Senior Health

Aging is an unavoidable process that puts the elderly individual at risk for disease and nutritional deficiency. Malnutrition, according to the World Health Organization, encompasses the imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and nutrition and includes three broad groups: undernutrition, micronutrient-related malnutrition, and overweight or obesity; however, malnutrition is often used interchangeably with undernutrition […]

Introduction The importance of good nutritional intake for the elderly provides adequate micronutrients and antioxidants (vitamins and minerals) to reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, maintain healthy muscle mass, hormone balance, and provide energy for everyday activities (1).  I have highlighted some of my original example recipe ideas that older adults may want to incorporate […]

In the trailer for the movie “The Father”, there is a scene where Anthony Hopkin’s character shouts “I’m not leaving my flat!” A grimace forms on his face. His voice is heavy, frustrated, and stern. He repeats the line, each word enunciated clearly, “I am not leaving my flat!”   But the gut punch comes […]

Have you noticed a red flag marking low hemoglobin levels in your last laboratory results? You might be having anemia, a low number of red blood cells, or a low hemoglobin concentration in your blood. It is a common medical issue – studies state that more than 10% of people over 65 suffer from anemia, […]

The immune system acts as our body’s frontline defense that fights against infections. It also captures malignant cells and auto reactive cells — the cells that attack their own. Aging is a natural process and it is characterized by predictable changes in the body and as we age, we become more susceptible to diseases. This […]

What causes older adults to fall? As we age, we can experience a gradual decline in vital bodily tissues and functions that contribute towards mobility and balance (1, 2). These include; muscle mass, bone density, tendon elasticity, and joint strength (1, 2).  The extent of degradation (loss) can increase fall risk after the age of […]

Heart pounding, hyperventilating, thoughts racing, and a sense of impending doom sitting heavily on the chest. Is anxiety always like that? It can feel like it. But in an older individual, anxiety is rarely that simple.   What does anxiety look like? The American Psychiatric Association defines anxiety as the “anticipation for future threat”. On […]

Dementia — and its stepwise decline  Dementia is an umbrella term that covers different disorders and Alzheimer’s disease comprises the majority of it. It is a disorder characterized by a decline in at least one cognitive domain such as learning and memory, language, executive function, attention, perception, motor or social cognition [1]. Most seniors suffering […]

Aging is a part of the circle of life. Your once young parents, who brought you up and were there for you whenever you needed it, may need your help now. You probably want to do everything to make the final chapters of their lives happy, and their end dignified. But how do you achieve […]

Fall may seem like a minor injury to some but for the elderly population, it poses a huge health risk. More than one out of four older people fall each year, and one out of five falls lead to serious injuries like broken bones or head injury [1]. In the United States alone, there is […]

I have previously talked about sciatica which can be visited here. If you read through it, you probably have a general idea about the location of the sciatic nerve (lower back/hamstrings), how it becomes irritated by becoming trapped, the pain it causes, and how to alleviate the pain with certain positions and leg/back stretches. The […]

The human body is a home for a variety of microorganisms. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi reside on the skin, the eyes, in the upper parts of the respiratory system, lower parts of the urinary system, the vagina, and alongside the whole digestive tract – from the oral cavity to the anus. All these human body […]

We all have seen older people wearing hearing aids, and I am sure you wondered why is that? Why some people require hearing aids as they age? This is presbycusis. Presbycusis refers to the progressive, irreversible hearing loss that happens to the elderly as they age.Presbycusis medical definition is the degeneration of some ear structures […]

Trauma caused by falls is one of the most common reasons of emergency room (ER) visits in the United States. For the past decade, incidences of falls and injuries are steadily increasing with more than one out of four old people (aged 65 and above) falling down every year. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control […]

Do you happen to know a person with dementia? As their condition progresses, you can see how their memory and other cognitive functions deteriorate. But can they prevent it? According to researches, 20-81% of patients with dementia are unaware of their impairment. This is what we call anosognosia, a neurological condition in which the patient […]