The Merck Manual of Health & Aging

Section 1
FUNDAMENTALS OF AGING
Age-Old Questions
When Does a Person Become Old?
Why Does the Body Change?
Why Does Function Decline?
How the Body Ages
Eyes
Ears
Mouth and Nose
Skin
Bones and Joints
Muscles and Body Fat
Brain and Nervous System
Heart and Blood Vessels
Muscles of Breathing and the Lungs
Digestive System
Kidneys and Urinary Tract
Reproductive Organs
Endocrine System
Immune System
The Aging of America
Finances
Living Arrangements
Disability and Disease
Causes of Death
Worldwide Aging

Section 2
CARING FOR SELF AND OTHERS
Preventive Medical Care
Goals of Prevention
Tools of Prevention
Healthy Lifestyle; Vaccines; Screening
Maintaining Good Nutrition
How Aging Affects Nutritional Needs; How
Disorders and Drugs Change Nutritional Needs; Screening for Adequate Nutrition; Reading Food
Labels
Drugs and Aging
Benefits and Risks; Reasons for Increased
Risk; Maximizing Benefits, Reducing Risks; Remembering to Take Drugs; Nonprescription
Drugs
Complementary or Alternative Medicine
Dietary Supplements
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Magnet Therapy
Homeopathy
Communicating With Health Care Practitioners
Selecting a Primary Care Doctor
Communicating With a New Primary Care Doctor
Communicating During Subsequent Visits
Continuity of Care
What Can Interfere With Continuity?; Who Provides Care?; Where Is Care Provided?; How to Improve Continuity
Understanding Medical Tests
Types of Medical Tests; Uses of Medical Tests; Making Decisions About Tests; Challenges Faced by Older People; Questions to Ask the Doctor
Specific Tests
Hospital Care
Going to the Emergency Department
Being Admitted to the Hospital
Problems Due to Hospitalization
Implementing Preventive Strategies
Being Discharged From the Hospital
Undergoing Surgery
Before an Operation
At the Time of an Operation
After an Operation
Rehabilitation
Treatment of Pain and Inflammation
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Rehabilitation for Specific Problems
Heart Disorders; Stroke; Hip Surgery; Replacement of a Knee; Amputation of a Leg; Speech Disorders; Blindness; Hearing Loss
Long-Term Care
Retirement Communities; Assisted Living
Communities; Board-and-Care Facilities; Life-Care Communities; Nursing Homes
Caregiving
Who Are Caregivers?; Rewards of
Caregiving; Challenges in Caregiving; Getting Help
Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Reducing Suffering
Retaining Control Over Decisions
Palliative Care and Hospice Care
Peace and Resolution

Section 3
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Nutritional Disorders
Undernutrition
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Obesity
Water and Electrolyte Balance
Dehydration
Overhydration
Problems With Electrolyte Balance
Hypothermia and Hyperthermia
Hypothermia
Hyperthermia
Dizziness and Fainting
Dizziness
Fainting
Falls
Osteoporosis
Fractures
Hip Fractures
Compression Fractures of the Spine
Shoulder Fractures
Wrist Fractures
Pain
Confusion
Delirium
Dementia
Alzheimer's Disease
Vascular Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia
Stroke
Nerve Disorders
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Postherpetic Neuralgia
Neuropathies
Postpolio Syndrome
Movement Disorders
Myoclonus
Dystonia
Tardive Dyskinesia and Akathisia
Essential Tremor
Parkinson's Disease
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Shy-Drager Syndrome
Sleep
Changes in Sleep Patterns With Aging; Physical and Mental Health Disorders
Affecting Sleep
Insomnia
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Limb Movement Disorders
Sleep Apnea
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Other Sleep Disorders
Mental Health Disorders
Depression
Anxiety
Psychosis
Thyroid Disorders
Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Thyroid Nodules
Diabetes Mellitus
Skin Disorders
Dry Skin
Itching
Rosacea
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Shingles
Pressure Sores
Venous Ulcers
Eye Disorders
Cataract
Glaucoma
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Diabetic Retinopathy
Disruptions of Blood Supply
Retinal Tears and Detachment
Disorders of Tear Production
Eyelid Disorders
Hearing and the Ear
Hearing Loss
Tinnitus
Earwax
Nose and Throat Disorders
Rhinitis
Sinusitis
Voice Disorders
Mouth and Dental Disorders
Tooth Decay
Periodontal Disease
Dry Mouth
Tooth Loss
Burning Mouth Syndrome
Mouth Sores
Foot Disorders
Corns and Calluses
Bunion
Hammer Toe
Heal or Arch Pain
Onychauxis and Onychogryphosis
Onychomycosis
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gout
Pseudogout
Infectious Arthritis
Temporal Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica
High Blood Pressure
Blood Vessel Disorders
Atherosclerosis
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Aortic Dissection
Aneurysms
Varicose Veins
Superficial Thrombophlebitis
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Coronary Artery Disease
Heart Failure
Abnormal Heart Rhythms
Premature Beats
Atrial Flutter and Atrial Fibrillation
Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular Fibrillation
Sinus Bradycardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome
Heart Block
Heart Valve Disorders
Aortic Stenosis
Aortic Regurgitation
Mitral Stenosis
Mitral Regurgitation
Blood Disorders
Anemia
Low Platelet Count
Clotting Disorders
Thrombocythemia
Polycythemia Vera
Myelofibrosis
Finding and Living With Cancer
Screening
Recognizing the Warning Signs
Confirming the Diagnosis and Staging
Guidelines for Treatment
Living With Cancer
Cancers
Breast Cancer
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Colorectal Cancer
Lung Cancer
Mouth, Head, and Neck Cancers
Multiple Myeloma.
Prostate Cancer
Skin Cancer
Vulvar Cancer
Pneumonia and Influenza
Pneumonia
Influenza
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Swallowing and Reflux Disorders
Dysphagia
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Bowel Movement Disorders
Constipation
Diarrhea
Fecal Incontinence
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary Incontinence
Female Genital and Sexual Disorders
Inflammation of the Vulva and Vagina
Vulvar Pain
Skin Disorders of the Vulva
Vaginal Bleeding
Pelvic Support Disorders
Decreased Sexual Drive
Male Genital and Sexual Disorders
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Prostatitis
Inguinal Hernia
Erectile Dysfunction
Decreased Sex Drive
Retrograde Ejaculation
Exercise
Why Exercise?.
Starting to Exercise
Types of Exercise
Exercise for People With a Disorder: Arthritis; Coronary Artery Disease; Dementia; Diabetes; Disabilities; Heart Failure; Lung Disorders; Parkinson's Disease; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Stroke

Section 4
SOCIAL, LEGAL, AND ETHICAL ISSUES
Coping With Change
Life-Changing Events
Retirement; Losing a Loved One; Changes in Living Arrangements
Staying Connected
Driving
Crash Rates and Traffic Violations
The Reasons for Problems
Ways of Compensating
A Driving Decision
Intimacy
Intimacy and Long-Term Relationships
Intimacy and Dating
Intimacy and Sex
Intimacy and Dementia
Intimacy and Families
Intimacy and Privacy
Intimacy in Gay Relationships
Intimacy in Other Relationships
Mistreatment
Types of Mistreatment; Prevention of Mistreatment; Responding to Mistreatment
Understanding Legal and Ethical Issues
Informed Consent
Confidentiality
Capacity
Competency
Advance Directives
Living Will; Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
Surrogates
Paying for Health Care
Medicare
Medicaid
Private Insurance
Understanding Managed Care
APPENDIXES
Drug Names: Generic and Trade
Resources for Help and Information
INDEX