The hidden benefits of drinking coffee

Coffee, specifically the caffeine in it, helps reduce the chronic inflammation that occurs in our bodies as we age, according to a recent study out of Stanford University. Chronic inflammation can cause any number of problems, such as cardiovascular issues, Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis and cancer, according to more than 1,000 research papers.

Chronic inflammation starts with the breakdown of molecules in the blood, called metabolites. Coffee apparently has its own set of metabolites that work against those breakdown metabolites. But again, it's the caffeine that does it, and researchers are confident that there's a link between caffeine intake and living longer.

Not everyone has a problem with inflammation, say the researchers, and those who don't are generally people who drink beverages containing caffeine.

For this study, researchers paired a large group of participants ages 20 to 30 with a group that's been part of a long-term Stanford study, those who are over 60 years of age and have been monitored and tested for 10 years. They compared portions of the blood in both groups, and here is what they found:

• In the high-inflammation group, more people had high blood pressure, more free radicals running around the blood stream, and fewer relatives who'd live past the age of 90.

• In the low-inflammation group, they found an abundance of the metabolites found in coffee, tea and chocolate.

If you search online for sources of caffeine, you'll be surprised at how many foods and drinks contain at least some of it. Ask your doctor how much caffeine is appropriate for you. Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs contain caffeine, and it can act as a diuretic and might have an effect on bone density.

Medicare: New rules mean better care

New Medicare rules that took effect at the beginning of the year will go a long way toward getting better care for seniors.

As reported in the Kaiser Newsletter, Medicare finally is realizing that not all patients are the same, and not all medical problems fit neatly into a 15-minute doctor visit. Patients will receive care under some new standards, and doctors will be happier because they'll get paid for the time they actually put in.

Doctors now will be paid for the time they put into the teams that work with seriously ill patients, such as those with heart failure, diabetes and hypertension. That team can include nurses, social workers and even psychiatrists, who also will be paid for working with patients who need complex chronic-care management for two or more serious conditions. Those in patient management can bill more often, and will include care such as helping a patient transition from hospital to home, coordinating home care and educating caregivers. With the extra money, doctors may even be able to hire people to serve as managers.

When it comes to cognitive impairment, the diagnosis can be difficult, and sometimes is not possible in a short appointment. Now Medicare will specify what examinations are necessary, and will pay not only for the initial assessment but also the cost of creating and managing a care plan. This will be a bonus for patients too, because Medicare will insist on 10 requirements, including a physical, a performance assessment of daily living activities, review of current medications, caregivers' knowledge and more.

An additional bonus for doctors is that they'll now be paid for their after-hours time spent talking on the phone with patients or reviewing medical records.

All in all, this should result in better care for seniors.

(c) 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.