Pumping Irony
LATEST STORIES
PUMPING IRONY: Calm Down and Carry On
The Medical-Pharmaceutical Complex has been elevating my blood pressure for years by trying to convince me that the systolic readings produced in my doctor’s office matter. New research renders that argument moot.
PUMPING IRONY: Make Your Medicine
A nascent movement of “biohackers” aims to challenge Big Pharma by empowering patients to synthesize their own medications and assemble their own medical devices. I’m not the only one who’s cautiously pessimistic.
PUMPING IRONY: The Upside of Old Age
When one is seeking contentment, aging might be the solution rather than the problem.
PUMPING IRONY: Home Free
The nursing-home industry is suffering through an unprecedented decline as elderly Americans are increasingly opting for home- and community-based options.
PUMPING IRONY: Geezers, Unite!
Whether conservative or liberal, my retired friends all appreciate their monthly Social Security check. But I suspect any move to expand the program may fall on deaf ears.
PUMPING IRONY: A Healthy Skepticism
Reports that a daily aspirin may not prevent heart attacks and strokes reminds me that ignoring the advice of the medical establishment is often the healthiest option.
PUMPING IRONY: There’s No Place Like Home
My vacation activities tend to mirror much of what I enjoy doing on the home front. And if what the latest research suggests is true, those preferences may extend my lifespan.
PUMPING IRONY: A Wardrobe for the Ages
What does fashion mean to the aging male? New research suggests that we don’t give it much thought.
PUMPING IRONY: All Ears
Never one to put too much stock in preventive health measures, I suddenly find myself obsessed with improving my hearing.
PUMPING IRONY: You Must Be Mistaken
Recent research suggests that geezers are less likely than young adults to recognize when they err. This is problematic — except when it’s not.
PUMPING IRONY: I Can’t Hear You
With my hearing aids on the blink, I’ve been forced to navigate by guile and guesswork — with predictable results.
PUMPING IRONY: Requiem for a Handyman
Age and (relative) affluence have cut into my DIY opportunities, a development that has bruised my ego but may keep me out of the hospital.
PUMPING IRONY: A Numbers Game: Alzheimer’s Research
Amid news of a potential breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research, experts bemoan the daunting task of finding enough qualified patients to continue the search for a cure.
PUMPING IRONY: A Sweet Solution
Memory issues are common here in Geezerville, but I’m not sure loading up on sugar is the answer.
PUMPING IRONY: Young at Heart
Feeling younger than your years? It could be a sign of a youthful brain.
PUMPING IRONY: In Search of the Ultimate Lifespan
Recent research suggesting that humans may live much longer than previously thought raises a fundamental question: How long do you really want to live?
PUMPING IRONY: Strength in Numbers
A new study suggests that life in an empty nest may be bad for the brain.
PUMPING IRONY: The Boomerang Effect
An alarming percentage of seniors are shuttled between hospitals and nursing homes and back again, complicating their recovery. And government policies may be making the situation worse.
PUMPING IRONY: Too Good to Be True?
Why we should greet every medical breakthrough with skepticism.
PUMPING IRONY: Sleepless in Geezerville
An alarming percentage of seniors rely on sedatives to make it through the night, risking serious side effects. Public-health efforts to wean them from the drugs have yielded mixed results.