Aging & Increased Health Risks

More than you might think. 1. Get those 10,000 steps! No Excuses. Don’t like walking? Try Zumba, spinning, or swimming. The key is being as active as you were when you played on a sports team. 2. Eat like a Med. That means, lean proteins (chicken,... Full Answer

During the first quarter of our lives, we often anticipate our birthdays. Another year brings you closer to joyous milestones: assuming the status of a teenager at 13, learning to drive a car at 16 and drinking "adult" beverages legally at 21. By the... Full Answer

As an individual ages, the small blood vessels that work with the cochlea and produce endolmyph are reduced. This reduction of the rate by which endolymph is produced greatly reduces the ability of vibrations to pass through the cochlea, thus reducing... Full Answer

Our immune system begins to fail in two fundamental ways as we age. It can become negligent, allowing abnormal cells -- either infectious agents or cancer cells -- to grow unchecked. Or it can become overzealous, turning on the body and attacking... Full Answer

As we age, our immune system weakens, making us even more vulnerable to disease. That's why diseases like cancer become more common as we age—they grow because we have decreased surveillance (and decreased protection) in our bodies. Full Answer

Food safety is very important for older adults because they are at increased risk of foodborne illness. As we age, our immune systems become weaker. We have less stomach acid to control bacteria and our kidneys, which help filter bacteria from... Full Answer

As you move into your 50s, 60s, and beyond, it is important to take steps to offset problems that could become disabling. Studies evaluating older people who live in a community setting show that from 20% to 30% of seniors have chronic foot pain.... Full Answer

Watch to learn more about a functional medicine doctor.  Full Answer

As you get older, your risk for heart disease and heart attack rises. This is in part due to the slow buildup of plaque inside your heart arteries, which can start during childhood. In men, the risk for heart disease increases after age 45. In women,... Full Answer

Your state did something to help you: It passed a law that requires everyone over the age of 80 who renews their driver's license to pass an eye exam. Many states now require that senior drivers show up in person for license renewals. Illinois... Full Answer