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Later Life Guide—New!

Aging, dealing with serious or chronic illness, and major life changes as we come towards the end of life require as much support as we can get.

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A podcast in which we hear from users, families, and researchers in an attempt to "understand the complex risk/benefit calculations involved in opioid use, and why there's still so much we're struggling to understand about addiction." ... See MoreSee Less

Life, Death And The Lazarus Drug: Confronting America's Opioid Crisis

npr.org

More than 70,000 people died of drug overdoses last year — many of them from heroin and other opioids. One of the most widely-used tools to confront this crisis is a drug called naloxone. It can...

6 hours ago

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With 71 new cases reported just last week, 2019 is turning out to be a record year for measles. As of today, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting 626 cases - almost twice as many as in all of last year. Cases have occurred recently in California, including San Mateo and Butte Counties.

For people aged 62-45 whose immunity may have worn off, the CDC recommends revaccination with MMR. The disease spreads primarily among people who have never been vaccinated, but some U.S. cases occur in people who were (or believe they were) vaccinated as children. People who received one of the less-effective products used in the 1960s might now be susceptible to infection.

“The following groups should be considered unvaccinated and should receive at least one dose of measles vaccine: persons 1) vaccinated before the first birthday, 2) vaccinated with killed measles vaccine (KMV), 3) vaccinated from 1963 through 1967 with an unknown type of vaccine, or 4) vaccinated with immune globulin (IG) in addition to a further attenuated strain or vaccine of unknown type. (Revaccination is not necessary if IG was given with Edmonston B vaccine).”

If you think you may be among one of those groups, ask your health care provider about possible risks to you and to others you come in contact with and receiving the vaccine.

Measles outbreaks are often traced to travelers bringing this highly-contagious disease into the US. The CDC advises that “persons traveling or living abroad should have evidence of measles immunity. Adequate vaccination of persons who travel outside the United States is two doses of MMR.” Proof of measles vaccination is not required to enter this country.

CDC updates on measles: www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html

Full CDC recommendations on measles vaccines: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html ... See MoreSee Less

Measles | Cases and Outbreaks | CDC

cdc.gov

From year to year, measles cases can range in number. In some years, there are more measles cases than usual because of outbreaks.

2 days ago

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Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests CANNOT tell you if your risk of cancer or Alzheimer's is low. Many genes (and other factors) raise the risk of these diseases, but DTC tests only reveal a tiny fraction of them. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security. ... See MoreSee Less

Genetic testing for health risks: What you will and won't learn

thegazette.com

If you thought that ordering a 23andme test might resolve your worries about developing cancer or another serious health condition, think again.

3 days ago

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PlaneTree Health Library is not responsible for the content on web sites accessed from our site; each originating organization has sole responsibility for its web pages. Health and medical information accessed through these websites is not intended to substitute for or replace the advice or instruction of a health care professional. Please discuss the information with your health care providers.

PlaneTree Health Library, located in Santa Clara County, California, has provided free health information services to the public since 1989.
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Later Life Guide—New!

Common Issues in Later Life

Giving Care

Planning for Later Life

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