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Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens at Senior Journal

Monday, February 08, 2010statin

Today's Health News and Information for Senior Citizens & Baby Boomers

More Senior Citizen Health News and Information Than Any Other Source - SeniorJournal.com


Health Video Archives for Senior Citizens - click


 

   

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Older Women Mysteriously Not Taking Tamoxifen to Prevent Breast Cancer

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer; NCI wanted to know how many women aged 40 to 79 were taking it

Feb. 8, 2010 - Researchers with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have found that the prevalence of tamoxifen – brand name, Nolvadex -  use for the prevention of breast cancer among older women without a personal history of breast cancer is very low. Read more...

Major Chronic Disease for Senior Citizens, Osteoarthritis, Under Attack by New Initiative

CDC, Arthritis Foundation, Ad Council launch ‘Moving is the Best Medicine’

Feb. 4, 2010 – A major new initiative has been launched to, hopefully, dramatically reduce the impact of osteoarthritis on Americans – senior citizens in particular. The chance of developing this chronic joint ailment increases with age and by age 65, half the senior population has x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis. Read more...

ADT Therapy for Prostate Cancer Can Increase Heart Risk Factors

Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) may increase cardiovascular risk, but unclear whether it’s linked to increased death from heart disease

Feb. 3, 2010 - Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), commonly used to treat prostate cancer, can worsen heart risk factors and may increase the risk of heart attack and/or cardiac death, although the relationship between ADT and heart attack or cardiac death has not been definitively established, according to a science advisory published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Read more...

Older Female Cancer Survivors Have More Health Issues Than Cancer Free Contemporaries

As cancer survivors live longer, questions arise about what kind of care long-term survivors require

Feb. 3, 2010 - Older married women who survived cancer had more health problems than married women without cancer in a study of women - 245 in each group. The lead researcher of the study from Case Western Reserve University's Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences is calling for more research with older cancer survivors. Read more...

Stroke Victims Recover Thinking, Learning, Memory by Taking Antidepressant Lexapro

Changes in neuropsychological performance resulted in an improvement in related activities of daily living

Feb. 1, 2010 - Patients who received the antidepressant Lexapro (escitalopram) following a stroke appeared to recover more of their thinking, learning and memory skills than those taking placebo or participating in problem-solving therapy, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Cancer Risk from Low Dose Radiation of CT Scan May Be Solved by Epigentics’ or NIH Study

Two reports in radiology journal: Epigenetics may determine risk of low-dose radiation... and explain mechanisms of aging, human development, and the origins of cancer, heart disease, mental illness, etc.

Feb. 1, 2010 – Concern about the cancer risk from low level radiation, particularly low-dose radiation delivered from computed tomography (CT) scans, has been growing in the medical community. Some suggest that about 1.5 to 2 percent of all cancers in the USA might be caused by the clinical use of CT. A new study by NIH and the possibility of epigenetics to better understand this risk are two of the reports in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR). Read more...

Overweight Senior Citizens 70 Plus Less Likely to Die in 10 Years; Different than Young People

People who survive to 70 in reasonable health have different set of risks and benefits associated with the amount of body fat to younger people; study questions current BMI guidelines for older adults

Feb. 1, 2010 – Those diets that many senior citizens started at the first of the year may not be as critical as assumed. A new study of men and women who were between the ages of 70 and 75 as the research began found those classified as “overweight” less likely to die over a ten year period than those in the “normal” weight range. Read more...

Grandparent News

Grandpa's Broken Hip Appears to Indicate Weaker Bones for His Grandsons

Osteoporosis common in older women; as many as half of all women and a quarter of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis

Jan. 29, 2010 - A new study shows that hip fractures in grandfathers are linked to low bone density and reduced bone size in their grandsons, according to a report in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Read more...

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Victoza (liraglutide) Gets FDA Approval as New Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes

Seniors aged 60 with type 2 diabetes are about one-third of all adults with this chronic disease

Jan. 27, 2010 - Victoza (liraglutide), a drug intended to help lower blood sugar levels along with diet, exercise, and selected other diabetes medicines, was approved on January 25 for a once-daily injection to treat type 2 diabetes in some adults.. It is not recommended as initial therapy in patients who have not achieved adequate diabetes control on diet and exercise alone, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Read more...

Lighter Sedation for Elderly Surgery Patients May Reduce Risk Of Confusion, Disorientation

Elderly seldom afraid of dying… they just want to know if they’ll return to the same mental and physical level as before surgery

Jan. 24, 2010- A common complication following surgery in senior citizens is postoperative delirium, a state of confusion that can lead to long-term health problems and cause some elderly patients to complain that they “never felt the same” again after an operation. But a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that simply limiting the depth of sedation during procedures could safely cut the risk of postoperative delirium by 50 percent. Read more...

Cardiac Respiratory Stress Test Can Quickly Detect Significant Coronary Artery Disease

RSR test is simple and fast to perform in a doctor's office without the need for significant expense and hardship

Jan. 19, 2010 – Testing a patient's cardiac respiratory stress response (RSR) can quickly and accurately detect the presence of significant coronary artery disease (S-CAD), according to new research published in the current issue of Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine. The results found patients with S-CAD had a significantly lower RSR compared to patients without (6.7% vs. 17.4%, respectively) suggesting RSR is a strong indicator for the disease. Read more...

Inconsistent Use of Surveillance Colonoscopy Concerns Authors of Two Studies

colonoscope polyp removalPatients with a history of advanced polyps are at particular risk and should be monitored closely with timely surveillance, researchers says

Jan. 14, 2010 – Surveillance colonoscopy, performed to monitor patients who have had precancerous polyps (adenomas) found on a previous colonoscopy, is both overused and underused in with serious implications for health care and health care spending. Read more...

New Hope for Improved Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer Found in Study of Senior Citizens

TGen-Scottsdale Healthcare researchers make breakthrough: MicroRNAs are key to identifying resistant to 'first-line' chemotherapy

Jan. 13, 2010 - A new study of senior citizens with small cell lung cancer – the rapidly spreading type of lung cancer – has discovered a way to predict which patients with SCLC may be resistant to first-line chemotherapy. This breakthrough is critical since patients with SCLC often do not get a second chance at therapies to combat this aggressive type of cancer. Read more, more about types of lung cancer...

Senior Citizen Alerts

FDA Approves New Drug for Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

Actemra’s recommended use is limited to patients who have failed other approved therapies because of serious safety concerns

 

 Read more about Rheumatoid Arthritis below news report.

 

Jan. 12, 2010 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Actemra (tocilizumab) to treat adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not adequately responded to or cannot tolerate other approved drug classes for rheumatoid arthritis. The majority of America’s 1.3 million RA patients are senior citizens with the average age for all RA victims being 66.8 years. Read more...

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Harvard Scientists Move Closer to Correcting Cellular Defects That Lead to Diabetes

Report says the G6PD protein, which produces essential antioxidant NAPDH, could prevent the death of pancreatic beta cells, the root cause of diabetes

Jan. 4, 2010 - In a new research report, scientists say they are coming closer to correcting the root cause of diabetes through the identification of a protein (G6PD) and its antioxidant product (NAPDH) that both prevent the death and promote the growth of cells which produce and release insulin in the pancreas (beta cells). Read more...

Drug Used to Treat Heart Problems Found to Also Fight Colon Cancer

Cardiac glycosides, like digitoxin, are naturally-derived drugs used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms

Dec. 16, 2009 – Senior citizens, always on guard for heart and cancer threats, will appreciate the Oriental Foxglove plant, which produces a drug named digitoxin. It is part of a family of medications used to treat heart disease, which now appear to also fight colon cancer. Read more...

Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors

Favorite Drink of Senior Citizens Coffee Appears to Fight Advanced Prostate Cancer

More good news for senior men is FDA consideration of prostate cancer vaccine, Provenge

Dec. 8, 2009 - Data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference revealed a strong association between coffee consumption and a lowered risk of lethal and advanced prostate cancers. This follows last month’s action by the Food and Drug Administration to consider the merits of Provenge as a vaccine for prostate cancer. Read more...

Cancer Continues to Decline in U.S. Says Annual Report to the Nation: Down 1.6%

There could be an overall colorectal cancer mortality reduction of 50 percent by 2020; rates declined most among senior citizens over 65 and increased most in people under age 50

Dec. 8, 2009 - New diagnoses for all types of cancer combined in the United States decreased, on average, almost 1 percent per year from 1999 to 2006 and cancer deaths decreased 1.6 percent per year from 2001 to 2006, according to a report from leading health and cancer organizations. Read more...

Tsunami of Fat May Soon Wash Away U.S. Health Gains from Smoking Decline

Researchers find that the U.S. population won't live longer because even though they've quit smoking, more are overweight

Dec. 3, 2009 – The health benefits gained in the U.S. by the decline in smoking is about to be submerged in a tsunami of fat. If current obesity trends continue the hard won gains in better health by less smoking will be lost, according to a study by University of Michigan and Harvard researchers published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Read more...

Chance of Surviving Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Unimproved Since Seniors Were Kids

Reviving a pulse beat at the scene is best chance of survival; dismal trend considering enormous spending on heart research, new emergency care protocols, new drugs, devices such as defibrillators

Dec. 3, 2009 - The chance of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has not improved since the 1950s, when most of today’s senior citizens were still school kids, according to a report by the University of Michigan Health System. Read more...

Study Indicates Nearly Half of People in Intensive Care Have Life-Threatening Infections

International study checked 1,300 ICUs in 75 countries on the same day

Dec. 1, 2009 – Senior citizens – the most frequent visitors to intensive care units (ICUs) – got really bad news today: a check of nearly 1,300 ICUs in 75 countries found that about half of the patients in these units had infections associated with a risk of dying in the hospital. Read more...watch video

Chest Compression Only CPR Can Succeed, But Not Without Some Oxygen from Somewhere

‘For the first few minutes, it’s probably right just to push on the chest. But at some point you probably need to add oxygen, however you can’

Nov. 30, 2009 – A study released today adds to the efforts to find a cardiopulmonary resuscitation method that is effective and easy to use. The favored CPR method had been a combination of chest compressions and blowing of air into the victim’s lungs. Recently, however, the American Heart Association has been reviewing chest compressions alone as an acceptable alternative. This new report says, however, that the victim is going to need some oxygen during this process to survive. Read more...

Osteoarthritis Annual Health Care Bill is $186 Billion, Will Cripple About Half the Elderly

Out-of-pocket OA expenses nearly 100 percent higher for women than men

Nov. 30, 2009 - Osteoarthritis (OA), a highly prevalent disease among senior citizens, raised aggregate annual medical care expenditures in the U.S. by $185.5 billion according to researchers from Stony Brook University. Insurers footed $149.4 billion of the total medical spend and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures were $36.1 billion (2007 dollars). Read more...see videos on osteoarthritis

Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Areas More Likely to Choose Joint Replacement Surgery

Women more likely to have total joint replacement but since arthritis more common in women, men may have higher percentage

Nov. 30, 2009 - Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas were 27% more likely than urban recipients to have total knee or hip replacement surgeries. Southern Illinois University researchers also found women were more likely than men to undergo total joint replacement surgeries. Read more...

Niacin Added to Statin Therapy Fails to Clear Plaque in Senior Citizens Like Earlier Study

Cholesterol levels did improve, but arteries of seniors with coronary artery disease do not show it

Read About Coronary Artery Disease in Box BelowNov. 18, 2009 – Research focusing on senior citizens that is being presented today challenges a study released only days ago that found adding the cholesterol drug niacin to a statin improved HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels and significantly reduced arterial plaque. The newest study says niacin with statins does not significantly diminish plaque buildup in seniors who already have coronary artery disease. Read more...

U.S. Winning the War Against 'Bad' Cholesterol as Number Shrinks of Those with High Levels

A high percentage of adults still are not being screened or treated for high cholesterol levels

Nov. 17, 2009 – Looking at the change from 1999 to 2006, it appears the war is being won against LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol. The number of adults in the U.S. with a high level of LDL decreased by about one-third during that period. But a high percentage of adults still are not being screened or treated for high cholesterol levels. Read more, Watch Video

Value of Mammography for Senior Women Questioned by U.S. Task Force; Wants Research

Recommendation for breast exams from age 50 - 74, not enough known to make firm decision on women 75 up; American Cancer Society sticks with test as long as you are healthy

Nov. 17, 2009 – New government guidelines on mammography screening for breast cancer grabbed headlines by going against the recommendations of the American Cancer Society for annual screening of women as young as age 40, but, not getting as much attention is their questioning of the need for annual screening for senior women over 74, which also is counter to the ACS recommendations issued just last month. Read more - watch video

Surgical Errors Remain a Challenge In and Out of the Operating Room

Communication problems often occur early and interventions before incision often occur too late

Nov. 16, 2009 – Surgical errors – a significant worry for the millions of senior citizens that must visit the operating rooms of America each year – continue to occur despite a national focus on reducing them, says a an analysis of events at Veterans Health Administration Medical Centers published in the November issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Statin Patients Clear Arteries Better Building Good Cholesterol with Niacin than Reducing Bad with Ezetimibe

Plaque buildup in the lining of the neck arteries was significantly reduced only in the niacin group

Nov. 16, 2009 - In combination with statins, adding a medication that raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was more effective in reversing artery wall plaque buildup and in reducing heart disease risk than adding a drug that lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, researchers reported today at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2009. Read more...

Fat Around Critical Organs – Heart, Liver – Best Predictor of Decreased Heart Function

Body mass index doesn’t tell the important story, according to new research

Nov. 13, 2009 – Body mass index (BMI) – the much talked about measure of obesity and subsequent health risks when an individual scores too high – is not the best predictor of some important health dangers, such as cardiovascular problems. Researchers have discovered that fat collection in different body locations, such as around the heart and the aorta and within the liver, are a better indicator of decreased heart functions. Read more...

FDA Clears First Rapid Test for Bacterial Contamination in Pooled Platelets

Seniors should see lower risk from blood therapy often used for those undergoing chemotherapy, surgery

 

Read more about Platelets below article. Art from Circulation - Journal of American Heart Assn.

 

Nov. 13, 2009 - Adding to the platelet supply to treat or prevent bleeding in those with dangerously low platelet counts – primarily senior citizens undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, suffering major trauma, or having surgery, and in individuals who do not produce adequate numbers of platelets – should be a lot safer after the Food and Drug Administration today cleared the Platelet PGD Test System for marketing. Read more...

Those with Heartburn Paying Too Much Green for Nexium ‘Purple Pill’ Says Consumer Reports

Report finds no one drug works better than another and all are relatively safe but some far more costly

Nov. 11, 2009 - Just in time for the holidays, when many senior citizens may suffer from occasional heartburn, a new Best Buy Drugs report from Consumer Reports Health finds that you probably don’t need an expensive drug like Nexium, the “purple pill,” for relief. Read more...

Another Notch in the Bottle for Statin Drugs: They Decrease Gallstones Requiring Surgery

Not too surprising when you realize most gallstones are formed from cholesterol

Nov. 11, 2009 – There seems to be no end to the research reports unveiling startling new health advantages for those who take statins, the drugs used primarily to lower cholesterol. The latest, reported in today’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, says taking statins for more than a year reduces the risk of gallstones requiring surgery. Not too surprising when you realize most gallstones are formed from cholesterol. Read more...watch video

Older Women Least Likely to Have Continued Pain After Breast Cancer Treatment

Researchers find women age 60 to 69 most immune from pain found 2 to 3 years after treatment

Nov. 11, 2009 - Nearly 50 percent of women surveyed indicate they experience pain symptoms 2 to 3 years after breast cancer treatment, but older women and those who did not receive supplemental radiation therapy are least likely to have pain, according to a study in the November 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Read more...

Cataract Surgery Does Not Appear to Make Age-Related Macular Degeneration Worse

Editorial says more research is needed; patients should be briefed on all study findings

Nov. 9, 2009 - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness among senior citizens, does not appear to progress at a higher rate among individuals who have had surgery to treat cataract, the leading cause of blindness worldwide among all ages. The study challenges previous reports that treating one cause of vision loss worsens the other. Read more...

Senior Citizens Probably Cause Increase in Primary Care Visits and Length; Quality Up, Too

Most likely that visit duration increased because it takes more resources or time to care for an older and sicker population

Nov. 9, 2009 – Visits to primary care physicians increased in frequency, duration and quality between 1997 and 2005, and the researchers say senior citizens are probably the cause for at least the increases in frequency and duration. Read more...

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Ground-Breaking Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Restores Walking Ability to Neck Injured Rats

Study supports expansion of first human trial to include those with cervical spinal cord damage

Nov. 9, 2009 - The first human embryonic stem cell treatment approved by the FDA for human testing has been shown to restore limb function in rats with neck spinal cord injuries – setting the stage for the first embryonic stem cell clinical trial to include people with cervical damage. Read more...watch video..

NIH Looking for a Few Good Old Men with Low Testosterone to Join Clinical Trial

National clinical trial will determine if low testosterone causes serious problems in senior citizens

Nov. 4, 2009 – A new clinical trial is seeking men age 65 and older to help determine if low testosterone contributes to serious problems in older men, including a decrease in the ability to walk, loss of muscle mass, less strength, decreased vitality, decreased sexual function, impaired cognition, cardiovascular disease and anemia. Many of these have become accepted results of "aging." Read more...

Colonoscopy Becomes Less Effective at Finding Polyps as the Day Progresses

Fewer polyps were found in colon cancer screening hour by hour as the day progressed in a new UCLA study

Nov. 3, 2009 – Senior citizens who must endure the stress of having a colonoscopy certainly want the procedure to be successful. There is new evidence that the effectiveness of a screening colonoscopy depends on the time of day it is performed. Read more...

Seniors May Reduce Risk of Type 2 Diabetes by Half with More Exercise, Less Weight

Modest weight loss or taking anti-diabetic drug for 10 years lowers risk of type 2 diabetes in high risk people of all ages

Nov. 2, 2009 – Seniors aged 60 or older – among the most likely to develop type 2 diabetes – can cut their risk of developing the disease over the next ten years in half with intensive lifestyle changes that include increased physical activity and sustained weight loss. Read more...

Awareness Increasing of Danger from COPD for Older Americans, But Still Too Low

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says smokers and others at high risk fail to talk to doctors

Nov. 2, 2009 - Awareness of COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - continues to grow in the United States, according to national survey results released today by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. COPD includes emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Read more...

Study Uncovers Key to How ‘Triggering Event’ in Prostate Cancer Occurs

Researchers link hormone androgen to creation of gene fusion in prostate cancer, a major killer of older men; may help learn how other cancers begin

Oct. 29, 2009 – The switching mechanism that triggers the start of prostate cancer is the fusion of two genes, a phenomenon that has been shown to cause prostate cancer to develop, according to Michigan researchers who have discovered what leads to this fusion. Read more...

One of World's Deadliest Cancers Eliminated from Lungs of Mice by New Drug, Radiation

UT Southwestern Medical Center finds success with an investigative drug called BEZ235 in combination with low-dose radiation

Oct. 29, 2009 – One of the most dangerous of cancers – non-small cell lung (NSCL) cancer – has been totally eliminated from laboratory mice at UT Southwestern Medical Center by the use of an investigative drug called BEZ235 in combination with low-dose radiation. NSCL cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Read more...

Bad News: Heart Attacks More Common in Women; Good News: Fewer are Fatal

Reduced risk of death was largest in women younger than 55 (a52.9% reduction) and lowest in men of the same age (33.3%)

Oct. 26, 2009 - Heart attacks appear to have become more common in middle-aged women over the past two decades, but all women and especially those younger than 55 have recently experienced a greater increase than men in their chances of survival following such a heart event, according to two reports in the October 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Aggressive Screening for Polyps in Diverticulosis Patients Appears Unnecessary

Patients with diverticulosis have a lower incidence of polyps overall, tendency for less-advanced polyps

Oct. 26, 2009 - A Henry Ford Hospital study questions the need for aggressive screening for colonic polyps in patients with diverticulosis. About half of senior citizens (those over age 60) have diverticulosis. Read more...

Cancer Society Stands Firm: Older Women Need Mammograms, Men Advice on Prostate Tests

‘Mammography is effective – mammograms work and women should continue to get them,’ ACS

Oct. 23, 2009 – The American Cancer Society has issued a statement saying it is not changing its recommendations on cancer screening, despite a news report indicating a shift in guidance was being made to emphasize the risk of overtreatment for breast, prostate and other cancers. Women still should get mammograms and men should be offered prostate cancer testing at age 50, says the ACS. Read more...

Thyroid Surgery Safe for Elderly Patients, No More Dangerous Than in Youthful Patients

Another barrier to surgery on senior citizens falls as older population continues boom

Oct. 21, 2009 – The next bearer to fall in the battle for surgery to treat senior citizens appears to be the one that has stopped thyroid surgery for older people. A new study shows that in thyroid surgery performed by a single surgeon, older adults did not appear to have more complications than younger patients. Read more...

Longer, Healthier Lives Offered Senior Citizens Seeking Treatment for Hypertension

Best approach in patients 80 and up is two drugs in low doses in an effort to reduce the incidence of stroke

By Joan Vos MacDonald, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service

Oct. 20, 2009 – Studies show that older people – those 60 and older – seeking treatment for hypertension will live longer, healthier lives. The effects might be more obvious in those who already have cardiovascular disease, but anti-hypertensive therapy also benefits other seniors and can help reduce deaths due to stroke as well as myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death. Read more...

Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease Significantly Increases Risk of Hip Fracture

Twin of cardiovascular diseased sibling also experiences increased rate of hip fracture

Oct. 20, 2009 - A study that includes twins finds that the risk of hip fracture was significantly increased following a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with analysis also suggesting a genetic predisposition to the development of CVD and, according to a study in the October 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Read more...

Study Suggests Mastectomy Not Being Overused For Breast Cancer Treatment

One-third of patients choose mastectomy as initial treatment when not given a recommendation for BCS or mastectomy by their surgeon

Oct. 14, 2009 - With there being concern that mastectomy is excessively used as a treatment for breast cancer, a survey of nearly 2,000 women indicates that breast-conserving surgery was attempted as the initial therapy for about 75 percent of those surveyed. Read more... Watch video...

Minimally Invasive Radical Prostatectomy Has Advantages, But Higher Rate of Complications

MIRP, especially with robotic assistance, increased from 1% to 40% of radical prostatectomies from 2001 to 2006,despite limited data on outcomes and costs

Oct. 14, 2009 - New research indicates that the use of minimally invasive procedures (including the use of robotic assistance) for radical prostatectomy, which have increased significantly in recent years, may shorten hospital stays and decrease respiratory and surgical complications, but may also result in an increased rate of certain complications... Read more...

Older Adults Appear to Have Shorter Lifespan When Facing Chronic Vision Problems

‘Impact of visual impairment on mortality may in fact be greater than that reported from previous studies’

Oct. 13, 2009 - Visual problems that cannot be corrected are associated with increased risk of death among individuals between the ages of 49 and 74, and all visual impairments may be associated with the risk of death in older adults, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Study Supports Hospital-at-Home Care for Elderly Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Hospitals, the standard for providing acute medical care, may be hazardous for senior citizens with complications, other adverse events

Sept. 28, 2009 - Hospital-at-home care may be a practical alternative to traditional hospital inpatient care for elderly patients with acutely decompensated (suddenly worsening) chronic heart failure, according to a report in the September 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Study Says Men are Not Adequately Involved in Prostate Cancer Screening Discussions

Another new study finds screened men up to four times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than unscreened men

Sept. 28, 2009 - Men largely make decisions about prostate cancer screening based on conversations with their clinicians, but these discussions often do not include information about the risks of testing in addition to the benefits, according to a report in the September 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Thigh Muscles Grow, Get Stronger in Elderly from Increasing Insulin Supply

A blood insulin level double that produced by a typical meal seems to turn back the clock on elderly thigh muscle

Sept. 25, 2009 – Recently, scientists have recognized that loss of responsiveness to insulin plays a major role in the loss of physical strength that occurs as people grow older. Now, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have demonstrated that by increasing insulin levels above the normal range in elderly test subjects, they can restore the impaired muscle-building process responsible for age-related physical weakness. Read more...

Medicare Patients Often Fail to Complete Radiation for Head and Neck Cancer as Prescribed

Almost 40% had interruptions in radiation therapy or failed to complete the course of therapy

Sept. 21, 2009 – Medicare patients – primarily senior citizens – commonly do not complete their prescribed radiation therapy for head and neck cancer without interruptions, and many do not complete the therapy at all, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Death Rates Almost 40 Percent Higher in Cancer Patients Diagnosed with Depression

Researchers did not find a clear association between depression and cancer progression

Sept. 14, 2009 - Depression can affect a cancer patient's likelihood of survival. That is the finding of an analysis published in the November 15, 2009 issue of Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results highlight the need for systematic screening of psychological distress and subsequent treatments. Read more...

Implantable Defibrillators Not Providing Women Equal Protection from Heart Failure

Study cannot find a reduced risk of death for women with advanced heart failure

Sept. 14, 2009 - Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators do not appear to be associated with a reduced risk of death in women with advanced heart failure, according to a meta-analysis of previously published research in the September 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Glimmer of Hope that Drug Can Regenerate Some Cartilage Lost to Osteoarthritis

Forteo (teriparatide) also first to prevent cartilage loss from osteoarthritis after joint injury (See warning in sidebar)

Sept. 14, 2009 – Millions of senior citizens suffering from painful osteoarthritis may find a glimmer of hope in a study presented this weekend that says an existing osteoporosis drug is the first ever found to prevent cartilage loss from osteoarthritis following joint injury, and may also regenerate some cartilage that has been lost to osteoarthritis. Read more...

Two Autoimmune Diseases Common in Senior Citizens Linked to Cardiovascular Disease

Polymyositis and dermatomyositis cause serious inflammation of muscle tissue, leading to weakness and reduced mobility

Sept. 1, 2009 - Patients suffering from two serious autoimmune disorders which cause muscular inflammation are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, says a group of Montreal researchers. Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are most common in senior citizens and women, although they can affect people of any age.

Growing Evidence that Waist-Hip Ratio Better than BMI to Predict Elderly Persons Health

UCLA study finds no association between all-cause mortality and BMI or waist circumference; the link was only with waist-hip ratio

Sept. 1, 2009 – The most commonly used method of determining obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI), but a new study says this may not be the best way to determine obesity for those over age 70. The ratio of waist size to hip size may be a better indicator of the health of the elderly, which supports the conclusion of another study published in 2006. Read more...

Risk of Death Following a Heart Attack Not as Different for Men, Women as First Assumed

Researchers found women had a significantly higher 30-day risk of death that disappears after adjusting variables

 

Out for a walk three years ago, Judith Schipper experienced severe chest pains - Link to video with story.

 

Aug. 25, 2009 - Women may have a slightly higher risk of death than men in the 30 days following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS; such as heart attack or unstable angina), but this difference appears attributable to factors such as severity and type of ACS, clinical differences and severity as determined by angiography, according to a study in the August 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Read more...

Marriage Helps Cancer Patients Survive, Separated Patients Have Lowest Survival Rates

The stress of separation may compromise the immune system and thus create a greater vulnerability to cancer

Aug. 24, 2009 - Married cancer patients have, by far, the best chance of survival, according to an extremely large study that looked at 3.79 cases of people diagnosed with cancer. The authors of the study to appear in Cancer say the results suggest that the stress associated with marital separation may compromise an individual's immune system and lead to a greater susceptibility to cancer, since the patients with the worst chance of survival are those that are separated. Read more...

New Study Sheds Light on Cause of Sudden Death in People with High Cholesterol

Arrhythmias are a serious problem for senior citizens; this study adds to understanding how to target heart rhythm disorders for prevention, treatment

Aug. 21, 2009 – The mysterious sudden death of people with high cholesterol has been explained by new cardiovascular research. A team of UBC researchers has found that cholesterol can affect the flow of the electrical currents that generate the heart beat. Read more...

Aspirin Back in Spotlight: Lowers Death Risk from Any Cause for Colorectal Cancer Victims

Regular aspirin use after diagnosis associated with 29% lower risk for colorectal cancer death and a 21% lower risk for overall mortality

Aug. 13, 2009 – Previous studies have indicated regular use of aspirin lowers the risk of cancer, but a new study finds that taking aspirin after the discovery of colorectal cancer decreases the patients risk of death from this cancer or any other cause, according to a study published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Read more...

Diabetes Patients May Have Wrong Idea About Taking Insulin: Should be Front-Line Defense

Common fears of weight gain, developing low blood-sugar, decline in quality of life are largely unfounded, researchers find

Aug. 11, 2009 - People diagnosed with type 2 diabetes – including millions of senior citizens - often resist taking insulin because they fear gaining weight, developing low blood sugar and seeing their quality of life decline. A study recently completed at UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests that those fears are largely unfounded.  Read more...

Just Four Healthy Lifestyle Habits Reduce Risk of Chronic Diseases by 80 Percent

The four factors were associated with a 93 percent reduced risk of diabetes

Aug. 10, 2009 – Just four healthy lifestyle factors-never smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and following a healthy diet-together appear to be associated with as much as an 80 percent reduction in the risk of developing the most common and deadly chronic diseases, according to a report in the August 10/24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Battle to Control Lung Cancer Finds Hope in New Drug and Spotting Brain Metastasis Risk

World conference on lung cancer hears of clinical trial success for TH-302 from Dr. Glen Weiss

Aug. 7, 2009 – Two significant advances in treating lung cancer were made this week at a conference in San Francisco. One is progress in early detection of those patients at risk for developing brain metastasis and the other is a new drug - TH-302 - that is achieving success in stabilizing small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Read more...

Cardiac Deaths of Seniors with Artery Disease Cut 73 Percent by Better Communications

Electronic health records, communications play key role in keeping patients healthy two years after leaving program

August 7, 2009 - An innovative program involving mostly male senior citizens cut cardiac deaths by 73 percent by linking coronary artery disease patients and teams of pharmacists, nurses, primary care doctors, and cardiologists with an electronic health record. The program also kept the patients healthy two years after they left the program by keeping them in touch with their care givers electronically, according to a study by Kaiser Permanente. Read more...

Study Challenges Value of Popular Cement Repair of Osteoporotic Vertebrae Fractures

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is regularly recommended by doctors and specialists around the world

Aug. 6, 2009 - Injecting bone cement into broken vertebrae, a popular procedure known as “vertebroplasty,” is not an effective treatment for patients suffering painful osteoporotic fractures suggests a new study led by Mayo Clinic researchers. They report that relief of pain from vertebral compression fractures, as well as improvement in pain-related dysfunction, were similar in patients treated with vertebroplasty and those treated with simulated vertebroplasty, without cement injections. Read more...

High Risk Women Often Opt to Surgically Remove Breasts, Ovaries to Avoid Cancer

Older women much less likely to have a mastectomy, but more likely to have their ovaries removed

Aug. 6, 2009 - Many women at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer are choosing to undergo surgery as a precautionary measure to decrease their cancer risk, according to a report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Read more...

Death Risk Jumps by 400 Percent for Medicare Cardiac Patients Who Get Blood Transfusion

Their risk of infection doubles; health care reformers may look at variation in hospitals

Aug. 5, 2009 – The analysis of nearly 25,000 Medicare patients in Michigan suggests that blood transfusions for hospitalized cardiac patients should be a last resort, because they double the risk of infection and increase by four times the risk of death. Read more...

Brain Damage After Bypass Surgery Most Likely Due to the Coronary Artery Disease

Heart-lung machines that pump blood and supply the body with oxygen during surgery do not cause postoperative long-term brain deficits

Aug. 4, 2009 – The long-term memory loss and cognitive problems sometimes experienced by bypass surgery patients are due to the coronary artery disease itself and not the effects of having used a heart-lung machine, say brain scientists and cardiac surgeons at John Hopkins. Read more...

Study Shows Seed Implants a Suitable Prostate Cancer Treatment Option for Older Men

Prostate cancer treatment ‘outcomes are impacted by disease-related risk factors but not by age

Aug. 4, 2009 - Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have a number of treatments to choose from, but it's a daunting task to figure out the right mix of therapies. Trends among medical professionals have been to favor some treatments for younger men, and others for older patients. A new study by scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and North Shore-LIJ Health System have found that age doesn't make a difference in the long-term therapeutic outcome. Read more...

Metastatic Melanoma Patients Achieve Long-Term Survival with Personalized Cancer Vaccine

One-year and projected five-year survival rates of 85% and 54%, respectively, are remarkable for metastatic melanoma patients

Melanomas have ragged edges, ordinary moles have more even edges.July 28, 2009 – Patients with metastatic melanoma, who disease had been minimized by various therapies, achieved impressive long-term survival rates when treated with patient-specific cancer vaccines derived from their own cancer cells and immune cells. The clinical study from Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterians also said the vaccines were “well tolerated.” Read more...

Men Who Delay Radical Treatment of Prostate Cancer Don’t Seem to Worry About It

Men with neurotic personalities and those in poor physical health exhibited more anxiety and distress than others

July 27, 2009 - Living with untreated cancer is not upsetting for many patients with early prostate cancer, according to a new study in Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society. Men with early stages of prostate cancer who delay radical treatment in favor of an approach of "expectant management" do not have high levels of anxiety and distress, the study found. Read more...

Drug Salirasib Doubles Life Expectancy for Pancreatic Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials

This picture shows the pancreas, common bile duct, and small intestine. Read more in story.

Innovative TAU research holds promise for a broad range of human disease

July 22, 2009 – One of the fastest cancer killers – pancreatic cancer – is seeing its devastation slowed tremendously. The drug compound Salirasib has passed Phase I/II clinical trials and almost doubled the life expectancy of patients. Read more...

Fractures Associated with Osteoporosis Jumped 55 Percent from 1995 to 2006

Osteoporosis is primarily a disease of elderly women: about 90% of those with injuries

July 21, 2009 - The hospitalization rate of patients admitted for treatment of hip, pelvis and other fractures associated with osteoporosis increased by 55 percent between 1995 and 2006. And, about 90 percent of these patients were senior citizens and almost all of these were women, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Read more...

Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors

Heavy Alcohol Drinking Spurs High-Grade Prostate Cancer, Stops Prevention by Finasteride

Four or more drinks on 5 or more days per week doubles risk of high-grade prostate cancer

July 13, 2009 – Heavy alcohol consumption is known to increase the risk in a number of health-related conditions and a new study says you can add high-grade prostate cancer to that list. And, the risk of developing any prostate cancer may also increase, since this study says it stops the preventive actions of the drug finasteride (Proscar). Read more...

People with Most Moles are Most Likely to Develop Deadly Melanoma Cancer, Study Finds

People with lots of moles should look for one that stands out in the crowd.

Already well known that people with red hair, fair skin and those who sunburn easily are most at risk of melanoma

July 6, 2009 – Studies of massive numbers of people in Europe and Australia has found that people with the greatest number of moles are the people most likely to develop the most dangerous form of skin cancer, melanoma, which is on the increase. Around 48,000 people worldwide die of melanoma each year, which is most common in older males and those with pale skin. Read more...

Predicting the Return of Prostate Cancer Improved by Results from John Hopkins Study

May also help resolve the debate on when, and in what form, secondary treatments should occur

July 2, 2009 - Cancer experts at Johns Hopkins say a study tracking 774 prostate cancer patients for a median of eight years has shown that a three-way combination of measurements has the best chance yet of predicting disease metastasis (the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body). Read more...

Pig Heart Valves Not Living Up to Expectations as Aortic Valves for Senior Citizens

Four out of 106 heart replacement valves made from pig hearts failed in new test

June 29, 2009 - Pig heart valves used to replace defective aortic valves are expected to last 10 to 15 years in patients over 70, but a new report – claiming to be the first to demonstrate a potential problem – says the animal valves have failed much earlier and more often than expected. Read more...

New Study Finds Gastric Bypass Surgery Not More Risky for Senior Citizens Than Young

About 26% of seniors 65 and older in U.S. are obese, nearly 40% are overweight, putting them at a higher risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease

June 25, 2009 – Morbidly obese seniors, age 65 and over, who had laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery lost nearly 76 percent of their excess weight after two years and had low complication rates and short hospital stays comparable to younger surgical patients, according to a new study presented today at the 26th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Read more...

PARP Drugs May Be Miracle Cure for Cancer Suggests Success with Breast, Ovarian, Prostate Cancer

 

Patricia Buckles, after 29-year battle with breast cancer, says the cancer disappeared after treatment with PARP inhibitors. View the NBC News report by Brian Williams. Video link in story.

 

NEJM editorial says PARP inhibitors may point to a new direction for anticancer drugs

June 25, 2009 – The battle against cancer seems to be on the verge of a major step forward, according to a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. The success of a new class of drugs – PARP inhibitors – in destroying the disease points to a new direction in the development of anticancer drugs, says an editorial in the current NEJM. Read more...

Obesity is Killer for Seniors with Pancreatic Cancer; More Likely to Get It if Obese When Young

 

Roger Giles weighed 270 pounds - 80 more than as a teen - when diagnosed with pancreatic. cancer. Video link in story.

 

Those overweight or obese from age 30 to 79 had reduced overall survival of pancreatic cancer

June 23, 2009 - Older people who were overweight or obese as young adults have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, and seniors who are now obese have a lower overall survival rate from pancreatic cancer, according to a new study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more...

Statins Get Credit for Big Reduction of Bad Cholesterol, Protection from Alzheimer’s Disease

American Heart Association reports percentage meeting cholesterol standards has doubled in decade; study from Netherlands finds statins can protect nerve cells against damage known to occur in Alzheimer's

June 22, 2009 – The news for statins today was great. The American Heart Association credits statins as a significant reason that the percentage of people lowering their elevated “bad” cholesterol to within the recommended range has almost doubled in the last decade. And, from The Netherlands comes a study showing statins can protect us from Alzheimer’s disease. Read more...

Veterans Badly Mistreated for Prostate Cancer at VA Hospital, Reports NY Times

92 of 116 cancer treatments were botched during a six year period at Philadelphia unit

June 22, 2009 - “For patients with prostate cancer, it is a common surgical procedure: a doctor implants dozens of radioactive seeds to attack the disease. But when Dr. Gary D. Kao treated one patient at the veterans’ hospital in Philadelphia, his aim was more than a little off,” says the lead in a New York Times report on Sunday, June 21. Read more...

Psoriasis Linked to Cardiovascular Disease, Increased Mortality in Study of Senior Citizens

Far-reaching implications, as these vascular conditions represent a major cost to health care system, as well as a major cause of disability and death.

June 15, 2009 - The skin disease psoriasis is associated with atherosclerosis (a buildup of plaque in the arteries) characterized by an increased prevalence of ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease and an increased risk of death, according to a study of senior citizens. Read more...

Prostate Cancer Test Proven to Offer Early Prediction of Bone Metastasis, Mortality

UCSF Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment gives patients and doctors a better way of gauging long-term risks and pinpointing high risk cases.

June 15, 2009 – A very large study, involving 10,627 men, has proven that a test is accurate in predicting bone metastasis, prostate cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality when localized prostate cancer is first diagnosed. Read more...

Age-Related Macular Degeneration Halted by Blocking Protein to Stop Blood Vessel Growth

Protein CCR3 a new target for diagnosis and treatment of AMD, the most common cause of blindness in senior citizens.

June 15, 2009 – The battle to prevent millions of senior citizens from going blind from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) appears to have received an important boost from researchers that have demonstrated that blocking the activity of a specific protein - called CCR3 - can reduce the abnormal blood vessel growth that leads to macular degeneration. Read more...

Fear that Keeps Women from Cancer Screening is Fueled by Lack of Information

Studies find that fear can motivate women to either seek screening or avoid it

June 11, 2009 - Fear plays a major role in whether women decide to go for cancer screening or not, but healthcare providers underestimate how much women need to know and wrongly assume that they will ask for information if they want it. The studies included women of all ages, from 14 year-old teenagers to women in their eighties. Read more...

New Study Says More than 4 Percent of Older Men Suffer with Dry Eye Disease

But, National Eye Institute says older women twice as likely as men to suffer with dry eye

June 8, 2009 - Dry eye disease is common among American men older than 50 and increases with age, high blood pressure, benign prostate disease and the use of antidepressants, according to a new report. The National Eye Institute, however, has estimated that older women are twice as likely to suffer with dry eye as are men. Read more...

Vaccine Shows Promise in Treating Cancer that Likes Attacking Senior Citizens: Melanoma

Currently, the vaccine only can be given to half of those with melanoma because it has to match a patient's tissue type

June 1, 2009 - A vaccine for one of the most lethal cancers, advanced melanoma, which is primarily found on senior citizens, has shown improved response rates and progression-free survival for patients when combined with the immunotherapy drug, Interleukin-2, according to researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Read more...

Stronger Chemotherapy Does Not Help Colon Cancer Patients 70 or Older in Study

Chemo combo decreases cancer recurrence, promotes longer survival after surgery for those under 70

May 29, 2009 - The combination of chemotherapies 5FU and oxaliplatin compared to 5FU alone after surgery for colon cancer decreases colon cancer recurrence and promotes longer survival for patients under 70 - but not for those who are older, according to Mayo Clinic and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists who will present their findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Read more...

New Blood Test Significantly Increases Accuracy of PSA Screening for Prostate Cancer

Greatly reduces false-positives in prostate cancer screening that often require a biopsy of the gland to check for tumors

May 28, 2009 - Tens of thousands of male senior citizens may be able to avoid the pain and anxiety of prostate biopsies if a new blood test that is used in combination with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening lives up to its early testing that shows a sharp increase in the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis. Read more...

Treating Gum Disease Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers with Pain, Swelling, Stiffness

Study should prompt rheumatologists to encourage patients to be aware of link between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis

May 28, 2009 - Here's one more reason senior citizens should keep their teeth healthy. People, who suffer from gum disease and also have a severe form of rheumatoid arthritis, reduced their arthritic pain, number of swollen joints and the degree of morning stiffness when they cured their dental problems, according to an article in the Journal of Periodontology. Read more...

New Protection from Coronary Heart Disease is Avoiding Plaque Rupture with PLAC Test

FDA-approved blood test helps physicians determine hidden risk for stroke or heart attack

 

Link to video in story.

 

May 20, 2009 - Editor’s Note: Eighty-two percent of people who die of coronary heart disease are senior citizens, but many are still not aware that most heart attacks are not caused by plaque buildup, but, rather, by plaque rupture causing blood clots that block the blood flow. The following explanation of this danger and an early warning test was prepared for SeniorJournal.com. by Dr. Paul Ziajka, Lipidologist (more in sidebar). Read more...

Men Should Not Give Up on PSA Prostate Cancer Screening, Just Yet

Urologists argue that men should not be swayed from getting the test - it still saves lives

May 13, 2009 - What’s a guy to do? While prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing has been the standard screening tool for prostate cancer for several decades, results of a study recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine question the effectiveness of PSA screening in reducing death from prostate cancer. But many urologists argue that men should not be swayed from getting the test - it still saves lives. Read more...

Senior Citizens Do Not Remember Strokes or Do Not Know They Had Them, Study Indicates

Just 11.9 percent reported a history of stroke but MRI evidence shows 31.4 had one

May 11, 2009 – Senior citizens are either having strokes and don’t know it, or they are forgetting they had them. That is the conclusion one must draw from a new study that found a significant difference between why these older people report and what the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows.  Read more...

High Blood Pressure is Number One Reason Older Women Seek Medical Help

Hypertension number one treatment for women from age 45 up; Hyperlipidemia a distant second

May 7, 2009 - The most common medical treatment for women – especially senior citizens – is for hypertension (high blood pressure). There were approximately 25 million women treated in the U.S. for this condition in 2006, with almost 12 million – about half - of these being age 65 or older. Read more...

Statins Prevent Liver Cancer Among Diabetics, Reduce Gallbladder Removals Among Women

Studies reported in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute

May 6, 2009 – As millions of Americans use statins each day to help lower their cholesterol and risks of heart disease, researchers are continuing to find evidence that these drugs may also have other beneficial effects, such as cancer prevention. A new study points specifically at the prevention of liver cancer, while a second report tells of a reduction in the need for gallbladder removal, both resulting from statins. Read more...

Non-Traditional Stroke Symptoms in Women May Contribute to Treatment Delay

In most age groups, men have highest risk of stroke, but in oldest groups women have more strokes

May 5, 2009 - The traditional stroke symptoms are well known and include a sudden onset of numbness or weakness on one side of the body, trouble talking, loss of vision, or coordination problems. But in women, doctors and bystanders should be paying attention to something else, says Lynda Lisabeth, Ph.D., MPH, researcher in the Department of Neurology at the University of Michigan Health System. Read more, link to video...

Dangerous Drug Interactions Endanger Senior Citizens Taking Multiple Medications

University of Michigan geriatrics pharmacist offers tips for seniors to protect themselves

May 5, 2009 - A recent study found that more than 80 percent of adults age 57 and older take at least one prescription drug a day and that about half of them regularly mix drugs with over-the-counter medications and supplements. The new research shows about 1 in 25 older adults may experience a major drug interaction. Read more, video link...

Older Men More Likely to Die from Pneumonia than Women; Differing Response to Infection

Results suggest immune response to infection may be important target to reduce sex disparities

April 29, 2009 - Old men are more likely do die after being hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) than are older women, according to new research that suggests the reason may be differing biological response to infection between men and women. Read more...

Better Communications, Computerized Records Reduce Adverse Drug Events

Up to 67% of inpatients have at least one unexplained discrepancy in their prescription medication history

April 28, 2009 - Interventions that included enhanced communication between a pharmacist and patients and physicians and computerized organization of a patient's medications appear to be associated with a decreased risk of adverse drug events, according to two articles appearing in the April 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Senior citizens are the most frequent victims of these drug mistakes. Read more...

Diabetes Risk for Senior Citizens Determined by Same Lifestyle Factors as Younger People

Study of seniors finds physical activity, good dietary habits, not smoking and light alcohol use lowers diabetes risk by 82%; four in five new cases attributable to not having these low-risk factors.

April 27, 2009 – An abundance of research has well established how poor life style choices can pave the way to diabetes for younger people. A new study – one of the first to look at how these same risk factors may apply to senior citizens – has found that they do. Even for older adults, lifestyle factors such as physical activity, dietary habits, smoking, alcohol use and of body fat are associated with risk of new-onset diabetes. Read more...

Urological Group Breaks with Major Medical Groups to Recommend Regular Prostate Testing

AUA wants individualized PSA testing starting at age 40; American Cancer Society and others oppose routine prostate cancer testing

April 27, 2009 - Frequency of testing for several conditions have been hot debate topics in medical circles recently, and fuel was added to one of the hottest today by the American Urological Association, which wants prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test offered to “well-informed, men aged 40 years or older who have a life expectancy of at least 10 years.” The AUA’s new clinical guidance directly contrasts with other major groups. Read more...

Statins Protect Against Prostate Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction and Prostate Enlargement, Mayo Study Finds

Study followed older men 40 to 79 from 1990 to assess urologic outcomes among aging men

April 27, 2009 – For male senior citizens - the predominate consumers of statins to lower cholesterol - there is an abundance of good news about these drugs that is being released from a large Mayo Clinic study. The researchers find in preliminary results that statins not only lower cholesterol but protect against prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction and prostate enlargement. Read more...

Older Women Who Breastfed Their Babies Have Lower Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke

An average of 35 years had passed since women enrolled in this study had last breastfed an infant

April 21, 2009 – A new study has found that older women who breastfed their babies have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular disease. And, the longer the women breastfed, the lower the risk, according to University of Pittsburgh researchers in a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Read more...

Most Melanoma Skin Cancers Found by Physicians are on Male Senior Citizens

These doc-detected cancers tend to be thinner, found on back, more treatable

 

Melanoma is one of the rarer types of skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths.

 

April 20, 2009 – When a physician finds a melanoma skin cancer on an older man, it is more likely to be thinner and, therefore, more treatable. And, too, it is more common for doctors to find these thin melanomas on men who are at least 65 years old, have them on their backs or have a history of atypical moles. These conclusions come from two studies in the April issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Pancreatic Cancer Cells Killed by Drug Combination in Mayo Clinic Laboratory Test

One of the most feared cancers, due to the difficulty of effective treatment, may have met its match

April 20, 2009 – There is new hope in the battle against pancreatic cancer, one of the most feared tumors. Mayo Clinic researchers say a combination of two drugs already on the market packed a powerful punch in laboratory tests to kill pancreatic cancer cells. Read more...video link in story.

Stem Cells from Stroke Victim Being Used for First Time to Repair Patients Own Damage

Texan has fed the cows by himself. Stem cells have some kind of guidance system and migrate to the area of injury and, although they're not making new brain cells, they may be enhancing the repair processes. UT Houston to enroll 9 more in clinical trial.

April 16, 2009 - For the first time in the United States, a stroke patient – 61-year-old Roland “Bud” Henrich - has been intravenously injected with his own bone marrow stem cells as part of a research trial at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. It is an event of high interest to senior citizens, since three of every four strokes in the US strikes those age 65 or older. Read more...

Screening Diabetics for Coronary Artery Disease Shows No Significant Lowering of Risk

Researchers say it is unnecessary and may lead initially to more invasive and costly heart procedures

April 15, 2009 - Screening for coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes did not result in a significant reduction in the rate of heart attacks or cardiac death compared to patients who were not screened, according to a study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), a theme issue on diabetes. This is important news for senior citizens – the age group most threatened by diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Read more...

Researchers See Reduction of Pancreatic Cancer Cells in Early Antibody Testing

Nothing now available to stop the rapid advance of this deadly cancer

April 14, 2009 – Researchers report testing that appears to reduce pancreatic cancer cells. There is no life-saving treatment for this cancer that is one of the deadliest and most rapidly advancing. The scientists caution these are preliminary results in early testing. Read more...

Brain Microbleeds in Senior Citizens May Be Associated with Aspirin, Similar Drugs

This dangerous bleeding occurs when the walls of blood vessels in the brain become weakened

April 13, 2009 – Senior citizens taking aspiring, or other medications that prevent blood clotting by inhibiting the accumulation of platelets, appear more likely to have tiny, unexplained areas of bleeding in the brain, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the June print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. A report from this study lst year found these cerebral microbleeds are more common in people age 60 and older than had been previously thought. Read more...

Cancers Not Alike: Survival Improves with Aggressive Treatment of Lung Cancer, Not Bladder Cancer

Both studies from U of Michigan illustrate the vast differences in cancers and their treatment

April 13, 2009 – For many senior citizens the word “cancer” creates a vision of a life-threatening uncontrolled growth that requires immediate and aggressive treatment by radiation and chemotherapy – they are all pretty much alike. But, two studies from the University of Michigan last week illustrate that all cancers are not alike. The first found more aggressive treatment did not help bladder cancer victims survive. The second says higher doses of radiation combined with chemotherapy improves survival in patients with stage III lung cancer. Read more...

Seniors May Find Safe Relief from Declining Gum Tissue Through Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is an accepted, viable therapeutic concept, but safety has been a major hurdle

April 9, 2009 - Scientists at the University of Michigan have developed a method of gene delivery that appears safe for regenerating tooth-supporting gum tissue - a discovery that promises safer relief from a painful condition for millions of aging Americans and from one of the biggest safety concerns surrounding gene therapy research and tissue engineering. Read more...

Millions of Senior Citizens May Some Day Benefit from Biological Pacemaker

Researchers create new computer and cellular models for testing potential new drugs to influence heart rate

April 9, 2009 - Artificial heart pacemakers have saved and extended the lives of thousands of people, but they have their shortcomings – such as a fixed pulse rate and a limited life. It now seems in the realm of possibility that millions of senior citizens may benefit from work to develop a permanent biological solution. Read more...

Back Pain Moves Most to Choose Hands-On-Therapy: Chiropractor, Massage, Acupuncture

Over fifty-percent of those given a prescription drug received an opioid pain reliever, despite the fact that there is very little research to support their use, finds Consumer Reports study

April 6, 2009 – When people have a back ache they want hands-on treatment, like from a chiropractor, physical therapist or even acupuncture. Yet, forty-five percent of those who took prescription drugs said they helped a lot, according to a new survey by the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. Read more...

Ten Commandments of Cancer Prevention Offered by Harvard Men’s Health Watch

Up to 75 percent of cancer deaths in the U.S. can be prevented the magazine says

April 3, 2009 - About one of every three Americans will face some form of cancer during his or her lifetime. You can help beat these grim statistics by taking steps to protect yourself right now, according to Harvard Men’s Health Watch, which also offers these ten ways to get started. Read more...

COPD Symptoms, Quality of Life Improved by Supervised Exercise Therapy 

Article by LA BioMed researcher confirms the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation

April 2, 2009 – Those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), primarily older people, often complain that exercise is too exhausting and leaves them breathless. An article in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reports that supervised exercise through pulmonary rehabilitation can actually reduce their feelings of breathlessness, increase their tolerance for exercise and improve their quality of life. Read more...

New Smaller, Lighter Implantable Heart Pump Passes Test, Needs Trial Participants

VentrAssist is third-generation heart assist device to support severe heart failure patients until they receive heart transplant

April 2, 2009 - Patients with severe heart failure can be bridged to eventual transplant by a new, smaller and lighter implantable heart pump, according to a just-completed study of the device, which is now looking for clinical trial participants. Results of this third-generation heart assist device were reported at the 58th annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology on March 30. Read more...

Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors

Lipoic Acid Found to Reduce Triglycerides by 60 Percent in Lab Rats

Follows study finding this cardiovascular risk is common among U.S. adults

April 1, 2009 – Following only days after a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine finds high concentrations of triglyceride blood fats are common in the U.S., a new study finds that supplementing the diets of lab rats with lipoic acid significantly lowered their triglycerides. Researchers suggest it may be an easy way to lower this risk of cardiovascular disease. Read more...

Coronary Angiography Doubles Chance of Cardiac Arrest Survival with Less Brain Damage

‘Suggests that clinicians should consider the procedure for all post-cardiac arrest patients’

  Learn more about what happens during a coronary angiography. Link to video in story.

March 31, 2009 – People who suffer cardiac arrests and then receive coronary angiography are twice as likely to survive without significant brain damage compared with those who don't have the procedure, according to a study by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers. Age was not a factor in the study. Read more...

Polypill Cuts Cardiovascular Risk in Half with No Additional Side Affects

Magic pill contains three blood pressure lowering drugs, a statin and aspirin

March 30, 2009 – Senior citizens and other healthy individuals may be able to cut their risk of cardiovascular disease by 50 to 60 percent by taking a single pill, called the “polypill,” that combines three blood pressure (BP) lowering drugs at low doses, a statin, and aspirin, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology’s 58th annual scientific session. Read more...

Statins Effective in Two Studies: Dramatically Lowering Risk of Heart Attack, Blood Clots

Both studies important to senior citizens are from JUPITER data presented at American College of Cardiology’s Scientific Session

March 30, 2009 - Healthy men and women who achieved low levels of both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) after starting statin therapy dramatically lowered their risk of a future heart attack, stroke, need for bypass surgery, or cardiovascular death, according to new data presented at the American College of Cardiology‟s 58th Annual Scientific Session in Orlando. Read more...

More Than Half of U.S. Adults May Have High Triglycerides, Few Follow Treatment

This blood fat, like cholesterol, can lead to heart disease; ingested calories not used immediately by tissues are converted to triglycerides

March 23, 2009 – Most senior citizens know to watch their cholesterol, but much less attention is paid to triglycerides, a fat in the blood stream that can also lead to heart disease. A new study has found high concentrations of theses blood fats are common among U.S. citizens. Read more...

Senior Citizens Dominate Colorectal Cancer Hospitalizations:  Near 70 Percent, Mostly Men

Males hospitalized in 2006 less frequently than females, however, men in older age groups had a much higher rate of hospitalization than women

March 23, 2009 - Two-thirds of hospital stays for colorectal cancer involve Americans age 65 and older, and most in 2006 were men, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In the United States, colorectal cancer (cancer of the large intestine or rectum) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women, and is also the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Read more...

Elderly Men with Short Life Expectancy Do Not Need Prostate Cancer Screening, Study Shows

U.S. trial shows no early mortality benefit from current annual screening for prostate cancer - watch video, link below

 

See link to video  in news report

 

March 19, 2009 - The prostate cancer screening tests that have become an annual ritual for many older men don't appear to reduce deaths from the disease among those with a limited life-expectancy, according to early results of a major U.S. study involving 75,000 men. Read more...link to video...

Millions More Seniors Could Benefit from Taking Statins to Prevent Heart Attacks, Strokes

About 33 million older people - men 50 or older and women 60 or older - are currently eligible to take statins

March 19, 2009 – As many as 6.5 million more older patients could benefit from taking statins, drugs typically used to prevent heart attacks and strokes, than current prescribing guidelines suggest, Johns Hopkins doctors report in a new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Read more...

New Task Force Recommendations Call for Aspirin Use by Older People Up to Age 80

Aspirin protects senior men from heart attack, senior women from stroke

March 17, 2009 – Updated recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say aspirin should be used by older men to prevent heart attacks and older women to prevent strokes but once senior citizens reach age 80 it may become too risky to continue aspirin therapy due to the increased threat of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Read more...

New Lung Cancer Treatment Produces High Cure Rate; Hope in Place of Surgery

Stereotactic body radiotherapy, or SBRT, two-year disease free survival or cure rate can reach up to 98%

March 9, 2009 – Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer for men and women but these statistics may improve considerably, according to doctors at Temple University, who report a new treatment can double the chances of surviving the deadly disease – and without conventional radiation or surgery. Read more...

New Medical Specialty to Focus on Advanced Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation

Heart problems and associated medical advances are frequent topics when senior citizens get together

March 6, 2009 – Most senior citizens have heart failure high on their radar screen – it impacts so many of us and our friends that most want to learn everything they can about it. As technology advances, however, the treatment of heart failure has become increasingly complicated. But, help is on the way - a new medical subspecialty of Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology. Read more...

Increased Death Risk Linked to Combined Use of Antiplatelet, Gastric Acid Meds After Heart Attack or Angina

Use of Plavix (clopidogrel) plus PPI at any point in time was associated with a 25% increased odds of death or rehospitalization

March 3, 2009 - Following a heart attack, unstable angina or other acute coronary syndrome, patients who receive a medication to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding that may be associated with the use of the antiplatelet drug Plavix and aspirin have an increased risk of subsequent hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome or death, according to a study in the March 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Read more...link to video

Enough is Enough of Prostate-Specific-Antigen Testing Once Men Reach Age 75

PSA test has decreased prostate cancer deaths but other problems more likely to kill elderly

Feb. 23, 2009 - Although widespread Prostate-Specific-Antigen (PSA) testing has undoubtedly decreased prostate cancer mortality, there appears to be a point of diminishing returns? In a study published in the April 2009 issue of The Journal of Urology, researchers found that in a subgroup of elderly men, among those who were 75 years old or older and had a PSA below 3 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter), none subsequently died of prostate cancer. Read more...

EMS Survey Finds Deficiencies in Response, Treatment, Transfer of Patients With Most Deadly Heart Attacks

American Heart Association’s Mission:Lifeline study did find more than anticipated had 12 lead ECGs that diagnose heart attacks

Feb. 18, 2009 – Senior citizens, the most likely people to have a heart attack requiring  a ride in an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicle, can find hope in a new survey by the American Heart Association’s Mission:Lifeline study that found more than anticipated had 12 lead ECGs that diagnose heart attacks. But, the association urges other improvements. Read more...

Even Seniors Over Age 75 Benefit from Implantable Defibrillators; May Reduce Death Risk 30%

One of first studies to focus on senior citizens and ICDs finds older people are good candidates for ICDs to prevent death from arrhythmias; but benefit diminishes when age combined with multiple disease conditions

Feb. 18, 2009 - Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) can improve survival in patients with heart damage — even those in their 70s — according to research reported in the current issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. Implanted ICDs reduced the risk of dying by 30 percent in patients younger than 65 years old, 65 to 74, and 75 and older. Read more...

Atrial Fibrillation Death Rate Reduced by Experimental Drug Multaq (Dronedarone)

FDA has drug in priority review; approves first ablation catheters for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, which affects mainly senior citizens over age 65

Feb. 17, 2009 – Deaths and hospitalizations for patients with atrial fibrillation, which are climbing with the increasing number of seniors, can be reduced by a new, still unlicensed, anti-arrhythmic drug named dronedarone, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine reporting on the ATHENA trial. To be marketed as Multaq by Sanofi-aventis, the drug was granted a priority review status by the FDA in July of 2008. Read more...

Tiny ‘Smart Bombs’ Deliver Chemo Drug to Cancer Cells with Fewer Side Effects

They are a modified plant virus one thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair

Feb. 13, 2009 – A more effective chemotherapy treatment with few or no side effects, a dream for many senior citizens battling cancer, may be on the way in the form of tiny “smart bombs” that carry their payload right to the targeted cancer cells. Read more...

Simple Urine Test May Reveal the Aggressiveness of Your Prostate Cancer

Sarcosine is better indicator of advancing disease than traditional prostate specific antigen test (PSA); it is detected in urine, researchers hopeful simple urine test can be used

Feb. 12, 2009 – Prostate cancer will be discovered in 186,320 American men this year, mostly senior citizens, and each case launches a myriad of decisions for the patient. The first question may be, “How bad is the cancer.” That has been tough to answer. But, today, scientists report they have discovered a way to determine how aggressive the cancer is. Read more, watch video...

Older Adults Face Increased Risk of Death Following Osteoporotic Fracture

‘These data suggest fracture is a signal event that heralds an increased mortality risk’

Feb. 3, 2009 - Women and men age 60 years or older who have a low-trauma osteoporotic fracture have an increased risk of death for the following 5 to 10 years, compared to the general population, and those who experience another fracture increase their risk of death further for an additional 5 years, according to a study in the February 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Those age 75 and older face increased risk of death from even a minor fracture. Read more...

Artificial Light at Night Contributes to Prostate Cancer and Breast Cancer Say Researchers

Theories for cause: suppression of melatonin production, suppression of immune system, body's biological clock confused between night and day

Feb. 3, 2009 – Countries with the highest levels of artificial light at night also have the highest rates of prostate cancer, according to researchers that earlier found a similar link with breast cancer. Read more...

Erectile Dysfunction Jokes May End with Study Finding ED, Heart Disease Have Relationship

Mayo Clinic Study Finds Younger Men With Erectile Dysfunction at Double Risk of Heart Disease

‘In older men, erectile dysfunction may be of less prognostic importance for development of future heart disease’

Feb. 2, 2009 – The jokes about erectile dysfunction may have lost their humor today as new research indicates men with ED have an 80 percent higher risk of heart disease. The study concludes that ED and coronary artery disease may be differing manifestations of a common underlying vascular problem. Read more...

Valentine's Day Gift Idea for Senior Couples: Screen the One You Love

Couples encouraged to examine each other for suspicious moles that could be skin cancer. Researchers estimate that 40 – 50% of people in the U.S. who live to age 65 will have nonmelanoma skin cancer at least once.

Feb. 2, 2009 – After 40 or 50 Valentine’s Days it gets a little tough to find something for your spouse that is unusual. Here is an idea for senior citizens from the American Academy of Dermatology that is certainly unique and could be a life-saver. “Screen the One You Love” for skin cancer they suggest, and they provide helpful tools to enhance your success. Read more...

Predicting Longevity of Kidneys Would be Boon for 65,000 Senior Citizens Awaiting Transplants

With a wait time over three years for transplant, even old kidneys are in demand - challenge is to determine a kidney's prospects prior to the operation

Jan. 27, 2009 – Researchers seeking a method to project the function of a kidney in the future say their work could be a boon to more than 82,000 people in the U.S. awaiting a kidney transplant. It is of particular importance to senior citizens, who make up 80 percent of the waiting list, since they are less likely than younger people to need a kidney with a long life, and may become eligible sooner for the older kidney. Read more...

Researchers Find Abundant Evidence of Statin Side Effects, Risk Higher for Senior Citizens

Statins' benefits have not been found to exceed their risks in those over 70 or 75 years old, even those with heart disease

Jan. 27, 2009 – A new review report has found 900 studies reporting on the adverse effects of taking statins – from the most common, muscle problems, to cognitive difficulties. The authors also report the risk of adverse effects goes up with age and the stronger the statin, the more likely the side effects. Read more...

GPS for the Body Sometimes Needed for a Moving Prostate During Radiation Therapy

Prostate can move during a treatment session and can make delivering radiation safely to the tumor a challenge

By Constantine A. Mantz, MD

Jan. 21, 2009 - Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for men after lung cancer. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer is treatable and highly curable if the disease is detected early. Read more...

Senior Citizens with Generalized Anxiety Disorder Find Some Relief with Lexapro

Some benefits from the drug escitalopram diminished because seniors failed to take drug as prescribed

Jan. 20, 2009 – The drug escitalopram, marketed as Lexapro, appears to help senior citizens with the generalized anxiety disorder, one of the most common disorders in older people. The overall benefits were diminished, however, due to nonadherence to the drug by some of the senior patients, according to the report on the preliminary research. Read more...

New Imaging Technique Shows Bleeding in Damaged Heart Following a Heart Attack

Can help determine treatment required for those whose heart muscle bleeds following restored blood flow

Jan. 19, 2009 - Images that for the first time show bleeding inside the heart after people have suffered a heart attack have been captured by scientists, according to a new study published today in the journal Radiology. The research shows that the amount of bleeding can indicate how damaged a person's heart is after a heart attack and help determine the treatment required. Read more...

Link Between Blood Pressure and Outside Temperature for Seniors May Tie to Vitamin D

Researchers also urging close monitoring of elderly with hypertension during weather extremes; second study says thinking ability varies with blood pressure

Jan. 16, 2009 – The recent discovery that the blood pressure readings for senior citizens vary in reverse to the outside temperature – colder temperature equals higher blood pressure reading – may have something to do with the link between vitamin D and hypertension, according to a spokesman for European cardiologists. The French researchers also urge careful monitoring during extreme temperatures. Read more...

Too Many Needless Stent Implants Can Be Prevented by Better Blood Flow Studies

Researchers look at new diagnostic tool to measure blood flow in vessels to heart

Jan. 15, 2009 - Doctors may be implanting too many artery-opening stents and could avoid needless operations - and ultimately save lives - if they did more in-depth measurements of blood flow in the vessels to the heart. That’s the finding of a study, published Jan. 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine that evaluated the benefits of a new diagnostic tool to measure blood flow and determine whether stenting was the best option. Read more, video link...

When the Outside Temperature Goes Down, a Senior Citizen’s Blood Pressure Goes Up

Study finds differences over time were larger in participants age 80 and older

Jan. 12, 2009 – What seems strange, but appears to be true, is a correlation in senior citizens between the outside temperature and high blood pressure or hypertension. But, it works in reverse – when the outside temperature goes down the senior’s blood pressure goes up. Read more...

Meeting Cholesterol Level Guidelines Does Not Appear to Lower Heart Attack Risk

Three of four hospitalized with heart attack had good cholesterol levels indicating low risk; guidelines need revision?

Jan. 12, 2009 – A stunning 75 percent of patients hospitalized for a heart attack had cholesterol levels meeting national guidelines that indicated they were not at high risk for a cardiovascular event. Almost half had low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels classified as “optimal.” Read more...

Heart Attacks Appear to Decline Rapidly After Smoke-Free Policy Enacted in Colorado City

Eight other studies show making indoor workplaces and public places smoke-free results in sizable, rapid reductions in hospital admissions for heart attack

Dec. 31, 2008 - Heart attack hospitalizations in the city of Pueblo, Colorado fell sharply by more than 40 percent after the implementation of a municipal law making workplaces and public places smoke-free, and this decrease was sustained over a three-year period, according to a report in this week′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Read more...

One Hour Additional Sleep Lowers Calcification in Coronary Arteries

New study looked at people under 50 but results will interest senior citizens

Dec. 29, 2008 – Although a new study involved only adults under 50 years of age, its finding that adding one more hour of sleep per night significantly lowers the risk of coronary artery calcification, which is thought to be a predictor of future heart disease, according to a study in the December 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Read more...

Drug Interaction Risk Increases as Medication Use by Senior Citizens Grows

Older adults are commonly using prescription and over-the-counter medications together

  Seniors Using More Medications - video  

Dec. 29, 2008 – It has long been well established that senior citizens are the leading pill poppers in the U.S. A new study, however, finds the dangers for adverse drug reactions is increasing as the use of prescription and over-the-counter medications, along with dietary supplements, is increasing rapidly among the oldest age groups. Read more...

Senior Citizens Can Expect New Diabetes Drugs to Not Increase Heart Attack Risk

FDA announces new recommendations on evaluating cardiovascular risk in drugs to treat type 2 diabetes

Dec. 17, 2008 – For senior citizens – the age group most threatened by diabetes and cardiovascular problems – the announcement today by the Food and Drug Administration was good news. The FDA says manufacturers developing new drugs and biologics to treat type 2 diabetes need to provide evidence that the therapy will not increase the risk of such cardiovascular events as a heart attack. Read more...

Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke Death Rates Take Significant 30 Percent Drop from 1999

Cholesterol down for older people, progress lags in fighting obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity

Dec. 17, 2008 – Death rates for coronary disease and stroke have dropped about 30 percent since 1999, although obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity are still growing risk factors, according to Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2009 Update by the American Heart Association. A major risk that has been in the spotlight in recent years - total cholesterol levels – has declined for women 60 and older and men over 39. Read more...

Cancer Deaths, Cases Showing Big Rate Declines in US Despite Surge Worldwide

Annual report by leaders in cancer war shows historic declines but trends vary in areas of US

Dec. 11, 2008 – The bad news this week that cancer is increasing so rapidly around the world that it will pass heart disease as the number one killer, drew a lot more attention that a report published this month that was good news about the battle against cancer in the U.S. It shows the rates for both cancer deaths and cancer occurrences have decreased for the first time since the annual report began in ten years ago. Read more...

Actos, Avandia Increase Risk of Fractures in Women Treated for Diabetes

If used by elderly women with type 2 diabetes for one year, one additional fracture would occur among every 21 women

Dec. 10, 2008 – The use of thiazolidinediones, a popular class of oral diabetic drugs, for more than one year by women with type 2 diabetes significantly reduces bone density, resulting in the risk of fractures being doubled. The two currently available drugs in this class are rosiglitazone, marketed as AvandiaTM by GlaxoSmithKline, and pioglitazone, marketed as ActosTM by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Read more...

Crisis Looms in Care for Cancer Survivors as Baby Boomers Fuel Ranks of Senior Citizens

Researchers point out issues to be faced by oncologists, geriatricians, care providers that provide post-treatment care to elderly cancer survivors

Dec. 10, 2008 – On the heels of yesterday’s projection that cancer will replace heart disease as the world’s number one killer by 2010, comes a report that the U.S. faces a crisis in being able to handle the rapid growth in cancer survivors that is expected among senior citizens. More than 6 or every 10 cancers are found in an American age 65 or older. Read more...

Cancer to Replace Heart Disease as Leading Killer in World by 2010, Says International Study

US cancer organizations unite to push action plan for Obama Administration

Number U.S. deaths 2005 for leading causes of death

  ● Heart disease: 652,091

  ● Cancer: 559,312

More in news report...

Dec. 9, 2008 – Cancer may soon replace heart disease as the leading cause of death in the world according to a report today from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This news that cancer is projected to become the leading cause of death in the year 2010 has moved the nation's leading cancer organizations to join an event called Conquering Cancer: A Global Effort, to focus attention on the growing global cancer burden and discuss efforts needed to address the problem. Read more...

Two Studies Say Senior Citizens Can Take Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatments

Chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplants okay for treating elderly with common leukemia

Dec. 9, 2008 – Although acute myeloid leukemia usually strikes when people are about age 65, these senior citizens have often been offered only supportive care because they are believed to be too weak to withstand treatment. Two studies presented yesterday say these elderly AML victims are not too old for chemotherapy or blood stem cell transplants. Read more...

Researchers Continue Search for Drug to Treat Seniors for Emerging Form of Heart Failure

Blood pressure drug AvaproTM fails against common problem for older people, particularly women - diastolic heart failure

Dec. 4, 2008 – A medication used for high blood pressure – AvaproTM - does not improve a common form of heart failure, diastolic heart failure, according to new results from a large, international study. The findings are disappointing, according to the researchers, who continue to search for a successful treatment for the condition, which predominantly affects older people, particularly women. Read more...

’80 Ain’t Old’ Makes Number Two in Top Ten Health Stories of 2008 by Harvard Health Letter

Others of high importance to senior citizens – advances with adult stem cells, generic drugs now the norm, how low for blood sugar in seniors

Dec. 4, 2008 - The top 10 health stories of 2008 may not be as funny as David Letterman's nightly countdown, but they can actually make a difference for long-term health. And, there is no age group that appreciates advances in health maintenance more than senior citizens – for the obvious reasons. Read more...

Small Study Indicates Stroke Rehabilitation Possible Six Months After Stroke

Robotic technology with aid of functional MRI improves stroke rehabilitation

Dec. 3, 2008 – Although the study was very small the results could point to something big – the rehabilitation of stroke victims even months after the stroke. Scientists using a novel, hand-operated robotic device and functional MRI (fMRI) have found that chronic stroke patients can be rehabilitated, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Read more...

JAMA Study Say Generic Drugs Match Brand-Names for Treating Cardiovascular Disease

Many senior citizens perplexed: scientific analysis favors generics, commentaries lean toward brand names

Dec. 2, 2008 – The surge of generic drugs to hit the market in the last few years and the plunge in prices led by Walmart has attracted many senior citizens to these prescription drugs. Yet, for many, there has been a nagging doubt of their potency – how could a drug that costs only $4 per month do the same thing as the one that was costing $80 a month. Read more...

Senior Women Risk More Breast Cancers, Death if Radiation Therapy Delayed

One in 5 older women with early breast cancer experience delayed or incomplete radiation treatment

Dec. 2, 2008 - A new analysis of the National Cancer Institute's cancer registry has found that as many as one in five older women – senior citizens age 65 or older - experience delayed or incomplete radiation treatment following breast-conserving surgery, and that this suboptimal care can lead to additional cancer and increased risk of death. Read more...

HDL Not Always the Good Cholesterol We Think Says University of Chicago Study

Researchers urge asking your doctor if your HDL is the good or bad kind – does it reduce inflammation

Dec. 1, 2008 – Most senior citizens have learned that a cholesterol reading with high HDL is “good,” while high LDL is “bad.” HDL is the good one; LDL is the bad one. A new study from the University of Chicago is now challenging what we have learned. These researchers say the good cholesterol, HDL, has varying degrees of quality and that poor quality HDL is actually bad for you. Read more...

Women with Implants See Better Results in Breast Cancer Treatment with Brachytherapy

Better cosmetic outcomes, avoid risk of the implant hardening compared to whole-breast radiation therapy

Dec. 1, 2008 - Women with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone breast augmentation may be treated successfully with a partial-breast radiation treatment called brachytherapy, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Read more...

Extra Medical Cost for People with Diabetes Hits $4,100 a Year, Reports New Study

Most of the increase attributed to the cost of diabetes-related complications, such as heart and kidney disease

Nov. 25, 2008 - People diagnosed with diabetes – a group dominated by senior citizens - spend over $4,100 more each year on medical costs than people who don't have diabetes, a gap that increases substantially each year following the initial diagnosis, according to a study published online today in the journal Diabetes Care. Read more...

Senior Citizens at Greater Risk of Heart Failure, Death Taking Avandia Than Actos for Diabetes

Rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) already carry black box warnings for seniors with heart trouble

Nov. 24, 2008 – Two ever popular drugs for senior citizens to use in treating diabetes are in the news again, but this time one stands alone as the culprit. The new study finds seniors taking rosiglitazone (Avandia) appear to have a higher risk of death and heart failure than those taking the related medication pioglitazone (Actos), according to a report in the November 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Mammograms Leading to Treatment of Breast Cancers that May Have Disappeared Later

Study find women screened most often have the most cancer detections, regardless of age

Nov. 24, 2008 – Some breast cancers just disappear. At least that is the conclusion used to explain recent discoveries that women screened by mammography every six years had lower rates of breast cancer than those screened every two years. Some of the cancers detected by mammography may have spontaneously regressed had they not been discovered and treated in the Norwegian women. Read more...

Senior Citizens Should Consider More than Just Flu Immunization Say Medical Groups

Many adults are unaware of the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases, the need for booster doses, and availability of newer vaccines

Nov. 19, 2008 – The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) have released a joint statement on the importance of adult vaccination against an increasing number of vaccine-preventable diseases. The statement, which makes five recommendations, has been endorsed by 17 other medical societies representing a range of practice areas. Read more...

New Compounds Kill Ovarian, Testicular, Head and Neck Cancer Cells with Less Toxicity

Platinum-phosphate compounds may be more efficient, more targeted, have fewer side effects

Nov. 19, 2008 - A new class of compounds called phosphaplatins can effectively kill ovarian, testicular, head and neck cancer cells with potentially less toxicity than conventional drugs, according to a new study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read more...

Consumer Reports Medical Adviser Says ‘Not So Fast’ on Statins for Everyone

Consumer Reports' chief medical adviser blogs about recent study showing a cholesterol lowering drug - Crestor - cut the risk of heart attack and stroke, even in people with normal cholesterol. 

By Dr. Marvin Lipman, Consumer Reports

Nov. 18, 2008 - I started getting phone calls from my patients almost as soon as the headlines starting appearing last week. All the media were trumpeting the results of a new study showing that rosuvastatin (Crestor), a powerful cholesterol-lowering statin drug, slashed the risk of heart attack and stroke even in people with normal—that’s right, normal— cholesterol levels who also had high blood levels of a substance called C-reactive protein. CRP rises when the arteries are inflamed, and, as we’ve previously reported, growing research has linked such inflammation with an increased risk of heart attack. All of those callers wanted to know the same thing: Should they start taking the drug?  Read more...

Lung Cancer Devastating for Senior Citizens but Steady Decline in Diagnoses 1995 to 2006

Hospital admissions in 2006 for lung cancer – 150,000 – about the same as 1995

Nov. 13, 2008 - Hospital admissions for lung cancer remained relatively stable – at roughly 150,000 a year between 1995 and 2006 – despite a steady decline in the number of Americans diagnosed with the disease, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Still, the American Cancer Society says it will be the biggest cancer killer in 2008. Read more...

A Beating Heart May Produce Energy to Power Pacemaker or Defibrillator

Microgenerator captured enough surplus heart energy to provide 17% of power needed to run implantable pacemaker

Nov. 11, 2008 - Surplus energy generated by the heart may one day help power pacemakers and defibrillators implanted in cardiac patients, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2008. In a trailblazing experiment, a microgenerator powered by heartbeats produced almost 17 percent of the electricity needed to run an artificial pacemaker. Read more...

Ten Years of Data on Studies of Age-Related Eye Disease Now Available to Researchers

Looked at progression of age-related macular degeneration and age-related cataract in 4,757 older adults

Nov. 11, 2008 - Ten years of data collected during the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which looked at the progression of age-related macular degeneration and age-related cataract, has been released by the National Eye Institute (NEI). Researchers can apply for access to this complete set of medical history records and clinical trial results, as well as select genetic information to gain a better understanding of two complicated vision conditions that affect aging adults. Read more...

Statins' Role in Protecting Against Heart Attack is Significantly Expanded by New Studies

HsCRP is one of the most widely studied markers of inflammation in cardiovascular disease: statement from the director of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Nov. 11, 2008 – A new term that every senior citizen should remember is “high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).” This is the new protein indicator of inflammation that can be detected by a simple blood test and warns of heart disease. The discovery guides treatment that can significantly lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. Read more..

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Thousands May Be Saved by New Early-Warning of Heart Attack Found in Five Proteins

Largest protein analysis ever finds blood test that detects impending attack in those with reduced blood flow

Nov. 10, 2008 - A far more accurate test to provide an early warning of an impending heart attack in people with severely reduced blood flow, or ischemia, was introduced this weekend by John Hopkins biochemists. They identified a mixed bag of five key proteins out of thousands secreted into blood draining from the heart's blood vessels that may together or in certain quantities form the basis of the test. Read more...

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Advances in Protein Research Lead to Tests Protecting Seniors from Myriad of Diseases

Johns Hopkins NHLBI Proteomics Center one of ten, Director explains activity in protein analysis; see videos

 

Jennifer Van Eyk, Ph.D., director of the Johns Hopkins NHLBI Proteomics Center provides a better understanding of protein research through videos.

 

Nov. 10, 2008 – Proteins are increasing being identified as playing a key role in many of the most serious ailments that strike senior citizens, like Alzheimer’s Disease and heart attacks. Protein discoveries were prominent in reports this weekend at the American Heart Association's annual Scientific Sessions. One of these was made by Jennifer Van Eyk, Ph.D., director of the Johns Hopkins NHLBI Proteomics Group and the Proteomics Center at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where the protein analysis took place. Read more... link to videos


Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Heart Failure Rates Reaching Epidemic Levels for Senior Citizens in U.S.

Those over age 65 hospitalized for heart failure increased by 131%t between   1980 and 2006

Nov. 10, 2008 -  Heart failure is reaching epidemic levels among seniors in the United States, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2008. Among the three major forms of cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease and stroke being the other two), only heart failure has shown a significant increase in hospitalization rates. Read more...more about heart diseases...

Statin Reduces Disease and Deaths from Newly Discovered Protein Cause of Cardiovascular Problems

International clinical trial halted to rush beneficial information to medical community

Nov. 9, 2008 – The good news is that a massive clinical trial has been so successful in reducing deaths and cardiovascular disease that it has ended abruptly to rush the beneficial information to the medical community. The bad news is that the international research team found a high level of particular protein puts patients at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but this risk is drastically reduced by taking a statin drug. Read more...

UC Davis Researches Discover a Weakness in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Can Cut Growth in Half

Average survival time today with pancreatic cancer is just four-and-a-half months; chemotherapy can extend that up to six months

Nov. 7, 2008 - What many consider the meanest and toughest cancer around – pancreatic cancer – may have a weakness after all. Researchers at UC Davis Cancer Center say they have discovered a deficiency in the cells of the cancer that can be used reduce by half the normally very rapid progress of the deadliest of cancers. Read more...

Advanced Age a Key Factor in Survival and Stroke after Carotid-Artery Surgery

Study seems to counter another released last month saying even those age 80 or older should be considered for the surgery

Nov. 6, 2008 – Advanced age and race are among the factors that can affect whether a patient dies or suffers a stroke after carotid-artery surgery, a UT Southwestern physician involved in a multicenter study has found. The procedure, one of the most common types of vascular surgeries, involves opening the carotid artery in the neck and removing harmful plaque to restore blood flow to the brain. Read more...

Age Not a Key Factor in Cancer Survival So Why are Seniors Excluded from Clinical Trials?

60% of cancer patients are senior citizens, but elderly are 'systematically excluded' from treatment studies

Nov. 6, 2008 – A new study has found that, although 60 per cent of cancers occur in senior citizens over 65, age is not a factor in determining survival chances with cancer. Still, seniors are systematically excluded from clinical trials that study cancer treatment. Read more...

Consider Your Age and Gender Before Choosing Hip Resurfacing

Stick with conventional hip replacement if over 55 or female

Nov. 4, 2008 – If you doctor suggests the new “hip resurfacing” rather than a conventional hip replacement, you may want to be sure he knows your age. New research says testing of a hip resurfacing device recently approved by the FDA has found that the majority of serious complications occurred in women of all ages and men over the age of 55. Read more...

Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator Patients Likely to Die in Five Years if Victims of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Screening for PTSD in patients with implantable defibrillators is likely to be beneficial

Nov. 3, 2008 - Surviving a life-threatening heart condition, such as heart attack or cardiac arrest, causes significant distress, but a study looking at those who received implantable cardiac defibrillators after a sudden heart event, found they are more likely to die within five years, if they experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, regardless of the severity of their disease. Read more...

Toviaz Approved by FDA to Treat Overactive Bladder that Plagues Many Older Women

Works by relaxing the smooth muscle tissue of the bladder, reducing the urinary frequency, urge to urinate, and sudden urinary incontinence

Oct. 31, 2008 – Overactive bladder is a common problem for older women but there is new help on the way. The FDA today said it has approved a new drug to help those suffering from overactive bladder (OAB). Toviaz (fesoterodine fumarate) works by relaxing the smooth muscle tissue of the bladder, thus reducing the urinary frequency, urge to urinate, and sudden urinary incontinence (leakage of urine), that are characteristic symptoms of OAB. Read more...

Colonoscopy Especially Important for Women but Prep is Harder than for Men

Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests some ways to make it go more smoothly

Oct. 30, 2008 - Colonoscopy is especially important for women, because they're more likely have polyps or lesions deeper in the colon. Only colonoscopy examines the entire length of of the colon. But there's some reason to believe that bowel prep for a colonoscopy is harder for women than for men, reports the November 2008 issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch. Read more...

PLAC Test to Get Tested on Defensive Line for Heart Attack, Stroke of NFL Retirees

Only FDA and Medicare approved test for heart disease, ischemic stroke to identify those at elevated risk for heart attack or stroke

Oct. 29, 2008 – The PLAC Test, the only blood test cleared by the FDA to aid in assessing risk for both coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke associated with atherosclerosis, is on its way to becoming a regular part of the defense against cardiovascular disease for National Football League retirees. This test is also approved by Medicare. Read more...

Rheumatoid Arthritis Rising Among Older Women; Rate Now Twice that of Men

Mayo Clinic finds incidence for men remained about 29 per 100,000, women jump from 36 to 54 per 100,000

Oct. 29, 2008 - After four decades on the decline, rheumatoid arthritis is on the upswing among older  women in the United States. That's the finding presented by Mayo Clinic investigators at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals in San Francisco. Read more...

Octogenarians Should Not Be Denied Open Heart Surgery Based on Age

Study finds older senior citizens can be good candidates for heart surgery

Oct. 28, 2008 - Patients 80 years and older who are in overall good health are perfectly able to withstand open-heart surgery, according to the latest study of Dr. Kevin Lachapelle of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal. It is the latest in a growing number of medical opinions that continue to advance the age for many medical procedures that were once thought to risky for older people. Read more...

Selenium or Vitamin E to Stop Prostate Cancer May Do More Harm Than Good

National Cancer Institute stops clinical trial from going forward

Oct. 27, 2008 – Selenium and vitamin E supplements, taken either alone or together, did not prevent prostate cancer in a study funded by the National Cancer Institute. The data did show, however, two concerning trends: a small but not statistically significant increase in the number of prostate cancer cases among the over 35,000 men age 50 and older in the trial taking only vitamin E, and a small, but not statistically significant increase in the number of cases of adult onset diabetes in men taking only selenium. Read more...

Diabetes Treatment Becoming More Complex, Costly for Older Americans

Annual economic burden of diabetes is estimated at $132 billion and increasing

Oct. 27, 2008 - A progressively more complex and expensive array of treatments for type 2 diabetes is being prescribed to an increasing number of older adults, according to a report in the October 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Senior Citizens Taking Osteoporosis Drugs Increase Risk for Irregular Heart Beat, Death

Taking alendronate or zoledronic acid makes seniors significantly more likely to experience serious atrial fibrillation

Oct. 27, 2008 - People who take bisphosphonates for osteoporosis may be at risk for serious atrial fibrillation (AF), or irregular heartbeats, according to a new study. The research shows that people taking alendronate or zoledronic acid, two common medications to prevent or slow the occurrence of osteoporosis, were significantly more likely to experience serious AF, including hospitalization or death, compared with placebo. Read more...

Heart Failure Patients have Four Times Greater Risk of Fractures than Other Heart Patients

These patients should be screened and treated for osteoporosis if necessary

Oct. 24, 2008 - Heart failure patients are at higher risk for fractures, including debilitating hip fractures, than other heart patients and should be screened and treated for osteoporosis, Canadian researchers report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. The average age of the heart failure patients in the study was 78. Read more...

Seniors with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma More Likely to Die if Poor, to Survive with Chemo

NHL increasing; Caucasians have higher incidence and death rates than other ethnic groups.

Oct. 20, 2008 – A large study of senior citizens has found that older patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a type of cancer common in the elderly, are more likely to die if they are of a poorer socioeconomic status and more likely to survive if treated with chemotherapy. NHL is expected to be the fifth most common cancer in American men and women in 2008, and a top-10 cause of death for both, according to American Cancer Society estimates. Read more...

Movement Restored to Paralyzed Limbs through Artificial Brain-Muscle Connections

Help to victims of spinal cord injuries, strokes, other paralyzing diseases still years away

Oct. 16, 2008 – In a ground-breaking study, researchers have demonstrated that a direct artificial connection from the brain to muscles can restore voluntary movement in monkeys whose arms have been temporarily anesthetized. It offers hope to the thousands of Americans with spinal cord injuries, strokes or other paralyzing neurological diseases, although practical applications with humans are years away. Read more...

Too Much Sunlight, Too Few Antioxidants Places Older Adults at Risk for Eye Disease

Second study finds older diabetes patients more likely to have eye disease than those without the disease

Oct. 13, 2008 - A European study suggests that the combination of low plasma levels of antioxidants and blue light exposure from the sun is associated with certain forms of the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness in senior citizens, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Heart Problems After Stressful Event More Likely to be Considered Just Anxiety in Women

For women, anxiety appears to have a pervasive influence on medical judgments regardless of gender of health care provider doing evaluation

Oct. 13, 2008 – When women complain of having symptoms of heart problems after a stressful event, it is more likely their complaints will be interpreted as being due to emotional or mental stress, than for men. This may help explain why there is often a delay in the assessment of women with heart disease, according to research presented yesterday at the 20th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Read more...

Surgery to Prevent Strokes in Patients Age 80 and Older Now Considered Safe

As elderly population surges, it’s crucial to identify ways to limit the devastating strokes

Oct. 10, 2008 - New research published in the October issue of Journal of the American College of Surgeons challenges the current opinion that patients in their eighties, who are often deemed "high-risk" due to their advanced age, should not undergo carotid endarterectomy – a stroke-preventing surgical procedure that clears blockages from the neck's carotid arteries. Read more...

Colon Cancer Testing Should Continue Consistently Through Age 75, Task Force Says

U.S. Preventative Services Task Force issues new guidelines on how, when to test for colorectal cancer

Oct. 7, 2008 - New findings from a Decision Analysis for the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) suggest that routine colorectal cancer screenings can be stopped in patients over the age of 75. The results are based on patients who began screenings at age 50 and have had consistently negative screenings up to the age of 75 resulting from annual screening with sensitive Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), ten yearly colonoscopies, or five yearly sigmoidoscopies with a mid-interval sensitive FOBT. Read more...

New Guidelines to Reduce Internal Bleeding Risks Issued for Taking Antiplatelet with NSAID

Medical groups join to improve patient safety when taking the most widely used class of medications in U.S.

Oct. 6, 2008 – The good news is that Americans continue to live longer. The bad news is the longer we live the more medical challenges we face. New guidelines were released today for reducing the risk of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding among those senior citizens using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) along with antiplatelet agents. Read more...

Women Should Have Breast Exams at Least Until Age 85, Says Breast Cancer Expert

More than half of breast cancers are found in women 65 or older, 45% diagnosed after age 70, death more likely when found late

See video link in story.

Oct. 6, 2008 - Despite recent examples of young and middle-aged celebrities being diagnosed with breast cancer, more than half of breast cancers happen in women over age 65. Concerned that many older women are not taking the threat of breast cancer to themselves seriously, an expert at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center is urging seniors to continue annual breast screening at least until age 85. Read more...(also link to video)

Senior Citizens Find Better Option than Mozart to Lower Blood Pressure with Audio Relaxation

Technique has been used for chronic pain, but never tested in the hypertensive elderly

Sept. 30, 2008 – Senior citizens who want to try relaxation as a way to lower their blood pressure have a better option than listening to a Mozart sonata. Rolling ocean waves as background to a soothing voice urging relaxation does the job better for elderly people, according to research reported recently at the American Heart Association’s recent conference on high blood pressure. Read more...

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Strikes Up to 90 Percent of Oldest Men, Can Be Life-Threatening

It’s Prostate Health Month and urologist say cancer is not the only thing senior citizens should watch for

Sept. 29, 2008 – Urination problems may be passed off by many older men as just a sign of aging, but that could be a costly mistake. It could be an indication of an extremely common non-cancerous condition, particularly for senior citizens, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It hits half of men between the ages of 51 and go, and up to 90 percent over age 80. Read more...

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizen

Survival After Cardiac Arrest Five Times Higher in Some Cities than Others: EMS May Be Key

EMS-treated cardiac arrest survival ranged from 3.0% to 16.3%; ventricular fibrillation survival ranged from 7.7% to 39.9%

 

Link to video in story

 

Sept. 24, 2008 – When hit with cardiac arrest your chances of survival are five times greater in some cities than others, which researchers say proves this often lethal event is treatable and that quality EMS services may be under-appreciated. Read more...


Features for Senior Citizens

Which Cardiac Arrest Patients are Taken to Hospital Decided by Simple Tests for EMS

New guidelines identify which patients should be brought to hospitals when emergency efforts to revive them aren’t working

Sept. 24, 2008 - When someone’s heart suddenly stops beating – a condition called cardiac arrest -- there’s a lot that bystanders and ambulance crews can do to get it started again. But if the victim doesn’t respond, when should such efforts stop? It is a question of critical importance to senior citizens - the most likely victims. Read more...

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Virtual Colonoscopy Ready for Prime Time as Less Worrisome Way to Find Colon Cancer

Large trial says CT Colonography comparable to colonoscopy in helping prevent third most diagnosed cancer, second leading cause of cancer death

 

Virtual colonoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure, produces 3-D images and videos of the lining of the rectum and colon. The technique can detect precancerous and cancerous polyps. Image courtesy of Dr. Perry J. Pickhardt, University of Wisconsin Medical School.

 

Sept. 22, 2008 – Medical researchers have long sought an effective alternative to the standard colonoscopy, which uses a long, flexible tube with a camera to view the lining of the colon to detect cancer and precancerous polyps. Most have assumed it is the procedure that causes millions of older men to skip the recommended exam that could save them from colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death. Researchers claim they have found the answer - computerized tomographic (CT) colonography, known as “virtual colonoscopy,” is now comparable to standard colonoscopy. Read more...

High Cholesterol Bad for Heart but May Also Increases Prostate Cancer Risk

September both National Prostate Health and National Cholesterol Education Months

Sept. 18, 2008 - Heart health isn’t the only reason for older men to pay attention to cholesterol levels, according to the American Urological Association, which points to recent research showing that cholesterol plays an important role in prostate health as well. Read more...

Lipitor, Other Statins May Reduce Risk of Heart Attack for Men Only, Yet Marketed to Women

Billions of dollars may be being wasted on statin use by women to lower cholesterol, prevent heart disease

September 17, 2008 – Lipitor has been the top-selling drug in the world and has accounted for over $12 billion in annual sales. It has been prescribed to both men and women to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with common risk factors for heart disease. A new study, however, was unable to find “high quality” clinical evidence documenting reduced heart attack risk for women in a primary prevention context. Read more...

One of Three Older Women Suffer with Incontinence As Do One-Quarter of All Women

By the time women become 80 about half battle these pelvic floor disorders

Sept. 16, 2008 – More than one out of three older women suffer from urinary or fecal incontinence, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. These disorders become more prevalent with increasing age and weight, the researchers found, but nearly one-quarter of women of all ages report at least one of these pelvic floor disorders. Read more...

Surgeon General Calls for Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism

Two guides to help seniors and other consumers, clinicians issued by AHRQ

Sept. 15, 2008 - A campaign spearheaded by the U.S. surgeon general kicked off today with the goal of reducing the number of cases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, killers of over 100,000 people each year in the U.S. Many of those who die are senior citizens. The Call to Action urges a coordinated, multifaceted plan. Read more...

Common Painkillers Like Aspirin Seem to Lower PSA Level that Predicts Prostate Cancer

Not enough data to say that men who took the medications were less likely to get prostate cancer

Sept. 8, 2008 – Can common painkillers, like aspirin and ibuprofen, protect men from prostate cancer. Researchers say men should not jump to that conclusion, although, their study shows these over-the-counter drugs appear to lower a man’s PSA level, the blood biomarker widely used by physicians to help gauge whether a man is at risk of prostate cancer.

Height Linked to Prostate Cancer Development, Growth in Review of 58 Studies

‘We speculate that factors that influence height may also influence cancer and height is therefore acting as a marker for the causal factors’

Sept. 3, 2008 – A man’s height appears to indicate his risk for prostate cancer – more height, more risk. But British researchers, who reviewed 58 published studies, say height is a much stronger indicator of how rapidly the cancer will progress. Read more...

Study Confirms Older Americans Need to Have Colonoscopy at Age 50

Cancer's precursor polyps, known as adenoma, sharply increase after age 50

Below see...

Medicare's coverage of tests for colorectal cancer.

More about colon cancer.

Sept. 3, 2008 – People over age 50, who are still wrestling with the decision of whether they should have a colonoscopy, received another wake-up call this week from a study detailing the rapid increase of polyps – the precursor of virtually all colorectal cancers – that begin to occur at that age. Read more...

Heart Attack Patients Who Stop Taking Statins Are More Likely to Die Within a Year

Those who used statins before an AMI and continued were 16% less likely to die over the next year than those who never used them

Aug. 27, 2008 – The statin you were taking did not prevent you from having a heart attack so why continue taking it? For one reason, say researchers, if you discontinue the drug after your acute myocardial infarction (AMI) you will greatly increase the chance that you will die within a year. Read more...

Four Online Interactive Tools Added by AARP to Website's Health Section

Guides help users find disease from symptoms, check safety of drugs, find doctors and hospitals, look up health information

Aug. 27, 2008 - AARP has added four health tools to its Web site. The data sources, which the organization says provide “trusted, reliable online health information,” are outside providers and their data is made available through the AARP’s Health Section. Topics include solving health problems to finding doctors and hospitals, but the information is not specifically for senior citizens. Read more...

Increasing Numbers of Seniors are Challenged by Checking Blood Pressure at Home

Free video by Harvard Heart Letter tells you how to get a good reading

Aug. 26, 2008 – Senior citizens are more conscious than most of the dangers from hypertension and blood pressure readings are a common topic of discussion. Free machines to take your blood pressure reading are available at pharmacies and increasingly are found in homes. But getting an accurate reading may not be as easy as many think, according to the Harvard Heart Letter, which is offering free help. Read more...

New Technique Used on Old Rats Offers New Hope for Delayed Stroke Treatment

Loyola researchers hope to reverse stroke damage by jumpstarting growth of nerve fibers

Aug. 25, 2008 - If a stroke patient doesn't get treatment within approximately the first three hours of symptoms, there's not much doctors can do today to limit damage to the brain. A new technique used on rats that have experienced strokes in old age, however, could potentially restore functions to patients weeks or even months after a stroke.

Obese Senior Citizens Don’t Increase Death Risk but Become Ticking Bomb for Disability

   
 

Only severely obese men increase risk of death.

 

In most developed countries middle-aged and elderly adults are more likely to be obese than people in any other age group

Aug. 21, 2008 – Being obese as a senior citizen may not increase your risk of death above that of thinner seniors, but it is a major contributor to increased disability in later life, which is creating a ticking time bomb for health services in developed countries, according to new research. Read more...

Brachytherapy May Be Best Prostate Cancer Treatment Choice for Obese Men

Follows finding that surgery is technically more challenging in overweight men

Aug. 19, 2008 - A recent study found that obese men with prostate cancer have less successful surgical treatment than normal weight men, because the surgery is technically more challenging in obese men. A study released today, says brachytherapy, also called “seed implants,” may be a better treatment choice than surgery or external beam radiation for these overweight patients. Read more...

Seniors Much Less Likely Than Younger Patients to Be Rushed to Trauma Centers

Unconscious age bias in EMS and receiving trauma center personnel identified as a possible cause

Aug. 18, 2008 – If you are a senior citizen – age 65 or older – and suffer a trauma, your chances of getting emergency services to transport you to a trauma center are 52 percent less than for younger people. But, if you are 70 or older it gets even worse, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

State-Level Lawsuits are Vital Deterrent to Protect Consumers from Drugmakers

Prestigious New England Journal of Medicine editors file friend-of-court brief

 

Daily Reports

KaiserNetwork.org

 

Aug. 18, 2008 - FDA by itself cannot guarantee drug safety and state-level lawsuits are "a vital deterrent" to help protect consumers against drugmakers that do not disclose all risks associated with a treatment, editors of the New England Journal of Medicine wrote in a friend-of-the-court brief on Thursday, the AP/Orlando Sentinel reports (Alonso-Zaldivar, AP/Orlando Sentinel, 8/15). Read more...

Large Trial of Drug Therapy for COPD Offers New Hope for Those with This Lung Problem

It did not abolish the accelerated decline in lung function but did make substantial improvement

 

The illustration show the respiratory system and cross-sections of healthy alveoli and alveoli with COPD.Shows the respiratory system and cross-sections of healthy alveoli and alveoli with COPD

 

Aug. 18, 2008 - For the first time, a drug therapy appears to reduce lung function loss in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., which is primarily diagnosed in older people. Read more...

Studies Show Waist Circumference is Heart Risk Factor Even in Normal-Weight Individuals

Some of obese appear ‘Metabolically Healthy’ without increased cardiovascular risk

Aug. 11, 2008 - Some obese individuals do not appear to have an increased risk for heart disease, while some normal-weight individuals experience a cluster of heart risks, according to two reports in the August 11/25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The studies find a key factor is where the fat is located. Interestingly, normal-weight individuals with metabolic abnormalities tended to be older, less physically active and have larger waists. Read more...

Prostate Screening Bias Against Obese Men Leads to Late Detection, Less Surgical Success

Aggressiveness of obese men's late-detected tumors and that they may be more difficult to remove, is a double whammy for fat guys

Aug. 8, 2008 – Older men, still trying to digest the government recommendation last week that those 75 or older should not be recommended for prostate cancer screening, today got a new warning. It says tests for elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood - the gold standard screening test for prostate cancer - may be biased against obese men, whose PSA levels tend to be deceptively low. This delays diagnosis and allows development of more aggressive cancers. Read more...

Barrett’s Esophagus, a Pre-cancerous Disease, is Increasing Among White Male Senior Citizens

Study says doctors can do more about this disease linked to chronic acid reflux

Aug. 7, 2008 - It is another one of those diseases that does not usually strike until you are about to become a senior citizen, which may be one of the reasons the disease known as Barrett’s esophagus gets overlooked. A new study says the medical community can do a better job with this pre-cancerous condition linked to chronic acid reflux. Read more...

Task Force Says Men Age 75 and Older Should Not Be Screened for Prostate Cancer

Chances are they will die of something else before the cancer gets them

Aug. 5, 2008 - Men age 75 and older should not be screened for prostate cancer, because even if they have it, chances are they will die of something else first, as well as endure pain and suffering from the testing. Younger men should discuss the benefits and harms of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test with their clinicians before being tested, according to new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Read more...

Vitamin C Injections Slow Pancreatic, Ovarian and Brain Cancer Growth in Mice

High concentrations of ascorbate had anticancer effects in 75% of cancer cell lines, while sparing normal cells

Aug. 4, 2008 - High-dose injections of vitamin C, also known as ascorbate or ascorbic acid, reduced tumor weight and growth rate by about 50 percent in mouse models of brain, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers, three of the deadliest of cancers. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report results in the August 5, 2008, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read more...

Senior Citizens and Surgeons Failing to Communicate Effectively, Study Finds

Few responses were elicited when surgeons asked, ‘Do you have any questions or concerns?’

July 31, 2008 -- The decision to undergo surgery can be particularly difficult and confusing for senior citizens. In a study published in the July 2008 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, older patients also fail to discuss many of their concerns with the surgeon when exploring surgical treatment options. Read more...

Highest Danger for Heart Attack Comes from Fat Around the Heart

Older people with highest levels of heart fat almost five times more likely to have calcified coronary plaque

July 30, 2008 – Obesity may increase a senior citizens risk of developing a number of diseases and physical problems, but when it comes to risk of heart attack, having excess fat around the heart may be worse than having a high body mass index or a thick waist, according to researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues reporting in the August issue of the journal Obesity. Read more...

Oldest Americans Falling Behind in America’s Rush to Become Obese

New numbers show percent in US that are obese has moved up by 2 percentage points

July 17, 2008 – New obesity figures show the percentage of overweight Americans continues to expand but senior citizens – at least those 70 and older – do not seem to be keeping up with younger adults, especially those between age 60 and 69. An estimated 25.6 percent of U.S. adults reported being obese in 2007 compared to 23.9 percent in 2005, an increase of 1.7 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more...

Senior Citizens with Osteoarthritis Do Just Fine After Hip or Knee Replacements

Patients 75 and older took about the same amount of time to return to regular activities as those age 65 to 74

July 14, 2008 - Older adults who have hip or knee replacement surgery for severe osteoarthritis may take several weeks to recover but appear to have excellent long-term outcomes, according to a report in the July 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

CDC Researcher Suggests Lack of Insurance is Reason for Lack of Colorectal Cancer Screening

Rates of those tested jumped after 2001 when Medicare expanded coverage for colonoscopy

 

While few people will rank a colonoscopy as a favorite medical procedure, one statistic argues clearly in its favor: a 90 percent cure rate in colon cancers caught at an early stage.

 

July 14, 2008 – There is new evidence today that national health insurance will save millions of lives and many health care dollars. This new study looked at Americans age 50 and older and found just about half are taking the recommended screening tests for colorectal cancer, despite massive evidence showing this can reduce deaths from this deadly cancer. Lack of insurance coverage seems to be a major factor. Read more...

Power of Positive Thinking Works Well for Heart Health – at Least for Men

Most women who rated their risk "low" were far more accurate than the men

July 14, 2008 - Men, up to age 75, who believed they were at lower-than-average risk for cardiovascular disease actually experienced a three times lower incidence of death from heart attacks and strokes. The data did not support the same conclusion among women, according to University of Rochester Medical Center researcher Robert Gramling, M.D., D.Sc. Read more...

Fighting for Your Legs: Peripheral Arterial Disease on Rise for Senior Citizens

‘Silent killer’ bringing grave results that can include gangrene, amputation, or death

By Dr. Gary M. Ansel

July 10, 2008 - Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), a condition synonymous with the clogging of arteries in the body’s lower extremities, is often referred to as a “silent killer” that can bring with it potentially grave results that include gangrene, amputation, or death. Read more...

Heart, Diabetes, Cancer Groups Join Forces to Increase U.S. Life Expectancy

Could add 220 million life-years in 30 years or 1.3 years of life expectancy for every adult

See Below in story:

> How Americans Die

> Link to WHO video on chronic disease

> Link to research on benefits of preventive services

July 9, 2008 - Aggressive use of nationally recommended clinical prevention activities, such as smoking cessation programs, controlling pre-diabetes or lowering cholesterol, could increase life expectancy for U.S. adults by reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a joint report of three major national healthcare organizations. Read more...

Breast Cancer in Senior Citizens Less Aggressive Than in Younger Women

 

View NBC News Report

 

Women under 45 tend to respond less to treatment, have higher recurrence rates than older women, particularly those over the age of 65

July 8, 2008 - Young women's breast cancers tend to be more aggressive and less responsive to treatment than the cancers that arise in older women, and researchers at the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy may have discovered part of the reason why: young women's breast cancers share unique genomic traits that the cancers in older women do not exhibit. Read more...

Androgen Deprivation Does Not Improve Survival for Seniors with Prostate Cancer

Conservative management of the disease does a better job, says study

July 8, 2008 - A therapy that involves depriving the prostate gland of the male hormone androgen does not improve survival for elderly men with localized prostate cancer, compared to conservative management of the disease, according to a study in the July 9 issue of JAMA. Which is good news for researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that released a study in February of 2007 warning this popular therapy may actually increase the risk of death from heart disease for patients over age 65. Read more...

Ankle-to-Arm Blood Pressure Ratio May Help Define Cardiovascular Risk

Ankle brachial index is used to indicate the risk of peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis

July 8, 2008 – A ratio of blood pressure measurements from the ankles and arms – the ankle brachial index – may improve the accuracy of predicting cardiovascular risk, according to a review of previous research that is reported in the July 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more...

One in Every Four Older Americans Now Diagnosed with Diabetes

Three million increase in two years pushes total in US to 24 million

June 30, 2008 – Last week new statistics on diabetes were released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that showed 24 million in the U.S. now have diabetes – 8 percent of the population. What was buried deeper in the news release was the staggering statistic that almost 25 percent of the population age 60 and older had diabetes in 2007.

Hypertension Best Controlled in Study with Home Monitoring and Web-Based Pharmacist

 

Link to Video in story

 

More than half reached blood pressure goal through home monitoring-Web training-Web Pharmacy

June 24, 2008 – High blood pressure (hypertension) is the leading chronic disease among senior citizens but a new treatment method has achieved significant results in improving the control of blood pressure. The patients who monitored their blood pressure from home and received Web-based pharmacist care and training showed greater improvement in blood pressure control than patients who received usual care. Read more...

Risk of Death in Senior Citizens Indicated by Subtle Nervous System Abnormalities

Slowed reflexes, sagging posture and other small neurological problems need more attention in elderly patients

June 23, 2008 – If you are elderly – say 72 or so – and show subtle signs of reflexes that are not so quick, a posture that sags and maybe another slight neurological problem or two, there is evidence from a new study that you may be in danger of a stroke or death, even if you appear to be otherwise healthy. Read more...

Most Effective Emergency Stroke Treatment Drug May Get Even Better with a Little Help

Benefits from tPA increased by leukemia drug, imatinib (Gleevec) in tests

June 23, 2008 - For over a decade, the drug called tPA has proven its worth as the most effective emergency treatment for the most common kind of stroke. But its promise is blemished by two facts: tPA can cause dangerous bleeding in the brain, and its brain-saving power fades fast after the third hour of a stroke. Read more...

Bariatric Surgery to Attack Obesity Shown to Prevent Cancer in New Study

Other recent success with stomach-shrinking surgery has been against type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol

June 19, 2008 – Many over-weight senior citizens have closely watched the news unfold over the last few years extolling the ability of bariatric stomach surgery to prevent such dreaded conditions as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. They can now add and even worse condition to that list - cancer. Read more...

You Are Never Too Old for a Hip Replacement to Improve Function

Researchers find it is cost-effective with no age limit for benefits to osteoarthritis patients

June 18, 2008 – Senior citizens with osteoarthritis who undergo total hip replacement are twice as likely as those who do not to show improvements in physical functioning and increased ability to care for themselves, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. The study, which is the largest of its kind, found that there is no age limit on the benefits of hip replacement for patients. Read more...

New Studies Impacting Deadly Atherosclerosis Have Potential to Save Millions of Lives

Blocking ROCK1 could slow the disease; cooling the inflammation; repair with artificial veins and arteries

June 18, 2008 - Even if you eat right and exercise regularly, chances are high that you'll still die of a heart attack or stroke. But thanks to new findings by researchers from Harvard and Baylor, the odds may finally shift in your favor. Two studies published online in The FASEB Journal describe findings on atherosclerosis that have the potential to save millions of lives. A third reports on the potential of repairing the damage using artificial. Read more...

Radiation for Cancer Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy Shows Increased Survival

Provocative evidence that even men with adverse prognostic features may benefit from salvage radiotherapy

June 17, 2008 - Preliminary findings indicate that for men who underwent radical prostatectomy, radiation treatment after prostate cancer recurrence was associated with an increase in prostate cancer-related survival, according to a study in the June 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more...

Better Understanding How Tim Russert Died, How to Avoid It Causing Senior Citizen Buzz

Many older Americans puzzled how newsman passed stress test and then died shortly after of heart attack

By Tucker Sutherland, editor & publisher, SeniorJournal.com

June 17, 2008 – The death of Tim Russert was a shocker to the world and the cause of his death – heart attack - shortly after passing a stress test, has left many senior citizens scratching their heads. Seniors, more sensitive to news about heart attack deaths than most, have been a buzz about the mystery. A better understanding may come from looking at a report on a new gadget approved by the FDA in April that tells us more about the killer plaque laying in wait inside our arteries and a statement issued yesterday by the CEO of the company that makes it. Read more...

Senior Citizen Disease that Inflames Arteries in Head Found to Increase Risk of Blindness

Giant cells that destroy bacteria often found in temporal arterities that usually hits at age 70, can lead to Polymyalgia rheumatica

June 17, 2008 – A disease that usually strikes people at about age 70 – temporal arteritis – has been found to increase by three the chance these senior citizens will go blind. And, those with “Giant cells” are three times more likely to develop Polymyalgia rheumatica. Read more...

Elderly Patients with Ruptured Aortic Aneurysm Improve Survival with Least Invasive Repair

Study finds having surgery and mesh stent procedures available helps all ages survive

June 16, 2008 – Older people, in particular those over age 75, that suffer a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, have a much better chance of survival if the repair is performed by a less invasive procedure than open surgery. But for people of all ages, having two options for the repair is shown to improve survival, according to a new study. Read more...

Heart Disease Deaths Not Dropping for Diabetic Women as for Men; Less Treatment May Be Cause

Women have worse control of blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol but given cholesterol-lowering medications less often

Another Possible Heart Disease Risk for Overweight Women: Low Growth Hormone - Read below main story.

June 16, 2008 - Women with type 2 diabetes and heart disease have poorer control of both diseases and receive less intensive medical treatment than do men, which may help explain why death due to heart disease has decreased among men but not women with type 2 diabetes, according to a study presented yesterday. Read more...

Girk4 Gene May Hold the Key to Why Obesity Increases with Age

Mice missing this gene develop obesity finds University of Minnesota study

June 10, 2008 – The likelihood of developing obesity more than doubles between the ages of 20 and 60, as most senior citizens know. But, why? That is the unanswered question that researchers hope to answer with the discovery of a gene that may hold the secret. Read more...

Senior Heart Patients Need Help from Cardiac Rehab Expert to Adhere to Healthy Habits

Mayo Clinic research shows that cardiac rehab can extend life but is vastly underutilized

June 6, 2008 – It's a familiar pattern – the senior citizen suffers a serious heart problem and comes out of the initial life-saving treatment determined to do whatever it takes to live a healthier life. The diet, the exercise – it all goes well for awhile and then, too often, the will power and determination drastically diminishes. The answer could be a cardiac "disease manager," according to researchers at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Read more...

Younger Heart Failure Patients More Likely than Seniors to Overestimate Life Expectancy

But majority of patients in study think they will live longer than clinical prediction

June 3, 2008 – Senior citizens, especially those without the most severe heart failures, are more realistic about their condition and remaining life span than are younger heart failure patients, who are most likely to overestimate their chances of survival. Read more...

Are Machines Good Enough to Make Heart Transplants a Thing of the Past?

Advanced heart-assisting devices are getting better and better, but donated hearts are still the gold standard

 

Click to view video

 

June 2, 2008 - Heart transplants save the lives of more than 2,100 Americans every year. But many more patients are still waiting for a new heart to become available, and hundreds will die without ever getting a second chance at life. Meanwhile, tens of thousands more people aren’t sick enough to need a transplant, but struggle every day with severe heart failure that limits all aspects of their lives. Read more...

Identifying Cancer Patients with Poor Quality of Life May Spot Those with Aggressive Tumors

Quality of life predicts cancer survival in University of Michigan study

May 29, 2008 - Head and neck cancer patients who reported lower physical quality of life were more likely to die from their disease, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. The findings could mean that identifying patients with poor quality of life could also identify patients with particularly aggressive tumors. Read more...

Many Senior Citizens with Heart Disease Have Poor Knowledge of Heart Attack Symptoms

Despite 5 to 7 times more risk they don’t get it – women do better than men

May 27, 2008 – A new study has produced the stunning results that show nearly half of the people with a history of heart disease know very little about the symptoms of a heart attack and do not even consider themselves to have an elevated cardiovascular risk. Read more...

Senior Citizens Suffering Undiagnosed Disease May Find Help From New NIH Program

National Institutes of Health clinic will focus on most puzzling medical cases

May 21, 2008 – Senior citizens who live with the frustration of a mysterious condition that no one seems to diagnosis or, therefore, treat my find hope with a new clinical research program announced this week by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is named the “Undiagnosed Diseases Program,” and will focus on the most puzzling medical cases referred to the NIH Clinical Center. Read more...

Doctors Unsure When to Treat High Blood Pressure in Diabetics

Uncertainty stems from ambiguous standards, competing demands and overlapping health problems

It’s crucial for people with diabetes to keep their blood pressure under control – below 130/80 if possible.

May 20, 2008 – For people with diabetes, high blood pressure poses a special threat, multiplying their risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney problems. But a new study finds that even when people with diabetes show up in their doctor’s office with a high blood pressure reading, there’s only a 50-50 chance that each of them will get some sort of attention for it. Read more...

Family History of Shingles May Be Motivator to Get Vaccination

Significantly higher proportion reported having family history of herpes zoster

 

CDC Recommends Shingles Vaccine for Those Age 60 and Older - see below news report.

 

May 19, 2008 – There is new evidence to be considered by the millions of older Americans wrestling with the decision of whether or not to get the costly shingles vaccination. Researchers report those who do get herpes zoster, or shingles, are much more likely than others to have a family history of the condition. Read more...

Quality of Life Found to Influence Survival in Cancer Patients

Mayo researchers find ‘quality of life was a strong predictor of survival’

May 16, 2008 - Patients that feel better live longer, say Mayo Clinic researchers. Angelina Tan, the study’s lead author, says the results show quality of life is an independent factor in survival. Read more...

Rapid Growth in Cardiovascular Implant Devices Spurs New International Guidelines

Pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices nearing 2 million in U.S., Europe

May 15, 2008 - Approaching two million people in the U.S. and Europe now live with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED) and this number is expected to continue its rapid increase. Doctors from both continents joined yesterday in releasing new guidelines for the proper management of the devices, which include pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. Read more...

Older Men With Prostate Cancer at Much Greater Risk of Bone Fractures

Patients should be checked for osteoporosis, particularly if treated with ADT

May 14, 2008 - As unlikely as it sounds, scientists at the Garvan Institute for Medical Research have shown that there is a link between prostate cancer and a higher risk of bone fracture. And, this risk makes a significant jump if the patients have been treated with ADT (androgen deprivation therapy). Read more...

Rehab Program Improves Visual Function for Low-Vision Elderly with Macular Disease

Low-vision rehabilitation aims to restore functional ability, such as reading

May 13, 2008 - A low-vision rehabilitation program that includes a home visit, counseling, assistive devices such as magnifiers and assignments to practice using them appears to significantly improve vision in elderly veterans with diseases of the macula (the area of the retina with the sharpest vision), according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

More than Half of Adults with Diabetes Hindered from Needed Exercise by Painful Arthritis

CDC study says 29.8% of adults with arthritis and diabetes were totally inactive

 

Both arthritis and diabetes are common chronic diseases among senior citizens - see chart in news story.

 

May 6, 2008 - Physical activity is important for adults suffering with diabetes but a new study says more than half of these patients also have arthritis, which is often a painful barrier to exercise. Read more...

Senior Citizens Offered Help in Dealing with a Diabetes Diagnosis

Almost 10.5 million adults aged 60 and older in the U.S. have diabetes

By the National Diabetes Education Program

May 6, 2008 - Senior citizens who have been told by a health care professional that they have type 2 diabetes usually feel anxious or uncertain. But if there is comfort in numbers that should know they are not alone – almost 10.5 million adults aged 60 and older in the U.S. have diabetes. Diabetes is serious, but it can be managed. The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) offers tips to help older adults learn to manage diabetes, avoid or delay serious complications, and live longer, healthier lives. Read more...

Women Who Stop Smoking Will See Their Risk of Death Begin to Drop Rapidly

Communicating risks to smokers, helping them quit should be integral part of public health

May 6, 2008 - An extensive review of the health histories of thousands of women shows that when they stop smoking their risk of death from any disease begins to decline. Within five years they will significantly reduce their risk of dying from coronary heart disease and will reduce their risk of death from smoking-related cancers by 20 percent. The study reported in May 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association is good encouragement for older women who may hesitate to stop, because they think it is too late. Read more...

Calm the Heart to Stop a Stroke from Irregular Heartbeat that Causes 20 Percent of Cases

Treatments for atrial fibrillation aim to reduce the chance of a stroke, ease symptoms, for millions

May 6, 2008 – There’s an electrical storm brewing inside the hearts of more than 2.2 million Americans. And just like lightning, this kind of storm can have devastating consequences. Read more...See Video...

Little Doubt Left that Severe Obesity Can Lead to Heart Failure

Study in 7,000 men and women ties obesity, inflammatory proteins to heart failure

May 1, 2008 - Any remaining doubt that being severely overweight leads to heart failure was probably erased today by the release of what is described as the first wide-scale evidence of prolonged inflammation and resulting damage to heart tissue causing failure of the body's blood-pumping organ among the obese. Read more...

Device to Detect Fat Content of Plaque Inside of Coronary Arteries Cleared by FDA

InfraReDx LipiScan NIR Catheter Imaging System uses infrared imaging to detect plaques

InfraReDx website with video at www.infraredx.com

April 29, 2008 - Nearly a million Americans - mostly senior citizens - will suffer a heart attack this year and about half will die. The odds may swing in a more positive direction, however, with the Food and Drug Administration's approval today of the marketing of a device that a doctor can use to see inside a blood vessel to assess the fat content of the plaque which builds up on the wall of the coronary arteries. Read more...

Avandia, Actos Double the Risk of Fractures Among Diabetes Patients

These two drugs account for 21% of oral diabetes medications in U.S.

April 29, 2008 - Diabetics taking rosiglitazone (Avandia) or pioglitazone (Actos) approximately double or triple their odds of hip and other non-spine fractures, according to a report in the April 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Diabetes is a leading chronic disease among senior citizens that are often fighting the dangers of bone fractures from osteoporosis. And, it was a no win day for these elderly, as the journal also reported a drug for this ailment may cause atrial fibrillation (see sidebar). Read more...

Osteoporosis Drug Fosamax Linked to Atrial Fibrillation in Older Women

Merck's Fosamax is most widely used drug for bone-thinning osteoporosis

April 29, 2008 - Older women who use Fosamax (alendronate) to prevent fractures from osteoporosis are nearly twice as likely to develop the most common kind of chronically irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), according to research from Group Health and the University of Washington published in the April 28 Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Seniors Targeted by New Consumers Union Education Campaign on Prescription Drugs

Attorneys General provide grant of $4.4 million to Consumer Reports publisher

April 28, 2008 – Last week Attorneys General from around the country announced  a $4.4 million grant to Consumers Union that will fund a public education program designed to eliminate huge gaps in public knowledge about prescription drugs. Senior citizens, due to their massive consumption of prescription drugs, will be a primary target of the effort. Read more...

Hemoglobin-based Blood Substitutes Linked with Increased Risk of Death, Heart Attack

Heart attack risk jumps 2.7 times, death risk increases by 30 percent

April 28, 2008 - What seems like a great idea - a liquid blood substitute with a long shelf-life, that does not need refrigeration and does not cause infection - is turning into a nightmare. Studies of hemoglobin-based blood substitutes indicate their use is associated with an increased risk of death and heart attack, according to a report published online by the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more...

Scraps Left from Heart Surgery Grow into New Heart Muscle Stem Cells

Good news for treatment, scientific research and testing of potentially new drugs

April 23, 2008 - Stem cells derived from material left over from open heart surgeries have been used to grow large numbers of stem cells and create new heart muscle cells. The Dutch researchers say it is a "breakthrough" in stem cell research - previously it was necessary to use embryonic stem cells to make this happen. It also means stem cell research is advancing rapidly and may prove useful to today's senior citizens in fighting a variety of diseases. Read more...

Mammography Beneficial After 75?, 80?; Breast Cancer Spreads Faster After 70

Studies of breast cancer in older women point to extending mammography

April 22, 2008 - A study released yesterday found mammography, the gold-standard for breast cancer screening, can significantly reduce the risk of being diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in women over the age of 80, an age group currently without clear guidelines for regular screenings. While a European study released earlier found it is effective, appropriate and reduces deaths from the disease in women aged up to 75 years old. Both report to be the first to study cancer screening at these ages. Another study of breast cancer in older women found the cancer found in women over age 70 is more likely to spread. Read more...

Large Skin Lesions More Likely to be Melanomas; Scalp, Neck Cancers More Deadly

Screening becomes increasingly critical as rate of melanomas increases

April 21, 2008 - Skin lesions larger than 6 millimeters (.236 inch) in diameter are more likely to be melanomas than smaller skin growths, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The researchers support the diameter guidelines currently used by dermatologists in searching for this skin cancer that likes to strike older men. Read more....

Risk of Death From Vioxx In Clinical Trials May Have Been Misrepresented By Merck

JAMA focuses on drug-maker Merck's apparent attempt to manipulate data

April 15, 2008 - A comparison of internal company documents, data submitted by the company to the FDA, and published clinical trial results indicates that the risk-benefit profile of rofecoxib, marketed as Vioxx and Ceoxx, in clinical trials involving patients with cognitive impairment may have been misrepresented by study sponsor Merck, according to an article in the April 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Read more... link to video

Cholesterol Fighting Statins May Also Help Senior Citizens Battle High Blood Pressure

Statins may activate compounds that widen blood vessels and improve their function

April 15, 2008 - Statins, the medication swallowed daily by millions of senior citizens to lower their blood cholesterol levels, may also help fight the most dominant chronic problem for senior citizens - hypertension. A new study found statins modestly reduce blood pressure, according to a report in the April 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Another Study Points to Higher Breast Cancer Risk from Alcohol for Older Women

The more older (postmenopausal) women drink the greater the risk

April 14, 2008 – A large study has confirmed several previous studies showing that drinking alcohol is a substantial risk factor among older women for the development of breast cancer. This study focused on the most common type of breast cancer – the 70% found positive for both estrogen and progesterone receptors, referred to as "ER+/PR+" breast cancer. And, the study says the more one drinks the higher the risk. Read more...

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers Killing More Senior Citizens in Australia

More elderly dying from Squamous Cell and Merkel Cell Carcinomas

April 14, 2008 – Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. – more than a million are diagnosed annually – but it is the melanoma skin cancer that older Americans fear most, because of the high death rate. There is a new skin cancer worry for senior citizens emerging in Australia, however, where deaths from non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are increasing rapidly among older Australians. Read more...

Nano-Sized Technology Has Super-Sized Effect on Slowing Tumor Growth

  A tumor treated with fumagillin nanoparticles (left) is smaller than an untreated tumor. Nanoparticles containing an image-enhancing metal (yellow) show that the treated tumor has much less blood vessel growth than the untreated tumor.  

Researchers find success with 1,000 times lower dose of chemotherapy

April 2, 2008 - In the world that most senior citizens live in, discussions frequently turn to cancer treatments, since contemporaries are often battling the disease. The struggle against the side-effects of chemotherapy frequently comes up. There is good news today, however, that researchers may have found a way to use nanotechnology to dramatically reduce the dose of chemo required. Read more...

New Discovery of Four More Genetic Variants Involved in Type 2 Diabetes

This brings total to 16 for diabetes - one has link with prostate cancer

April 1, 2008 – An unprecedented analysis of genetic data from over 70,000 people has identified six more genetic variants involved in type 2 diabetes. That brings the number to 16 of genetic risk factors associated with increased risk of the disease. None of the new variants had previously been suspected of playing a role in type 2 diabetes. Intriguingly, the new variant most strongly associated with type 2 diabetes also was recently implicated in a very different condition: prostate cancer. Read more...

Significant Reduction in Deaths Using Blood Pressure-Lowering Treatment in Very Elderly

Note: This story about the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET) was added in December to the SeniorJournal.com archives after it became a stop health story for 2008

March 31, 2008 - Lowering the blood pressure of elderly patients could cut their total mortality by a fifth and their rate of cardiovascular events by a third, according to a new study presented today at the American College of Cardiology in Chicago and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial was so successful in saving lives that it was concluded early last August to rush the data into use. Read more...

Antidiabetic Agent Proves It Can Slow Plaque Build-Up in Coronary Arteries

Thiazolidineddiones drug pioglitzsone (Actos) beats sulfonyhlureas drug glimepiride (Amaryl)

March 31, 2008 – A new study has found the medication pioglitzone – from a newer class of antidiabetic agents – is more effective than glimepiride in slowing the development of plaque in the coronary arteries of diabetics. More importantly, the researchers say it is the first demonstration of the ability of any hypoglycemic agent to slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes. Read more...

New CPR Recommendation Takes Little Training – Just Push Hard and Fast

Mouth-to-mouth no longer recommended for bystanders trying to save lives

March 31, 2008 - Chest compressions alone, or Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), can save lives and can be used to help an adult who suddenly collapses, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement posted on the Web site today. Read more...

Morbid Obesity Levels the Playing Field for Cardiovascular Risk Between Men, Women

Interestingly, excess obesity appears to offer protection from heart attack

March 31, 2008 - Heart disease remains the leading killer of men and women; but while men tend to be at greater risk for developing heart problems, cardiovascular risk profiles often vary between genders. A new study suggests such gender-related differences disappear in patients who are morbidly obese compared to those who are overweight or obese, according to data presented today at the American College of Cardiology’s 57th Annual Scientific Session. Read more...

Anniversary of Loved Ones Death Shown to Trigger Sudden Death, Men Especially

History of heart attack, family SD or coronary disease, cardiovascular risks add to vulnerability

March 31, 2008 - If the date of a loved one’s passing is approaching, beware. The anniversary of the death of a close family member, especially a mother or father, is a significant trigger for Sudden Death (SD), especially in men, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology’s 57th Annual Scientific Session. Read more...

Colon Cancer Usually Preventable if Older People Just Step Up to Screening

Researchers working to make screening less invasive, more accurate

By Nicole Fawcett

March 28, 2008 - Colon cancer screening is a tough sell. It’s icky, uncomfortable and the thought of a colonoscopy, especially the prep, can be intimidating, to say the least. But here’s what clinches the sale: Colon cancer can be largely prevented through proper screening. Read more...

Body Fat More Reliable Measure of Heart Disease Risk Than Obesity, BMI

Normal Weight Not Safe Zone for Heart, Metabolic Problems

March 28, 2008 – So you finally did it – you reduced your weight to the “normal” level. Now the Mayo Clinic has some bad news for you. More than half of American adults considered to have normal body weight in America have high body fat percentages - greater than 20 percent for men and 30 percent for women - as well as heart and metabolic disturbances. Read more...

Seven Conditions Common to Senior Citizens Can Be Managed Without Drugs

Harvard Health Letter says the no-drugs approach often as good as pills

March 27, 2008 – Seven of the most common and distressing conditions that hit senior citizens the hardest can be managed without medications, which have side effects and are expensive. The April 2008 issue of the Harvard Health Letter tells how to do it. It takes some discipline, but in many cases, the nonpharmacological approach can do as much as pills. Read more....

Xenical/alli and Meridia Help Adults Lose Weight but Just One Lowers Blood Pressure, Too

Those fighting high blood pressure most successful with orlistat (alli/Xenical) or just diet

March 24, 2008 – Although orlistat, sold as alli or Xenical, and sibutramine (Medidia) both appear to help adults lose weight, orlistat or just a weight-loss diet are best for losing weight and lowering blood pressure, according to analysis of previously published studies reported in the March 24 issue of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Men Inherit High Risk of Hypertension Throughout Life if Either Parent has It

Early-onset high blood in both parents indicates a 6.2-fold higher risk

March 24, 2008 – High blood pressure tends to cluster in families, according to a new study, which has found that men with one or two parents with hypertension apparently have a significantly increased risk of elevated blood pressure throughout their adult lives. Read more....

Type of Prostate Cancer Treatment Affects Quality of Life: Factor to Consider

Prostate size, other neglected factors influence satisfaction with treatment outcomes

March 20, 2008 – The wide spread prevalence of prostate cancer, and the fact that it often strikes men so late in life, feeds an on-going debate about the best way to treat it. A major new study, however, says that of the three major treatment options, there is a distinct difference in how each affected the quality of life after treatment. Read more....

Genomic Medicine’s Help for Seniors Fighting Chronic Disease Stuck in Bottleneck

Knowledge about genomic medicine way ahead of incorporating it into clinical practice

Link to video in news story.

March 19, 2008 – Using genomic medicine to treat or even prevent chronic diseases cannot develop fast enough for millions of senior citizens – the adults most likely to have such devastating diseases. But, there is a bottleneck between what knowledge is available about genomic medicine and incorporating it into clinical practice for assessing the risk and battling such diseases as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, according to a systematic review in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more...

Robo4 Stops Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy in Mice

‘This is a major breakthrough in an area where the advances have been minimal’

March 17, 2008 - Two major eye diseases and leading causes of blindness - age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy - can be reversed or even prevented by drugs that activate a protein found in blood vessel cells, researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine and several other institutions have announced in a new study. Read more...

Killers of 300,000 a Year: DVTs, PEs Most Likely to Strike as We Age

   
 

Send this life-saving e-card to a friend. See how below story.

 

Most deaths can be prevented by education, preventive actions

March 17, 2008 - They kill 300,000 people a year - but most of them could be prevented. They strike more than a million people every year, most of them out of the blue - and half without causing symptoms. They target the bedridden, the hospitalized, the elderly - and even some generally healthy people too. They are among those villains that are more likely to strike as we get older. But many senior citizens have no idea what they are, who gets them, or how to avoid them. Read more...

Obesity Means More Aggressive Breast Cancer; Body Mass Index May Predict It

Women with locally advanced, inflammatory breast cancers also have poor outcomes if overweight

March 14, 2008 - Women with breast cancer have more aggressive disease and lower survival rates if they are overweight or obese, according to findings published in the March 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research. The researchers suggest Body Mass Index (BMI), the measure of a person's fat based on their height and weight, may be an effective prognostic tool for specific types of breast cancer. Read more...

Senior Citizens Taking Ibuprofen for Pain, Aspirin for Stroke are at Risk

‘…interaction between aspirin and ibuprofen… one of the best-known, but well-kept secrets in stroke medicine’

Brand names for ibuprofen include Advil, Motrin, Genpril, Haltran, IBU, Menadol and Midol. There are other combination products that contain ibuprofen.

March 13, 2008 – Many senior citizens fight pain – often from arthritis – with ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.). At the same time, many of these seniors are taking aspirin to reduce the risk of a second stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. It’s not working. A new study confirms that ibuprofen undermines aspirin’s ability to act as an anti-platelet agent, say researchers at the University of Buffalo. Read more...

Trial of Significant New Option to Treat Advance Emphysema Needs Patients

Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema Trial (EASE) is international

March 12, 2008 – The test of a “significant new option” for those suffering with advanced emphysema will be the mission of EASE (Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema) Trial, an international, multi-center clinical trial. Over 3.1 million Americans have been diagnosed with emphysema, of which 91% were 45 years of age or older. Predominantly caused by smoking, it generally strikes people between ages 50 and 60. Read more...

Discovery May Revive Penicillin to Battle Antibiotic-Resistant Pneumonia, Staph that Kill Millions

Streptococcus pneumoniae strikes one million a year of U.S. elderly, 7% die

March 12, 2008 – Senior citizens, by far the most often requiring hospitalization or other confined care, have been the most alarmed by the antibiotic-resistant infections festering in health care institutions. There is welcomed news today that researchers have learned what makes Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to antibiotic penicillin, which could lead to new drugs that can stop this killer, as well as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Read more...

Very Low Survival after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Improved by New Resuscitation

MICR emphasizes minimal interruption of chest compressions

March 11, 2008 – Those experiencing a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital have a scant chance of survival, despite massive efforts in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and efforts to place more automated external defibrillators in public places. A new study, however, finds hope in minimally interrupted cardiac resuscitation (MICR), which emphasizes minimal interruption of chest compressions during a rescue attempt. Read more...

Lack of Statin, Aspirin Therapy May be Why Women Trail Men in Decline of Cardiovascular Deaths

Only 78.1% of women treated with statins, 90.8% of men; men 6 times more likely to get aspirin, beta-blockers, too

March 7, 2008 – The use of statins, aspirin and beta-blockers seem to have led in a dramatic decrease in the cardiovascular death rate for men. Women, however, who have led men in the number of cardiovascular-related deaths since 1984, have not shown this same rate decline and a new study suggests it is because women are significantly less likely than their male counterparts to be treated with these therapies. Read more...

Aspirin, NSAIDS May Reduce Breast Cancer by 20 Percent, Large Study Finds

May also help in treating women with established breast cancer

March 6, 2008 - Anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin may reduce breast cancer by up to 20 per cent, according to an extensive review carried out by experts at London’s Guy’s Hospital, who reviewed 21 studies covering more than 37,000 women published between 1980 and 2007. Read more...

It’s Never Too Late to Quit Smoking and at Retirement Looks Promising

English researchers say point of retirement is one of the most effective times for many healthy improvements

March 6, 2008 - Many people spend a lifetime trying to give up smoking, but there is good news for older smokers from research carried out at the Peninsula Medical School in South West England. It may work best as part of a healthy retirement. Read more...

Age Should Not be Factor in Who Gets ACL Repair, Study Finds

Success achieved in anterior cruciate ligament repair for Baby Boomers and older

March 5, 2008 - Baby boomers and Weekend warriors – Baby Boomers and senior citizens - are staying active well into their later years, making them susceptible to injuring those aging frames-especially vulnerable to tearing their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). A new study presented today at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), found that “boomers” and patients up to age 66, who undergo ACL surgery, are about as likely to return to pre-injury levels of activity as much younger people. Read more...

Women in Halted 2002 Clinical Trial of Estrogen Plus Progestin Still have Cancer Risk

Report in JAMA finds those on therapy with more cancer than placebo-takers

 

 Video Link in Story

 

March 4, 2008 – Back in 2002 they stopped the clinical trial where thousands of women were given the hormone therapy of estrogen plus progestin, while others received a placebo, because there were indications of increased breast cancer risk for those receiving therapy. Now there is new evidence that these women may still have an increased risk of cancer. Read more...

Osteoarthritis Leads Surge of Rheumatic Disease Creating Major Health Challenge

Report shows prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in U.S.

March 4, 2008 - Few senior citizens in the U.S. will be surprised to learn that arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States. According to recent estimates by the National Arthritis Data Workgroup, more than 21 percent of U.S. adults have arthritis or another rheumatic condition that has been diagnosed. This is over 46 million Americans, but the number is projected to shoot up to 67 million by 2030. Read more...

Prostate Cancer Killed in Animals by Blocking Stat5 Protein

Researchers say this vital protein is now target for drug therapy

  Age is the most important risk factor for prostate cancer. More than 65% of cases are diagnosed in men over age 65 - average age at the time of diagnosis is 70. – NIH SeniorHealth  

Feb. 28, 2008 – By blocking a protein – Stat5 – researchers effectively killed prostate cancer cells in both laboratory and experimental animal models. This protein that is key to the cancer’s growth and remaining vital is now viewed as a viable target for drug therapy, according to the study from Thomas Jefferson University’s Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Read more...

Older Stroke, Heart Attack Victims Most Likely to Benefit from Aspirin Therapy

‘Aspirin Failure’ leaving 20% of all ages unprotected from second stroke, heart attack

Feb. 26, 2008 – It is well established in medical research that taking aspirin will lower the risk of a second cerebrovascula event (stroke). But new research has found that as many as one of five patients do not have the antiplatelet response – the protective effect that prevents blood platelets from clogging arteries – after taking aspirin. Read more...

Contribution of Specialist Breast Cancer Care Nurses Is Hard to Gauge

Research shows they do help navigate life and social adjustments

By Taunya English, Associate Editor
Health Behavior News Service

Feb. 25, 2008 - In the United States and in other high-income countries, women diagnosed with breast cancer are commonly matched with a specialist cancer nurse who provides care, support and information. However, a new review of randomized controlled trials reveals that research on the subject is slim and the ability to assess the contribution of specialist nurses is, so far, elusive. Read more...

Obesity Linked to Large Stroke Increase Among Middle-Aged Women

 

Watch Video - Link in Story

 

Still only about 2% have stroke buy increase is almost four-fold

Feb. 21, 2008 - Middle-aged women’s waists aren’t the only thing that increased in the last decade. So did their chance of stroke. In a new study reported at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2008. Rising obesity rates have been linked to a four-fold increase in strokes among women aged 35 to 54. Read more...

Canadians Claim Major Discovery in Fight Against Dry Form of AMD

Age-related macular degeneration discovery is new hope to fight leading cause of blindness in senior citizens

Feb. 20, 2008 – Canadian scientists are claiming a major victory in the fight against age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, the blinding eye disease that affects millions of people and is the leading cause of blindness in senior citizens. The international team, led by researchers at Sainte-Justine Hospital and the Université de Montréal, says it has identified the deficient receptor that causes the dry form of AMD. Read more....

Cancer Death Rates Continue Decline but at Lower Rate Causing Deaths to Jump

Half million cancer deaths have been avoided says American Cancer Society report

Feb. 20, 2008 – There is good news and there is bad news in the latest statistics on cancer in the United States. The bad news - there was an increase of 5,424 deaths (559,312 in 2005 compared to 553,888 in 2004). The good news – The cancer death rate continues to decline and has decreased by 18.4% among men and by 10.5% among women since the decline in rates began in the early 1990s. This means 534,500 fewer deaths, according to the report by the American Cancer Society. Read more...

Being Taken to Level 1 Trauma Center May Not Be As Desirable as It Sounds

New study finds the results being produced by these premier hospitals inconsistent

Feb. 18, 2008 - A survey in 2005 found nine out of ten Americans think it is really important to be taken to a trauma center in the event of a life-threatening injury. But, most Americans probably do not really know what a trauma center is, nor what they do. Even most disturbing, a new study finds widely varying results are being produced in the country’s few Level 1 Trauma Centers. Read more...

Rapidly Emerging New Drug Resistant Infections Spurs Call for More Healthcare Action

Infection control group say new organisms resist strongest antibiotics

Feb. 13, 2008 – The alarm was sounded today on the rapidly increasing new strains of antibiotic resistant infection that are endangering Americans, particularly those in healthcare institutions. Kathy Warye, CEO of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), says “the very nature of these organisms is changing -- producing infections that are increasingly resistant to our strongest antibiotics.” Read more...

Women Face Unique Challenges from High Blood Pressure Says Themed Issue of Hypertension

Failure of men and women with high blood pressure to follow diet guidelines highlighted by Archives of Internal Medicine

Feb. 11, 2008 - Women face unique risks for developing hypertension and special challenges in keeping it under control, which is the feature of a special themed edition of Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association. It features more than 45 studies and editorials related to women and hypertension as part of the recognition of the fifth anniversary of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement, which raises awareness of heart disease risks for women. But, also today, the Archives of Internal Medicine is reporting that few men or women with hypertension eat diets that align with government guidelines for controlling the disease. Read more...

Surprising Number of Deaths Cause NIH Institute to Shut Down Diabetes Trial

For safety, NHLBI changes intensive blood sugar treatment strategy in trial of diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Feb. 6, 2008 - The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health has stopped one treatment within a large, ongoing North American clinical trial of diabetes and cardiovascular disease 18 months early due to safety concerns after review of available data, although the study will continue. Read more...

Prostate Cancer Vaccine Successfully Prevents Cancer in 90 Percent of Lab Mice

Might work for men with rising levels of PSA, says USC researcher

Feb. 1, 2008 – A universal worry for older men is the threat of prostate cancer but there is very encouraging news from researchers at the University of Southern California that are working on a vaccine to prevent it. In a recent test it prevented the development of cancer in 90 percent of young mice genetically predestined to develop the disease. Read more...

Urine Test Leads to More Accurate Diagnoses of Prostate Cancer

Far more accurate than the PSA blood test currently in use worldwide

Feb. 1, 2008 – A simple urine test that screens for the presence of four different RNA molecules accurately identified 80 percent of patients in a study who were later found to have prostate cancer, and was 61 percent effective in ruling out disease in other study participants, according to researchers at the University of Michigan. This test is more accurate than other available screening methods, they say. Read more...

Senior Citizens Experience Jump in Diabetes Cases as Complications Grow

Prevalence increased by 62%, death rate decreased by 8.3%

Jan. 30, 2008 - The annual number of Americans older than 65 newly diagnosed with diabetes increased by 23 percent between the 1994 to 1995 period and 2003 to 2004, according to a report in the January 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Senior Citizens Stunned by Doubts About Statin's Ability to Fight Heart Disease

Major publications raising questions about America’s most prescribed drugs

Jan. 29, 2008 - Statins, the pills millions of senior citizen depend on to protect them from heart attacks, is now under attack by some who are questioning this cholesterol-lowering miracle drugs ability to prevent heart disease. Two major newspapers have reports today, according to KaiserNetwork.org, and CBS with BusinessWeek raised questions in a report on January 17. Read more...

Human Stem Cells Implanted to Grow New Blood Vessels in Dying Legs

First human trial is for patients at end of therapeutic road

Jan. 23, 2008 – Two patients facing possible leg amputation have become the first to be treated by transplanting a purified form of the subjects’ own adult stem cells into the leg muscles with severely blocked arteries in hopes new small blood vessels will grow and restore circulation in the legs. This was the launch by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine of the first U.S. trial of the technique that has worked in laboratory animals. Read more...

Caffeine Appears to Lower Ovarian Cancer Risk; Smoking, Alcohol No Effect

Caffeine may lower risk, particularly in women not using hormones

Jan. 23, 2008 - A very large new study has found that cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption do not have an effect on ovarian cancer risk, while caffeine intake may lower the risk, particularly in women not using hormones. The study is published in the March 1, 2008 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Read more...

Cancerous Melanomas Are ‘Ugly Ducklings’ of Skin Moles, Study Finds

This cancer that is an increasing problem for older men has always been noted for its unusual appearance

Jan. 21, 2008 – It is not exactly news but it is a good reminder. A study in the January issue of the Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, says melanomas – the skin cancer that likes to hit older men – are the “ugly ducklings” of skin moles. Read more...

Discovery of Genes Involved in Lupus May Help Fight Autoimmune Disease

NEJM editorial highlights significance and limitations of the research

Jan. 21, 2008 - Some 1.5 million Americans, most of them women, suffer from lupus, a disease where the person’s immune system attacks the body’s own tissue. This week marks a significant step forward in understanding how the disease works with the online publication of four new studies identifying genes involved in this often debilitating chronic disease. It may also lead to learning more about other of these autoimmune diseases that primarily strike senior citizens. Read more....

Finasteride May Prevent Prostate Cancer But Is It Worth the Sacrifice?

Pros, cons of drug proven to prevent prostate cancer should be considered, researchers say

Jan. 21, 2008 – As men earn the rank of senior citizens, their chances of prostate cancer increase tremendously. There is a drug, however, finasteride, that has a proven ability to prevent this cancer, but it is seldom used due to “quality of life” issues. In a new study, researchers conclude men carefully weigh both the potential benefits and side effects. Read more...

 

Human Stem Cell

 
 

The beginning of human stem cell growth - a small human embryonic stem cell colony (highlighted in yellow) grows on a layer of "feeder cells" that provide critical support for its continued development. (Images enhanced through specialized microscopes and software by Stemagen) - click photo for larger view.

 

Features for Senior Citizens

Human Embryo Cloned from Adult Cells is First in World Says Company

Major advancement towards patient-specific and disease-specific stem cells for therapeutic use, Stemagen says

What are the ethics? Read below news report

Jan. 17, 2008 – The possibility of developing treatments for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other degenerative diseases using embryonic stem cells took a big leap forward today. Stemagen, a privately held embryonic stem cell research company, announced it has become the first in the world to create, and meticulously document, a cloned human embryo using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Read more...

Senior Citizen Health & Medicine

Zetia in Vytorin Does Not Stop Plaque Buildup; Better Off with Just Simivastatin

Major setback for combination drug that does lower LDL but…

Jan. 15, 2008 – The bottom line for cholesterol-fighting senior citizens is that Zetia does not work in reducing your heart disease risk. It does not reduce your risk of clogged arteries as a part of Vytorin, either. You are better off with a generic statin. That is the message derived from a new release yesterday by the manufacturers explaining the results of resent testing. Read more...

Study Verifies Heart Disease Danger with Obese Stomach but Finds Big Hips Help

Big waist with big hips not as worrisome as big waist with small hips

Jan. 14, 2008 – Using the waist-to-hip ratio is a better predictor of heart disease risk among both older men and older women than is using just the waist measurement, says new research, which also verifies that obesity in the abdomen area is a strong independent risk factor for heart disease. Read more...

FDA Looks at Deaths, Tumor Growth from Anemia Drugs Used for Breast, Cervical Cancer

Anemia drugs known as erythropoiesis -stimulating agents used to treat the anemia caused by chemotherapy

Jan. 3, 2008 – Patients with breast or advanced cervical cancers who received anemia drugs known as erythropoiesis -stimulating agents to treat the anemia caused by chemotherapy died sooner or had more rapid tumor growth than those who did not take the ESAs. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the new data from two studies. Read more...

Thousands Hit with Cardiac Arrest in Hospitals Not Treated with Defibrillator in Time

Patients that are black, in small hospitals, not monitored are among least likely to get treatment in recommended two minutes

Jan. 3, 2007 – New evidence published today shows thousands of people are dying due to delayed use of the defibrillator when they suffer cardiac arrest in the hospital. Some evidence suggests you are more likely to receive the life-saving electrical shock in a timely manner if the ventricular arrhythmia hits you while working out in the gym. Read more...

Older Surgical Patients at Greater Risk for Developing Cognitive Problems

Elderly who developed cognitive problems most likely to die in year after surgery

Jan. 3, 2008 - Patients over the age of 60 who have elective surgeries such as joint replacements, hysterectomies and other non-emergency, inpatient procedures, are at an increased risk for long-term cognitive problems, according to a new study led by Duke University Medical Center researchers. Read more...

 

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