This month’s newsletter features articles from the Harvard Medical School publication and WebMD. Some of the information is free, some is behind a paywall. You can subscribe to a FREE email newsletter with health alerts, and decide if you want a paid account or not.

 

You can get unlimited access to their articles via an online account.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/promotions/harvard-health-publications/harvard-health-online-jul2018-test

 

I find the information to be valuable and well worth the investment.

 

Awareness of depression and anxiety in older adults (like you and me) is more openly discussed than in the past. The last 24 months have made me realize just how close to home mental health issues are and can take me by surprise.

 

The closing section of this newsletter is a link to mental health topics discussed on WebMD.

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective treatments for chronic heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Several, such as omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and esomeprazole (Nexium), are available over the counter as well as by prescription.

 

 

But they don’t rapidly relieve symptoms like two other classes of heartburn drugs — antacids and H2 blockers. That’s important to understand when your doctor says you can take PPIs "on demand."

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/is-it-okay-to-use-proton-pump-inhibitors-on-demand

 

See also . . .

 

GERD medication effectiveness and side effects

https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/over-the-counter

 

Is long term use of GERD medication safe?

Men who get diagnosed with prostate cancer have several options to choose from for their next step. Many men with slow-growing, low-risk cancer follow active surveillance, a wait-and-see approach that monitors the cancer for changes.

 

 

But if the cancer shows higher risk (a Gleason score of 7 or higher) or has already begun to spread, other treatments are recommended. (A Gleason score classifies prostate tumor cells on a scale from 6 to 10. The higher the number, the more likely the cancer will spread.) There are two options: surgery to remove the prostate (called a prostatectomy) or radiation to destroy the cancer cells.

 

Studies comparing these two approaches demonstrate no advantage of one over the other with respect to cancer control. Your path will depend on factors like your current health, the specifics of your cancer, and personal preference. Yet for many men, radiation can be the better option.

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/radiation-for-prostate-cancer

 

There is no proven way to PREVENT prostate cancer but you may be able to REDUCE THE RISK of developing cancer.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/in-depth/prostate-cancer-prevention/art-20045641

Around age 50, the medical decisions are changing and coming more frequently — when to have a mammogram, colonoscopy, or bone density test, for example. You may be trying to decide whether to have bunion surgery, or a knee replacement. Or you may be puzzled over the best way to manage your arthritis or irritable bowel syndrome.

 

are different from men physiologically and emotionally, but also that it’s never too late to feel better by living better. This report focuses on health, not disease. It won’t tell you how to get the best treatments for serious conditions.

 

($20 for non-members)

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/a-guide-to-womens-health-fifty-and-forward

Osteoporosis can be intimidating and inhibiting. The prospect that a simple fall could break your hip or wrist can make you watch every step you take. Fear can replace the freedom to do all the things you love.

 

The two major risk factors for osteoporosis are being a woman and having passed through menopause. In the years after menopause, women can lose up to one-fifth of their bone mass. But men aren't immune to the disease. Two million American men have osteoporosis and one in four over age 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture.

 

You will be alerted to red flags that signal you’re at greater risk for a broken bone. You'll be warned about medications that hasten bone loss. And you’ll find out if you should have your bone density checked — and which tests are the best.

 

The report will show you the importance of getting calcium from food and why you probably need a vitamin D supplement

 

($20 for non-members)

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/osteoporosis-a-guide-to-prevention-and-treatment

 

How Does Depression in Older People Differ From Depression in Younger Adults?

 

How Is Insomnia Related to Depression in Older Adults?

 

What Are the Risk Factors for Depression in Older Adults?

 

What Treatments Are Available for Depression in Older Adults?

 

How Do Antidepressants Relieve Depression in Older People?

 

Can Psychotherapy Help Relieve Depression in Older Adults?

 

When Is Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Used?

 

What Problems Affect Treatment of Depression in Older Adults?

 

https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-elderly

Sometimes these newsletters are a catharsis for me, and this one is no different. The last 2 years have introduced challenges as friends, family and clients deal with health issues and draw me into their circle. As new things crop up I use that as an opportunity to educate myself on ways to deal with changes that occur as we age.