illness

QUESTION: A few years ago, my dad was diagnosed with a fatal degenerative disease. My parents moved down South because the warmer climate helps dad's condition. Mom takes care of him, and every second of the day, she's very stressed. My siblings and I live in the Northeast and don't get to see them as often as we'd like. A year before dad got sick, my parents seemed to go through a positive Read more...

We all know lifestyle plays a major role in our risk of developing certain illnesses. But what we're born with is also important. Not just those "faulty" genes which are known to trigger certain diseases, but also the physical characteristics determined from birth. Here, Angela Epstein reveals what our bodies tell us about our future health. Baldness Health risk: Prostate cancer, Read more...

By Bob Forman Aging gracefully is kind of an oxymoron. There probably aren't too many people who do. There always seems to be something that gets in the way, especially on the health front. It's almost unfair. We work and save with the mind-set that we'll be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor when we get older. Then, out of nowhere, an illness or injury often puts a dent in our Read more...

While everyone feels sad or low from time to time, most people find that they can work through those feelings within a few days. Sometimes, however, those feelings don't ease. Life doesn't return to "normal," and feeling down becomes a persistent state. Activities that were once pleasurable no longer provide satisfaction. Even starting the day can seem to be an overwhelming Read more...

Psychiatrists have long known depression can be passed genetically through families, but not precisely how. Now, the National Institute of Mental Health has launched a large-scale study to try to answer that question. Discovery of the specific genetic sequence responsible would offer new hope for more accurate diagnoses, better treatment and the possibility for prevention of the often Read more...

Men are at far greater risk of heart attack than women, so it's a good idea to know how your ticker ticks. One indicator of a possible heart illness is a rise in your heart rate, something ThirdAge men should know and check periodically. You have two heart rates -- relaxed and maximum. The Maximum Heart Rate Stress Tests Web site shows you how to determine both. Using a heart monitor, the Read more...

When it comes to illness, don't take it lying down, doctors say - and they mean that literally. New research indicates staying in bed may exacerbate an illness rather than helping you get better. A study in The Lancet medical journal says patients who remain in bed after surgery or are ordered to do so don't fare as well as those who get up and about as quickly as possible. Lying motionless Read more...

How will you care for loved ones through their old age or illness? Prize-winning writer Beth Witrogen McLeod says most of us avoid this question, even though we are nearly certain to face difficult caregiving issues at some point in life. Having struggled to secure the best care for her own infirm parents, McLeod now shares her experience, resources and research with others. She hosts a Read more...

Parents gripe about the difficulty of finding good child care. But then, when kids grow up, they agonize even more over finding homes for parents who can no longer live alone. Whether you're looking for a retirement community or a special nursing facility, local community or Web-based services can help you target a place in the right neighborhood -- at a price you can afford. "When Read more...