrigerator should be set to 40 ° F or lower . Your fridge most likely has a built-in thermo

Food isn’t a cure-all, but it can definitely affect your mood. Yes, food does impact your mood — and it’s possible to eat your way to a more relaxed state. While there isn’t a cure-all food to magically erase frustration, you can get relieve stress with a combination of exercising, eating small meals throughout the day and getting more of these 10 foods. Whole-Wheat Pretzels Carbohydrate-rich foods can give you an energy boost and trigger the brain to release a feel-good chem

If you’ve ever stepped into a sauna, you know the feeling: warmth wrapping around you, muscles relaxing, and stress melting away. But did you know that saunas may offer real health benefits — especially for older adults? From heart health to joint comfort, that short session in the heat can support your wellness in more ways than one. Let’s take a closer look at how (and when) to make the most of sauna time. What happens to your body in a sauna A traditional sauna raises the

High-fat cheese and cream may slightly protect the brain from dementia, according to a new observational study that followed nearly 28,000 people in Malmö, Sweden, for up to 25 years. High-fat cheeses such as cheddar, Brie and Gouda have more than 20% saturated fat, according to the research. Outside experts CNN spoke to, however, say the report fails to provide a strong case for eating more full-fat dairy. “Their finding for cheese was at the margin of statistical significan

The mineral magnesium is important for controlling blood-sugar and blood pressure levels. You get some of the micronutrient every time you eat foods, such as beans, nuts, seeds and dark chocolate. But magnesium is a sensitive little mineral. It can be depleted when food is processed — that means your body might not get enough especially if you eat a lot of processed foods. Magnesium supplements could help increase your body’s stores of magnesium and might also help reduce mus

That gritty, sticky feeling in your eyelids when you first wake up — often called “sleep in your eyes”— is usually a minor nuisance. However, if it becomes frequent, is severe or is associated with other symptoms, it may signal an underlying issue. Understanding causes and proper care can help keep mornings more comfortable. Most common causes of crusty eyelids The most common culprit behind crusty eyelids is blepharitis — inflammation of the eyelid margins. Blepharitis cause

One of the most widely known risks linked to the COVID-19 vaccine is myocarditis, especially in young males — and now a new Stanford study has shed some light on why this rare effect can occur. Myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart, occurs in about one in 140,000 people who receive the first dose of the vaccine and one in 32,000 after the second dose, according to a Stanford press release. Among males 30 and younger , that rises to one in 16,750. Symptoms of the co

Medical victim Chloe Cole was at the center of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Thursday announcement of proposed regulatory actions to end "sex-rejecting procedures" on minors. The proposed regulatory actions by the HHS are part of President Donald Trump 's January executive order calling on the department to protect children from "chemical and surgical mutilation." The department is rolling out a series of policy updates and regulatory actions that would ef

A new year offers new beginnings and an opportunity to reset your eating habits after the holidays. Andrea Delgado , a Mayo Clinic dietitian, says it's best to eliminate what you don't need, including party food leftovers.  If your refrigerator is holding onto less-than-healthy holiday leftovers into the new year, it is OK to let them go. Dispose of leftovers or eat them gradually and in smaller  portions , Delgado advises. "You want to slowly regress back to your old healt

Resolutions to improve health typically include measures such as more exercise, a healthier diet and stopping smoking. But what about your gut microbiome ? Taking steps to protect and improve it can benefit digestive health and more, says Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S. , a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic who specializes in the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal disorders . "The microbiome is essentially a community of bacteria, fungi, viruses and all of their genes," Dr. Kashya

A banana’s color can tell you a lot about its nutrition. As it ripens from green to yellow to brown, its starch, sugar, antioxidants, and fiber levels shift. While no stage is “healthiest,” understanding these stages can help you pick the banana that best supports your goals. The Four Stages of Ripeness Banana ripeness can be divided into several stages, but four practical levels matter most for nutrition: Green: Unripe Green with yellow traces: Slightly ripe Fully yellow:

Magnesium plays a vital role in managing blood pressure, strengthening bones, regulating blood sugar levels, and maintaining a steady heart rhythm, among other benefits. While magnesium supplements can help maintain adequate levels, adding magnesium-rich foods to your diet is also helpful, with numerous options available. 1. Nuts and Seeds Several varieties of nuts and seeds stand out for their impressive magnesium levels: Almonds : An ounce of dry-roasted almonds contains 80

Did you know that someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States? It’s true—and the risk gets higher with age. The average heart attack age for men is 65, and 72 is the average age for women. Of course, you’ve probably heard advice before for how to prevent a heart attack. And it probably goes something like this: Be active, give up hamburgers and fries, and stop smoking if you smoke. “Those are the three mainstays,” says Nick Ruthmann, M.D., a cardiologist

The “Shaking Palsy.” Those are the words Dr. James Parkinson used in an essay more than 200 years ago to group together symptoms and describe a mysterious infirmity afflicting six individuals in London. The British physician was the first to identify and document the condition now known as Parkinson’s disease, a progressive movement disorder. Its hallmark is damage to the dopamine-producing neurons in the brain that can lead to muscle stiffness, slowness, balance issues and a

With so much to do heading into the busy holiday season, is anyone getting enough sleep? Most sleep experts advise that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep per night for good health and emotional well-being (although that changes as you get older). And studies warn that sleeping for less than seven hours a day can increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and other issues that come with sleep deprivation. CNN has reported on those risks, too, includ

Hair loss is a common condition known as alopecia in the medical field. It has many known causes, including: genetics hormonal dysregulation hypothyroidism tension on the hair trauma infection chemotherapy Hair loss can also be caused by diet-related factors, such as nutrient deficiencies and supplement use. This article explains how diet can affect hair loss. Micronutrient deficiencies  Hair is made up of two main structures — the hair shaft, which is what you see, and the h

Even an occasional cigarette can endanger a person’s health and increase their risk of cardiovascular disease , according to a new study. Researchers report that people who smoke as few as two cigarettes per day have a 57% higher risk of heart failure and a 60% higher risk of death from any cause. They add that a person’s health risks decline significantly in the decade after quitting smoking. However, the researchers note that a former smoker can still have increased health

Treating Age Spots These small, flat, dark areas on your skin won’t hurt you, so you don’t have to treat them. But if you don’t like how they look, you can make the spots less noticeable or even make them disappear. You also can stop new ones from forming and keep the ones you have from getting darker. Skin-Lightening Creams and Lotions You can find lots of skin-lightening products at the drugstore. But before you buy, check the ingredients. Look for creams that contain trane

Precooked Whole Grains Whole grains like brown rice and quinoa amp up your fiber intake and lower your risk for heart disease, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes. But you don’t have to wait out the long cook time to enjoy their perks. You can find precooked grains in the frozen food case or in ready-to-microwave bowls or pouches -- just look out for added sodium. Serve as a tasty side or mix with veggies or precooked meat for a complete meal. Frozen Veggies Frozen produce, lik

Despite all our 21st-century medical advances, there is no cure to the common cold. This forces us to rely on home remedies to get through the day. One popular option for managing those pesky respiratory symptoms is cough drops. But do these lozenges genuinely help you recover or just drain your wallet and fill you with sugar? Here’s what the experts say. How Do Cough Drops Work? Cough drops contain specific ingredients that decrease the urge to cough and the pain in our thr