An article from the Health Day News has reported on a study in Europe showing that the development of late stage “wet” age related macular degeneration may be linked to the daily use of aspirin. Since aspirin has long been used to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in seniors these developments are being looked at very closely.

Over 4,700 people were studied for three years and about one third that have wet AMD took aspirin on a daily basis.  The pill may also be responsible for another cause of blindness in seniors, “dry” AMD, but fewer people were found to have this type of the disease.

The scientists quoted in the article were clear that in most cases no one should be ending aspirin

Alcohol use can be cause for some concern to seniors. The older adults that drink alcohol on a regular basis may not have a drinking problem but the use of alcohol can cause more problems for the senior population than for younger adults. An aging body can be more susceptible to alcohol’s effects. There are also a number of medications that a senior may be taking that might not react well with alcohol.

An older person takes longer to metabolize alcohol so it stays in their body longer. This, along with the fact that older people usually have less water in their body, can contribute to their blood alcohol content being higher than a younger person who drinks the same amount.

Aging also lowers the senior’s tolerance to alcohol.  This fact combined with the higher blood alcohol level may lead to symptoms like slurred speech and balance problems. A visitor may even miss these symptoms as related to alcohol and instead believe the senior is showing signs of a stroke or another malady.

A person offering in home assistance to a senior family member should be aware of the possible problems caused by alcohol intake.  A senior care specialist can highlight the potential dangers of mixing alcohol with certain medications and evaluate your loved one’s health to determine other possible risks of consuming alcohol.

As we age our cholesterol levels tend to increase but there are ways you can control the cholesterol that your body manufactures. You can reduce your LDL cholesterol by improving your diet and getting enough physical exercise.  Avoiding foods that contain saturated and Trans fats can also be a big help in controlling cholesterol.

Unfortunately, there are some factors that are impossible to control when it comes to cholesterol. Things like heredity, age and sex can all be contributing factors to high cholesterol.

Seniors may be more apt to reduce

The American public’s awareness on a number of bladder health issues. . Bladder Health Awareness week started November 14 and used the internet to discuss different bladder health issues on a daily basis.

It is estimated that 25 million Americans suffer from bladder control issues. As with a number of other health issues that increase in frequency with age, awareness is a priority as many more Americans will have this problem as time goes on.

The Association scheduled informative pieces about overactive bladder, women’s pelvic floor issues and male stress incontinence.

There have been many warnings about the dangers of smoking and the lives of many Americans have been improved by saying no to cigarettes and other tobacco products. This particular bad habit can be very hard on your lungs and your coronary arteries. The damage to your blood vessels does not stay limited to those that feed your heart muscle, however. Smoking affects all blood vessels, even those that are in your brain.

Last year a study by Kaiser Permanente that reviewed electronic records of 21,000 men and women was released. Researchers found that smokers of two packs a day have a 172% chance of developing vascular dementia. This dementia is caused by clogging of the capillaries and arteries that help keep the brain functioning.

The recommendations for exercising at least 30 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week can be difficult to meet for many adults. Seniors who have retired can take advantage of the extra time available to them with a well planned exercise schedule though.

Exercising can be as simple as a half hour walk each day. A home health aide or loved one assisting with care may be more than willing to accompany you on a walk.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society shows that genes may play a fairly large role in longevity. The study evaluated the health habits of nearly five hundred people with an average age of around ninety seven. This information was compared with the information of more than 3000 people born around the same time from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 1971-1974.

Researchers found that those who lived an exceptionally long life didn’t always have much better health habits than those who expired closer to the average life expectancy. The group who reached or exceeded the 100 year

Percentages of deaths due to heart disease have declined quite a bit over the course of the last few decades but it stills remains at the top of the list for causes of death. Decreasing risk of heart disease is possible but it requires adopting healthier eating and lifestyle habits. Some may be able to change to a healthier lifestyle on their own but many older Americans could benefit from the advice of an experienced senior care service provider.

Beginning an age appropriate exercise program and selecting healthy and nutritious foods can be challenging for some seniors. Many seniors have specific nutritional requirements that need to be maintained or conditions that may make some forms of exercise difficult or impossible to participate in.

Enlisting the help of an experienced 

A recent study performed by researchers at the University of California and the Harvard School of Public Health shows a possible benefit of regular brisk walks for reducing prostate cancer progression.  The study examined nearly 1500 men who were diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer and found serious benefits for those who participated in sessions of brisk walking.

Researchers found that men who walked at a rate of three miles per hour for a minimum of three hours per week reduced their risk of needing a second round of treatment by nearly 60%.

Acid reflux is an incredibly uncomfortable condition that affects millions of Americans. But there are  number of methods that can be used to effectively control the painful and irritating symptoms.  Depending upon the severity of your acid reflux disease your health care provider may recommend medication or a surgical procedure to treat the condition.  While making the choice between multiple options of treatment can be a difficult one. A recent study could make this particular decision a bit easier for those suffering from acid reflux disease.

According to the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, both medication and surgery seem to control the worst symptoms of acid reflux disease equally well.  More than 500 people with  reflux disease were randomly assigned to either continue treating their condition with Nexium or to undergo the minimally invasive procedure designed to treat GERD.