Dental & Mouth Concerns At one time, dentists had no choice but to extract an infected tooth. Pulling an infected tooth solved one problem but led to others-poor appearance, change in bite, difficulty chewing food, and less support for adjacent teeth. But tooth extraction is rarely necessary now, thanks to a procedure known as root […]
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Men’s Health Men typically suffer more serious illnesses and die at a younger age than women. You wouldn’t know it by looking at the average doctor’s waiting room, though. Men don’t report as many symptoms as women do, and they let a problem go further before they seek medical help. If you have a tendency
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Dental & Mouth Concerns Dry mouth is an abnormal dryness of the mucus membranes in the mouth. This happens when there isn’t enough saliva or the composition of the saliva changes. Dry mouth is common in the elderly. Signs & Symptoms * Dry, parched feeling in the mouth * Lack of saliva * Problems with
Skin Conditions The skin naturally becomes drier with age. The body produces less oil and moisture. The skin also becomes thinner and less elastic. Signs & Symptoms * Itchy skin. The skin can be red from scratching it. * Chapped skin * Skin that cracks, peels, and/or flakes Causes, Risk Factors & Care * Aging
Skin Conditions Signs & Symptoms * Itchy skin. The skin can be red from scratching it. * Chapped skin. * Skin cracks, peels, and/or flakes. Causes * Aging. The body naturally produces less oil and moisture. * Cold winter weather. Dry air or heat. * Washing the skin often. Using harsh skin products. * Chronic
Abdominal & Urinary Conditions The liver is probably the most versatile organ you’ve got. It performs many tasks, including: * Producing bile (a substance that aids digestion of fats). * Producing blood proteins. * Helping blood clot. * Metabolizing cholesterol. * Maintaining normal blood sugar levels. * Forming and storing glycogen (the body’s short-term energy
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Brain & Nervous System Exam to Assess Mental Status A number of tests can assess mental status. A common one used is called “Mini-Mental State Examination.” It was written by M.S. Folstein, S.E. Folstein, and P.R. McHugh. Adapted from this examination are the questions that follow. They were taken from “Working With Your Older Patient:
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Skin Conditions Signs & Symptoms * Fingers or toes turn pale white or blue, then red, in response to cold temperatures. * Pain when the fingers or toes turn white. * Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet. Causes Often the cause is unknown and not serious. Cold hands and feet can be a
Dental & Mouth Concerns Cold sores appear on or near the lips. They are painful and unpleasant. Nearly 1 in 3 people will have them. Cold sores are also called fever blisters. Signs & Symptoms * Tingling feeling on or near the lips for 36 to 48 hours before the sore appears * Itching at
Respiratory conditions Cold symptoms mostly affect you above the neck. Flu symptoms affect the body all over. Signs and symptoms for colds and flu vary from person to person. On average, adults get about 1 to 3 colds a year. Children get about 6 colds a year. Signs & Symptoms More Information Colds and flu
