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About 6 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s dementia is a progressive brain disease that causes a variety of mental impairments, such as memory loss, difficulty performing everyday tasks, changes with the senses, and problems with reasoning and judgment. Symptoms usually get worse over time.

UMass Memorial Health is debunking myths about osteoporosis. Unlike mammograms and colonoscopies, osteoporosis and bone density tests don’t get as much airtime or visibility. As a result, we’ve heard myths about the disease and screenings, and we want to set the record straight. 

Myth: I don’t have any risk factors, so I don’t need to be screened. 

Have you ever wondered why toddlers and kids find all things bathroom-related so fascinating? Well, it just so happens that they're on to something. Our experts in colon and rectal surgery want you to pay attention to your bowel movements, aka poop. It's actually a great way to keep an eye on your health.

Fecal incontinence is a common, yet embarrassing, condition. It happens when the anal sphincter muscle (located at the end of the rectum and controls the release of stool) doesn’t work properly, leading to involuntary or unexpected loss of bowel control. Affecting millions of people, treatment for fecal incontinence (aka bowel incontinence) has come a long way. With the development of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) surgery, sufferers now have an effective and less invasive option.

You’ve had your colon cancer screening. Your results just came. The news isn’t what you had hoped. You’ve been diagnosed with cancer. Now the question is how is colon cancer treated? 

When you’re sick, even with just a cold, your blood glucose level may rise. Knowing what to do if you get sick, talking to your care team and having the right supplies on hand are important. Not sure what your sick-day plan is? Be sure to talk to your diabetes provider.

Your Sick-Day Plan

Follow these important rules whenever you’re not feeling well.

If you've ever run your hand over your neck or chest and encountered a wobbly bit of skin, you've probably found a skin tag. Skin tags are benign (not harmful) outgrowths of the skin, blood vessels and sometimes fibrous tissue that can appear anywhere on the body. Though they usually start as tiny bumps, they eventually develop into a cluster of skin tissue extending out from a slim stem. They're most commonly found in areas where the skin rubs against itself or clothing, such as the neck, armpits, upper chest and groin. 

Teens on average need about nine hours of sleep at night. But most don't get the amount of sleep they need. School, friends, homework, activities, television, video games, cell phones and the computer may have a higher priority for a teen than sleep. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for a teen's health and well-being. What do you need to know?