Tuesday, November 22, 2011

National GERD Awareness Week

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy warns that your Thanksgiving Dinner may cause trouble for the estimated 30 million Americans with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but there are things they can do to be comfortable and symptom-free, experts advise.

GERD occurs when a faulty valve between the stomach and esophagus allows stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus. Symptoms of GERD include heartburn, acid regurgitation, wheezing, sore throat and cough, according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).
Things that may trigger GERD symptoms include obesity, pregnancy, smoking, excess alcohol use and consumption of fatty foods, tomato-based products, chocolate, peppermint, citrus drinks and coffee.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Stroke Awareness Materials available for download

StrokeAwareness.com has downloadable posters, multi-lingual bookmarks, wallet cards and a "Stroke 101 Fact Sheet" containing stroke awareness facts and tips.  You can also order printed copies of their FAST materials. 

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Medication Therapy Management

Improper drug use is the 5th leading cause of death
in the United States


ElderStore received a visit from Lynda Chapman, R.Ph.,J.D who is the founder and CEO of Rx Confirm, located in Atlanta.  Lynda explained  what Medication Therapy Management is and how the services of her company are potentially life saving.

Rx Confirm provides Personal  Pharmacist Consulting that comes to you!  They will review all of your medications from all sources.
  • Medication Therapy Management helps you understand what medications you have and assist with communication with your physician(s.)
  • The Consultant will also identify contra-indicative drug interactions and duplicattion of therapy.
I have asked Lynda is she would be willing to be an ElderStore Blog contributor to share her knowledge with our readers.

If you are interested in speaking with Lynda, she can be reached at:  404-840-6993.

Advances in Breast Cancer Care May Not Be Reaching Older Women

TUESDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDay News) -- New research finds older U.S. women have higher odds of dying from breast cancer than younger women, suggesting that older patients may not be benefiting as much from advances in breast cancer care made over the past three decades.

Researchers analyzed U.S. government data from 1980 to 2007. They found that breast cancer death rates were stable throughout the 1980s for women aged 20-64 but rose for women 65 and older.

Between 1990 and 2007, the largest decrease in breast cancer death rates occurred in women aged 20-49 (2.4 percent per year), helped by widespread availability of mammography and the use of hormonal therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy, according to the researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

At the same time, the smallest decrease in breast cancer deaths was seen among women aged 75 and older (1.1 percent per year).

Friday, November 11, 2011

Remember!

Couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember ..

Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. 'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?' he asks.

'Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?'

'Sure..'

'Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?' she asks.