Should I Be Tested For Coronavirus?
You might have heard that access to COVID-19 testing has been expanded. As of March 27, 2020, testing capacity is still limited and testing criteria is largely determined by local and state health departments. Based on the latest CDC guidance and given the limited testing capacity available, we recommend prioritizing testing for those at highest [...]
How Can I Protect Myself?
We recommend practicing good hygiene in the same way you would protect yourself from colds and the flu: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and if soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close [...]
Tips to Avoid Medication Mix-Ups
Do you take medication daily? If so, you aren't alone. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 76% of Americans age 60 or older use two or more prescription drugs a day, and 37% use five or more every day. Add vitamins and over-the-counter medications to the mix, and there's a real chance for [...]
AARPs Top 10 Medical Tests to Avoid – Part 1
Doctors are warning that some of the common medical tests routinely taken by Americans do more harm than good, waste billions of health care dollars annually and could endanger your health or even your life. Among the tests targeted by prestigious panels of doctors as overused were annual Pap smears, regular PSA tests, regular EKGs and [...]
AARPs Top 10 Medical Tests to Avoid – Part 2
4. PET scan to diagnose Alzheimer's disease Until recently, the only way to accurately diagnose Alzheimer's was during an autopsy. In the last few years, doctors have begun using PET scans with a radioactive dye to look for beta-amyloid protein that is found in the brains of people with the disease. Although this test has promising [...]
AARPs Top 10 Medical Tests to Avoid – Part 3
8. Follow-up ultrasounds for small ovarian cysts Many women receive repeated ultrasounds to verify that ovarian cysts have not become cancerous, but current research says that these tests aren't necessary. For one thing, premenopausal women have harmless ovarian cysts regularly. For another, about 20 percent of postmenopausal women also develop harmless cysts. "The likelihood of these [...]
Spirometry, A Simple Test That Could Improve Your COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. It includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and in some cases asthma. What Causes COPD? In the United States, tobacco smoke is a key factor in the development and progression of COPD1, although exposure to air pollutants in the home [...]
Kidney Education Near You
1 in 10 U.S. adults* has kidney disease. If you have it, you're not alone. Kidney Smart Classes Learn from expert educators about how your kidneys function and the best ways to manage your diet and health - at no cost to you. In class, you will learn: How kidneys function and the causes of chronic [...]
Get Help to Quit Smoking
Tobacco smoking has devastating effects on health. The smoke damages the lungs, resulting in a diminished ability of oxygen to enter the body. Smoke long enough and eventually you will get emphysema. Various chemicals in smoke enhance the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), leading to strokes and heart attacks. One of tobacco's chemicals, nicotine, acts directly [...]