It’s no secret that diabetes often goes hand-in-hand with other chronic conditions, like heart disease, and can cause a range of serious complications including nerve damage and limb amputation. When it comes to understanding how diabetes can affect oral and visual health, however, many people may feel they are in the dark.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued recommendations that all U.S. baby boomers should get a one-time test for the hepatitis C virus. This generation includes many veterans, a population twice as likely to be infected as the general population.
At 78 million strong, baby boomers are a generation known for redefining aging. Although boomers are more health-conscious, educated and financially secure than previous generations, America’s worsening obesity epidemic has also touched this age group and threatens their long-term health and the active lifestyles they embrace. Tips for boomers to engage in a healthy lifestyle.
Everyone has secrets – that’s no surprise. But whether little or big, secrets can make a real difference in quality of life. When it comes to women keeping their health issues to themselves, the effects can be unnecessary, turning something potentially treatable into a misery to live with. By speaking up about those secret health issues, women can make their lives much more comfortable and enjoyable.
It’s dark. It’s cold. Heading to the pool might be the furthest thing from your mind. While summer is the time of year for playing at the beach, pool parties and outdoor water sports, the colder months are actually a great time to start swimming.
Whether you’re resolving to eat healthy, begin an exercise routine, save money or update your wardrobe, many of these resolutions are easier said than done, as people aren’t sure where to start or how to get motivated to make these important life changes.
For generations, families have passed down home-spun remedies that can help loved ones feel that even during those sniffles and sneezes, they’re cared for. Having a bowl of grandma’s famous soup or your aunt’s special healing concoction can help your body heal and set your mind at ease. Recently, a group of Latina mom bloggers shared their families’ home remedies that bring comfort to loved ones.
When Martha Saly, director of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR), learned she had hepatitis C, a virus that attacks the liver, she was in disbelief. Saly never suspected she might be infected with the hepatitis C virus, and unfortunately, cases like Saly’s are not uncommon.
While you should always work with your doctor to manage your arthritis, you can also do a lot at home to help minimize symptoms. Home remedies like hydrotherapy, massage and simple exercise have been shown to help reduce the pain and inflammation associated with multiple forms of arthritis.
With millions of Americans slated to gain access to healthcare under the Affordable Care Act, many may find themselves unknowingly at risk for medical identity theft, a crime that costs the country $41.3 billion annually. In the United States, an estimated 1.5 million people have their ID stolen each year.
Every 68 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. Approximately 5.4 million Americans currently have the disease, and nearly 15 million others are providing care. Often the equivalent of a full-time job, 80 percent of at-home care for people with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is provided by unpaid family caregivers.
With so many options based on where you live and what prescriptions you need, selecting a Medicare Part D Plan can be complicated and time consuming. However, every American 65 and older must enroll in a plan for 2013 by Dec. 7, 2012.
An estimated 275 million people across the globe can’t hear clearly all the sounds they love. These people suffer from hearing loss, which the World Health Organization lists as the No. 1 sensory disability in the world.
Dry eye affects up to 40 million Americans, has many causes, and a variety of symptoms. Those who suffer from dry eye know one thing: that it can be very uncomfortable. Common dry eye symptoms include scratchiness or grittiness, the feeling of a foreign particle in the eye, redness and even excessive reflex watering.
It’s a recurring theme for many of us: We make a New Year’s resolution to get fit with every intention of keeping that resolution throughout the coming year – only to have our efforts fall by the wayside before Valentine’s Day arrives. Here’s some advice for staying on track with your fitness goals this year.
Eighty percent of infections are spread by dirty hands, and when you’re at home, limiting your exposure to germs with an active hand cleaning schedule can become a familiar endeavor. But it becomes a different matter when you’re out in the public, where hand-washing isn’t as routine and germs are more prevalent due to the number of people carrying different bacteria. Fortunately, avoiding germs while you’re away from home is becoming easier as more businesses and public locations are providing options for employees and visitors to prevent the spread of germs.
Full of festive gatherings, this time of year brings us close to friends and family. But if you know someone suffering from hearing loss, it may be hard for you both to fully enjoy time together. You can help improve your loved one’s quality of life by addressing the problem with understanding and care. With a few simple steps, you can start the conversation and help find a solution.
Few things can derail a trip like coming down with a cold or the flu. Yet with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 91 different strains of flu virus in circulation during the 2012-2013 flu season, avoiding illness while on the road can be especially challenging. Travelers are exposed to more germs and viruses than folks who stay home, so if you’ll be taking a trip this winter, it pays to keep some preventive precautions and treatment options in mind.
Every year, about two-thirds of Americans resolve to get fit or lose weight. Unfortunately, 73 percent give up within six weeks, according to a survey by Harris Interactive. While time and commitment are often to blame, many fitness experts suggest sore and fatigued muscles have a lot to do with why we lose steam in a new routine.
Traffic delays, long wait times and hungry little tummies – for all the rewards of spending time with your children, traveling with kids can be a challenge. But when the child has food allergies, those challenges can start to look like insurmountable – and even life-threatening – obstacles. To ensure your family trip stays as safe and enjoyable as possible, follow these tips.
With calorie-packed foods and sugary drinks often at the center of holiday gatherings, the season can be more challenging than festive for many Americans living with type 2 diabetes. But American cooking star Paula Deen, who has type 2 diabetes, is letting people know that it’s still possible to enjoy all that the holidays have to offer while making smart decisions about healthy eating.
Whether you are at risk for, have been recently diagnosed with, or are living with diabetes, it is essential to make sure you have the information necessary to manage your disease.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – but are you able to enjoy the holidays completely? The approaching holiday season means quality time with family, special deliveries in the mail and goodies that delight the taste buds. But it’s important to be prepared and stay healthy throughout the season so you can enjoy every festive moment.Consider these holiday health essentials that allow you to enjoy the season to the fullest.
Dreaming of spring despite the cold weather outside? You’re not the only one. Many people start thinking of warmer temperatures as soon as the mercury drops. Instead of sitting inside this winter, use these tips to “think spring” so you’ll be ready when the thermometer rises again.
Whether it’s guests arriving for a holiday party, visiting relatives or holiday revelers, your home can feel like a revolving door during the holiday season. Unfortunately, all of this added traffic can also bring unwanted dirt and germs that can outweigh holiday cheer. Keep your home looking clean, germ free and ready to welcome guests throughout the holiday season by establishing a cold-weather cleaning routine.
Whether verbal or physical, bullying can cause real suffering for its victim and can ultimately interfere with a person’s social and emotional development. A common target for bullying and intolerance are those people with qualities that may set them apart from their peers, such as health-related issues.
Mood swings, hot flashes and night sweats are common complaints from women going through menopause. But there is another common menopause symptom that is affecting millions of women, yet only 25 percent of sufferers seek medical help.
With Old Man Winter just around the corner, many of us are struggling to say goodbye to warm breezes and long, summer days. Consider these five tips to help improve the winter blues.
Remember when you were a child and the world was big – full of adventure and possibility? You ate your favorite cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner and at the end of every day, your mom would make you take those little multi-flavored vitamins usually shaped like a popular cartoon character. You didn’t necessarily understand why you had to take these, but you always did what your mom told you – because mother knows best.
Cold weather can be tough on skin, particularly on the hands and feet. A decrease in humidity paired with harsh temperatures can make hands and feet dry, cracked, achy and susceptible to infection. It’s important to take some simple steps to protect extremities so they remain healthy all season long.
