The thyroid is an important organ in your neck responsible for maintenance of your metabolism, heart, bones, muscles, and other organs. Thyroid issues become more common as we age. Women are at an even increased risk – 20% of women over the age of 60 have issues with their thyroid. Because growing older can mean many…

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease where the degradation of cells responsible for dopamine (the hormone which regulates signals between nerves in the body) occurs and it affects the central nervous system. It occurs more frequently than ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy combined. Knowing the risk, symptoms, and course of treatment can help you…

    Most of us use the term ‘hoarder’ or “pack-rat” to describe a person who hates throwing things away. Many of us are like that. In the last few years, hoarding has gained increased attention from media and the release of popular TV shows. Hoarding disorder is characterized the persistent and intense distress or…

When we get older, a number of changes happen to our body, including our sleeping pattern. As we age, many people tend to notice increased difficulty in falling asleep than in their younger years. Though many believe that older folks don’t require as much sleep, research suggests that consistent sleep throughout all of adulthood, including…

Often we don’t realize it, but our feet are actually indicative of what’s going on with our entire body. A variety of health problems can cause foot problems. Poor circulation, diabetes, and arthritis are some of the common culprits. In the most severe cases, a small wound or infection left untreated can turn into a serious…

Our bodies are full of information about how our health is doing, we just need to know where to look. Sometimes changes occur as a result of aging, and sometimes they result from a potential underlying problem. Paying attention to changes in your body can help you identify issues earlier. This week, we’re focusing on…

  Stroke is the fourth leading cause of morbidity in North America. Strokes are caused by lack of blood flow, and therefore oxygen flow, to the brain causing brain cells to die. Though certain things are out of your control, lifestyle is a very important factor in whether or not you get a stroke. Knowing…

Changing lifestyles can be difficult for anyone at any age, but quitting for older folks can present a unique set of challenges. Sometimes we think to ourselves “I’m too old for that” – the same may go for smoking. Perhaps you’ve tried to quit before. Perhaps you’ve been smoking for so long, it’s become habitual…

Having difficulty lowering your cholesterol? You’re not the only one. By the time that Canadians reach the age of 40, a whopping 40% already have higher than ideal cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is linked to heart disease, stroke, dementia and diabetes, just to name a few. Knowing your Cholesterol The first step to understanding healthy…

Kidney disease is diagnosed three times more often than twenty years ago, and the numbers keep climbing. Around 53% of cases are in those 65 and above. Last week’s blog was on catching the signs of kidney disease early. This week’s blog will focus on tips to help keep your kidneys healthy. 1. Reducing Your…