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Category Archives: Health
Even a Little Weight Training May Cut the Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
From the NYT: “Despite the muscle-building, flab-trimming and, according to recent research, mood-boosting benefits of lifting weights, such resistance exercise has generally been thought not to contribute much to heart health, as endurance workouts like jogging and cycling do. But … Continue reading
How climate change could affect us all – new US government report (buried by release on Black Friday)
(CNN)The average global temperature is much higher and rising more rapidly than “anything modern civilization has experienced,” according to David Easterling, one of the authors of a new US government report that delivers a dire warning about our future. Thousands more could die, … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Business, environment, Essays, Health, Media, Politics, Science and Technology
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AgeWise King County Newsletter
Chair’s Corner: Your Time, Talent, and Kindness Go a Long Way In December, it is very tempting to write a cheery article about celebrating the holidays with families, food, friends, and fun. I don’t want to sound all doom-and-gloom, but … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Aging Sites, Education, happiness, Health, Homeless, In the Neighborhood, Social justice
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A New Treatment for Blindness Comes From Gene Therapy
Thanks to Ann M for sending this “eye opening” article By Jocelyn Kaiser Smithsonian Magazine | Subscribe December 2018 Three months after Misty Lovelace was born, she was already going blind. In first grade she could still read small print, but within … Continue reading
Posted in Health
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Will We Ever Cure Alzheimer’s?
Ed note: Prevention and treatment of dementia remains a discouraging effort for patients, families and researchers. It would seem that Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, begins many years before symptoms show up, so early detection with prevention is … Continue reading
Perspectives on Memory – Conference at the Frye
Perspectives on Memory CREATIVE AGING CONFERENCE Friday, February 1, 2019 8:15am – 6:00 pm 8:15 am: Check-in & continental breakfast 9 am – 5 pm: Conference sessions 5–6 pm: Closing reception Location Frye Auditorium Perspectives on Memory is a one-day conference designed for … Continue reading
Why do people go blind? – Dr. Russell Van Gelder from the UW
Thanks to Ann M for inviting Dr. Van Gelder to speak at Skyline
Posted in Health
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Medicare enrollment
Thanks, from Barb W. We get it, you’ve got plenty of things on your “to-do” list already. But if you haven’t already added these 5 items to your list, you’ll want to do so now. Why? So you can get … Continue reading
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Earl E. Bakken, Pacemaker Inventor and Medtronic Founder, Dies at 94
Thanks to Dick D From the NYT: “Earl E. Bakken, who, working in a Minneapolis garage, invented the first wearable, battery-powered pacemaker and went on to help create the world’s largest medical device company, died on Sunday at his home … Continue reading
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Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare
In a recent presentation at Skyline, there was some confusion generated in comparing the advantages of having Original Medicare (with a supplemental medigap plan and drug plan) vs. having a Medicare Advantage plan. Unfortunately a private insurance company’s “educational … Continue reading
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New single dose drug for the flu
From the NYT: “The first new flu drug in 20 years won approval Wednesday from the Food and Drug Administration. The new antiviral, generically known as baloxavir marboxil but sold under the brand name Xofluza, is a single dose treatment. … Continue reading
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Safeguarding Health and Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe
Ed Note: The Washington State Physicians for Social Responsibility *WPSR) is sponsoring the presentation. The concerns have become even more relevant as nuclear rhetoric heats up: “The US national security adviser, John Bolton, has confirmed that the US will withdrawal from the … Continue reading
Posted in Community Engagement Group, environment, Health, Politics, Safety, Science and Technology, Uncategorized, War
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The Medicare insurance annual choices
Ed note: We are in our annual confusing months of thinking about our health insurance coverage. Below is a very useful essay posted on the Morningstar site. It does some comparisons between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage . From discussions … Continue reading
Advice From Health Care’s Power Users
Ed note: The article below has some pretty good suggestions but I’ll add a few of my own and would like you to know that some help will be coming in finding local resources. When I established with a new … Continue reading
Posted in Health
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Soon you may need that Happy Light for SAD
Sleep specialists recommend the use of a 10,000 lux “happy light” for 15-30 minutes each morning during the dark days in northern climates like ours. Choose one carefully because they are not FDA regulated. Here is one reviewer’s selection. The … Continue reading
Every Older Patient Has a Story. Medical Students Need to Hear It.
Ed Note: The lecture I remember most from medical school was by an aging senior professor who interviewed a patient in front of our entire class saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to present a very interesting case.” Then he … Continue reading
Posted in Aging Sites, Essays, Health
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The importance of medical touch
Ed note: I remember feeling somewhat puzzled and annoyed that during my first Medicare annual checkup that my doctor never touched me. An assistant checked my BP, weighed me, checked my meds and did a cursory dementia screen. Then is … Continue reading
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It’s time for that flu shot
Here is a version of the well known in-flu-Enza nursery rhyme in “Our Paper” Vol. 10 (1894) by Massachusetts Reformatory (Concord, Mass.): There was a little girl, and she had a little bird, And she called it by the pretty name … Continue reading
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For Elderly Women With Breast Cancer, Surgery May Not Be the Best Option
Ed Note: The thoughtful geriatrician will approach his aging patient with the “do no harm” principle. Perhaps the intervention might work in a younger person; perhaps the medication dose should be halved or even stopped; perhaps the aggressive management of … Continue reading
Posted in Aging Sites, Health
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Is stress good for teenagers?
Ed Note: When my kids were in Junior High, the Principal felt that stress and competition was not good for the kids. Hence, there were no school sports teams and grades were deemphasized. The object was to build up the … Continue reading
Ken Burns – the Mayo Clinic: Faith – Hope – Science – tonight 9 PM on KCTS
From Dick Dion: Take a timely look at how one institution has met the changing demands of healthcare. The Mayo Clinic: Faith – Hope – Science is a new two-hour documentary executive-produced by Ken Burns and directed by Burns, Erik Ewers … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Health, History, Science and Technology
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FDA Approves Sale of Prescription Placebos – from the Onion
FDA Approves Sale Of Prescription Placebo – the Onion ^ | September 17, 2003 (forwarded by Ann Milam) WASHINGTON, DC—After more than four decades of testing in tandem with other drugs, placebo gained approval for prescription use from the Food and … Continue reading
Posted in Health, Humor, Uncategorized
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The Obecalp Effect
Betty was complaining at an escalating rate. She’d been in her nursing home for four years and wasn’t happy. She kept coming up with new symptoms like aching, fatigue, nervous stomach, tingling, dizziness, etc. Her daughter Nancy was getting daily … Continue reading
Posted in Health, Science and Technology
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Build strength, fall less and live longer – just two training sessions a week can reverse age-related cellular damage
Ed note: There is repeated evidence that weights and resistance training can help with our health in multiple ways. It’s a good idea to check in with our Fitness Team before embarking on a strenuous program. Here’s some suggestions in … Continue reading