Healthy Geezer

Fred Cicetti is a first-class geezer over 60 who writes a health column for senior citizens. Email questions to fred@healthygeezer.com or go to healthygeezer.com.

Learn about heart failure, AFib and germs

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. What can you do to prevent heart failure? There are a number of things you can do to...

Most skin rashes caused by irritants or allergens

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. What causes rashes? The most common cause of a rash is contact dermatitis, an...

Tips for lowering sodium intake

6 years ago
In my last column, we discussed sodium in our diets. Today's column is devoted to tips about how to...

Seniors often consume too much sodium

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I've noticed that food labels list sodium content, but the numbers mean nothing to me. How...

New grandma needs to be aware of SIDS prevention

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I'm going to become a grandmother for the first time, and I was wondering how things have...

Points to consider on cholesterol, caffeine, cannabis

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. What foods are good for keeping your cholesterol down? Oatmeal contains soluble fiber...

Rare disorders are gaining attention among researchers

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. A friend of mine was diagnosed with Jumping Frenchmen of Maine. Have you ever heard of this...

Prepare for questions and answers before any doctor...

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I'm going to the doctor and I don't want to forget to ask him important questions. Any...

Advice on mineral pills, secondhand smoke, back pain

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. Should I take minerals? It’s important to talk with your doctor before you take...

Upbeat thinking can conquer depression

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
This is the second of two columns on negative thinking. Today’s column is about ways to be more...

Do sad thoughts cause depression, or vice versa?

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I find myself thinking one sad thought after another, and it makes me depressed. Is there...

Cardiac ablation is used to treat heart arrhythmias

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. When doctors perform a cardiac ablation, what do they use to clean the heart? This...

Pay attention to blood type, heartburn symptoms and...

6 years ago
Q. What is the most common blood type? The approximate distribution of blood types in the...

Readers respond on hearing radio through their teeth

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
A while ago, I wrote a column about my wife, Gale, who told me she was hearing talk radio in her...

The idea of healthy country living doesn’t show the...

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. Isn't living in the country healthier than living in the city? I don't think there's a...

Obesity surgery is riskier after age 65 but still an...

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I'm 69 years old and I'm considering surgery for obesity. Am I too old for this? There...

Know what matters when choosing OTC pain relievers

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. What exactly degenerates when you get macular degeneration? The macula. It is at the...

Back pain relief can come with simple exercises

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
[This is the second of two columns on the methods of Robin McKenzie.] Like millions of...

A different approach to treating back pain

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. Is there a magic bullet for back pain? I could use one. There is no magic bullet for...

Many options available to help minimize scars

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I have a nasty-looking scar that shows only when I wear a bathing suit. I'd like to get rid...

Untreated BPPV can lead to falls, injuries

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. My grandmother told me she has BPPV and it makes her head spin. What exactly is this BPPV...

Learn about options regarding radiation therapy

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I have a friend who is undergoing radiation treatments for cancer. I was wondering how this...

Angina, anxiety, antioxidants - important topics at...

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. Are there different kinds of angina? Yes, and they are stable angina, unstable angina...

Dry mouth, brittle bones, cancer risk - getting...

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. Does getting older make your mouth dry? Most dry mouth is related to the medications...

Spiders aren’t really scary, but bites can be serious

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I am petrified of spiders. Is my fear justified? Are they dangerous or just creepy?...

Tailbone injuries can cause lingering pain

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I was racing down the cellar stairs a few days ago when I slipped and fell on my tailbone. I...

Cataracts, perimenopause, prostate cancer are...

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. What are the options for treating prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is one of the most...

Meniere's disease symptoms include dizziness, nausea

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I have Meniere's disease and I was wondering if you have any suggestions for what I should...

Proper Vitamin D intake can improve balance, reduce...

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I'm 68 years old, and I want to know how much Vitamin D you need to be healthy. The...

Know the symptoms of common elder problems

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. What are the most common symptoms that you're having a stroke? The most common stroke...

There are ways to fight winter blues

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. I get the winter blues every year. I was wondering how many people suffer the way I do....

Chances of getting PAD increase with age

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. My toe nails and leg hair don't seem to be growing as fast as they used to. Is this age-...

Simple exercises can help prevent shoulder injuries

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
This is the second of two columns on shoulder problems. The shoulder is made up of three...

Shoulder problems affect both seniors and younger...

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. You can settle a bet for me. Who gets shoulder problems more often, athletes or seniors?...

Erectile dysfunction increases with age

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. What percentage of older men have erectile dysfunction? The incidence of ED increases...

Stuttering problems can be helped by various therapies

Fred Cicetti
6 years ago
Q. My 4-year-old grandson has begun to stutter. It upsets me and I don't know how to handle it...

Get proper amount of sunlight for greatest health...

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
[This the second of two columns on the benefits of sunlight.] Most public health messages...

Sun exposure has both benefits and risks

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. All I ever hear about the sun is how dangerous it is. But, when I was a kid, my mother used...

Simple answers to common questions from seniors

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. What is white coat syndrome? If you suffer from white coat syndrome, your blood...

Discuss wart treatment with your doctor before...

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. Can you get rid of warts with duct tape? For starters, check with your doctor before...

Modern drugs make plague less deadly, but it’s still...

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. Does the plague still exist? In the 1300s, the Black Death, as plague was called,...

Consult your doctor before using ginger as supplement

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. Is ginger really good for nausea, or is this an old wives' tale? Ginger is an...

Seniors can benefit greatly with exercise

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. Have you ever heard of sarcopenia? This one made me go to the dictionary. Sarcopenia,...

Alzheimer’s, gout and glaucoma all often age-related

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. I’m having some memory lapses, and I’m worried about Alzheimer’s. What should I do? If...

Myasthenic crisis is a life-threatening condition

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Could you do one of your columns on...

Ask the right questions before buying a hearing aid

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
[This is the second of two columns on hearing aids.] About one in three Americans over 60...

Hearing loss has variety of causes

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. I think I need a hearing aid. Any recommendations? [I've received this question...

Lightning strikes are more dangerous, but stay away...

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. Which is a greater danger, a shark attack or a lightning strike? Studies show that...

Talk to your doctor before taking supplements

7 years ago
Q. I've been reading about athletes using steroids to build themselves up. Do these drugs work for...

On incontinence, colon cancer, skin growths

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. Are there different forms of urinary incontinence? There are several types of urinary...

Health risks from high radon levels can be avoided...

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. I'm in the process of selling my home and my realtor told me to get the house tested for...

Learn the pros (and maybe cons) of probiotics

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. Are probiotics safe? There is debate over the precise definition of probiotics. The...

Learning to handle stress can improve health

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. I don't handle stress very well. I was wondering if you had any recommendations to deal with...

Regular checkups can combat immune-system slowdown

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. I seem to be getting sick a lot lately, and I’m worried that my immune system isn’t working...

Ways to adapt to age-related changes

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. I’m concerned that I may not be seeing as well as I used to. What should I do? There...

Sun exposure and tanning beds are both dangerous

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Ultraviolet (UV) rays, an invisible component of sunlight, can cause skin damage, cataracts,...

Summer means extra skin protection from sun damage

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. There are lots of sunblocks out there with SPF numbers on them. What exactly do these...

Polio survivors may experience PPS symptoms later in...

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. A friend of mine had polio when he was a kid, and now the disease seems to be coming back in...

How aging can affect sleeping, balance, exercise

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. I’m having some trouble sleeping and don’t want to take pills. Do you have any suggestions...

Temporal arteritis affects blood vessels supplying...

Fred Cicetti
7 years ago
Q. A doctor told my cousin that she had arthritis in her head. I never heard of such a thing. Have...