Caregiving Archive

By age 40, one in five women has dealt with an eating disorder, twice the proportion of women known to be affected by age 21. Risks for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating can rise at midlife due to job stressors, an empty nest, and dating again after divorce or widowhood. Health effects can include bone loss, heart problems, lung conditions, gastrointestinal issues, diabetes, and skin breakdown. Signs of an eating disorder include dramatic weight fluctuations, excessive exercising, and preoccupation with weight, calories, and body size and shape.

While muscle pain is a possible side effect of taking statins, most discomfort is not caused by the drug, but most likely a "nocebo effect" where negative expectations can lead to perceived side effects.

A new study suggests that older adults who maintain an high level functional fitness have a lower their risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke compared with those who are not as fit.

Many myths and misunderstandings about teeth and tooth health persist, such as what stains can be lightened, how cavities are formed, and whether fluoride is actually safe.

Most Americans only eat about one-half of the daily requirement for fiber. Changing food sources and eating habits are often at fault. Taking over-the-counter fiber supplements can help people who have trouble eating high-fiber foods; otherwise, increasing daily fiber intake with a few extra servings of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, or nuts and seeds can help people reach their recommended amounts.

Science suggests that the placebo effect, in which a person derives a physical benefit from a fake treatment, can have real health benefits for managing pain. It may even work if people are aware that the treatment is a sham. The ritual of receiving treatment is essential for the placebo effect to work, and it's possible for people to tap into its benefits by adopting healthy habits that require rituals and procedures like healthy eating, exercise, and meditation.

Every second, someone age 65 or older suffers a fall, making it the No. 1 cause of injury-related death among this age group. The best way for older adults to protect themselves is to address the three main physical conditions that contribute to falls: weak stabilizer muscles, poor core strength, and balance issues. They can do this by improving their side-to-side motion through specific exercises and playing racquet sports, doing abdominal exercises, and practicing tai chi.

A 2022 study of 160,000 former smokers, followed for about 20 years, found that those who were the most diligent about living a healthy lifestyle had a 27% lower risk of dying during the study period, compared with those who didn't live a healthy lifestyle.

A 2022 study of 350,000 healthy people found no evidence that high levels of physical activity fully offset the harmful effects of a low-quality diet, or that a high-quality diet fully offsets a lack of exercise.

When navigating the health care system becomes challenging, a number of professionals can help. Some, such as home care aides or certified nursing assistants, can assist with errands such as getting to the doctor and picking up medications. Others, such as Aging Life Care Professionals or patient advocates, can develop and run a person's overall care plan, negotiate with insurance companies, arrange to pay medical bills, research treatment options, hire and manage home care helpers, and more.