He was close to 90 years old and came to see me wondering whether he could still have sex. A widower for several decades, he had just met a “younger” woman, a sprite 75 year old, and he was feeling things he hadn’t felt for years. There was fire in his loins. What impressed me most about...Continue reading
Category: Aging
Talking with Kids About Death
Dear Mr. Dad: My father, who had been sick for quite some time, recently died. He and my 7-year old daughter were very close. Naturally, she’s sad that Gramps isn’t around anymore, but I know that she doesn’t completely get why. Do you think she’s old enough to grasp what death is? If so, what’s...Continue reading
Living Harder—and Now Longer—with Viagra
Do you know how Viagra got its start? Pfizer developed it to relieve a type of chest pain, angina, that’s associated with severe heart disease. They thought it might work better than nitrate paste or pills, the standard of the day. Guess what? It didn’t. But the men in the clinical trial wouldn’t give the...Continue reading
Testosterone: 10 Surprising Things Every Woman and Man Needs to Know
In her book, Eve’s Rib: The New Science of Gender-Specific Medicine Marianne J. Legato M.D says, “Everywhere we look, the two sexes are startlingly and unexpectedly different not only in their internal function but in the way they experience illness.” To begin with there are 10 trillion cells in the human body and every one...Continue reading
Solutions for Sleep-Deprived Seniors
According to research from the National Sleep Foundation, the older you get, the more times you wake up in the middle of the night. In fact, the number of sleep awakenings more than doubles between ages of 50 and 79. Unfortunately, the myth persists that people need less sleep as they age — but that...
The Follies of Hollywood Fatherhood
You probably heard it already: George and Amal Clooney are expecting. Yessiree, that perennial 55-year old bachelor, once described by the New Yorker Magazine as: “lightly ironic, clever, and self-deprecating, with furrowed brow and bobbing head, and a gyration in the lower jaw,” is awaiting diaper duty…for twins nonetheless. Ironically, this little feature of the salt-and-pepper haired...Continue reading
Surveillance & Medical Care: 5 Ways Video Monitoring Can Improve Patient Care
Hospitals using surveillance systems are reporting fewer patient falls, according to an article in the CT Post. The idea is that certified nursing assistants and trained medical staff can monitor patients from various hospital rooms at the same time. If a patient at high risk for falling or hurting themselves looks like they’re making a...Continue reading
As You Age, Knowledge Is Power: Educating Yourself on Healthcare and Diagnosis
Educating yourself about your own health and any diagnosis you may receive is imperative these days, when there is so much information available and so many options. There must be some measure of trust between patient and doctor, but doing some research on your own and figuring out what’s right for you doesn’t mean you...Continue reading
Why We Need to Change the Current Narrative of Male Friendships
In an interview with Anna Kendrick, Stephen Colbert joked, you ask a guy when the last time he saw his best friend and his answer is two and a half years ago. Cue the laughs at the distinction often made between male and female friendships, but the reality isn’t as funny. The disturbing truth is...Continue reading
Should You Get Thee to a Low-T Clinic?
They’re everywhere these days. Just search “low T clinic near me” on Google and you will see a gaggle of places get your fill of testosterone. There’s someone on every corner willing to sell you good ol’ vitamin T. But will it help? Fountain of Youth It depends. If you are a younger man, say aged 25-35...Continue reading