Sleep apnea can be a gateway to heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Julian Parra knew something wasn’t right when he began waking up several times a night gasping for air. He also noticed that he felt unusually tired and sleepy at work and during the day. At age 39, he suspected he might have sleep apnea because his dad has [...]
Seniors, look again! Is everything in order? You might have balanced your checkbook and paid off the balance of open accounts, but if you're weak on your feet and struggling on the stairs, you may have neglected the one most significant part of staying independent...good physical balance. Good balance [...]
Todd McDiarmid, MD, holds advanced certification in family medicine and geriatrics. He practices at the Cone Health Family Medicine Center. Our changing memory is a normal part of aging. Just as we have different amounts of reserves in our body that help us cope with aging or illness, we also have different amounts of memory reserves that help us deal [...]
Sometimes the most difficult part of exercise and being active is staying motivated. You might be too busy, or just not feel up to it. But even if you take a short break, you can get moving again. Here are a few ways to help you fit some activity into your day. Make a plan Having an exercise plan can [...]
Joe and Becky Miller celebrated 34 years of marriage on Valentine’s Day shortly after Becky retired from teaching physical education and coaching sports at Davie High School in Mocksville. But the big reason the couple were smiling and laughing again, they say, is because Joe is back to his old, cut-up self following a life-changing LVAD heart procedure at Novant [...]
Coffee aficionados already know a bunch of reasons why coffee is good for you like it's the raison d'etre to get up in the morning. If that's not your reason, you may pick one of the following or add yours to the list. • Coffee is rich in antioxidants, which help to fight inflammation • Coffee may help boost cognitive [...]
Many people make New Year’s resolutions to get healthier. Besides losing weight, they realize a focus on fitness can improve sleep as well as boost the immune system. Regular exercise and a healthier lifestyle are key factors in this important endeavor; however, it’s important to keep in mind that losing weight is different for each person. Besides diet and [...]
A deadly killer is lurking in your home. It’s not the usual suspect like a gas leak, a poorly installed furnace, or a faulty wiring job. It’s the stairs. You walk on them every day, but according to the National Safety Council, almost 12,000 people in the United States die from falls on stairs annually. When it comes to falls, [...]
Weight training or cardio? For older adults trying to slim down, pumping iron might be the way to go. A new study by researchers at Wake Forest University suggests combining weight training with a low-calorie diet preserves much needed lean muscle mass that can be lost through aerobic workouts. The findings, “Effect of Exercise Type during Intentional Weight Loss on [...]
A new study at Wake Forest Medical Center affirms an old formula: seniors who want to lose weight should hit the weight room while cutting calories. The researchers report that seniors who performed resistance training while dieting lost fat but preserved most of their lean muscle mass in comparison to those who walked for exercise. Assistant Professor Kristen Beavers, a [...]
