Category: Health

  • Ask the Doctor: Physical Activity

    In this ongoing column, Kaiser Permanente doctors will answer commonly asked questions. When a new year rolls around, it always feels like a fresh start. So it’s the perfect opportunity to turn that positive energy into simple, healthy habits that keep you strong, steady and feeling good. What are the best exercises for strength without…

  • Maintain Balance in the New Year

    As we welcome a new year, it’s the perfect time to focus on balance, building strength, stability and confidence through movement. For seniors, fitness isn’t just about exercise, it’s about maintaining independence, living fully and preventing falls. Nearly every senior worries about falling, and for good reason. Falls are a leading cause of injury, so…

  • Guard Your Vision Against Glaucoma

    Our eyesight is one of the most important ways we experience life, yet it’s easy to take it for granted. From noticing subtle changes in the sky over Mauna Kea to reading the expressions of your mo‘opuna, vision keeps us connected to the people and places we love. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, serving as…

  • Start the New Year With a Smile

    The beginning of a new year is a great time to focus on your health. What better place to start than your smile? Many people don’t realize how closely oral health is connected to overall well-being, especially as we get older. Gum inflammation has been linked to serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and…

  • Meeting a Growing Need: Palliative Care

    As Hawai‘i’s population ages rapidly, the need for compassionate, coordinated care for kūpuna living with serious illness is growing. Palliative care offers a vital solution providing relief from symptoms, emotional support and guidance for individuals and families navigating complex health challenges. Unlike hospice care, which is reserved for end of-life support, palliative care can begin…

  • What is Your Gut Trying to Tell You?

    Your gut is often the first to signal when something’s not quite right. While occasional bloating or indigestion may be harmless, certain symptoms should never be ignored. Gastroenterologists flag warning signs that call for further evaluation: These red flags help your doctor determine when urgent testing is needed, because these symptoms may be early indicators…

  • 10 Early Signs of Dementia

    Everybody forgets something now and then. As the brain ages, it’s normal to occasionally blank on a name, make a mistake with numbers or misplace your keys or phone. But with typical aging, we can usually recall it later and retrace our steps. However, dementia presents differently and it affects more than just memory. These…

  • Kūpuna: Don’t Let Cavities Go Untreated!

    It’s easy to think that cavities are something only kids need to worry about. But the truth is, kūpuna can still get cavities, even if they’ve had healthy teeth their whole lives. In fact, aging can bring new dental challenges that make cavities more likely, such as dry mouth from medications or gum recession. If…

  • Music Therapy for Continuing Wellness

    Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Hawai‘i’s first and only nonprofit music therapy organization, was established in 2002 by board-certified music therapist Keiko Kajiwara to serve diverse local communities that value music as a cultural resource for healing and empowerment. Its mission is to improve well-being and quality of life through music therapy, especially in underserved communities.…

  • Prostate Cancer in Hawai‘i

    It is estimated that there will be 1,160 new cases and 190 deaths from prostate cancer in Hawai‘i in 2025. If it is diagnosed at an advanced (metastatic) stage, the five-year survival rate is just 37%. If diagnosed at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is more than 99%. Early-stage prostate cancer often does…

  • Healthy Teeth and Gums at Every Age

    September is National Gum Care Month—a great reminder for kūpuna to care for their oral health and protect their smiles. As we age, maintaining healthy gums becomes even more important to overall well-being. One common concern is gum disease, also called periodontal disease, which affects nearly 60% of adults over age 65. Often caused by…

  • Think Pink in October

    The pink ribbons and pink merchandise at retail stores mean it is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, commemorated annually in October. Think Pink is a campaign for prevention, perseverance in finding a cure and the possibilities for surviving breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, 1 in 8 women and 1 in 800 men…