Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
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A new study in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences has found people with multiple chronic conditions reported persistently high levels of anxiety and depression, and worse physical function. And compared to white study participants, those who identified as non-white experienced worse health-related quality of life as multiple chronic health conditions increased, the study found. “As people get older, it’s not just that they develop hypertension and that’s it. It’s that these c...
As the calendar turns to a new year, many people resolve to start eating healthier. However, trying to keep up with the latest reports on nutrition as we age can be difficult – it seems like the advice is always changing. But there are a few universal truths to nutrition as we age, and it’s important to understand how our needs change in our senior years and why that is. And with that, we can make dietary choices that help with bone strength, heart health and even cognitive ability. To do so, on a basic level, each day you...
Kaweah Health is welcoming Dr. Michael K. McLean, cardiothoracic surgeon and Stanford Medicine faculty member. Dr. McLean is the first of three Stanford Medicine cardiothoracic surgeons who will live and work in Visalia as part of the Kaweah Health Cardiothoracic Surgery Program, working together with the Stanford Medicine Cardiac Surgery Program. “The Kaweah Health cardiothoracic program has a long history of providing award-winning care, and with Stanford Health Care, we will work to help ensure that our community c...
New research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) found that daily strawberry consumption could help reduce the risk of dementia for certain middle-aged populations. In 2022, UC's Robert Krikorian, Ph.D., and his team published research that found adding blueberries to the daily diets of certain middle-aged populations may lower the chances of developing late-life dementia. He said the current research into strawberries is an extension to the blueberry research. "Both...
Like any typical car or house or society, the pace at which parts of our bodies fall apart varies from part to part. A study of 5,678 people, led by Stanford Medicine investigators, has shown that our organs age at different rates - and when an organ's age is especially advanced in comparison with its counterpart in other people of the same age, the person carrying it is at heightened risk both for diseases associated with that organ and for dying. According to the study,...
Adventist Health is improving healthcare in Tulare with an advanced MRI and medical imaging space. The equipment began serving patients in late August. The ribbon-cutting was held on September 6 at Adventist Health Tulare, 869 N. Cherry St. MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create an image of the body, and the new Tulare MRI leverages artificial intelligence to enhance patient comfort and image quality. Healthcare providers orde...
Tulare County has been seeing an increase in COVID-19 activity in late summer/early fall, according to Dr. Sharon Minnick, senior epidemiologist, Tulare County Public Health. "As of late September, the variants that seem to be increasing the most are EG.5 (Eris) and XBB.1.16 (Arcturus), but these have both been found in California all summer," she said. "Historically, large surges have been associated with the sudden rise of a brand new variant, which is very hard to...
As we approach the holiday season, people are hitting the road or taking to the skies to visit family. Maybe it's just been a few months, or maybe it's been since this time last year that you, a sibling or another relative last saw an aging loved one. But it's common at this time of year for family members to notice drastic changes in a parent, family member or other loved one since the last time they'd been together. If you live with or near a loved one and see them...
Kaweah Health announced that Becker’s Hospital Review has named it as one of 153 great community hospitals nationwide. Kaweah Health was one of only three California hospitals to make the list, and the only one between San Jose and Los Angeles. Becker’s recognized Kaweah Health for making significant strides in improving medical education, nursing programs, community outreach and access to quality care. Specific achievements cited were the Kaweah Health Graduate Medical Education Residency Program, the Kaweah Health Sch...
When thinking about your health and wellness goals as you age, you likely have a few benchmarks in mind – maybe there’s a distance you’d like to run, walk or bike. Perhaps you’re looking to shave off a few pounds, improve your cardio, or just feel a bit better overall. But amid your physical goals, are you considering your brain health, too? September is National Healthy Aging Month, a time to consider the different elements of wellness in aging and how they work together. A significant part of healthy aging includes brain h...
CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendations for use of new Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines from GSK and Pfizer for people ages 60 years and older, using shared clinical decision-making. This means these individuals may receive a single dose of the vaccine based on discussions with their healthcare provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for them. Adults at the highest risk for severe RSV illness include older adults, a...
New research reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2023 covered the breadth of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research, including advancements in treatment, early and accurate diagnosis, and risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. AAIC is the premier annual forum for presentation and discussion of the latest Alzheimer’s and dementia research. This year’s conference took place both virtually and in-person in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and attracted more than 10,000 attendees...
Kaweah Health announced its first implant procedure of the Watchman FLX left atrial appendage closure device for stroke prevention on a patient with atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that affects the heart's ability to pump blood normally. Kaweah Health is the first hospital in the area to offer the Watchman device, an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners for people with non-valvular AFib. The procedure was performed by Dr. Atul Singla and a specialized...
Wheelchairs How often can I get my wheelchair replaced and does Medicare cover motorized scooters? That is a really great question and I want you to get the most accurate information possible. I reached out to Nourlie Carlos, FNP-BC at Optimal Medical Care in Visalia, whom I have heard is very successful at getting his patients wheelchairs and scooters. He shared the most often asked questions along with his comments. When should a wheelchair be replaced? A well-cared-for and well-maintained active wheelchair can last from...
In a study that followed more than 2,000 community-dwelling older adults over eight years, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have significant new evidence of a link between decreased sense of smell and risk of developing late-life depression. Their findings, published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, do not demonstrate that loss of smell causes depression, but suggest that it may serve as a potent indicator of...
Adventist Health Hanford is now offering the world's smallest pacemakers to Central Valley patients, the hospital announced in a July 12th press release. Sukhvinder Bhajal, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist, performed the first Hanford procedure. The Micra VR and Micra AV Transcatheter Pacing Systems (TPS) is a leadless pacemaker option for patients who only require pacing in the ventricle. It is used to monitor and regulate heartbeats that are slow, fast or irregular,...
The first-ever county-level estimates of the prevalence of people with Alzheimer's dementia - in all 3,142 United States counties - were presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2023, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Researchers found the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's in the east and southeastern regions. The data were simultaneously published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. Kumar B. Rajan, Ph.D., professor in the...
On July 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) converted Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb), indicated to treat adult patients with Alzheimer's Disease, to traditional approval following a determination that a confirmatory trial verified clinical benefit. Leqembi is the first amyloid beta-directed antibody to be converted from an accelerated approval to a traditional approval for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The drug works by reducing amyloid plaques that form in the br...
Adventist Health Hanford is now offering the world's smallest pacemakers to Central Valley patients, the hospital announced in a July 12th press release. Sukhvinder Bhajal, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist, performed the first Hanford procedure. The Micra VR and Micra AV Transcatheter Pacing Systems (TPS) is a leadless pacemaker option for patients who only require pacing in the ventricle. It is used to monitor and regulate heartbeats that are slow, fast or irregular,...
What chronic illnesses should I watch out for as I get older? Seniors who live in the U.S. can expect to live longer than ever before. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), once you pass the age of 65, you can expect to live another 19.3 years. For many of us, we can expect to manage chronic conditions to stay healthy by making healthy lifestyle choices. The question is, are you among the 41% of people over 65 who can claim their health is very good or excellent? Your healthcare team can help you...
A new study published in Neurology has found that sleep apnea and a lack of deep sleep may be associated with poorer brain health, leading to increased risks for stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. Sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder that can also increase other health risks, including cardiovascular disease and hypertension. The research involved looking at sleep factors and biomarkers of brain health and suggests that people with sleep apnea who spend less time in deep sleep are more likely to have b...
Adventist Health Hanford has expanded patients' surgical options with the da Vinci Xi robotic system, advancing the technology used in minimally invasive procedures at the hospital. "The da Vinci Xi system extends surgeons' vision and reach, using 3D high-definition views and tiny precision instruments," said Gurvinder Kaur, MD, medical officer for Adventist Health Central Valley Network. "The robotic capabilities, which are controlled 100% by the surgeon, provide the...
On May 3, Eli Lilly and Company announced positive results of its study showing that Donanemab significantly slowed cognitive and functional decline in people with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. In a press release issued the same day, the Alzheimer's Association said it, "enthusiastically welcomes the robustly positive topline data reported" by Eli Lilly on the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ2 Phase 3 clinical trial of Donanemab for the treatment of early symptomatic Alzheimer's...
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced on June 1st how people can get drugs that may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease covered by Medicare. If the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants traditional approval, then Medicare will cover it. “Alzheimer’s disease takes a toll on not just the people suffering from the disease but also on their loved ones and caregivers in a way that almost no other illness does," said Brooks-LaSure. "CMS has always been...
