Falls increase in severity and frequency as we age. Many factors contribute to this reality. They include gait and balance disorders, hearing and visual impairments, environmental factors, and orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure that drops when a person goes from a reclining position to a sitting or standing position). One factor, though, is often overlooked as…
A recent study from the University of Queensland noted that almost half of the respondents were unaware of any potential dangers of crushing tablets of their medications. Furthermore, they found that people taking more than 4 doses of medication per day were more likely to open capsules and/or crush tablets. Rarely, if ever, was a pharmacist or…
Working behind the pharmacy counter, I was asked this question often from patients receiving a prescription for an antibiotic. Rarely, if ever, was I asked this question when they received a new prescription to control their blood sugar or blood pressure. The fact is alcohol consumption interacts negatively with many different medications and disease states.…
I was picking up dinner at our local Chipotle restaurant the other day. Printed on our takeout bag was a wonderful story about aging and our continuing contribution to society. I felt this story was worth sharing. The author is Paulo Coelho. He is one of the artists Chipotle is featuring in their Cultivating Thought- Author Series. To find…
“Growing old isn’t for sissies”-Bette Davis No truer words have been spoken. By the age of 65, 80% of us will have one chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer. Half of the 80% will have at least two. By the age of 80, virtually none of us will escape a chronic condition.…
There was an excellent article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on January 27th, 2015 entitled Diabetes in the elderly: safe sugar isn’t simple.( http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2015/01/27/Diabetes-in-the-elderly-safe-sugar-isn-t-simple/stories/201502020003.) I encourage anyone with diabetes and their caregivers to read this article. The article talks about the need for an individualized approach to controlling blood sugar. Blood sugar goals, such as your…
When we were growing up, we did not expect we would be going into our middle age years with the responsibility of caring for our parents. Ten years ago we put a large addition on our house which included a bedroom-bathroom suite in the basement. Within 4 years of the completion of this addition, and…
Keeping track of medications and their associated risks may be more complicated than initially realized. Most of us are very familiar with Tylenol and probably have a bottle in our medicine cabinets. It is a very effective pain and fever reducer, and safe when taken correctly. However, too much acetaminophen may lead to sudden…