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The risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes increase with age. So do the number of medications that Americans use to treat these conditions. An estimated 25 percent of Americans take three or more medications each day, according to The Graying of America: An Encyclopedia of Aging, Health, Mind, and Behavior, by Donald H. Kausler and Barry C. Kausler.
In addition, the percentage of people taking multiple prescription drugs increases after age 65. For example, a Medicare beneficiary with drug coverage filled an average of 19 drug prescriptions annually in 1999, according to the National Institute for Health Care Management.
Of course, taking a drug exactly as prescribed is critical to its safety and effectiveness. For example, an antibiotic stopped prematurely because a person feels better could allow an infection to recur with bacteria resistant to the drug. Taking a drug at the wrong time, taking the wrong dosage, or forgetting to take a drug altogether could cause serious problems or limit the effectiveness of the treatment.
A variety of alarms, labeled trays, blister packs, and other aids are available to help ensure that older people who have trouble tracking their medicines take them as prescribed. For more on the importance of taking drugs properly and for some strategies on how to do so, see our cover story titled "Medication Use and Older Adults."
Optical defects that cause light to not focus properly on the retina of the eye cause refractive errors--one of the most frequent eye problems in the United States, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI).
The two most common refractive errors are nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia). People who are nearsighted see close objects clearly, but distant objects are blurred. It's just the reverse for those who are farsighted--nearby objects are blurry, while distant objects are sharp.
Other refractive errors include uneven focus (astigmatism) and an age-related problem with focusing on near objects called presbyopia. Researchers aren't sure why refractive errors develop, according to the NEI, but treatments range from glasses and contact lenses to specially designed lasers that reshape the cornea, changing its focusing power. For more on vision correction, including the latest on FDA-approved products, read our feature article titled "A Focus on Vision."
Like others nationwide, many FDA employees don't stop working when they leave their job for the day. Some volunteer. Some coach. Others use their expertise and passion to help people in need. We take a look at six dedicated FDA employees who continue to make a difference outside of their regular job in our feature story titled "Protecting the Public Health: More Than a Full-Time Job for Many at the FDA."
We also take a look at the preparations being made for the upcoming flu season, the reasons why some cold medicines have been moved behind the pharmacy counter, and an update on artificial sweeteners.
Raymond Formanek Jr.
Editor