My grandmother has been in and out of the hospital with stomach problems. She won't/can't eat... nothing tastes/smells good, she just has no desire to eat. They have tested for everything and say it's just her body shutting down and depression. Does anyone know of anything that will help increase her appetite?
Healthnotes Newswire (October 4, 2007)—The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association have released new physical activity guidelines for adults 65 years and older, and adults 50 to 64 with chronic medical conditions. The guidelines are similar to the new recommendations for healthy adults below age 65 but in addition emphasize the importance of maintaining flexibility and balance and creating an exercise plan.
Healthnotes Newswire (September 6, 2007)—Low selenium levels are associated with muscle weakness in seniors, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Healthnotes Newswire (September 6, 2007)—A new study shows that age-related macular degeneration—the most common cause of blindness in people over age 65—might be avoided by replacing refined carbohydrates with whole grains.
Healthnotes Newswire (June 7, 2007)—It is well known that physical activity is necessary for people to stay strong as they age, but now it appears that unsuspecting older people might have a vitamin D deficiency working against them. New research finds that getting enough vitamin D helps seniors stay strong.
Staying fit is a major concern to many people as they strive to remain independent while facing their later years. Physical fitness influences mental fitness and helps people avoid disability by reducing risk of chronic diseases.
Over the past few years there has been increasing awareness of vitamin D’s role in overall health. In addition to regulating how bones use calcium, vitamin D also controls the way calcium is absorbed and used by the body, influences immune function, and has some anticancer effects.
Healthnotes Newswire (May 17, 2007)—A new study finds that seniors who take zinc supplements are at significantly less risk of infections, in part because of zinc’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, both of which improve immune function.
“Dietary zinc intake declines with advancing age,” said Ananda S. Prasad, MD, PhD, MACN, and lead author of the study, which was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. “Deficiency in zinc makes elderly people more susceptible to infection, in part because cell-mediated immunity depends on the mineral.”
Healthnotes Newswire (May 3, 2007)—Asthma rates in the northeastern part of the United States are the highest in the nation—and vitamin D deficiency may be one reason, new research shows.
The body can make vitamin D, but only when skin is exposed to sunlight. Pregnant women who live in areas where sunlight is scarce are at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency, and their children may suffer for this lack later on.
Regarding the effect of maternal diet in pregnancy on the risk of childhood asthma, Carlos A. Camargo, MD, DrPH, associate professor of Medicine & Epidemiology at the Harvard Medical School, and lead author of the new study said, “A few years ago we noted similarities between risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and risk factors for asthma. Vitamin D has many effects on the immune system, so we hypothesized that higher maternal vitamin D intakes might be protective against the development of childhood asthma.”
Healthnotes Newswire (March 8, 2007)—Adults ages 50 and older who use Prozac and other drugs in its class have double the risk of falls and fractures, according to a new study.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants, are often used to treat depression in seniors. They include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine maleate (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and dapoxetine.
