HealthyLife Articles

Tag: Health Conditions

Teeth & Mouth Changes With Aging

Dental & Mouth Concerns

As you age, changes occur with your teeth and mouth. Common changes are:

* Fewer taste buds on your tongue, especially for sugary and salty foods, but not for bitter tasting foods

* Drier mouth. The tissues in your mouth get thinner and tend to hold less moisture. This makes your mouth more dry. Some medications can add to the problem. Examples are water pills, some antidepressants, and antihistamines.

* Gum problems. Your gums may recede. This exposes the roots of your teeth and can promote cavities.

* Loss of natural teeth. Proper care of your teeth can prevent this. In persons over age 40, the number one cause of tooth loss is periodontal (gum) disease.

More than half of persons over age 50 have at least one tooth replaced. A tooth or teeth can be replaced as crowns, bridges, partial or full dentures. Dental implants are another option.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
6 Benefits Of Drinking Water

WELL-BEING

Your body needs water for nearly every function. But, many people aren’t getting enough. While fluids from other drinks and even some foods can help hydrate you, drinking plain water has some advantages. It’s calorie-free, doesn’t cause cavities and doesn’t cost anything. Start filling up a reusable water bottle today and take advantage of these water perks:

Headache prevention:Dehydration can cause a severe headache. If you drink water throughout the day, you can avoid this.

Better workout:Water is needed for proper energy levels and muscle function. Drink enough before and after workouts to avoid dehydration and sluggishness.

Joint pain relief:Dehydration can cause achy bones and joints. Water is needed to keep joints lubricated and healthy.

Healthier skin:Staying hydrated helps your skin stay hydrated, too. This can make skin feel healthier.

Healthy weight:Drinking water instead of soda or sugary drinks can save you hundreds of extra calories and help get to, or stay at, a healthy weight.

Healthier kidneys and bladder:Drinking enough water helps prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections.

Talk with your doctor about how much water you should drink each day. People with end stage kidney disease, heart failure or certain other conditions may need to limit their fluids.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Clean Contacts Matter

SELF-CARE CORNER

If you wear contact lenses, it’s important to keep them clean and care for them properly. Not taking care of your contact lens could cause an eye infection known as keratitis, which can cause serious eye problems. The CDC says 988,000 people had keratitis in 2010. The biggest risk factor was improper care of contact lenses.

You can greatly reduce your risk of this infection by doing the following things each day:

* Wash your hands with soap and water before inserting or removing your lenses.

* Use only sterile contact lens solution and disinfectant. Don’t use water, saliva, or other liquids to store or rinse your lenses.

* Gently rub your lenses with disinfectant daily.

* Remove your lenses before showering, swimming and sleeping.

* Use fresh solution every day. Dump out all the old solution.

* Don’t wear lenses longer than directed. For instance, some disposable contacts are designed to be worn for one day. Some can be worn for several weeks or longer. Ask your eye care professional if you’re not sure.

* Don’t use expired solution or contacts.

* Replace your contact lens case every three to six months.

Source: The American Academy of Ophthalmology

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Is Bad Breath A Health Problem?

WELL-BEING

After eating foods like onions or garlic, your mouth may smell less than pleasing to those around you. Usually, brushing, flossing and using mouthwash or sugar-free mints can get your mouth fresh again. Although bad breath is sometimes just bad luck, it can also be a sign of a health problem.

When bad breath is normal

Many people have bad breath in the morning. Even if you brushed and flossed well before bed, you may not have great-smelling breath when you wake up. This is because bacteria in the mouth multiply and make sulfur compounds while you sleep. These sulfur compounds usually smell stinky.

Morning breath may be worse than normal if you slept with your mouth open. This is because the bacteria and sulfur compounds thrive in a dry mouth. If you have a stuffy nose from a cold, your morning breath may be worse for a few days. Floss at night before bed to help minimize morning breath.

Other ways to help prevent dry mouth include drinking plenty of water throughout the day and avoid using tobacco products.

Tooth decay and gum disease

Tooth decay, also known as cavities, can smell bad because bacteria can live inside the holes or cavities in the teeth.

Not brushing and flossing every day can lead to gum disease. This is sometimes called gingivitis or periodontitis. With gum disease, sticky bacteria called plaque collects in the mouth. Plaque smells bad, and people with gum disease usually have more plaque than normal.

Besides persistent bad breath, signs of tooth decay and gum disease include:

* Tooth pain

* A very sensitive tooth

* Red, swollen or bleeding gums

* Loose teeth

* Gums pulling away from the teeth

See your dentist if you notice these problems. Gum disease and cavities can be treated, but it’s better if you catch these problems early. Most people should see their dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning.

Health problems and bad breath

Bad breath can be a sign of a health problem. If bad breath continues despite good dental care, it may be a sign of a sinus or throat infection. Breath that smells fruity or like rotten apples can be a sign of diabetes. In rare cases, breath that smells like ammonia or rotten eggs can be a sign of a serious kidney or liver problem.

Your breath may be trying to tell you something. See your dentist and doctor if you’re concerned about bad breath so you can find out the cause and get treatment if needed.

Sources: American Dental Association, National Institutes of Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Protect Your Bones

SELF-CARE CORNER

Bones feel solid, but the inside of a bone is actually filled with holes like a honeycomb. Bone tissues are broken down and rebuilt all the time. While some cells build new bone tissue, others dissolve bone and release the minerals inside, according to experts at NIH in Health.

As we get older, we begin to lose more bone than we build. The tiny holes within bones get bigger, and the solid outer layer becomes thinner. In other words, our bones get less dense. Hard bones turn spongy, and spongy bones turn spongier. If this loss of bone density goes too far, it’s called osteoporosis. Over 10 million people nationwide are estimated to have osteoporosis.

In bad accidents, it’s normal for bones to break. But if your bones are dense enough, they should be able to withstand most falls. Bones weakened by osteoporosis, though, are more likely to break.

You can lower your risk of osteoporosis.

Getting plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and exercise is a good start.

*Calciumis a mineral that helps bones stay strong. It can come from the foods you eat-including milk and milk products, dark green leafy vegetables like kale and collard greens-or from dietary supplements.

*Vitamin Dhelps your body absorb calcium. As you grow older, your body needs more vitamin D, which is made by your skin when you’re in the sun. You can also get vitamin D from dietary supplements and from certain foods, such as milk, egg yolks, saltwater fish, fortified milks and cereals, and cod liver oil.

*Exercise,especially weight-bearing exercise, helps bones too. Weight-bearing exercises include jogging, walking, tennis, and dancing. The pull of muscles is a reminder to the cells in your bones that they need to keep the tissue dense.

Smoking, in contrast, weakens bones. Heavy drinking does too-and makes people more likely to fall. Certain drugs may also increase the risk of osteoporosis. Having family members with osteoporosis can raise your risk for the condition as well.

The good news

Even if you already have osteoporosis, it’s not too late to start taking care of your bones. Since your bones are rebuilding themselves all the time, you can help push the balance toward more bone growth by giving them exercise, calcium, and vitamin D.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Ticked Off

MEDICAL NEWS

Act fast to lower your risk for problems related to Lyme disease caused by tick bites, urges Time for Lyme, Inc.

Have I been bitten? Lyme disease can only be transmitted from a bite by an infected deer tick, not from another person or animal, although pets commonly bring ticks into the home. All family members and pets should be inspected immediately and carefully after exposure to tick environments. You’ve been bitten if you find a tick attached to the skin. The longer it has been attached, the greater the risk of disease.

How should I remove the tick? The proper way to remove a tick is with a set of fine-point tweezers. Do not attempt to burn the tick or use your fingers or soap or any other substance on it, as these may irritate the tick and cause it to inject bodily fluids into the wound.

Using fine-point tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible, near the head of the tick. Pull backward gently but firmly, using an even, steady pressure. Do not jerk or twist. Do not squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick, as this may cause transmission of infection-causing organisms. If any mouth parts of the tick remain in the skin, leave them alone; they will come out naturally.

If the tick is found crawling, a good way to remove it is by using a piece of tape: stick the tape to the tick and then suffocate it by sealing it into the tape. Otherwise, you can dispose of it in alcohol or flush it down the toilet. After removing the tick, wash your skin and hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Monitor any bite site for redness that might mean a rash of Lyme disease. A bull’s-eye pattern might develop. Other typical symptoms that may develop within a few days of being bitten include headache, stiff neck, swollen glands, fatigue, dizziness, and pains that come and go.

See your doctor if you have symptoms or concerns. Early Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. For more information, go towww.LymeResearchAlliance.org.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
You May Need To Get Tested For Hepatitis C

MEDICAL NEWS

An estimated 3.2 million Americans are infected with chronic hepatitis C, a viral infection of the liver. Among those are larger numbers of Veterans and baby boomers.

The CDC recently recommended that all baby boomers in the U.S. (those born between 1945 and 1965) get a simple one-time blood test for hepatitis C. They estimate that this testing could identify more than 800,000 additional people with the disease.

Here’s what we know:

* Chronic hepatitis C won’t go away on its own.

* Many people living with hepatitis C are not aware they have the condition and may go years without showing symptoms. Hepatitis C is treated with a combination of medications.

* The rate of hepatitis C among people born in 1945 through 1965 is about 4%, compared to about 1% among other Americans. That difference is likely due to risky behaviors among this group.

* You can get hepatitis C from infected blood or body fluids. Today, the most common way people get infected is by needle-sharing during intravenous drug use. Most new infections occur among drug users. In addition, an infected pregnant woman can infect her unborn baby.

* Since 1992, when reliable blood screening procedures became available, the risk of transmission of hepatitis C by blood transfusion has fallen to less than one per million units of transfused blood, according to the CDC. Rarely, the virus can be transmitted through sexual intercourse.

* Hepatitis C is not transmitted through shaking hands, coughing, sneezing, breastfeeding, or sharing cups and utensils.

* Hepatitis C can cause serious liver problems.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Back Pain

Bone & Muscle Problems

Back pain can be caused by many different things. The most common cause of back pain is muscle strain to the lower back.

Using correct posture puts minimum stress on the joints. This reduces the risk of injury and osteoporosis. For correct posture, keep your ears, shoulders and hips in a straight line. When lifting things, bend the legs, not the back.

Backpacks that are too heavy or worn on one shoulder can cause lower and upper back pain and muscle strain on the neck and shoulders. Also, children’s backpacks should not weigh more than 10% of their body weight.

To help prevent back pain, bend at your knees, not at the waist. Keep your back straight. Lift objects slowly. Let your legs carry the weight. Find out more about proper lifting frommedlineplus.govand search “lifting.”

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Cirrhosis: Be Kind To Your Liver

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 source).

* Manufacturing more than 1,000 enzymes necessary for various bodily functions.

* Detoxifying substances such as alcohol and many drugs.

Liver with Cirrhosis

The liver is equipped to handle a certain amount of alcohol without much difficulty. But drink too much alcohol, too often, for too long, and the vital tissues in the liver break down. Fatty deposits accumulate and scarring occurs. This is known as cirrhosis. It’s most commonly found in men over 45, yet the number of women developing cirrhosis is steadily increasing.

To make matters worse, people who drink too much generally have poor nutritional habits. Since alcohol replaces food, essential vitamins and minerals are missing from the diet. Malnutrition aggravates cirrhosis.

While alcohol abuse is the most common cause of cirrhosis, hepatitis, taking certain drugs, or exposure to certain chemicals can also produce this condition.

Doctors recognize the following as signs of advanced cirrhosis.

* Enlarged liver.

* Yellowish eyes and skin, and tea-colored urine (indicating jaundice). Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.

* Itching.

* Hair loss.

* Swelling in the legs and stomach (indicating fluid accumulation).

* Tendency to bruise easily.

* Mental confusion.

Cirrhosis can be life threatening, so get medical attention if you suspect your drinking habits may have gotten out of hand or you have any of the above symptoms. And needless to say, you (or anyone you suspect of having cirrhosis) should abstain from alcohol.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Dizziness & Vertigo

Brain & Nervous System

Dizziness is feeling lightheaded. It is a symptom of another condition. Vertigo is a spinning feeling. It affects the inner ear, the brain’s gravity-and-motion detector.

Dizziness Conditions

Heat Stroke

Signs & Symptoms

Sudden dizziness with:

* Hot, dry, red skin

* High fever. No sweating.

* Pulse that is rapid and then gets weak

* Exposure to very, very hot conditions

What to Do

Get immediate care.

Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with “Stroke Warning Signs”

What to Do

Follow “Immediate Care” guideline.

Heart Attack

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with “Heart Attack Warning Signs”

What to Do

Follow “Immediate Care” guidelines

Irregular Heartbeat

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with a heart rate greater than 130 beats per minute or less than 50 beats per minute or an irregular heart rhythm

What to Do

Get immediate care.

Dehydration

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with “Signs & Symptoms” of dehydration

What to Do

Get immediate care.

Intestinal Obstruction

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with:

* Abdominal pain and swelling that worsen

* Inability to pass stool or gas

* Vomiting

What to Do

Get immediate care.

Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm

This is a tear in the main artery from the heart.

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness and fainting. Severe chest pain with extreme pain felt across the upper back (not just on one side) that came on within 15 minutes for no apparent reason, such as an injury or back strain. The pain can spread to the abdomen.

What to Do

Get immediate care. (Do not take aspirin.)

Ear Infection

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with ear pain, ringing in the ear, pus or other ear discharge, fever

What to Do

Contact doctor.

Labyrnthitis

This is an inflammation in the ear that usually results from an upper respiratory infection.

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with:

* True spinning sensation

* Loss of balance

* Nausea and vomiting

* Ringing in the ears

* Jerky movements of the eye

What to Do

Contact doctor.

Low Blood Sugar

This can occur in persons taking insulin or oral pills for diabetes and/or after not eating for 4 or more hours.

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness with hunger, sweating, trembling, anxiety, and confusion

What to Do

Use self-care.

Temporary Drop in Blood Pressure (Orthostatic Hypotension)

This could be a side effect of taking medicines, such as ones for high blood pressure and depression.

Signs & Symptoms

Dizziness when getting up too quickly from a seated or lying position

What to Do

Use self-care.

Other Causes of Dizziness:

* Alcohol

* New medications, antibiotics, or high doses of aspirin

* A change in altitude or motion sickness

* Sudden movement, such as with turning the head quickly

* Seeing fast moving objects Treatment for dizziness depends on the cause.

Vertigo

Signs & Symptoms

* Wooziness

* Sense that the room is spinning

* Nausea

* Blurred vision

* Floating, rocking, and/or rolling feeling

* Sense of walking on an uneven surface

* Loss of balance

Causes, Risk Factors & Care

Vertigo is caused by a problem with the inner ear. Causes of vertigo are:

* Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV). This is the most common type. It may happen when you turn over in bed, get up, sit down, bend over, or just tilt your head. The sensations start within seconds of changing positions and last less than a minute. As bothersome as BPV is, it rarely signals more serious disease. Risk factors for BPV are aging, viral infections, and a prior head injury.

* Ménière’s disease. This condition may be due to spasms of blood vessels in the inner ear, fluid retention in the inner ear, or allergic reactions. Ménière’s disease is linked with a decrease in hearing and tinnitus. It sometimes leads to permanent hearing loss.

* Multiple sclerosis. With this, the covering that protects nerves (myelin) is destroyed. Over time, scar tissue (sclerosis) forms where the myelin used to be in the brain and spinal cord. Scar tissue or inflammation in the brain may cause vertigo symptoms.

After proper diagnosis, most cases of vertigo are easily treated in the doctor’s office or at home with self-care.

While attacks of Ménière’s disease can continue for many years, some symptoms can be controlled with medication.

Self-Care

For Orthostatic Hypotension:

* Don’t jump out of bed. Go from a lying position to a sitting position slowly. Sit on the edge of the bed a few minutes. Stand up slowly.

* From a sitting position, stand up slowly. Hold onto the arms of the chair or the head of the bed for support.

* If you feel lightheaded, sit back down for a few minutes. Take a few deep breaths. Get up again, slowly.

For Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV):

* Sit on the side of the bed and lean to your right, resting the right ear on the bed. This might make you dizzy and nauseous at first.

* Wait 20 seconds until the dizziness stops and sit up straight.

* Wait another 20 seconds and repeat steps 1 and 2 on your left side.

* Do this exercise 10 to 15 times, 3 times a day.

For Ménière’s Disease:

* Lie still in bed until the dizziness and nausea are gone.

* Walk with assistance.

* Don’t change positions too fast.

* Do not drive, climb ladders, or work around dangerous machinery.

* Decrease the amount of salt and fluids in your diet.

* Avoid bright lights. Do not read when you have a spinning feeling.

* Resume your normal activities when symptoms go away.

* Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026