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Tuberculosis (TB), also known as consumption, is an infection caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It mainly affects the lungs but it can also harm other organs in the body. People who are infected should receive immediate medical care because TB can be life threatening if it isn’t treated. It is a contagious disease that can be transmitted through airborne droplets.  Fortunately, if you test positive for TB, your health care provider can prescribe treatment. It’s also a preventable disease when people get vaccinated.  According to…

The blood in your body is used to transport essential resources to your organs. Oxygen, nutrients and more all depend on the normal circulation of blood through your veins and arteries to keep your body functioning. When clotting problems develop, blood can become too thick, causing clots to develop. This may raise the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke since clots block the flow of blood. Conditions like deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism and non-valvular atrial fibrillation can also put seniors at…

Computed tomography (CT) scans are important diagnostic tools that give physicians detailed images from inside a person’s body. CT scans use rotating X-ray tubes to take images that are processed on computers through tomographic reconstruction algorithms which in turn produce cross-section images of the body.   Your physician might order a CT scan to assist in diagnosing bone damage, blood flow problems, stroke, cancer, internal injuries, heart disease, or heart abnormalities, or to find tumors or lesions within the abdomen.  If you’re enrolled in Medicare, your…

After the death of a family member or close friend, most people experience devastating emotional and physical pain, and they might have difficulty functioning through daily life activities. For many, grief counseling, or bereavement therapy, helps them get through these difficult times, learn how to accept their loss and continue in life without their loved ones.  When you take part in grief counseling, you usually work with a counselor, therapist, psychologist, or a support group, to discuss and come to terms with your feelings and emotions….

While transport chairs are similar to wheelchairs, you might find that a transport chair works better for you in some instances. Transport chairs are more lightweight, have a narrower frame, and aren’t self-propelled. They have four small wheels rather than two large wheels.   If you need a short-term solution, or you use a wheelchair at home, you might also need a transport chair when you go to doctor’s appointments, for daily outings, during or after a hospital or skilled nursing facility stay, or during recovery…

Medicare insurance provides access to medically necessary clinical diagnostic laboratory tests that are either routine or necessary in emergencies. This coverage is available for Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and, or B) or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. This benefit includes lab tests such as blood tests, urinalyses, tissue specimen exams, and certain preventive and screening tests.  Diagnostic laboratory tests are invaluable tools for physicians because they can show changes in health conditions, help them diagnose or rule out…

Today in the United States, approximately 49 million Medicare beneficiaries who also have prescription drug coverage. You can purchase a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) if you have Original Medicare. As an alternative, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan that includes prescription drug coverage to get these benefits, a plan sometimes referred to as an MA-PD.  Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and MA-PDs are optional for eligible beneficiaries, and coverage can be purchased through private insurance companies that work…

As of 2022, statistics showed that 48 percent of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries (over 28 million individuals) were getting their health care coverage from a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies as an alternative to Original Medicare Parts A and B. They provide at least the same coverage as Parts A and B. Today, most Medicare Advantage plans also include prescription drug (Part D) coverage as well as extra benefits like dental, hearing, and vision care.  When…

Today in the United States, over 12 million people qualify as dual-eligible beneficiaries through Medicare and Medicaid, which means that they get their health care coverage from both programs.  You might qualify for dual-eligible coverage if you meet the following requirements:  You qualify for your state’s Medicaid program (qualification is typically based on low income or disability).  You are eligible for enrollment in Original Medicare Parts A (hospital insurance) and B (medical insurance).  So, how does dual eligibility work? Medicare is your primary payer and…

When your body is injured or exposed to harmful substances (bacteria, viruses or toxic chemicals), your immune system sends inflammatory cells to heal the damage or attack the invaders. Acute inflammation is your body’s immediate response to damage, which allows the healing process to begin without delay. You may experience pain, swelling or tenderness. With chronic inflammation, your body can trigger the immune system when you don’t have an injury or illness. Conditions associated with chronic inflammation include asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pancreatitis and myocardial…