Skip to content
Join Life Time

LATEST STORIES

an elderly man driving

PUMPING IRONY: Unsafe at Any Speed

By Craig Cox

Older drivers suffering from certain chronic illnesses can pose a threat to themselves and others on the road, but convincing them to surrender their car keys is no easy task. The Japanese government may have found a way to override their objections.

A COMFY CHAIR

PUMPING IRONY: Beware of the Chair?

By Craig Cox

A new study suggests that seniors who spend too much time sitting around may be more prone to develop dementia — even if they exercise regularly.

a senior citizen receives eye care

PUMPING IRONY: Seeing Is Believing

By Craig Cox

Despite concerns about vision loss, seniors like me tend to ignore preventive screenings and treatments. Accessibility is an issue, experts say, but a lack of collaboration between physicians and ophthalmologists plays a role as well.

illustration

PUMPING IRONY: Still Clueless After All These Years

By Craig Cox

The scientific community continues to struggle to understand how to diagnose and treat long COVID, which can be especially hard on seniors. But some critics believe the answers are hidden in plain sight.

a $20 bill, Rx form and variety of pills

PUMPING IRONY: The Price Is Right?

By Craig Cox

While Medicare can now force major drugmakers to negotiate some prices, observers question whether it will result in much savings — or in better health outcomes — for U.S. seniors.

two lounge chairs sit overlooking a desert landscape

PUMPING IRONY: Roasted in Retirement?

By Craig Cox

Scorching summer temperatures — and the potential health hazards that come with them — increasingly await U.S. retirees settling in the Sun Belt.

medicare

PUMPING IRONY: Puzzling Priorities

By Craig Cox

Medicare is prepared to pay as much as $5 billion a year to cover a new Alzheimer’s drug while ignoring the in-home care needs of seniors with dementia who live alone.

a nightstand with a light on

PUMPING IRONY: Seniors, Sleeplessness, and Shortened Lives

By Craig Cox

Older adults are more likely than most to struggle with sleep issues, and recent research suggests tossing and turning could shorten our lifespans. The solution? Exercise.

image of cholestrol

PUMPING IRONY: Cholesterol: The Good, the Bad, and the Unpredictable

By Craig Cox

Cholesterol has long been known for its role in cardiovascular function, but new research suggests it may someday be put to work to hinder the development of Alzheimer’s.

a person looks at their patient portal on a smart phone

PUMPING IRONY: Is There a Care Coordinator in the House?

By Craig Cox

Our healthcare system increasingly requires patients to coordinate their own care, a burden that can delay needed procedures — and cost them dearly in time, energy, and money.

a tape measure wrapped around pills

PUMPING IRONY: Weighty Matters

By Craig Cox

The new weight-loss drugs promise transformational changes for their users, but are they right for seniors? Experts urge caution.

cholesterol pills

PUMPING IRONY: Puzzling Over Pills

By Craig Cox

Research on the risks and benefits of cholesterol-lowering statins offers little reassurance to septuagenarians like me whose numbers signal potential cardiovascular calamities. The solution? More tests.

A concrete wall with a relief of a skull with a puzzle for a brain

A Prescription for Frustration

By Craig Cox

With the FDA poised to approve the latest Alzheimer’s drug, a respected dementia expert suggests our healthcare system isn’t yet capable of employing it effectively.

blood pressure apparatus

PUMPING IRONY: A Sudden Change of Heart

By Craig Cox

A “hypertensive crisis” flings me into the gaping maw of the conventional healthcare system, where I learn to accept its many foibles — and (sheepishly) embrace its pharmaceutical remedies.

photo illustration of a person balanced on a rock surrounded by water and submerged clocks

PUMPING IRONY: Keep Calm and Carry On?

By Craig Cox

Too much stress can age your body prematurely — and even lead to dementia. But new research offers some hope. That is, unless it was your cognitive dysfunction that led to the stress in the first place.

cannabis leaves

PUMPING IRONY: Seniors: Beware the Perils of Pot

By Craig Cox

As more states legalize the recreational use of cannabis, new research suggests seniors should imbibe only with extreme caution.

people moving boxes to a moving truck

PUMPING IRONY: It’s Your Move

By Craig Cox

The vast majority of older adults prefer to stay in their own home as they age, but a recent survey suggests most of us haven’t done the necessary planning to age in place. Thankfully, there are plenty of companies that make the relocation process more palatable.

a person gets their blood pressure checked

PUMPING IRONY: The Pressure Is On

By Craig Cox

A new study casts doubt on the accuracy of blood-pressure readings taken in a doctor’s office — flawed data that often leads to unnecessary prescriptions and procedures. Some notable cardiologists are pushing for more effective options.

illustration of a telomere

PUMPING IRONY: The Long and the Short of It

By Craig Cox

The longevity industry once touted lengthy telomeres as the key to a long life. Turns out that theory doesn’t quite measure up.

a woman talks with fellow yoga students before class

PUMPING IRONY: When Cancer Strikes, Start Moving

By Craig Cox

While conventional wisdom tells us that we should rest and recover when cancer strikes, recent research suggests regular exercise may offer more benefits.

dental equipment

PUMPING IRONY: Losing Teeth, Losing Hope

By Craig Cox

While government efforts to expand dental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries have fallen short, a new study describes how that lack of access affects U.S. seniors.

Back To Top