Orthostatic Hypotension : Risk Factors

When you exercise, you gain more strength and flexibility. Your mood will improve, and you'll be able to think better.

In elderly patients, symptoms of depression can be mistaken for symptoms of another medical problem, so it is important for clinicians to consider all physical problems and medications of elderly patients before making a diagnosis.

Learn how to put together a caregiving plan, draw on useful services, and address legal, medical, and financial planning issues. Also, find advice on involving family members, handling daily tasks, and maintaining your well being.

Aimed at older adults, this report provides practical advice on how to avoid common and often deadly accidents at home.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a motor system disorder caused by the chronic, progressive degeneration of neurons (nerve cells) in regions of the brain that control movement. PD causes a decline in the initiation, speed, and smoothness of movement. Over time it may come to affect many bodily functions.

Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination.

Detailed information on Parkinson's disease, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, medication, and surgery

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder marked by tremors, rigidity, slow movements (bradykinesia), and postural instability. It occurs when, for unknown reasons, cells in one of the movement-control centers of the brain begin to die.

Parkinson’s disease affects muscle control, coordination, and balance, making it harder to get around. Here are some tips to help make these types of movement easier for you.

Parkinson’s disease is caused by a problem with a small area of your brain. This part of the brain helps control your movement and balance. For reasons that are not yet clear, cells in this part of the brain stop working.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder marked by tremors, rigidity, slow movements (bradykinesia), and posture instability. It occurs when cells in one of the movement-control centers of the brain begin to die for unknown reasons. PD was first noted by British physician James Parkinson in the early 1800s.

Some Parkinson's symptoms, such as slowness or stiffness, are so subtle that they may be mistaken for normal signs of aging.

Parkinson’s disease symptoms vary from person to person. Some people may have many severe symptoms, while others have only a few mild ones. Symptoms change over time—different symptoms may occur at different stages, and symptoms may get worse as the disease progresses.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes slowed movements, tremor, rigidity, and a wide variety of other symptoms. "Neurodegenerative" refers to the degeneration, or death, of neurons, the type of cell in the brain that is the basis for all brain activity.

If your symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are severe and medications don’t help, surgery may be suggested. Surgery is not a cure. It may help relieve some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, mainly tremor and rigidity.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder marked by tremors, rigidity, slow movements (bradykinesia), and posture instability. It occurs when cells in one of the movement-control centers of the brain begin to die for unknown reasons. PD was first noted by British physician James Parkinson in the early 1800s.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder marked by tremors , rigidity, slow movements (bradykinesia), and posture instability. It occurs when cells in one of the movement-control centers of the brain begin to die for unknown reasons. PD was first noted by British physician James Parkinson in the early 1800s.

This report explains the latest drug therapies and surgical techniques for treating this degenerative brain disease.

Actor Michael Fox has Parkinson's disease, a chronic and progressive illness in which certain nerve cells, or neurons, die or become impaired. Early symptoms are subtle and occur gradually. More than 1 million Americans have Parkinson's, and many wind up unable to walk, talk or care for themselves.

Your doctor may prescribe one or more medications for you, depending on many factors. These include your age, the stage of the disease, and the severity of your symptoms. Consult this chart, which shows the types of medication and how they help.

Here are exercises that can help strengthen your muscles and keep them loose and flexible. Ask your doctor whether they’re right for you. Your doctor or physical therapist may also suggest other exercises.

Parkinson’s disease can cause changes that make you feel tired, cranky, or depressed. Your health care team may be able to help you or refer you to someone who can. Friends, family, and community groups can also offer support.

Two drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease have been found to cause heart valve leakage. If you take one of these medications, you should ask your doctor about switching to a safer one. If no other drug is effective, watch for signs of valve trouble.

Those living with Parkinson's disease have a variety of medications available to them for managing the symptoms, and research into new avenues of treatment is ongoing.

My younger sister was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 50. I am having head tremors when not moving. Is there an increased chance that I will develop Parkinson's disease if a sibling has it also?

A chronic illness is a disease that has a prolonged course, does not resolve spontaneously, and rarely is completely cured. Typical examples include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. These illnesses are usually more common as a population ages. In the United States, as in most developed countries, chronic diseases account for approximately 70 percent of all deaths, and a similar proportion of all health care costs. Recent analyses have shown chronic illnesses to be a more important cause of the burden of disease in developing countries than was previously recognized. The commonly held belief that chronic illnesses have noninfectious origins has become blurred. A few chronic illnesses, including cervical cancer, liver cancer, and some forms of arthritis, now appear to have infectious causes. Given the large chronic disease burden and the aging population, efforts to reduce the burden, arrest or slow deterioration, and prevent disability from these illnesses will be among the paramount issues in public health for the foreseeable future. J AMES S. M ARKS ( SEE ALSO : Aging of Population ; Cancer ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Epidemiologic Transition ; Global Burden of Disease ; Noncommunicable Disease Control )

Learning about your condition and doing your best to manage it can help you live a less fearful and more expansive life.

If you can't regain your health, you can still recover control of your life. You not only can learn to live with the disease, you can learn to live well.

Although anyone can suffer from depression, it is particularly common among older adults. Depression affects 15 out of every 100 adults older than 65.

Any trip requires advance planning so you can be comfortable and lower your risk for worsening symptoms.

Dealing with stress isn’t easy. And being tired or in pain can make stress worse. Learning to control stress does take effort. Yet reducing stress can help you stay healthy.

Unlike the flu that you can treat and resolve, chronic diseases are unpredictable and ever-present. But they're also manageable, with the right medical attention, a healthy attitude and smart lifestyle choices.

Detailed information on psychological complications of chronic illness and teens

Here are ways to help you fine-tune your lifestyle to promote optimum health.

Detailed information on psychological complications of chronic illness and teens

In a new study, chronically ill patients report an overall satisfaction with life equal to that of healthy individuals.

Heat disorders are a group of physically related illnesses caused by prolonged exposure to hot temperatures, restricted fluid intake, or failure of temperature regulation mechanisms of the body. Disorders of heat exposure include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke (also called sunstroke). Hyperthermia is the general name given to heat-related illnesses. The two most common forms of hyperthermia are heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which is especially dangerous and requires immediate medical attention.

Pregnancy is the condition of having a developing embryo or fetus in the body. The union of an egg (ovum) with sperm is called fertilization, or conception, and it is this union that produces the embryo. Pregnancy includes the period from conception to birth of the fetus, and usually lasts 10 lunar months (40 weeks/280 days), or nine calendar months—as measured from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). It is also referred to as a gestation period that consists of three trimesters. The trimesters are not equal, but are defined by different stages of a baby's development. The first trimester includes the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, or the first 12 weeks of life. The second trimester consists of weeks 14–26, and the third trimester is weeks 27–40.

Detailed information on pregnancy and childbirth, including information on birth statistics, pregnancy planning, preconception care, prenatal care, pregnancy discomforts, pregnancy tests, pregnancy risks, pregnancy warning signs, labor and delivery, breas

A great deal of public health resources is spent on pregnancy. It is clear that prenatal and neonatal health play a large role in determining the health of a population, and in fact, pregnancy outcomes are often used as an indicator of a nation's health.

Detailed information on what to do before (and during) your next pregnancy to reduce the chance for birth defects

Detailed information on planning a pregnancy, including reducing the risk of pregnancy and delivery complications

Detailed information on planning and preparing for a healthy pregnancy

More doctors now suggest a pre-conception checkup and pre-conception counseling before getting serious about having a baby. Many problems that can affect a pregnancy can be avoided if addressed and dealt with before becoming pregnant.

For most women, this is called the "golden trimester." You're starting to show. And you're starting to glow.

Nutrition during the preconception period, as well as throughout a pregnancy, has a major impact on pregnancy outcome. Among prepregnancy considerations, the prepregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI), folic acid status, and socioeconomic status are the most important. Prepregnancy BMI is an important factor in predicting pregnancy outcome, since both low prepregnancy and high prepregnancy BMI are associated with an increased risk for a negative pregnancy outcome. Folic acid, a B vitamin, has been shown to prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord known as neural tube defects (NTDs). The most common NTDs are spina bifida and anencephaly. Folic acid is therefore needed RECOMMENDED TOTAL WEIGHT-GAIN RANGES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN BY PREPREGNANCY BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) Weight-for-height category Recommended total weight gain   kg lb Young adolescents and black women should strive for gains at the upper end of the recommended range. Short women (157 cm, or 62 inches) should strive for gains at the lower end of the range. The recommended target weight gain for obese women (BMI 29.0) is at least 6.8 kg (15 lb). BMI is calculated using metric units. SOURCE: Institute of Medicine. Low (BMI 19.8) 12.5–18 28–40 Normal (BMI of 19.8 to 26.0) 11.5–16 25–35 High (BMI 26.0 to 29.0) 7–11.5 15–25 both in preconception and early pregnancy. Since studies indicate that most women get less than half the recommended amount of folic acid, the March of Dimes recommends women consider a supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid preconceptually to prevent the incidence of neural tube defects. In addition, it is suggested women capable of becoming pregnant consume a diet high in folic acid. Good sources of folic acid include oranges, green leafy vegetables, and fortified bread and cereals. There is also a direct correlation between ethnicity, age, marital status, and educational status with increased negative pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weight.

Detailed information on planning and preparing for a healthy pregnancy

Detailed information on caring for the mother physically and emotionally following childbirth, including information on postpartum depression

Your blood sugar will most likely return to normal after delivery. But gestational diabetes is a warning sign that you are at risk for getting diabetes later in life. You're also more likely to have gestational diabetes with your next pregnancy.

As your body changes during pregnancy, your back must work in new ways. This can be painful if your back isn’t prepared.

A friend of mine is six months pregnant and says her baby moves all the time. I am also pregnant (five months) and rarely feel the baby -- maybe every other day. Is it abnormal to not feel the baby moving very often? I get regular check-ups and the baby is fine. At what stage does it become a concern when I don't feel the baby throughout the day?

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your baby. Only you can decide whether you're ready to quit.

Learning the proper ways to bend, lift, and carry objects may help relieve back strain. It will also help you protect your back after your baby is born. Remember, if you’re having trouble protecting your back, it’s okay to ask the people around you for help!

Detailed information and examples of non-teratogenic agents

Detailed information on preparing the family for the arrival of a newborn

Detailed information on medication use during pregnancy

Detailed information on post-term pregnancy, including causes, diagnosis, and management

Did you know that standing, sitting, or lying in certain ways can lead to back pain? To ease pain, use positions that support your body comfortably.

Detailed information on medication use during pregnancy

No one can say for sure that a medication is safe to use while you're pregnant. But, avoiding medicines may not be a good idea, either. It may be wiser to treat an illness than ignore it.

Following these guidelines can help keep you and your developing child healthy in the months to come.

Detailed information on blood types in pregnancy

My partner and I are now trying to become pregnant. I am a young African-American woman and have heard that the chemicals from hair relaxers or straighteners may be harmful to a healthy pregnancy. Is there any truth to this?

I am in my second trimester and find it very difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. I am most comfortable on my stomach. How harmful is it to sleep on your stomach in your second trimester?

During the early stages of pregnancy, can you drink coffee? My partner works nights and drinks a lot of coffee. Are there other, safer alternatives to the caffeine from coffee?

After week 16, sleep and rest on your side instead of your back. Try different positions.

Exercise can help you keep your blood sugar within a normal range. That's because your body uses more blood sugar when you exercise.

Does fibromyalgia pain increase when a woman is pregnant? Robert Shmerling, M.D., is associate physician and clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an associate professor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an active teacher in the Internal Medicine Residency Program, serving as the Robinson Firm Chief. He is also a teacher in the Rheumatology Fellowship Program and has been a practicing rheumatologist for over 25 years.

Planning to have a baby? There are steps you can take before you ever become pregnant to help ensure a smooth pregnancy and a healthy outcome for you and your infant.

If you're pregnant, it's just as important for you to stay away from lead as it is to protect your children from it.

The healthy choices you make before and during pregnancy can have a lasting impact on you and your unborn child. Experts say one of the most important things a woman or couple can do is to plan for pregnancies.

At least 90 days before starting to try to conceive, both men and women should take steps to improve their diet and exercise routines, as well as fine-tune any medications they may be taking.

Some pregnancy changes are caused by hormones. Others are caused by the pressure and weigh of your growing baby.

A physical exam and lab tests will show if there are any special concerns. Your health care provider can then plan the care that will help prevent problems later.

Pregnant women in their second or third trimester during influenza season should be immunized.

You may see signs that your body is getting ready for labor. Be patient. Within a few more weeks, your baby will be born.

From conception until after the birth of your child, you and your baby will change every day.

The weight you gain now is not just extra fat. It is also the weight of your baby. And it is the increased blood and fluids to support the baby.

From conception (fertilization) until after the birth of your child, you and your baby will change every day. To help you understand what is happening, we’ve outlined how pregnancy begins and some of the changes you may notice.

Your health can affect your baby’s growth. Here are some ways to stay healthy.

Antidepressants, once considered safe during pregnancy, may cause birth defects. Women are warned of the effects and given alternatives.

Can I continue to take my asthma medication if I am pregnant? Diana Post, M.D., is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Can cancer be transferred from mother to child in the womb? Jeffrey Ecker, M.D. is an Associate Professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he practices maternal-fetal medicine.

Is there a recommended period of time to wait before getting pregnant again after a C-section birth? If so, what are the risks associated with becoming pregnant again too soon?

During pregnancy, what can be done to remove abnormal cervical cells?

I am 23 weeks pregnant and I was just diagnosed with genital warts. Will this affect my baby during delivery?

My first pregnancy ended at eight weeks in a miscarriage. When I get pregnant again, should I try to see my doctor early in the pregnancy as a precaution? Is there anything else I might do to prevent a miscarriage again?

Is it safe to swim in a chlorinated pool during pregnancy? Jeffrey Ecker, M.D. is an Associate Professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he practices maternal-fetal medicine.

If birth defects can result when a pregnant women takes ACE inhibitors, what can happen to the fetus if the father takes ACE inhibitors?

I am a little over six months pregnant and already lactating. Is this normal?

What medication can be taken when a yeast infection develops in the last month of pregnancy?

I am 24 years old and pregnant with my second child. During my first pregnancy I developed toxemia during my last trimester. During labor I was put on oxygen and magnesium. What are my chances of having this reoccur with my second pregnancy?

Detailed information on hypothyroidism and pregnancy, including symptoms and treatment and thyroid function screening

Detailed information for the pregnant mother, including information on hormones during pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, nutrition during pregnancy, exercise during pregnancy, work and pregnancy, sex during pregnancy, and sleeping positions during

Detailed information on sex during pregnancy

Detailed information on traveling while pregnancy or breastfeeding