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Casing the joints

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis among older adults. Often called the "wear and tear" disease, osteoarthritis doesn’t occur because of overusing or stressing one’s joints. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, people can lower their risk or better manage the condition by losing excess weight, strengthening the muscles surrounding joints, and using over-the-counter pain medication as needed.

Should I be worried about fatty liver disease?

People with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is fatty liver not caused by high alcohol intake, should refrain from most drinking and lose weight to avoid cirrhosis and lower their risk of liver cancer.

COVID-19 diagnosis raises risk of heart attack, stroke

A Swedish study suggests that risk of a heart attack or stroke at least triples in the week following a COVID-19 diagnosis.

The danger of a "silent" heart attack

So-called silent heart attacks (marked by unexplained weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, or nausea) often go unrecognized. But they may be almost as concerning as regular heart attacks and have been linked to a higher risk of stroke. Some of this heightened stroke risk stems from shared risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol levels. But heart attacks can also damage the heart’s lower chambers. This may prevent the heart from contracting normally, which can lead to formation of a clot that then travels to the brain, causing a stroke.

Gastroparesis: A slow-emptying stomach can cause nausea and vomiting

Gastroparesis is a condition that causes delay in the emptying of food from the stomach. This can cause uncomfortable symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and can affect nutrition and quality of life. Treatment may involve medication or a procedure, but a correct diagnosis is necessary first.

What to do when elective surgery is postponed

When hospitals fill with COVID-19 patients, elective surgeries need to be postponed. If your elective surgery is temporarily derailed, what steps can you take to help yourself cope and be prepared for when the surgery is rescheduled?

Frequent migraines? Eating fatty fish may offer comfort

People who suffer from chronic migraines could find relief by increasing their intake of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, found in fatty fish like salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel, and trout.

Can COVID cause diabetes?

COVID-19 infections may raise the risk of developing diabetes, because the virus can damage insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Can you get shingles more than once?

It is possible to get shingles more than once. But getting vaccinated with the Shingrix vaccine may help prevent this from occurring.

Inflammatory bowel disease on the rise in older adults

The number of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis cases among older adults has increased every year over the past decade. While all racial and ethnic groups were affected, the most significant annual percentage increase was among non-Hispanic Black individuals.

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