Be Wary of Winter Heart Attacks

I have heard that people with heart problems need to be extra cautious during the winter because heart attacks are much more common during that time. What can you tell me about this?

Winter is not only cold and flu season, but also the peak time for heart attacks. Individuals with pre-existing heart conditions or those with a history of heart attacks are particularly susceptible. Here is what you should know along with some tips to help you protect yourself.

In the U.S., the risk of experiencing a heart attack during the winter months is double than what it is during the summertime. The increase is influenced by a number of factors, and they are not all linked to cold weather. Even people who live in warm climates have an increased risk. Here are the areas you need to pay extra attention to this winter.

Cold temperatures: When a person gets cold, the body responds by constricting the blood vessels to help the body maintain heat. This causes blood pressure to rise and makes the heart work harder. Cold temperatures can also increase levels of certain proteins that can thicken the blood and increase the risk for blood clots. To stay warm this winter, bundle up in layers, including gloves and a hat, and use a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm up the air before you breathe in.

Snow shoveling: Studies have shown that heart attack rates jump dramatically in the first few days after a major snowstorm, usually as a result of snow shoveling. Shoveling snow is a very strenuous activity that raises blood pressure and stresses the heart. Combine those factors with cold temperatures and the risks for heart attack surges. If your sidewalk or driveway needs shoveling this winter, hire a professional or someone from the neighborhood to do it for you. Snow blowers are also a great alternative. However, if you must shovel, push rather than lift the snow as much as possible, stay warm and take frequent breaks.

New Year’s resolutions: Every January 1, millions of people join gyms or start exercise programs as part of their New Year’s resolution to get in shape, and many overexert themselves too soon. If you are starting a new exercise program this winter, take the time to talk to your doctor about what types and how much exercise may be appropriate for you.

Winter weight gain: During the holiday season and winter months, it is common to indulge in food and drinks, which can put extra strain on the heart, especially for someone with a heart condition. Keep a watchful eye on your diet this winter and moderate any intake of high-fat foods and alcohol.

Shorter days: Less daylight in the winter months can cause many people to develop “seasonal affective disorder” (SAD), a wintertime depression that can stress the heart. Studies have also looked at heart attack patients and found they usually have lower levels of vitamin D (which comes from sunlight) than people with healthy hearts. To boost your vitamin D this winter, talk to your healthcare practitioner to see if taking a supplement that contains between 1,000 and 2,000 international units (IU) per day is right for you.

Flu season: Studies show that people who get flu shots have a lower heart attack risk. It is known that the inflammatory reaction set off by a flu infection can increase blood clotting which can lead to heart attacks in vulnerable people. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting a flu shot, a COVID-19 booster or vaccines for RSV and pneumococcal pneumonia to help protect your health this winter.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published December 27, 2024

Ten Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan

You have completed a will and perhaps a revocable living trust. Your durable power of attorney for healthcare and a living will are in place. All of your records are safely in place and carefully organized.

So you now are finished with your estate planning. Or are you? Will there be changes in your circumstances or your family that should lead to a review of your plan? Could some events cause you to need to revise or update the plan?

Yes, there are a number of reasons to consider revising or updating your plan. These include any of the following reasons:

1. New Children, Grandchildren or Other Heirs

Your estate plan almost certainly makes provision for children and other heirs who are living when you pass away. If you have a specific transfer to one child, a new child may receive a smaller than intended inheritance.

For example, John Smith had a $1 million estate and left a $400,000 residence to child A. He then divided the balance of the estate with 1/6 of the balance to child A and 5/6 to child B. If a third child is born, depending upon state law, the child might receive nothing or perhaps would benefit from a portion of the residue. In either case, the uncertainty could lead to estate litigation or to family strife.

If you have a sizeable estate and there are large specific bequests, the arrival of a new heir is a good time to review your plan. One option is to transfer assets to the heirs "then living" when you pass away.

If the estate is $1 million, in some states a child C who is born later would receive 1/3 of the estate. This could dramatically change the benefit for child B and leave her with a reduced inheritance. In addition, child C could be a minor or a very young adult and not be capable of managing his or her property. For several reasons, the arrival of a new heir makes a review of your plan very important.

2. Move to a Different State

If you are married and move to a different state, there may be a change in the laws that affect ownership. Some states are called "common law" property states and some are "community property." If you move from one state to another and change in either direction, it may be important to clarify the ownership of your property as separate property or joint property.

For individuals with moderate to larger estates, there could be significant estate or inheritance taxes. Several states have inheritance taxes that will apply at lower levels than the federal exemption per person. Depending on who among your relatives receives your property, a new state may have a substantial tax.

Finally, many states have specific rules on durable powers of attorney for healthcare, living wills or advance directives. If you acquire permanent legal residence in the state, your doctors will expect that your medical planning documents reflect their state law.

3. Sale or Purchase of a Major Asset

You may have a major real estate asset or a business that is to be transferred to one of your heirs. If that property is sold or substantially increases in value, your entire plan could change. For example, if a property greatly increases in value and there is a large estate tax that is paid out of the residue of your estate, the beneficiary of that specific property could receive a much larger inheritance than you intend. Those children or other heirs who are receiving the residue could find their inheritance greatly reduced by estate tax paid on the asset transferred to the first child.

Alternatively, if the first asset is sold, a child may receive a smaller than intended inheritance. Therefore, a significant sale or purchase is a good time for an estate planning review.

4. Reaching Age 73

The four types of estate property are generally cash and cash equivalents, stocks, real estate and qualified plans. Over the years, your qualified retirement plan may become a large portion of your estate. Your IRA, 401(k) or other qualified plan will require distributions to start on April 1 of the year after you reach age 73.

If you pass away before the entire plan is paid out to you during your retirement years, the balance is transferred to your designated beneficiary. Because retirement plans have grown substantially over the past decade, it's very important to review your beneficiary designations. Many individuals pass away and the plan value is transferred to beneficiaries who have been selected 10, 15, and even 25 years earlier. There could be many reasons why you would want to update that beneficiary designation and age 73 is a logical time to do so.

5. Your Selected Beneficiary is Deceased

In many families there are unmarried brothers or sisters. It is quite common for these individuals to receive an inheritance and to remember the surviving brothers and sisters in their plans. However, even if there are two or three unmarried brothers or sisters, one will inevitably be the survivor and hold most of the assets. If you are remembering a sibling in your plan, there is a substantial possibility he or she will pass away before you do. In that case, it is useful to revise the plan and select a new recipient of that share of your estate.

6. Divorce or Remarriage

Estate plans for single persons are quite different from those of married couples. A single person who transfers assets to a former spouse will not qualify for the unlimited marital deduction. While property settlements are typically handled during the dissolution of marriage proceedings, there are many cases where individuals forget to change beneficiary designations on retirement plans and insurance policies. If an individual later remarries and is survived by their new spouse, there is a high likelihood of litigation between the ex-spouse and the new spouse if the individual forgot to update his or her beneficiary designations. Therefore, this person’s plan and beneficiary designations should always be reviewed in the event of a divorce or remarriage.

7. Substantial Change in Value

If someone’s estate increases or decreases significantly in value, there can be major impact on beneficiaries. For example, Mary has three children, Anne, Bob and Charlie. She leaves a home valued at $300,000 to Anne, a large ranch on desert land valued at $400,000 to Bob and the liquid assets to Charlie, who has the greatest financial need. While Mary is in a nursing home and no longer able to change her will, a utility builds windmills on most of the desert ranchland and pays large annual lease payments. The value of the desert ranch dramatically increases. When Mary passes away, Bob receives the ranch, not worth $400,000 but $8 million. Bob receives an inheritance far greater than Anne or Charlie.

8. Adding a Major Property to a Living Trust

If you have a substantial estate, you may hold your real estate in a living trust. If you invest in real estate or acquire a major new property and transfer that to the living trust, it will be useful to review the plan. In some circumstances, there may be different beneficiaries for the living trust than for your qualified plans and life insurance. The addition of a high value asset to the living trust could increase the benefits for children receiving shares from the trust in comparison to the rest of your heirs.

9. Selected Executor or Trustee Not Available

With a will or a revocable living trust, you may also select a successor executor or trustee. While this usually will handle the situation in which the primary executor or trustee predeceases you, it still is useful to review your plan if one of the designated individuals passes away. You can easily select a new primary executor or trustee with an appropriate backup person.

10. Passage of Time

Estate plans are affected by changes in your asset value, by changes in your family, and potentially by changes in federal or state law. Therefore, it is useful every three to five years for you to sit down with your attorney and review your plan. Given all the potential areas that can change, it is quite likely that you may wish to modify some portion of the plan.

What Happens to Your Debt When You Die?

I am concerned about my credit card debt and the possibility that my children will have to pay off my debt after I die. Are my children responsible for my debt after I die?

In most cases when a person with debt dies, it is their estate and not their children or heirs that are legally responsible. Here is what you should know.

Debt After Death

When you die, your estate – which consists of the assets you owned such as real property, investments and cash – will be responsible for paying your debts. If you do not have enough cash to pay your debts, your heirs will have to sell your assets and pay off your creditors with the proceeds.

Any remaining assets left after debts are paid off will be distributed to your heirs as directed by the terms of your will or trust. If you do not have a will or trust, the intestacy laws of the state you resided in will determine how your estate will be distributed.

If you pass away without enough assets to cover your unsecured debts, such as credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans, then your estate is considered insolvent, and your creditors may have to write off some or all of the remaining debt.

Secured debts, which refer to loans attached to an asset such as a house or a car, are handled differently. If you have a mortgage or car loan when you die, those monthly payments will need to be made by your estate or heirs. If the loans are not paid, the lender can seize the property.

There are some exceptions that would make your heirs legally responsible for your debt after you pass away. If the heir is a joint holder on an account that you owe money on, the heir is legally responsible for the debt. Similarly, if your heir co-signed a loan with you, the heir is liable for the loan.

Spouses Beware

If you are married, the debt inheritance rules discussed above also apply to surviving spouses unless you reside in a community property state. Community property states, which include Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin have different rules. In these states, any debt that one spouse acquires during the marriage belongs to the other spouse too. Therefore, spouses in community property states are usually responsible for their deceased spouses’ debts.

Protected Assets

Assets such as IRAs, 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, life insurance policies or employer-based pension plans are usually protected from creditors. These types of accounts have designated beneficiaries, and the money goes directly to the beneficiaries without passing through the estate.

Settling the Estate

If you pass away with outstanding debts and no assets, settling your estate will be relatively simple. Your executor should notify your creditors by sending a letter that explains the situation and includes a copy of your death certificate. If a debt collector becomes aggressive with your heirs or tries to guilt them into paying, they should remember they are not legally responsible.

If you have some assets but not enough to pay all your debts, your state’s probate law has a list of the order of priority for paying debt. While the specifics can vary by state, estate administration fees, funeral expenses, taxes and end-of-life medical expenses are usually paid first, followed by secured debts and, lastly, unsecured debts.

Need Legal Help?

If you or your heirs have questions or need legal assistance, contact a consumer law attorney or probate attorney. If you cannot afford a lawyer, consider searching online for free or low-cost legal help in your area.

Strong Passwords Can Protect Data from Identity Thieves

The holiday season is a prime time for identity thieves to target victims. With the growth of online shopping, millions of Americans are potentially exposed to online fraudsters. The first line of defense against online attacks is strong passwords.

A previous IRS Commissioner noted, “Taking a few simple steps to protect your passwords can help protect your money and your sensitive financial information from identity thieves, which is critically important as tax season approaches. Protecting your information makes it harder for an identity thief to file a fraudulent tax return in your name.”

Cybersecurity experts have changed their recommendations related to password strategies. Previously, they suggested complex passwords that were different for every online account. Because most individuals have accounts for financial services, social media, online shopping and other purposes, the number of complex passwords needed became too overwhelming and difficult to recall.

As a result, security experts now recommend longer phrases such as “SomethingYouCanRemember@30.” Here are nine IRS tips to help protect online accounts:

Password Length – Eight or more characters
Combination – Use upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols in your password.
Personal Information – Do not use your city, street, or other personal information in a password. This information is widely available to identity thieves.
Default Password – Do not use “password” for your password. Change all default passwords.
Reuse of Passwords – Do not use the same or similar passwords on accounts. For example, if you use Begood!17 as your password, do not simply change it to Begood!18 and Begood!19.
Email Address – Do not use your email address as a username. Email addresses are easily known by fraudsters.
Security – If you have a written list of passwords, store them in a safe or locked file cabinet.
Disclosure – Never give out passwords over the internet. Be very cautious if an email sender asks for your password and claims to be from your bank, the IRS or your employer.
Password Manager – Consider using a password manager program. Search to find password programs for smartphones or tablets. The best password programs typically have 256-bit encryption.

How to Effectively Communicate with Your Doctor

How can I improve communication with my doctors? Over the past few years, I have felt at a loss for words during appointments and need suggestions on how to be sure my concerns are addressed.

Communication difficulties between patients and their doctors are nothing new. Many patients feel as if doctors are dismissing their concerns, which can be frustrating and potentially lead to missed diagnoses and delayed care. If you believe your doctor is not listening to you, here are some tips offered by the National Institute on Aging that may help.

Prepare for your appointment: Before your exam, make a written prioritized list of any questions and concerns you want to discuss with your doctor. If you have done any online research, print it out and bring it to your appointment to ensure all information gets discussed. If it is a diagnostic visit, you should prepare a detailed description of your symptoms, when they started and what makes them worse.

Be honest and upfront: Even if the topic seems sensitive or embarrassing, it is important to be honest and upfront with your doctor. You may feel uncomfortable talking about memory loss or bowel issues, but these are all important to your health. It is better to be thorough and share detailed information than to be quiet or shy about what you are experiencing or feeling. Remember, your doctor is trained to talk about all kinds of personal matters.

Ask specific questions: If you and your doctor are not communicating well, ask specific questions that require a response. For example: What might have caused the problem I am dealing with? What is the specific name of my diagnosis? Is the problem serious? Will it heal completely or require ongoing management? What future symptoms might suggest the need for emergency care or a follow-up visit? When and how will test results be received? If you do not understand something, do not hesitate to ask, “Can you explain that in simpler terms?” or “Can you give me more details about that?”

Take someone with you: Bring a family member or friend to your appointment. Your companion can help you ask questions or raise concerns that you may not have thought of, help you understand the doctor’s advice and provide you support.

Be persistent: If your doctor is not addressing your questions, repeat them or rephrase them. If there is still no progress, follow up by saying, “I am worried that we are not communicating well. Here is why I feel that way.” or “I need to talk with you about X, but I feel like I cannot. Can we address this together?” If you feel as though you are being dismissed, ask your doctor to include in the notes that they are declining to provide care of the particular symptoms.

After your appointment, if you are uncertain about any instructions or have other questions, call or email your health care provider. Do not wait until your next visit to make sure you understand your diagnosis, treatment plan or anything else that might affect your health.

For more tips, the National Institute on Aging offers a free booklet called “Talking with Your Doctor: A Guide for Older Adults” that can help you prepare for an appointment and become a better and more informed patient. To order free copy or see it online, visit order.nia.nih.gov/publication/talking-with-your-doctor-a-guide-for-older-adults.

Consider moving on: If the communication problem with your doctor persists, it may be time to start looking for a new provider. Depending on how unsatisfied you are with your care, you could also notify your doctor’s medical group and your insurance company or leave feedback on their online profile. If you are dealing with a serious issue – like a doctor who prescribes the wrong medication or fails to provide test results in a timely manner – it might be appropriate to file a complaint with the state medical board.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Deadline for IRA Required Minimum Distributions

December is an important month for IRA and 401(k) owners who are over age 73. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds taxpayers over age 73 to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) by December 31. Because some retirement plan custodians take time to process RMD requests, you should start your IRA or 401(k) withdrawal by mid-December.

There is an exception to the December 31 deadline for traditional IRA owners who turned 73 in 2024. Those individuals may delay their first RMD until April 1, 2025. However, if they delay the first RMD, they will also need to take a second RMD by December 31, 2025.

RMDs are generally required for most qualified retirement plans. This rule applies to three types of IRAs. Specifically, they apply to Individual Retirement Arrangements, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs and Savings Incentive Match PLan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs.

RMDs also apply to traditional 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans. An exception to the RMD withdrawal requirement is a Roth IRA, Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b) – there are no distribution requirements for these plans if the original owner is living.

Most taxpayers take the RMD based upon the Uniform Lifetime Table in IRS Pub. 590-B. This table assumes there is a beneficiary 10 years younger than the IRA owner and calculates a distribution amount based on both ages. If the IRA owner has a spouse more than 10 years younger, a special calculation is applied.

Owners of multiple IRAs must calculate the RMD for each plan. However, the owner can elect to withdraw the total RMD amount from any IRA plan.

Some employees over age 73 who are still working and are not major owners of a business may be able to defer RMDs until after retirement. You should consult your tax advisor to see if you think this exception applies to you.

Many online calculators are available to help determine your RMD. Most large financial companies offer an online determination of the correct amount. RMDs start at approximately 3.8% of your prior year December 31 IRA balance.

The RMDs increase each year after age 73. Your RMD is approximately 4.2% at age 76, 5.0% at age 80, 6.3% at age 85, 8.2% at age 90 and 11.2% at age 95.

Editor’s Note: An excellent way to fulfill an RMD is to give part or all of the IRA payment to a qualified charity. Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) are available for individuals over age 70½ and may fulfill part or all of your RMD. The QCD is a transfer directly from the IRA custodian to a qualified charity. Up to $105,000 may be transferred in 2024. If you are planning ahead, the 2025 QCD limit will be $108,000. It is important to act quickly if you plan to make a QCD gift this year. The QCD must be completed by December 31, 2024.

What Will Medicare Cost in 2025?

Social Security benefits will receive a 2.5% cost-of-living increase in 2025. What will Medicare Part B monthly premiums be in 2025 and when do surcharges apply for higher income beneficiaries?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced the cost-of-living adjustments for 2025. While premium and out-of-pocket cost increases will be moderate for most beneficiaries, high income earners will pay significantly more. Here is what you can expect to pay in 2025.

Part B Premium

Medicare Part A, which covers hospital care, is premium-free for most beneficiaries. Medicare Part B, which covers doctor visits and outpatient services, has a monthly premium.

Starting in January, the standard monthly Part B premium will be $185, up from $174.70 in 2024. The $10.30 difference represents an increase of 5.9%, which is more than double the recent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment of 2.5%.

If you are a high-earning beneficiary, a group that comprises approximately 8% of all Medicare recipients, you will have to pay more. Medicare surcharges for high earners, known as the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA), are based on adjusted gross income (AGI) from two years earlier. This means that your 2025 Part B premiums are determined by your 2023 AGI, which is located on line 11 of Form 1040.

If your 2023 income was from $106,000 to $133,000 ($212,000 to $266,000 for joint filers), your 2025 Part B monthly premium will be $259. For individuals with an income over $133,000 to $167,000 (over $266,000 to $334,000 for joint filers), the monthly premium will rise to $370. Individuals earning more than $167,000 up to $200,000 (more than $334,000 up to $400,000 for joint filers) will see their monthly Part B premium increase to $480.90. Those with incomes above $200,000 up to $500,000 (above $400,000 up to $750,000 for joint filers) will pay $591.90 per month in 2025. Individuals with income more than $500,000 (more than $750,000 for joint filers) will pay $628.90 per month.

Part D Premium

If you have a stand-alone Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan, the average premium in 2025 will be $46.50 per month for most beneficiaries, down from $53.95 in 2024. For high earners with annual incomes above $106,000 ($212,000 for joint filers), you will pay a monthly surcharge between $13.70 to $85.80 (based on your income level) in addition to your regular Part D premiums.

How to Contest Income

Beneficiaries who fall into any of the high-income categories and have experienced certain life-changing events that have reduced their income since 2023, such as retirement, divorce or the death of a spouse, can contest the surcharge. For more information on how to do this, see “Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries” at SSA.gov/benefits/medicare/medicare-premiums.html.

Other Medicare Increases

In addition to the Part B and Part D premium increases, there are other cost increases you should take into consideration. For example, the annual deductible for Medicare Part B will be $257 in 2025, which is $17 more than the 2024 deductible of $240. In addition, the deductible for Medicare Part A, which covers hospital services, will increase to $1,676 in 2025. This amount is $44 more than the 2024 deductible of $1,632. There are no surcharges on Medicare deductibles for high earners. For more information on all the Medicare costs for 2025 visit Medicare.gov/basics/costs or call 800-633-4227.

Published December 6, 2024

Time to Prepare for Tax Filing

Each year, the IRS publishes guidance to encourage taxpayers to prepare for the upcoming filing season. Each taxpayer should consider his or her potential credits, deductions and tax refunds.

Interest on Tax Refunds — If you received a federal tax refund in 2024, you may also have received additional interest. The IRS will send Form 1099-INT to anyone who received interest with a refund. This interest is taxable income and must be reported.
Charitable Deductions — With the increase in the standard deduction, the number of taxpayers who itemize declined from approximately 30% to about 10%. If you itemize, you may deduct cash and appreciated property gifts to qualified charitable organizations. The normal cash contribution limit is 60% of adjusted gross income (AGI). The limit for gifts of appreciated stock, land and other property is 30% of AGI. You can combine both cash and property gifts in a single taxable year. If you are over the gift limit, the extra deduction may be used over the next five years. Gifts over $250 will require a receipt from the charity before you file your return. There is more information on charitable deductions in IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions.
Tax refunds in 2025 — Some taxpayers plan to file in January of 2025 and hope to receive a prompt refund. The IRS cautions that some refunds may require a longer period for processing. Delays may be related to IRS efforts to protect against identity theft and refund fraud. The IRS is also required to delay refunds for tax returns that claim an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or an Additional Child Tax Credit. These refunds will likely be issued on or after the middle of February.
Best Refund Option — The IRS reminds taxpayers that the safest and most convenient way to receive a refund is to use the electronic filing options. Many taxpayers use the IRS Free File or IRS Direct File program. After you file, you may track a refund with the “Where’s My Refund?” Tool on IRS.gov.

Editor's Note: Many individuals with substantial state and local tax deductions, mortgage interest and charitable gifts will itemize deductions. The charitable gifts must be made prior to December 31 of this year. IRA owners over age 70½ and older, may choose to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) up to $105,000 in 2024. Plan to contact your IRA custodian as soon as possible to ensure the gift is made before December 31.

How to Make the Most of Your Doctor's Visit

What is the best way to prepare for a doctor’s appointment?

Studies have shown that patients who are able to provide important health information and are prepared for a doctor’s appointment tend to receive better care than patients who do not. Here are a few steps to take to make the most of your next doctor’s visit.

Before Appointments

Gathering and organizing your health information before your appointment is key to ensuring a productive meeting with your doctor. This is especially important if you are seeing multiple doctors or meeting with a new physician. Here is what you should do before your next appointment:

Get your test results: If you are seeing a new doctor, make sure he or she has copies of your latest X-ray, MRI or any other tests or recent lab results, including reports from other doctors. In most cases, you will need to handle the groundwork on your own. This may require that you make a phone call to your previous doctor, or you may need to pick up your lab results in person.
List your medications: Make a list of all the medications and dosages you are currently taking, including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements. Alternatively, collect all your pill bottles and take them with you to your appointment.
Know your health history: Sharing any previous medical problems and procedures can help make an office visit much more efficient. If your health history is complicated, it would be best to write it down. Genetics matter too, so knowing your family’s health history may also be helpful.
Prepare a list of questions: Make a written list of the top three or four issues you want to discuss with your doctor. This can help you stay on track during your appointment and ensure you address your most pressing concerns first. If you are in for a diagnostic visit, you should prepare a detailed description of your symptoms.

During Appointments

When you meet with your doctor, it is important to be direct and concise to explain why you are there. Be honest and specific when recounting your symptoms or expressing your concerns. Many patients may be reluctant to talk about their symptoms, which makes the doctor’s job much more difficult. You may want to bring along a family member or friend to your appointment if your doctor’s office permits it. They can help you ask questions, listen to what the doctor is telling you and provide you support.

Consider taking notes or asking the doctor if you can record the session for later review. If you do not understand what the doctor is telling you, ask him or her to explain it in simple terms so you can understand. If you run out of time and do not get your questions answered, ask if you can follow up by phone or email, make another appointment or seek help from a nurse.

For more information, the National Institute on Aging offers a booklet called “Talking with Your Doctor: A Guide for Older Adults” that can help you prepare for an appointment and become a more informed patient. To get a free copy mailed to you, call 800-222-2225 or visit order.nia.nih.gov and search for the guide.

Published November 29, 2024

Parents Protect Children and Teens with Good Online Security

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds parents to urge their children and teens to protect personal and financial information. The IRS Security Summit offers tips to parents during National Cybersecurity Month.

With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, notebooks and computers along with online education for young students during COVID-19, many youths are now at risk. Children use computers and smartphones at home for school, online shopping and social media. Because many young individuals do not understand cybersecurity risks, they may share personal information that will unknowingly be used by scammers and fraudsters.

The Security Summit highlights five tips for online security. Parents should share these concepts with youth and teens and urge them to protect personal data.

Recognize and Avoid Scams — Each year, there are billions of phishing emails, phone calls and texts from thieves. Many of the identity thieves claim to be from the IRS, police, DMV or other organizations. Individuals should not click on links or download attachments in emails if they do not know the identity of the sender. The downloaded attachment will install malware on your computer and may give the thief access to your personal data.
Security is Important — Parents should caution children and teens to be careful not to reveal their personal information. They should not disclose birth dates, home addresses, age or financial information. Young individuals should be cautioned to protect Social Security numbers and bank or savings account information.
Public Wi-Fi Networks — Many coffee shops, restaurants or malls offer a free Wi-Fi connection. However, there is no certainty that this connection is secure. Many cybercriminals monitor the information on these public Wi-Fi networks. Youth and teens should be cautioned not to send emails and personal information over public Wi-Fi networks. They also may consider using a virtual public network (VPN) in order to connect with public Wi-Fi.
Security Software with Firewall and Anti-Virus Protection — All computers should have security software with automatic updates. Most antivirus software will be updated on a daily basis. If a file is sensitive, it can be encrypted or protected through passwords. The best solution is to avoid placing sensitive data in the public arena. Social media sites and email are potentially accessible to large numbers of bad actors.
Passwords — Youth and teens should be encouraged to use strong passwords. A strong password includes a variation of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. The password should not include information that is easily connected with the young individual, such as his or her name, address, or city.

Editor's Note: Students routinely use online platforms as part of their education. As a result, there is widespread use of electronic devices by individuals in grade school, middle school and high school. Parents should educate students about the importance of cybersecurity.