DEAR DOCTOR K: In a few months, my husband and I are taking our first trip abroad. We both have chronic medical conditions. How should we prepare for our trip?
DEAR READER: Many people with medical conditions enjoy foreign travel. But your preparation will need to involve more than just reading some guidebooks.
DEAR DOCTOR K: In a previous column you wrote about the importance of balance exercises as we age. But why does our balance get worse as we get older?
DEAR READER: A number of changes that come with aging can affect our balance, including many health problems and certain medications. Balance exercises can help you improve your balance.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I see advertisements about various treatments that stop your cells from aging. Is there anything to that? What happens to our cells as we age?
DEAR READER: There are no treatments that can stop our cells from aging. But in the past 10 years scientists have made giant steps in understanding what causes cells to age. That knowledge could lead to true "anti-aging" treatments. As for what happens to our cells as we age, I'd rephrase the question: What happens to us as our cells age?
DEAR DOCTOR K: I recently read that aging affects something called "executive function." Could you please explain what this is?
DEAR READER: Executive function is an umbrella term for the complex thinking required to make choices, plan, initiate action and inhibit impulses. You can think of executive function as your "inner CEO."
As I discussed in a recent column, balance exercises are important for one simple reason: Poor balance can cause falls. Below are two beginner balance exercises. They are a good first step toward improving shaky balance and can be done by people of many ages and abilities, including those who are elderly or frail.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I'm 70 and regularly do cardiovascular and weight-training exercises. Now my doctor wants me to add balance exercises to my routine. Why?
DEAR READER: You've asked a good question, and it has a simple answer: Poor balance can cause falls. Every year, one in three adults 65 or older falls at least once. Especially in older people, falls can be serious. More than 90 percent of hip fractures result from falls. Falls also often lead to fractures of the spine, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm and hand. These injuries can undermine your independence. Hip fractures, in particular, also can increase the risk for early death.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I'm a 77-year-old man. I've read about the effects of growth hormone, and they sound great. Is there a downside?
DEAR READER: I've also seen the many "anti-aging" claims associated with growth hormone, and I understand their appeal. Like most people, I want to live a long time, but I don't want to grow old. But does growth hormone (GH) work? And is it safe? Those are both complicated questions to answer, but here goes.
DEAR DOCTOR K: As I age, what can I do to keep my mouth healthy?
DEAR READER: Your mouth is not exempt from the effects of aging. Older people suffer higher rates of gum disease, dental decay, mouth infections and tooth loss. Fortunately, you can keep your mouth looking and feeling younger than its years by practicing good oral hygiene.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I have severe hearing loss that hasn't been helped by hearing aids. Could I be a candidate for a cochlear implant?
DEAR READER: You sure could be. Cochlear implants are a relatively new technology; they weren't available when I graduated from medical school. There often were no effective options for people like you with severe hearing loss. Even the most advanced hearing aids didn't help. But since then, more than 200,000 people around the world have been helped by this technology.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I was just diagnosed with dry AMD. I'd like to learn more about the condition.
DEAR READER: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that strikes at the macula, a small part of the retina that is responsible for sharp, central vision. People with AMD often develop blurred or distorted vision.
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Dr. Anthony Komaroff is a practicing physician, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Editor in Chief of Harvard Health Publications. Learn more »
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