Overmedicating can be a danger

As seniors grow older, they are more likely to develop long-term health conditions that require multiple medications, and they may also be sensitive to some common medications and over-the-counter drugs.

As a result, it’s not uncommon for older adults to be overmedicated and to experience adverse reactions to the ever-lengthening list of medications they take. Choosing medical options wisely is important. Communicating with your doctor or health care provider is crucial.

To lower the chances of overmedication and dangerous drug reactions, the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging recommends that people age 65 and over be cautious about using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They can increase the risk of indigestion, ulcers and bleeding in the stomach or colon. They can also increase blood pressure, affect your kidneys and make heart failure worse. Some medications should not be used together with NSAIDs. Consult your physician.

Also, consult your physical and be careful when using muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety and anti-insomnia drugs.

Source: AARP

Two pneumonia vaccines recommended for seniors

Adults 65 and older now have access to two vaccines to better protect them from bacterial infection in the blood (called sepsis), meningitis and pneumonia, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory panel.

Older adults need additional protection because they are more vulnerable to serious infections. The CDC’s 2015 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices notes that such infections are caused by pneumococcal bacteria, and older people have an increased risk of life-threatening infection from these bacteria. 

The committee recommended that seniors get both the Prevnar 13 and the Pneumovax 23 vaccines. As their names imply, Prevnar 13 protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria, and the Pneumovax 23 protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria.

Source: National Institutes of Health — HealthDay New

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