Pumping Irony
LATEST STORIES
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.
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.
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: A “Perfect” Prescription for Growing Old
Memories of a former colleague — and recent research — remind me that an upbeat view of aging may pay healthy dividends well into our later years.
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.
PUMPING IRONY: A Long-Term Rehab Project
COVID has drawn fresh attention to our broken long-term-care system, sparking some ambitious government initiatives. But recent research suggests there’s much more work to be done.
PUMPING IRONY: A Detour on the Road to Dementia?
The latest thinking on Alzheimer’s disease suggests we may slow its development with diet and lifestyle shifts, but a recent harrowing experience has me wondering whether my brain is already too far gone — or if I just need to pay better attention to what I’m doing.
PUMPING IRONY: Reunion
Like many empty nesters, I often wonder what role I should be playing in my adult children’s lives. An unexpected visit from our daughter after months of silence provided some clarity.
PUMPING IRONY: Destined for Diabetes?
A prediabetes diagnosis can trigger all sorts of nightmarish scenarios, but mounting evidence suggests that seniors are a lot less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than we’ve been led to believe.
PUMPING IRONY: An ER for the Elderly
A promising wave of geriatric emergency departments, designed to cut hospital costs and better accommodate seniors, has been slowed by a lack of support from insurers — including Medicare.
PUMPING IRONY: O Lucky Man!
I’ve never won a contest of any sort in my life, so when I got word that I’d been chosen to receive a COVID vaccine, I figured there must be some mistake.
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.
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.