Osteoporosis Archive

When physical change makes once easy tasks challenging, it may be time to turn to certain therapists for help. A physical therapist can use exercises to help someone improve strength, balance, and mobility. An occupational therapist can teach someone new ways to do daily tasks by adjusting existing techniques or using adaptive equipment. A speech-language pathologist guides a person through exercises that help with difficulties speaking loudly, swallowing, or communicating.

Unlike a few decades ago, there are now a number of minimally invasive ways to treat varicose veins. Doctors can shut down problem veins with injections of various substances or certain catheter procedures. A treatment currently in clinical trials in the United States promises to simply "zap" away varicose veins from outside the body. Called high-intensity focused ultrasound, it converts sound waves into a focused beam of heat that seals a malfunctioning vein.

Most older adults can expect to walk more than 100,000 miles during their lifetime, which can take a toll on their feet. With regular foot care, people can address most everyday foot issues like calluses, blisters, and fungus infections. But older adults also need to be mindful about certain problems that can impede their foot health and make mobility difficult, such as heel pain, flat feet, and osteoarthritis.

Daily persistent nasal drip or congestion is usually caused by chronic nonallergic rhinitis. Daily nasal irrigations and prescription nasal sprays are the recommended treatments.

A 2023 study suggests that women who practice many aspects of a healthy lifestyle are about half as likely as women who don't to experience persistent symptoms after a COVID-19 infection.

Many factors can increase heart rate from the normal pace of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Lifestyle choices and certain medications can raise heart rate, as can serious conditions. When an elevated heart rate is joined by urgent symptoms, seek immediate care.

"Brain freeze" happens when people eat ice cream or other cold treats, drastically dropping the temperature at the back of the mouth. This results in rapid changes in blood vessel size, sending pain signals to the brain. Brain freeze typically disappears within 30 seconds.

First-line gout treatment focuses on reducing pain and inflammation. Ideally, treatment should begin within 24 hours of the start of the gout attack. Treatment is stopped once the attack is over, and symptoms have gone away.

If you experience gout symptoms, it's important to visit a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Warts are an unsightly nuisance that can take a year or more to go away on their own. Several effective, noninvasive treatments are available.