Evidence-based guides on managing common health conditions after 60. Written in plain language with action steps.
97 guidesA1C is a lab test showing your average blood sugar over the last ~3 months. It looks at sugar attached to red blood cell
Call emergency services immediately for chest pain/pressure, shortness of breath, jaw/arm pain, fainting, or if heartbur
In short Anemia means you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen. This can make you fee
Chest discomfort has many causes. This table helps you think about patterns; your clinician will decide next steps
In short Anxiety involves ongoing worry, tension, or fear that can affect sleep, energy, focus, and daily activities. It
Call emergency services immediately for chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, signs of stroke (face droop, arm weakne
Overview Anxiety may show up as restlessness, worry, chest fluttering, poor sleep, muscle tension, stomach upset, or tro
In short Osteoarthritis is joint “wear and repair” imbalance leading to cartilage thinning, bony changes, pain, stiffnes
Plaque stabilization and partial regression are possible with intensive LDL-C lowering and risk-factor control. Preventi
In short AFib is an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that starts in the top chambers of the heart (atria). It can lead t
In short Back pain lasting 3+ months . In older adults it’s commonly due to arthritis, spinal stenosis, muscle deconditi
In short Balance problems include unsteadiness, veering while walking, frequent tripping, or feeling “pulled” to one sid
In short BPH is a non-cancerous growth of the prostate that can narrow the urethra and affect bladder outflow. It can ca
In short Breathlessness (dyspnea) is the uncomfortable feeling of not getting enough air. It can appear during activity,
In short A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens , usually from age-related changes. Vision becomes blurry or
Chronic Kidney Disease means the kidneys aren’t filtering blood as well as before. It usually develops slowly over month
In short COPD is a long-term lung condition that makes it harder to breathe due to airflow limitation that isn’t fully r
In short Pain that persists or returns for more than 3 months . It may start after an injury or illness—or without a cle
In short The heart doesn’t pump or fill well enough, so fluid backs up into lungs and tissues. That can cause breathless
Seek urgent care for severe belly pain with vomiting, swollen/tender abdomen, inability to pass gas, fever, blood in sto
In short A respiratory infection that can affect the lungs, heart, brain, and other organs. Older adults and people with
Call emergency services for sudden confusion with fever, severe headache, stroke signs (face droop, arm weakness, speech
In short A medical condition that affects mood, interest, energy, sleep, thinking, and daily function. It is not “just a
Call emergency services now for thoughts of self-harm, plans to die, taking extra pills/alcohol, hearing commanding voic
In short The body doesn’t use insulin well and may not make enough. Sugar builds up in the blood, affecting energy, nerv
Call emergency services if the person is unconscious, having a seizure, cannot swallow, or cannot safely take sugar by m
In short The surface of the eye isn’t well-lubricated because tears are too few , evaporate too fast , or are poor quali
In short Earwax (cerumen) protects the ear canal. Buildup occurs when wax doesn’t clear out and blocks the canal, often
eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) is a lab estimate of how well your kidneys filter blood. It’s calculated fro
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancer enlargement of the prostate that can squeeze the urethra and slow uri
Overview Falls often come from a mix of balance or leg weakness, medicines, vision problems, low blood pressure on stand
In short Falls are a leading cause of injury for older adults. Most falls have multiple causes (vision, balance, medicin
Call emergency services for head injury, loss of consciousness, new confusion, severe neck/back pain, bleeding that won’
Kidneys balance water and minerals. Too little fluid can concentrate wastes and raise kidney stress; too much fluid (for
In short Frailty and deconditioning mean lower strength, endurance, and reserve — often after illness, inactivity, or po
In short Stomach contents and acid flow back into the esophagus because the valve (LES) doesn’t close well. This causes
In short A group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve , usually from eye pressure that’s too high for your nerv
Seek urgent care for fevers with a very painful, red, hot joint; chills; feeling ill; or if the skin looks infected. A s
In short A reduction in the ability to hear sounds clearly. In seniors, it’s often gradual ( presbycusis ) and affects s
Lower numbers are usually safer if you feel well . Your clinician may set different goals if you have dizziness on stand
In short A heart attack (myocardial infarction) happens when a heart artery is blocked and part of the heart muscle is s
Heart failure (HF) means the heart is not pumping or filling well enough to meet the body’s needs. Fluid can back up int
In short Blood pressure (BP) is the force of blood on artery walls. When it stays high over time, it strains the heart,
*Targets vary by person. If you’ve had a heart attack, stroke, stent, or have diabetes/kidney disease, ask for your indi
Creatinine is a waste product from muscles. Healthy kidneys filter it into urine. A higher blood creatinine generally me
Seek urgent care for a very painful, red, hot joint with fever or chills; sudden inability to walk after a fall; new num
Consistency beats volume. Same chair, same arm, same times gives a truer trend
In short The thyroid makes too much hormone, speeding up body systems: heart rate, metabolism, bowels, and nerves. In ol
In short The thyroid gland makes hormones that help set your body’s “speed.” When levels are low, many systems slow down
In short A contagious viral infection that attacks the nose, throat, and lungs. In older adults it can progress quickly
In short Sleep difficulty at least 3 nights per week for 3 months or more, with daytime impact (fatigue, concentration,
Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (sugar) from your blood into your cells for energy. With insulin resistance
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular, often fast heartbeat that starts in the top chambers of the heart (atria). S
In short IBS is a long-term pattern of recurrent abdominal pain related to bowel movements plus changes in stool frequen
In short Hard crystals that form from minerals or acids in urine. They can block urine flow in the kidney or ureter and
Kidney stones are hard crystals that form in the kidneys and can move into the ureter (the tube to the bladder). A stone
Seek urgent care for a red, hot, very swollen knee with fever; a loud “pop” with inability to bear weight; major deformi
In short Loneliness is feeling alone or disconnected. Social isolation means having few social contacts. Both can affect
For many adults, less than 90/60 is considered low. But the key question is: how do you feel? If you’re symptom-free, a
Call emergency services if the person is unconscious, having a seizure, cannot swallow, or cannot safely take sugar by m
In short Sodium helps control body water and nerve/muscle function. Hyponatremia means blood sodium is too low, often du
In short Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the macula , the small area in the back of the eye that gives sh
In short Unintended weight loss and malnutrition happen when the body isn’t getting enough energy or protein. This raise
In short Polypharmacy means taking many medications (often 5+), including prescriptions, over-the-counter pills, vitamin
If function or safety is affected, get evaluated. Earlier help means better planning and support
In short Memory loss has many causes. Dementia is a group of conditions with ongoing decline in memory and thinking that
Nocturia means waking at night to pass urine. Once a night can be normal for many adults—especially with evening drinks—
Osteoarthritis (OA) is “wear-and-repair” arthritis. The smooth cartilage that cushions a joint thins over time. Nearby b
Osteoporosis means bones have become less dense and more fragile, so they break more easily—often from a minor fall or e
Seek urgent care for chest pain or trouble breathing; a hard fall with head hit; sudden confusion; severe dehydration; c
In short Parkinson’s disease is a brain condition where dopamine-producing cells gradually decline. This leads to slowed
In short Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It often starts in the toes an
In short Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs (bacterial, viral, or rarely fungal) that makes air sacs fill with fluid
Prediabetes means your blood sugar is above normal but not high enough for Type 2 diabetes. It signals insulin resistanc
In short A pressure sore happens when skin and underlying tissue are damaged by unrelieved pressure , shear, or friction
Healthy kidneys keep most protein in your blood. When the filters are stressed or damaged, small amounts of protein—ofte
In short Common respiratory infections include colds, influenza (flu), COVID-19, and RSV. Most are viral and improve wit
Sciatica means irritation of the sciatic nerve, usually from a disc bulge or spinal narrowing. Pain can shoot from the l
In short Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox), leading to a
Big wins: fewer calluses & blisters, steadier balance, less knee/back pain, and better protection for people with neurop
In short Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is when the throat repeatedly narrows or collapses during sleep, causing pauses i
Call emergency services for pauses in breathing with blue lips, severe chest pain or shortness of breath, confusion that
In short A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bleeds, causing sudden neuro
Call emergency services immediately for any new stroke signs: face drooping, arm weakness, speech trouble, sudden vision
In short Dysphagia means trouble moving food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. It can lead to choking, aspiration
Leg swelling (edema) from the heart often shows up as puffiness around the ankles, lower legs, or feet. Pressing a thumb
Your thyroid is a small gland in your neck that makes hormones (T4 and T3). These hormones set the body’s “speed”—affect
In short Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source—often ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking, or a
With Type 2 diabetes (T2D), the body doesn’t use insulin well (“insulin resistance”) and may not make enough over time.
In short Urinary incontinence is leaking urine you can’t fully control. It is common—and treatable . The right mix of ha
In short A urinary tract infection is bacterial growth in the urinary system—bladder ( cystitis ) or kidneys ( pyeloneph
A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when germs grow in the bladder or urinary tract. Typical bladder infection sympt
In short Urinary incontinence is leaking urine you can’t fully control. It is common—and treatable . The right mix of ha
Targets vary with kidney disease, stones, osteoporosis meds, or other conditions—follow your clinician’s plan
Seek urgent care now for any of the following: open wound/ulcer, black/blue skin, foul smell, spreading redness, fever/c
In short The goal isn’t just the scale—it’s muscle, strength, balance, and energy . Rapid weight loss can reduce muscle
In short A skin tear is a traumatic wound where fragile skin separates from underlying tissue, often from minor bumps, t