Healthy Geezer- Hearing loss can be aided

Written by Fred Cicetti Wednesday, 10 October 2007 10:36

Q I’m 67 and have always had very good hearing. Lately, I’ve noticed that I can’t pick up some things my granddaughter says. Is this significant?

 

About one in three Americans over 60 suffer from loss of hearing, which can range from the inability to hear certain voices to deafness.

There are two basic categories of hearing loss. One is caused by damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. This type of hearing loss is permanent. The second kind occurs when sound can’t reach the inner ear. This can be repaired medically or surgically.

Presbycusis, one form of hearing loss, occurs with age. Presbycusis can be caused by changes in the inner ear, auditory nerve, middle ear, or outer ear.

Some of its causes are aging...

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Community investment prime desire for couple

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 26 September 2007 06:25

JamesGayleVothBuildingP9200033.jpg Click to buy
a similar photo James and Gayle Voth recently completed renovating the Ratzlaff Building on East Main Street in Goessel with hope for a better economic future for their hometown in mind. “We like to hope it helps Goessel in general,” James said. The downtown office building has opened with full occupancy. Don Ratzlaff / Free Press<p>

Not every real-estate development is motivated primarily by prospect of short-term financial gain.

James and Gayle Voth say family history and a better economic future for their hometown were the two key factors that prompted them to transform an old family-owned structure into Goessel’s first downtown office building.

The Voths are planning...

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Healthy Geezer- Mixing grapefruit with meds unsafe

Written by Fred Cicetti Thursday, 13 September 2007 05:23

Q: My daughter heard grapefruit juice can be toxic for some people. Is that true?

 

A:The juice, itself, is not toxic, but you should be careful taking medicine with any grapefruit. Grapefruit juice can raise the level of some medications in the blood. The effect of grapefruit was discovered after using juice to mask the taste of a medicine. So, be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to have grapefruit with your medications.

Taking medicine can be hazardous to your health. You have to know what you’re doing.

For example, calcium-rich dairy products or certain antacids can prevent antibiotics from being properly absorbed into the bloodstream. Ginkgo biloba can reduce the effectiveness of blood-thinning...

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1 of 20 people have irreversible vision loss

Written by Fred Cicetti Wednesday, 08 August 2007 07:19

Q: At the recreation center in my development, I overheard some women talking about “low vision.” Is that something like being near-sighted?

A: No, low vision is very different. It is a significant reduction in visual function that can’t be corrected by regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery. Low vision can range from moderate impairment—such as tunnel vision or blind spots—to almost total blindness.

One out of every 20 people has low vision. About 135 million people around the world suffer from this impairment.

Irreversible vision loss is most common among people over age 65. However, losing vision is not just part of getting older. Some normal changes occur as we get older. These changes usually don't...

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