Hypothermia: A Cold Weather Hazard

NIH: With shorter days and dropping temperatures, it is important to keep in mind that older adults are particularly vulnerable to the health risks that can come with cold weather. Hypothermia—a dangerous drop in core body temperature—can occur when it is too cold outside or the body is unable to produce the heat it needs to function. Older adults and those with chronic medical conditions are especially susceptible to hypothermia, even after relatively short exposure to cold weather or a small drop in body temperature.  The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has some tips to avoid some of the dangers.

Use of multiple brain-affecting drugs is rising among seniors, despite risks, research finds

Ann Arbor: Tranquilizers, antidepressants, opioids and anti-psychotic medications carry special risks for older people, alone or in combination. The sharpest rise occurred in seniors living in rural areas, where the rate of doctor visits by seniors taking combinations of such drugs – opioids, antidepressants, tranquilizers and antipsychotics – more than tripled. This “polypharmacy” of drugs that act on the central nervous system is concerning, the researchers say, because of the special risks to older adults that come with combining multiple such medications. Falls – and the injuries that can result from them – are the chief concern, along with problems with driving, memory and thinking.