HIV on the Rise Among Seniors
People over 50 get tested as often for the killer disease
By Fred Cicetti
Q. I’m a 65-year-old man who is dating a 58-year-old woman. Recently, my grandson, who is rather outspoken, asked me if I was protecting myself against AIDS. At the time, I thought the question was ridiculous, but now I’m wondering.
A. A growing number of older people have HIV/AIDS. About 19 percent of all people with HIV/AIDS in this country now are over age 50. New AIDS cases have risen faster in the over-50 population than in people under 40. Read more
Getting a Good Night’s Rest
Older people tend to sleep less deeply and wake more often
By Fred Cicetti
Q. Do older people need more sleep?
A: Seniors need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults—seven to nine hours a night.
Unfortunately, many older adults don’t get the sleep they need, because they often have more trouble falling asleep. A study of adults over 65 found that 13 percent of men and 36 percent of women take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep. Read more
Protecting Yourself with the Flu Shot
The elderly are most at risk against the deadly virus
By Fred Cicetti
It’s time for a flu shot.
You can get the flu vaccine from your doctor, and at public health facilities, senior centers, pharmacies and supermarkets. Adults over 50 are prime candidates for the vaccine because the flu can be fatal for older people. Read more
Options for Joint Replacement
When the hip bone’s connected to a resurfaced socket
By Fred Cicetti
Q: I’m considering having a hip replaced. What are the odds that this operation will work?
A: The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says joint replacement surgery is successful in more than 9 out of 10 people. And replacement of a hip or knee lasts at least 20 years in about 80 percent of those who have the surgery. Read more
Healthy to the Bone
Q: Do men get osteoporosis?
A: Yes, men do get osteoporosis, but women are at greater risk.
Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue. This condition creates an increased risk of fractures. Read more
Our Leading Cancer Killer
Q: Is cigarette smoke the only cause of lung cancer?
A: Radon and asbestos are causes, too. Radon is an invisible, odorless and radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rocks. Asbestos has been used for fireproofing, electrical insulation, building materials, brake linings and chemical filters.
But cigarette smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Before cigarette smoking became popular in the early part of the 20th century, doctors rarely saw patients with lung cancer. Nearly 90 percent of people with lung cancer developed it because they smoked cigarettes. Read more
More Than Stress
Q: I seem to have bad breath a lot. I’ve also noticed that my mouth is a bit dry most of the time. Could these two things be related? Read more
Forever Young
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.
—Dylan Thomas
Q.I’m tired of taking this sitting down. What can I do to fight the aging process?
A: There’s nothing that will stop aging, but you know that. The most you can hope for is longevity with health. Here are some pointers from health professionals for a high quality of life. You may find these boring, but they work: Read more
Beating the Blues
Q. Is depression just a “normal” part of aging?
A: There are a lot of problems to face as you get older. There are losses of all kinds that can get you down. And feeling blue for a while is a normal part of living at any age.
But unrelenting depression is not normal. If you feel this way, you should seek medical attention. Most people get better if they treat their depression. Read more
The Flu and You
Flu season in the northern hemisphere can range from as early as November to as late as May. The peak month usually is February.
However, this coming season is expected to be unpredictable because of the emergence of the H1N1 influenza virus, or swine flu. H1N1 has caused the first global outbreak—pandemic—of influenza in more than four decades.
There is concern that the 2009 H1N1 virus may make the season worse than a regular flu season. It is feared that there will be many more hospitalizations and fatalities this season. The 2009 H1N1 virus caused illness in the United States during the summer months, when influenza is very uncommon. <!–more–>
The best time to get a seasonal flu vaccine is October and November.
The 2009-10 flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The seasonal vaccine is not expected to protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus. A vaccine for 2009 H1N1 is being produced and rolled out now.
The 2009-10 vaccine can be administered anytime during flu season. However, the best time to get inoculated is October and November. The protection provided by the vaccine lasts about a year. Adults older than 50 are prime candidates for the vaccine because the flu can be fatal for people in this age group.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that up to 20 percent of the population gets the flu each year.
The CDC reports that vaccination rates are better for those older than 65. About 7 in 10 seniors get their flu shots. You can get the flu vaccine from your doctor, at public health centers, senior centers, pharmacies and supermarkets.
For more than four decades, the flu vaccine has been strongly recommended for older people, but now some scientists say the vaccine probably doesn’t work well for those older than 70. About 75 percent of flu deaths happen to people in this age group.
Flu is a contagious illness of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus. Flu can lead to ear problems, dehydration, pneumonia, bronchitis and sinusitis.
Droplets from coughing and sneezing spread the flu. An adult with flu can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. Children may spread flu for more than seven days.
The best way to combat the bug is to get the flu vaccine. You have to get inoculated annually because new vaccines are prepared every year to combat new versions of the virus. When you battle the flu, you develop antibodies to the invading virus, but those antibodies don’t work on new strains. The vaccine does not prevent flu in all people; it works better in younger recipients than older ones.
Contrary to rumor, you can’t catch the flu from the vaccine. The flu vaccine is not made from a live virus.
The recovery time for the flu is about one to two weeks. However, in seniors, weakness may persist for a longer time.
The common scenario for flu is a sudden onset of symptoms, which include chills, fatigue, fever, cough, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle aches and appetite loss.
While nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can be related to the flu, these are rarely the primary flu symptoms. The flu is not a stomach or intestinal disease. The term “stomach flu” is inaccurate.
When symptoms strike, get to a doctor as soon as possible—the faster, the better. There are prescription antiviral drugs to treat flu. Over-the-counter medicines can help relieve symptoms of the flu. You should also drink liquids to prevent dehydration, and sleep to bolster your immune system.
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