Craig Cox
LATEST STORIES
PUMPING IRONY: The Color of Worry, the Color of Calm
If stress can lead to graying hair, can periods of calm reverse the process? Recent research suggests it may have that effect, though my graying locks are probably beyond help.
PUMPING IRONY: Born to Run?
Late-blooming runners are routinely beating veteran racers at the national level, raising questions about the toll decades of training exact on the body — and why we choose to run (or not) in the first place.
HIIT for Heart Health
Interval training improves the transfer of calcium in the heart’s cell membranes, according to a recent study.
PUMPING IRONY: New Hope, Selectively Dispensed
The controversy surrounding the FDA’s approval of the first new Alzheimer’s drug in nearly two decades will do little to temper demand by desperate patients and their caregivers. It may also exacerbate racial disparities among those vying for the treatment.
PUMPING IRONY: Back to the Future
Emerging from social isolation, I’m discovering the importance of patience and empathy while gradually reconnecting to friends, family, and an eerily familiar postpandemic world.
Seeking a Cure for Arthritis
Could replacing cartilage be the key to ending arthritic joint pain?
PUMPING IRONY: The COVID Effect
The pandemic has persuaded the U.S. healthcare industry to reimagine some aspects of its operations in ways that may yield significant benefits for the elderly. Will those revelations survive a return to normalcy?
PUMPING IRONY: Parkinson’s: The Next Pandemic?
Cases of the debilitating neurological disease have been surging in recent years and some researchers suggest COVID-19 may accelerate the trend.
PUMPING IRONY: The Medicare Muddle
Navigating the Medicare enrollment process should be easy. It is not.
PUMPING IRONY: Painful Repercussions
Financial stress during middle age can create physical pain in your later years, according to a new study. My own family’s experience suggests healing is possible.
Are You Destined for Diabetes?
Doctors are researching diagnostic markers that might predict the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
PUMPING IRONY: A Deafening Silence
Four years have passed since Congress ordered the FDA to draft guidelines allowing the sale of affordable over-the-counter hearing aids. For the millions of hearing-impaired seniors, the agency’s response speaks volumes.
PUMPING IRONY: Pedaling Through the Next Pandemic
I’m not the only geezer trying to get back in shape after COVID-19 derailed my preferred fitness routine. A renowned British physician warns of a looming “deconditioning pandemic” among the elderly.
PUMPING IRONY: A Perilous Prescription?
Cannabis-based medicine is gaining popularity among seniors coping with chronic pain, anxiety, and other conditions. But the research is sparse and the potential side effects worrisome.
PUMPING IRONY: A Discriminating Virus?
Why has COVID-19 claimed such a disproportionate share of lives in nursing homes with predominantly minority populations? New research suggests it may be a natural consequence of a highly segregated industry.
PUMPING IRONY: Digital Detours on the Road to Vaccination
With computer access and capabilities often standing in the way of elderly Americans trying to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine, a little patience — and perspective — can really come in handy.
PUMPING IRONY: Defying Directives
Advanced directives can help ensure that doctors clearly understand your end-of-life treatment preferences. That doesn’t mean they’ll honor them.
Can Exercise Prevent Vision Loss?
According to a recent study, even moderate exercise can help slow or even prevent vision loss.
PUMPING IRONY: Fending Off Frailty
Recent research suggests we take a more holistic approach to treating frailty among the elderly, focusing more on exercise than pharmaceuticals.
PUMPING IRONY: Not the Retiring Type
Like most of my boomer compatriots, I’m never going to save enough money to fund a work-free retirement. A recent study aims to help future generations avoid that fate.
PUMPING IRONY: A Real Pain
Eight out of 10 American seniors take at least two prescription drugs daily, a fate I’ve been determined to avoid. But a stubborn illness helps me understand why it’s so tempting to reach for pharmaceutical solutions.