Senior Medical Conditions

Alzheimer’s Disease Frequently Asked Questions

Alzheimer’s Disease Frequently Asked Questions with Dr. Fortanasce, Neurologist / Alzheimer’s Expert   Why is Alzheimer’s such a huge concern? Alzheimer’s disease is a big concern because this mind destroying epidemic is a growing national crisis. The toll

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How To Prevent Bedsores in Seniors

Prolonged pressure on the body that causes damage to the skin and underlying tissues is called a bedsore, pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer or pressure sore. These ulcers tend to occur most frequently over bony prominences,

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Memory Problems: Is it Dementia?

We’re all learning the frightening statistics on developing dementia, especially Alzheimer’s. Once we reach that 65th birthday, our chances of becoming one of those statistics begin to rise. Perhaps you or a loved one is

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How to Prevent Hoarding in Seniors

Most people hold on to objects with sentimental value as it reminds them of special times in their lives. However, some people, especially seniors, enjoy accumulating things and have difficulty getting rid of items that

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8 Myths About Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is one of the top leading cause of death in the U.S today that’s why more and more people are trying to understand what Alzheimer’s Disease is all about. However, some people get confused

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Other Dementias

Dementia is a general term for memory loss and decline in mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with the activities of daily living.  Dementia can result from a variety of irreversible and potentially

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How is Alzheimer’s Disease Treated?

Alzheimer’s disease is such a complex disease that there is little likelihood of finding one treatment or cure.  Scientists are focusing on many aspects of the disease as they seek solutions.  The following are areas

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How is Alzheimer’s Diagnosed?

There are several methods and diagnostic tools to help determine fairly accurately whether an individual with memory problems has “possible Alzheimer’s disease,” “probable Alzheimer’s disease,” or some other memory or neurological problem.   “Possible Alzheimer’s

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Alzheimer’s Disease Overview

What is Dementia? Dementia — Decline in intellectual ability impacting memory plus one or more other cognitive abilities severe enough to interfere with everyday functioning Alzheimer's Disease — Most common type of dementia Mild Cognitive

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New Ways to Prevent Dementia

For those of us hoping to age in good health, there may be something new in this basic message – exercise, eat your fruits and veggies and of course watch your fats! “We repackage the

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Types of Cancer Treatments

There are several treatment programs available. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment option. Be sure to ask about the potential side effects, advantages and disadvantages of each treatment, to help you understand the

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Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is given to kill cancer cells, but it can also damage normal cells, which may cause side effects. Most of the time, these side effects go away after the chemotherapy treatment.     Here

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Cancer Prevention

Cancer can be caused by a variety of different factors and may develop over a number of years. Some risk factors can be controlled. Choosing the right health behaviors and preventing exposure to certain environmental

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Understanding Dementia

Dementia is a loss of brain function. It is not a single disease. Instead, dementia refers to a group of illnesses that involve memory, behavior, learning, and communicating problems. The problems are progressive, which means

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Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar), resistance to insulin,

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An Overview of Cancer

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and

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Legal Planning for Dementia Patients

While it’s important for everyone to plan for the future, legal plans are especially vital for the person with dementia. Once a person is diagnosed with dementia, family and friends should help the person make

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Testing and Screening Alzheimer’s

Professionals now believe they can diagnose Alzheimer’s with a great deal of certainty by applying a number of tests and measures, even very early in the course of the disease. A hands-on physical exam and

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Parkinson’s Disease Overview

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. It was first described in 1817 by James Parkinson, a British physician who published a paper on what he called “the shaking palsy.”

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Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Early symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) are subtle and occur gradually. Affected people may feel mild tremors or have difficulty getting out of a chair. They may notice that they speak too softly or that

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Things to know about Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. But it

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Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from spreading. However, patients should be aware of the side-effects of this treatment. Many people who

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Alzheimer’s Disease Dosage and Treatments

Several prescription drugs are currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In This Article: Treatment for Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease

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Toxic Key to Alzheimer’s Isolated

    According to the most recent study, Soluble Beta-Amyloid Protein Fragments May Damage Brain Cells. Scientists have long questioned whether the abundant amounts of amyloid plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s

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Things to know about Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones to the point where they break easily- most often bones in the hip, backbone (spine), and wrist. Osteoporosis is called the "silent disease." You may not notice any

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Cancer Screening Tests

It is important to have regular tests to check for cancer long before you might notice anything wrong. Checking for cancer when you don’t have symptoms is called screening. Screening may involve a physical exam,

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10 Common Breast Cancer Myths

Through the years, most of us have heard a lot of old wives’ tales about breast cancer. Wondering if those rumors are really true? Common breast cancer myths that are believed to be fictitious: Breast

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Facts About Heart Attacks

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. CHD is caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart,

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Safer Home For Alzheimer Patients

It is important to make the house safe for your aging relative who has Alzheimer’s Disease. In This Article: Making House Safer For People With Alzheimer’s Preventing Hazardous Situation Changing The Environment Maximizing Independence How

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Prevent Kidney Stones

Some say that passing a kidney stone is like delivering a baby made of razor blades. The good news is that, although they can be excruciatingly painful, kidney stones rarely cause permanent damage, and you

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Can People With Alzheimer’s Be Safe Drivers?

Driving is a complex activity that demands quick reactions, alert senses, and split-second decision-making. In This Article: Alzheimer’s and driving Warning Signs of Unsafe Driving Restricting Driving For People with Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s and Driving For

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How To Survive A Heart Attack

Fast action is your best weapon against a heart attack. Why? Because clot-busting drugs and other artery-opening treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks. They can prevent or limit damage to the heart,

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Healing From Depression

Depression is more than the blues or the blahs. Everybody gets sad or feels down sometimes, but most people with the blues can lift their mood by exercising, socializing or other activities. However, those with

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Testing For A Heart Attack

If you think you’re having a heart attack, get help at once. Be sure to call 9-1-1 right away. Don’t wait to be sure as delay can be deadly. Once you get help, you will

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Important Heart Attack Questions

Each year, about 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack. About 460,000 of those heart attacks are fatal. About half of those deaths occur within 1 hour of the start of symptoms and before the

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Tests For Diabetes

A urine analysis may be used to look for glucose and ketones from the breakdown of fat. However, a urine test alone does not diagnose diabetes.       EXAMS AND TESTS The following tests

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Dealing With Diabetes

There is no cure for diabetes. Treatment involves medicines, diet, and exercise to control blood sugar and prevent symptoms and complications.       In This Article: Basic Diabetes Management Skills Self-testing What to eat

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Diabetes and Heart Disease

Diabetes affects more than 16 million Americans. It damages blood vessels, including the coronary arteries of the heart.         In This Article: Diabetes Statistics Reducing Risk of Diabetes Up to 75 percent

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Signs and Symptoms of Depression

People with depressive illnesses do not all experience the same symptoms. The severity, frequency and duration of symptoms will vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness. Here are the Symptoms of

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Understanding Depression

Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. What is Depression? When a person has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life, normal

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Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when the body is not able to use sugar as it should for growth and energy. High blood levels of glucose can cause several problems, including frequent urination, excessive thirst, hunger, fatigue, weight

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Treatments For Depression

Depression, even the most severe cases, is a highly treatable disorder. As with many illnesses, the earlier that treatment can begin, the more effective it is and the greater the likelihood that recurrence can be

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Getting Help For Depression

If you are unsure where to go for help, talk to someone you trust who has experience in mental health. You can contact a doctor, nurse, social worker, or religious counselor. Ask their advice on

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Different Forms of Depression

There are several forms of depressive disorders. The most common are major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder.   In This Article: Major Depressive Disorder Dysthymic Disorder Psychotic Depression Postpartum Depression Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Bipolar

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Older Adults and Depression

Depression is not a normal part of aging, and studies show that most seniors feel satisfied with their lives, despite increased physical ailments.However, when older adults do have depression, it may be overlooked because seniors

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Screening Tests To Detect Cancer

Early Detection is key. When cancer is found early, treatment is more likely to work. Early treatment often can shrink or destroy the tumor and stop it from growing and spreading. Visiting your doctor for

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Important Cancer Q & A

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in this country. However, improvements in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment have increased the survival rate for many types of cancer.       Here are the

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Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

When you’re told you have prostate cancer, it’s natural to wonder what may have caused the disease. But no one knows the exact causes of prostate cancer. Doctors seldom know why one man develops prostate

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Understanding Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer means that cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate. It is the most common cancer in American men after skin cancer. The Prostate The prostate is part of a man’s reproductive

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Prostate Cancer Symptoms

A man with prostate cancer may not have any symptoms. For men who do have symptoms, the common symptoms include: 1. Urinary problems Not being able to pass urine Having a hard time starting or

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Stages of Prostate Cancer

If the biopsy shows that you have cancer, your doctor needs to learn the extent (stage) of the disease to help you choose the best treatment. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether

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Prostate Cancer Treatments

Men with prostate cancer have many treatment options. The treatment that’s best for one man may not be best for another. The treatment that’s right for you depends mainly on your age, the grade of

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Support For Cancer Patients

Even though your needs are greater when you have cancer, it can be hard to ask for help to meet those needs. To get the help you need, think about turning to: Family and friends

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Urinary Incontinence

Are you reluctant to talk to your doctor about your bladder control problem? Don’t be. There is help. The loss of bladder control is called urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence can happen to anyone, but is

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Facts About Swine Flu

Due to the recent concern regarding Swine Flu Disease, we have decided to post these facts about the Swine Flu to keep everyone informed. Here are important Questions and Answers about the said disease: What

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Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Breast cancer forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer

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Stages of Breast Cancer

To plan your treatment for breast cancer, your doctor needs to know the extent or stage of the disease. The stage of cancer is based on the size of the tumor and whether the cancer

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Nutrition in Cancer Care

Cancer and cancer treatments may cause nutrition-related side effects. The diet is an important part of cancer treatment. Eating the right kinds of foods before, during, and after cancer treatment can help the patient feel

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Getting Up to Date on Glucose Meters

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reminding people with diabetes to use only the test strips that are recommended for use with their glucose meter. FDA is aware of instances where incorrect results

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Eating Problems During Cancer Treatment

All the methods of treating cancer like surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy (immunotherapy) are very powerful. Although these cancer treatments target the fast-growing cancer cells in your body, healthy cells can

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Side-Effects of Cancer Treatments

During cancer treatment, some cancer patients may experience side effects that may cause eating problems. Sometimes it is the side effects of treatment such as nausea, vomiting, or changes in food’s taste or smell that

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Nutrition in Advanced Cancer

Nutrition-related side effects may occur or become worse as cancer becomes more advanced. The following are the most common nutrition -related symptoms in patients who have advanced cancer: Cachexia Weight loss of more than 10%

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When Cancer Returns

Maybe in the back of your mind, you feared that your cancer might return. Now you might be thinking, “How can this be happening to me again? Haven’t I been through enough?” You may be

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What Is an Aneurysm?

An aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in an artery. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body.Arteries have thick walls to withstand normal blood pressure. However, certain medical problems,

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Independence From Incontinence

What is independence? Merriam Webster defines it as not requiring or relying on others. In one word, independence is freedom. For many of the retirement age, incontinence is a fact of daily life. Over time,

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Transitional Care Options For Cancer Patients

Having cancer affects more than the patient’s physical condition. It also affects mental health, family life, ability to work, financial planning, social relationships, and faith. In This Article: What is Transitional Care Planning? Transitional Care

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Spirituality in Cancer Care

Religious and spiritual values are important to patients coping with cancer.The terms spirituality and religion are often used in place of each other, but for many people they have different meanings. According to The National

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Eating and Diabetes

Healthful eating helps keep your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, in your target range.Physical activity and, if needed, diabetes medicines also help. The diabetes target range is the blood glucose level suggested by diabetes

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Kidney Failure: What to Expect

Kidney failure can hit you in different and surprising ways. You may get headaches and other pains.You may be tired all the time and lose your appetite. But what do the kidneys have to do

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Kidney Disease of Diabetes

Kidney Disease of Diabetes Updated: May 8, 2018 by Catharine D. Allado Each year in the United States, more than 100,000 people are diagnosed with kidney failure, a serious condition in which the kidneys fail to

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Is It Alzheimer’s?

The fact that you are reading this suggests you are concerned about Alzheimer’s Disease and other causes of cognitive decline. In This Article: Statistics on Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Predictors We Cannot

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Depression and Meditation

  Updated: May 13, 2024 Can depression be treated with something as simple as meditation and prayer? Several studies indicate, yes! The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how we can use prayer, meditation, and

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Surviving Cancer

A cancer survivor is anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer and is living today.Because of major advances in diagnosis and screening as well as better treatment for many types of cancer, many people

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Physical Changes Due To Cancer Treatment

Physical Changes Due to Cancer Treatment The effects of cancer treatment vary among patients. Some side effects continue after cancer treatment is over, while some can develop after treatment has ended. Many older adults have

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