Arthritis and How It Can Affect You...

Arthritis, a joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints, is a common ailment to those of age 65 or older. In 2013, 1 in every 5 American adults was diagnosed with some form of arthritis. There are over 100 different types of arthritis but the common three are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Osteoarthritis The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, which involves the degradation of joint cartilage and its underlying bone. Symptoms include sore or achy joints, stiffness, bone enlargements in the middle and end joints of fingers, loss of flexibility and joint swelling. When the cartilage that cushions the end of the bones in your joints deteriorates, it causes the bones to rub against one another. This is what causes osteoarthritis. Currently there is no known cure or prevention for osteoarthritis, but certain measures can be taken to keep your pain levels low and help you maintain joint movement. Rheumatoid Arthritis This form of arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that usually affects the small joints in your hands and feet. It affects about one-tenth as many people as osteoarthritis. Some symptoms between the two are similar, such as swollen joints and morning stiffness, but the two are quite different in many other ways. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by the daily wear and tear on joints, rheumatoid arthritis happens when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues. In addition to the symptoms it shares with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis also has whole-body symptoms such as frequent fatigue and an overall ill feeling. Those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are more susceptible to osteoporosis, heart problems, lung disease and carpal tunnel. Currently there’s no way to prevent rheumatoid...

Facing Depression in The Second Half of Life...

The later years of life often bring with them tremendous changes. With the freedom of retirement often comes increased isolation, which, coupled with medical problems and the loss of loved ones, finds many people entering the second half of their life with varying states of depression. Depression is a serious illness, one that affects 15 out of every 100 adults over the age of 65. Many who have never been depressed, may find themselves facing the onset of depression in the later part of their life due to being exposed to new stressors such as illness or hospitalization. Almost 25% of senior citizens with a chronic illness and 50% of nursing home residents are affected by depression. It’s important to recognize that depression is not a passing mood. The sadness that comes with grief or having an off day is very different than feeling depressed. While most people who are faced with grief or sadness of some sort can usually move through regular activities with little to no problems, people who suffer from symptoms of depression are often immobilized by their symptoms. Where grief comes in waves of varying intensity, depression is a persistent, unrelenting sadness that affects all parts of a person’s life. Without treatment, depression can worsen other illnesses, lead to disability, cause premature death or result in successful suicide. Many seniors will deny feeling sadness, but the symptoms of depression are far larger than just feeling sad.  Here are some other symptoms you may experience if you are depressed: Anxiety and Worry Memory Problems Feeling Hopeless or Helpless Easily Irritable Loss of Interest in Hobbies and Socializing Neglecting Your Personal Care Lack of Motivation No Energy Sleep Disturbances What causes this depression? According to Dr. Rafi...