Pumping Irony
LATEST STORIES
PUMPING IRONY: No Pills, No Problem
For years, I thought I was in the vanguard of geezers refusing the Big Pharma solution. Turns out I’ve always had plenty of company.
PUMPING IRONY: The Heart of the Matter: Increasing Longevity
A new study suggests the simple, heart-healthy lifestyle of an indigenous Bolivian people offers a prescription for a longer life. It doesn’t work like that.
PUMPING IRONY: Slow and Steady Wins the Race
The story of a brilliant nonagenarian reminds us that creativity is less about inspiration than perspiration.
PUMPING IRONY: A Toothless Solution
Because Medicare doesn’t cover dental work, millions of geezers are avoiding the dentist’s chair. The result is a major oral-health crisis, which dentists are doing little to solve.
PUMPING IRONY: All or Nothing
Once I overcome the inertia that’s been keeping me out of the gym, I’m really going to go all out. Really.
PUMPING IRONY: The Secret of “Super-Agers”
The aging brain thrives on a healthy diet and vigorous exercise, but the real key to long-term mental acuity may simply depend on a roll of the genetic dice.
PUMPING IRONY: Sit Still, Live Longer?
Research suggests that meditation may extend your lifespan, but anyone who embraces a serious mindfulness practice will soon discover it’s not about their life at all.
PUMPING IRONY: I Can Hear You Now
One in three geezers refuses to address their hearing loss, according to a new study. I’m not one of them.
PUMPING IRONY: Is Cancer Screening Just a Scam?
A new study reveals that colonoscopies, mammograms, and other tests do little to prolong life expectancy. But don’t expect to hear that from your doctor.
PUMPING IRONY: Eat Less, Live Longer?
Periodic fasting is gaining traction among the longevity-obsessed, but I’m having trouble seeing how it differs from yo-yo dieting.
PUMPING IRONY: Aging and Uncertainty
A new book offers sage advice on the value of embracing the unknown as we age.
PUMPING IRONY: The Secrets of Sleep
There are lots of reasons why older folks struggle to get a good night’s sleep. Just don’t expect much consensus from the scientific community.
PUMPING IRONY: The Dopamine Made Me Do It
People my age tend to avoid risky situations, so why is my brain so good at convincing me to put it all on the line?
PUMPING IRONY: The Upside of Suffering
When you accept adversity as a normal part of life, growing old doesn’t have to be so bad.
PUMPING IRONY: The Great Statin Conspiracy
Has Big Pharma hatched a nefarious scheme designed to hook every American on cholesterol-lowering drugs — despite their dangers?
PUMPING IRONY: Social Studies
Creating and maintaining relationships is a key to a healthy life as we grow old, but it took my son’s wedding to convince me it was worth the effort.
PUMPING IRONY: Requesting Immunity
With flu season in full swing, I’m more curious than usual about what geezers like me can do to strengthen our immune systems. Science, however, offers surprisingly little help.
PUMPING IRONY: Working Without a Net
Our declining life expectancy may not be as mysterious as experts think.
PUMPING IRONY: Take Two and Call Me in the Morning
Recent attempts to clarify aspirin’s ability to prevent heart disease and cancer is succeeding only in giving this geezer a headache.
PUMPING IRONY: A Stroke of Luck
It seems I was born into a mini-generation of boomers that is less susceptible to brain attacks than younger folks, a fact that I find more ironic than reassuring.
PUMPING IRONY: Smart Move
I long ago admitted that My Lovely Wife is smarter than me. A new study explains why that wasn’t a bad decision — to a point.