Senior Health

Hearing loss is not always inevitable for everyone. There are many factors that contribute to hearing loss and aging. The most common is noise exposure over many years. Noise exposure can be as slight as workin... continue reading  about  Is hearing loss inevitable as we age? Is there anything we can do to prevent it?

After age 40, the average person loses about 1/2" of their height per decade. It happens because of gravity and wear and tear on bones, muscles and joints. Think of your skeleton as being made up of your ankles... continue reading  about  Why do some people lose height as they age? How much loss is too much?

After diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer, national guidelines recommend annual mammography. Also, MD exams are recommended every six months for five years, then annually.If you have been taking endocrine... continue reading  about  How often should I have a mammogram? I am 77 years old and had breast cancer, and my mother died of breast cancer.

Herpes zoster, better known as shingles, is a debilitating rash and has the potential to cause chronic pain (post-herpetic neuralgia). The vaccine has proven to decrease the risk of getting shingles and of havi... continue reading  about  My mother, who is 91, had a mastectomy 30 years ago. Luckily, she is still in good health today. Is it okay for her to get a shingles shot now? It's hard to tell whether her immune system is weak or not.

Hearing loss has many causes and affects people at different times in their lives. If we look at hearing loss and aging, it is difficult to isolate hearing loss causes without looking at several factors: geneti... continue reading  about  Is there any research being done to help treat and prevent hearing loss? So many older people I know seem to be dealing with it.

The clitoris never actually disappears, but it can become smaller over time after the loss of circulating female hormones with menopause. This is part of a normal condition with aging called urogenital atrophy.... continue reading  about  Does the clitoris disappear with age? After 70?

This question undoubtedly is asked by patients every day. Truth be told, there are preventive measures that can slow down the aging process, but sadly there is no way to completely avoid or reverse the aging pr... continue reading  about  What can be done about aging, thinning skin on the arms and legs as we get older? Is there a best ingredient in over-the-counter products? This is happening despite excellent nutrition and otherwise very good health.

The most common signs of Parkinson's Disease include tremor, slowed movements (perhaps observed as stiffness), and unstable gait. So this is possible with your father. Speech difficulty, however, is less common... continue reading  about  I've been noticing slight tremors, some speech difficulties and stiffness in my 72-year-old dad. Could these symptoms be related to Parkinson's disease? How is it diagnosed?

The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in its early stages is often difficult, especially for a physician or healthcare provider who is unfamiliar with the patient. It is helpful to see the patient more than once... continue reading  about  I'm concerned that my 75-year-old mother may be showing signs of early Alzheimer's. Can you tell me what I should look for and what steps we should take?