Lifestyle Choices

Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer are concerned about any possible risk to their daughters and sisters. If a woman does not appear to be in a family that has breast cancer in approximately half the women on one side, then she probably does not have either the BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 gene. Gene positivity is associated with bilateral breast cancer, ovarian and breast cancer in the same family, and Ashkenazic Jewish ancestry. Women who are gene positive tend to develop breast cancer at a younger age than women with non-hereditary breast cancer. (more…)

Elderly people have trouble sleeping for the same reasons as people from other age groups. But there are additional factors.

• Chronic illnesses. The elderly often suffer from chronic mental and physical illnesses that make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. For example: An enlarged prostate is often associated with a frequent need to urinate. Dementia may be associated with confusion and heightened fear after dark (known as sundowning). Painful conditions such as bone fractures due to osteoporosis (especially in women), arthritis and vascular disease can make sleeping difficult. Depression, quite common in the elderly population, often causes insomnia as well.
• Medication. Older people have stronger reactions to medication. Notable effects that these medications such as tranquillizers and hypnotics, have on the elderly include frequent nightmares, insomnia and hypersomnia.

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