All Health Stories
Ask The Health Expert
Health 411
Living Well
Bacteria are everywhere. Fortunately, our bodies have adapted to most of them. Since the 1940s, antibiotics have reduced illness and death from harmful bacteria. But some of these organisms have sophisticated survival mechanisms and have thus learned to outsmart antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents (such as hand sanitizer).
"Each year, about one million people are admitted to hospitals because of adverse drug events,” says Dietrich Stephan, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. “Roughly 100,000 people die because of these events. It’s a significant problem in the U.S.”
In recent years, more people have been trying complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 30% of older adults use some type of CAM.
Women live longer than men, but for men and women, the gap in life expectancy is narrowing. Today on average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women live 81.2 years and men live 76.4 years. This gap of 4.8 years is an improvement since 1979, when it was 5.2 years.
According to the American Geriatrics Society, about half of seniors drink alcohol. For many people, cocktails are harmless, but for at least 15% of seniors, drinking alcohol is risky for their health and they may not be aware of it.
Despite increased awareness about the importance of good balance, falls remain the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.
Holiday time means gift-giving, parties, visiting with family and friends, and, of course, food, food, and more delicious food. But if you have diabetes, you may wonder how much and what types of treats you can safely enjoy.
Whether you’re having a joint replaced, recovering from heart surgery, or need wound care, you may find yourself faced with a weeks-long skilled nursing rehabilitation stay.
If you have chest pain, the first thought that comes into your head might be that you’re having a heart attack. That’s not necessarily the case. “Chest pain can be related to any number of body organs and tissues,” says Lora Cox-Vance, M.D., geriatric fellowship director at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center., St. Margaret Hospital.
I'm a job seeker who wants to know more about a career with Erickson Living
To speak directly to someone in one of our communities, please use the contact links below