Pharmacology
How Does the Body React to the COVID-19 Vaccine? First appearing in China near the end of 2019, COVID-19 spread to North America and Europe by February 2020. By November 2020, two major pharmaceutical manufacturers had developed vaccines that were shown to be about 95% effective, which means vaccinated test subjects were 95% less likely to get COVID-19 than unvaccinated ones. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved these vaccines for use within about a year of their inception. Prior to this, the shortest time in which a vaccine had been both developed and FDA approved was four years: for the mumps vaccine, introduced in 1967. At time of writing, there are three primary vaccines in use in the United States, generally known by the names of their manufacturers: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. mRNA vs
Aging
5 Causes Behind the Growing Baby Boomer Caregiver Gap As baby boomers turn 80, the realities of an aging population and their increasing healthcare needs are becoming impossible to ignore. Long-term care, support with daily living and professional medical oversight are no longer distant concerns — they’re the reality for millions of families. While baby boomers often cared for their elders, their children are less likely to fill that same caregiving role. So, where does that leave older adults in the baby boomer generation? In short, with a growing caregiver gap. In this article, we’re digging into five causes of the caregiver gap in hopes that we can collectively work toward reducing it and provide baby boomers with optimal care during the next phase in their lives. Why Are Baby Boomers Facing an Aged Care Shortage? The baby boomer generation refers to individuals born between 1946 and 1964. Today, millions of baby boomers are entering their late 70s and early 80s, increasing demand for healthcare services, long-term support and caregiving assistance. The baby boomer caregiving gap refers to the growing mismatch between the number of aging baby boomers who require support and the number of caregivers available to meet their needs. As baby boomers age into their 80s and beyond, demand for long-term care services is accelerating faster than workforce growth. What’s Causing the Baby Boomer Caregiver Gap? While there’s no single cause behind the caregiver gap, several social, demographic and economic shifts have contributed to the growing shortage of support for aging baby boomers
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Physiology
What Organs Can You Live Without? Our organs keep us alive, individually and in combination with other organs. There are about 78 organs in the human body, and each performs one or more vital functions. But do we really need all of those, or are there organs we can live without? As it turns out, we don’t exactly need all of our organs in order to survive. Let’s look at a few “unnecessary” organs, their purpose and why you can live without them. Appendix What It Does The appendix is somewhat of a mystery organ, as doctors and scientists aren’t 100% sure of its purpose. One common theory is that this little appendage to the large intestine is where the body stores good bacteria
Physiology
High Altitude: How Our Bodies Adapt Whether you’re climbing a fourteener or just visiting the Mile High City for a week of recreational fun, one thing is for certain — both locations are a lot higher than sea level. But what’s the magic number that dictates when you’ve reached a high altitude? The sweet spot is anywhere between 4,900 to 11,500 feet. If you go higher, you’ve reached the even more elusive (and slightly less oxygenated) very high altitude. So, while you’re sipping that CBD-infused latte in downtown Denver, it may not look or even feel like you’re on top of the world. But if you’ve only just arrived, we’re willing to bet that you might notice one or two of the side effects of being in a high-altitude location, like dizziness, headaches or nausea. So why do we face these occasional uncomfortable symptoms and how do our bodies adapt to such a drastic change in height? In this article, we’ll break down how we acclimate to high altitude, what altitude sickness is and how to prepare for your next high-elevation getaway. How Does Your Body Adapt to High Altitude? When you arrive at a high-altitude location, it would be wonderful if you could snap your fingers and bam — instantly adjust your body to its new environment
Aging
7 Reasons Older Adults Are at Risk for Drug-Related Problems With almost 90% of older adults taking one prescription drug regularly (and 36% consuming at least five), concerned family members often wonder about the potential risks of daily medication use for their elderly loved ones. From overdosing to not taking medications as prescribed, various issues can affect older adults who use prescription and over-the-counter drugs — but what makes that age group particularly vulnerable? Today, we’re discussing the risks older adults face when taking medications and some of the reasons they’re at risk for potential drug-related problems. What Are the Risks the Elderly Face When Taking Drugs Regularly? Many possible effects can occur in older adults who take prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines regularly, including (but not limited to): Drug ineffectiveness Adverse drug effects Underdosage Overdosage Inadequate monitoring of usage Nonadherence Drug interactions 7 Reasons Older Adults Are at Risk for Drug-Related Issues Sure, there are potential repercussions associated with taking one or more medications daily, but what causes those problems in the first place? Below, we discuss seven reasons the elderly are at a higher risk for drug-related health concerns. #1 Polypharmacy Polypharmacy is a term used to describe the simultaneous use of multiple drugs to treat a combination of health conditions. Since people tend to have more health concerns as they age, polypharmacy is more common in older adults. The consistent use of multiple drugs increases the potential for drug interactions and adverse reactions to one or more of their medications. #2 Reduced Kidney and Liver Function The kidney and liver are responsible for metabolizing and excreting drugs through the body. As people age, the function of these essential organs sometimes begins to decline
Aging
Societal Views on Aging What do you think comes to mind when people see the term elderly? Do they picture themselves helping kind older women across the street or perhaps reading to a room full of people at the local nursing home? Sadly, society’s views on aging have changed dramatically in recent years. Rather than helping elderly family members as they progress through their latter stage of life, many people view them as a burden. But was it always this way — and is there anything we can do to change the current societal views on aging? Join us as we break down the good, the bad and the ugly of ageism in the United States and beyond and what you can do to positively impact the elderly community. What Is Ageism — And Is It the Same Around the Globe? Ageism refers to the social prejudice that people sometimes experience based on their age. For example, some individuals in their teens or early 20s won’t receive an interest-free credit card because they’re young and “inexperienced” when it comes to handling their finances. Similarly, older adults experience various degrees of age bias. Sometimes, family members assume their elderly family members aren’t competent enough to drive their car. Other times, someone will insist on helping them complete a task that they believe they’re not strong enough to complete on their own. But is ageism practiced similarly around the world, or are certain cultures more prone to conforming to stereotypes against the elderly? Western societies like our own often focus more heavily on the glory and benefits of youth and are less likely to prioritize taking care of older family members as they age
Physiology
What Happens If You Don’t Get Enough Sunlight? Most of us know the dangers of too much sun — sunburns, dark spots and even skin cancer. But not enough people talk about the other side of the equation: What happens when you don’t get enough sunlight? The same UV rays that can damage your skin also help your body make vitamin D, a nutrient that supports strong bones, a healthy immune system and steady energy. Without it, you could start to feel the effects in surprising, not-so-pleasant ways. So, how much sun is enough, and what really happens when you don’t get it? Let’s dive in. What Happens When You Don’t Get Enough Sunlight? Not getting enough sunlight is surprisingly common. There are several reasons individuals might fall short on natural light.Whether they live in areas with long winters and short days or have a medical condition that makes going outside difficult, sunlight deficiency affects more people than you might think. Here’s what can happen if your body doesn’t get enough natural light: Can a Lack of Sunlight Weaken Your Immune System? Vitamin D helps your immune system produce proteins that fight pathogens. Without enough sunlight, you may experience a weakened immune system and become more susceptible to getting the flu, cold or other infections. Why Does Low Sunlight Cause Fatigue? Sunlight can boost serotonin levels in the brain, creating a sense of calm and boosting your mood
Aging
The Impacts of an Aging Population on Society Those born between 1946 and 1964 grew up in a completely different era than the one we’re familiar with today. World War II had just ended, “It’s a Wonderful Life” had mesmerized audiences and the first season of “I Love Lucy” premiered to over 10 million viewers. People were living the American Dream, and with that dream came an abundance of babies, hence the generational name “baby boomers.” In 2022, baby boomers became the second largest generational group in the United States with 69.6 million people ranging from ages 58 to 76. Even now, as they continue to age, more and more baby boomers are retiring every day. As it stands, approximately 10,000 people reach the retirement age of 65 daily. But how will a rapidly aging population impact society as we know it? Its effects will be felt on a national level as well as a personal level, as we outline in detail below. The Economic Implications of an Aging Population Could Be Significant The sizeable number of older people retiring every week translates to a smaller pool of working-age people
Physiology
The Role of Bacteria in Gut Health, Digestion and Immunity What comes to mind when you think of bacteria? Infection? Illness? While these ailments are often associated with bacteria, not all species of bacteria cause harm. Some are actually quite beneficial, and understanding how these microorganisms operate will make you feel much better about knowing that they’re alive inside you right now. Bacteria are tiny organisms — living things — that exist within the bodies of humans and animals and in just about every environment on the planet. To give you an idea of just how small bacteria are, compare these single-celled microbes to the average adult human male, who is made up of more than an estimated 37 trillion cells. Despite their microscopic size, bacteria have the potential to do a great deal of harm or good within our bodies. What Is Gut Flora? Our digestive system (or gastrointestinal system) is home to five different types of bacteria, each of which contains multiple bacterial species. Bacteria are an important part of our flora, or the organisms that live in our bodies
Aging
Geropsychology: Helping Older Adults Thrive The field of psychology has grown immensely in recent decades. What began as the study of the adult mind and behavior in 1879 has since expanded to an array of specialties, from military psychology to child psychology and everything in between. It should come as no surprise, then, that there’s a new branch of psychology on the block and it goes by the name of geropsychology. This up-and-coming specialty applies a combination of traditional and modern psychological methods to help people aged 65 and older. Whether you’re interested in becoming a psychologist with a focus on the elderly population or you’d simply like to utilize some of its practices in your line of work, today we’re answering the question, “What is geropsychology?” and discussing some of the common topics this specialty addresses. Geropsychology: A Brief History By the 1950s, psychology had comfortably nestled itself next to many other established specialties in the behavioral sciences. It was during this time that scientists began to study the cognitive and emotional abilities of humans as they entered the latter phase of their lives. In the 1970s, more formal training in clinical geropsychology began to improve the lives of older adults as they faced impending hurdles like mental and physical decline or the deaths of loved ones
