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Your digestive system changes carbohydrates into sugar—blood sugar called glucose—and it uses this vital fuel as energy for every cell in your body.
Sugar and your body
If sugar is so essential to survival, why is dietary sugar a bad thing? After all, Mother Nature has made sugar in various forms an integral part of many foods.
Experts believe that arthritis and related conditions such as fibromyalgia and gout are likely the main reasons for acute and persistent pain in people 65 years of age and up. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 50% of adults age 65-plus have some form of arthritis diagnosed by a doctor.
If you are over age 80 and haven’t had a cataract, you are an exception to the rule. Cataracts, or clouding of the lens in the eye, occur in more than half of Americans by the time they have reached their 80th birthday, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI). Cataracts can affect one or both eyes.
Your thyroid gland is a two-inch long organ that can become underactive and result in a disease called hypothyroidism. This condition becomes more common with age, especially among women. It can be caused by a number of reasons, including removal or atrophy of the gland, radiation, or treatment for hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
With a few exceptions, the basic philosophies and methods by which doctors care for patients haven’t changed much in the past few decades. But on Erickson Living campuses, there are several crucial differences practiced by Erickson Health Medical Group (EHMG) providers that have been shown to be beneficial to peoples’ health.
Accessibility
Your skin is your largest organ and a great protector throughout your life. But as you age, dry skin may be harder to treat at home and new growths may develop. Maybe you’ve never been to a dermatologist in your life, but now is the time to see one.
Persistent dry skin
Being dehydrated means more than feeling thirsty, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking certain medications. Dehydration can lead to too-low blood pressure, a fast heartbeat, and a reduced flow of oxygenated blood to your vital organs and extremities.
The American Dental Association recommends that most people see a dentist every six months—not only to have cleanings, but because your dentist can spot problems before they progress too far. As you get older, these dental visits become especially important.
Age matters
It may be springtime, but according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the most common viruses that cause colds (human rhinoviruses) thrive in spring, summer, and early fall.
People use a variety of home-based treatments for symptoms of the common cold, but which of them have science on their side?
Irrigating your nose
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