Medications

It’s everywhere in the news: the surge in opioid addiction and the deadly consequences that can result. And seniors are not immune: data show that one in three Medicare beneficiaries received an opioid prescription in 2015. Regular agebuzz readers will remember that back in February, we highlighted a piece from…

Anyone who’s had a “senior moment” can understand the allure of pills that promise memory enhancement or cognitive clarity. It’s no fun feeling like a word is just out of reach or on the tip of your tongue. But these feelings also leave you vulnerable to scams and fraud. Manufacturers are…

Heading into summer, it’s common for many of us to grab a new book or two as we make our way to the beach or countryside. While it’s easy to pick the latest romance novels or “chick-lit” best sellers, it’s also valuable to consider books that help you improve yourself…

Last November, the US Preventive Task Force concluded that for adults over 75, with no history of heart attack or stroke, there was insufficient evidence to assess the risks versus the benefits of taking a statin as a way to lower cholesterol and prevent a cardiovascular episode. Whenever someone considers taking…

Coming down with pneumonia can be a serious concern for anyone but it’s especially worrisome for seniors, for whom pneumonia is the 4th leading cause of death. And now a new research study finds that about 25% of adults with community-acquired pneumonia strike out on the first round of antibiotics…

Some of us are lucky that we have few, if any, medications to take on a regular basis. But for others of us, it’s a sea of prescription bottles on our counters. Many older people take multiple medications, often with different dosage and schedule instructions. Keeping track can be a…