Many of us are likely to visit with our aging parents and elderly relatives over the holidays. And in many cases, Mom or Dad is living alone, or beginning to have trouble living independently. Now is a good time...

What are warning signs of age related decline? Many times, elders will tell us one thing, and do something completely different. I find phone calls can be particularly deceptive, because what I hear can be a "memory response", but not...

It can be difficult to tell the difference between normal, age-related decline and something more serious. According to a recent article quoting a psychiatrist (and private practitioner in Massachusetts), there are several ways families can tell if an elderly...

Our third installment concerning "peripheral artery disease" covers invasive surgical procedures which may be employed to correct obstructions, strengthen arterial walls, and/or by-pass deteriorated arterial pathways altogether. In some cases, angioplasty or bypass or thrombolytic therapy surgery may be necessary...

Treatment for peripheral artery disease has two major goals. The first is to manage symptoms, such as leg pain, so that you can resume physical activities. The second is to stop the progression of atherosclerosis throughout your body to...

Peripheral Artery Disease, or "PAD", is a condition that often goes undiagnosed by healthcare professionals and can lead to a heart attack or stroke, or an amputation. With peripheral artery disease, the peripheral arteries (blood vessels outside the heart) may...

Consider the following data: - High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. - The link between diabetes and heart disease is even greater among women. - Know your blood pressure. Having uncontrolled blood...

It wasn’t too long ago that heart disease was viewed as a man’s problem. In fact, up until about 10 years ago virtually all studies on heart disease excluded women. That was a big mistake because heart disease is the...

What steps can be taken to prevent dehydration? Obviously, fluid intake is the key. Elders need visual and verbal reminders to drink fluids such as water, juice, or sodas. Families and caregivers need to be cognizant about risks...

My elderly mother seems to rarely consume water or liquids. She keeps her home at what I consider a very warm temperature. She constantly awakes in the morning with her bed clothing soaked in perspiration. Doesn't this...