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A new study released by the Institutes of Medicine reports that the American health care system is completely unprepared for us aging baby boomers in terms of the healthcare workforce.

There are many reasons for this… Continue Reading »

In Korea, there is a trend to experience a “well death”. At some universities, students  experience a mock funeral by reading their wills and then are placed in coffins that are closed and sprinkled with dirt. 15 minutes later, they are opened and “reborn”.  The thought is that you will then experience life on a different level. In order to live well, you must die well.  Continue Reading »

It’s National Nurse Practitioner Week, and it seems to me that NP’s are still health cares best kept secrete.  It’s high time some facts were put on the table…

1.  Nurse Practitioners provide high quality primary, acute and specialty health care. NP’s can independently order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose acute and chronic illness, prescribe medication, and manage a patient’s care. Continue Reading »

In the office, as well as in ER’s around the country…this is becoming a familiar site. It’s not a Spider Bite which is what people commonly think. If you call me and tell me you have a Spider Bite, I’ll bet my stethoscope you have what is known as a MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus) Infection. Some know it as the Superbug.  What all this means is that this infection is resistant to several antibiotics. At it’s worse…it will kill. Continue Reading »

October…it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s the month we remind every woman to do her self breast exams. We also remind them to get into the clinic and get a clinical breast exam and a mammogram.

I’m always amazed at the women who don’t want to touch themselves and do an exam. They also don’t want their provider to do an exam, nor will they get a mammogram. Continue Reading »

Is their a disease called “aging”? I don’t think so, yet so many of the men and women I see, seem to think so!  They expect “to fall apart”, to have aches and pain, to have high blood pressure, and even diabetes. Continue Reading »

It’s the first of the year and many people are working on quitting smoking. Here is a surprise resource that my patients alerted me to…Philip Morris!

They have developed a program called Quit Assist. I would imagine is may have to do with damage control…but if it helps you quit…who cares?

You’ll find other resources listed at OlderWiserWomen Quit Smoking Resources

This Friday, December 1st is once again World AIDS Awareness Day. What has this got to do with aging women? Lots! You too are affected - and in growing numbers. You can read more here –> Older Women & HIV.

One company is doing something to donate money. Yes, it’s a pharmaceutical company, but they are donating money none-the-less. Go to Unite to Light and light a candle. The company will donate $1.00 for each candle that is lit. Go on…light a candle.

We’ve known for a long time that folic acid is good for pregnant women. And actually, we’ve known for a while that folic acid can lower homocystine levels (which is thought to damage the linings of your arteries) in those whose levels are high. In a recent British study, they looked again at folic acid and found that it can cut an individuals risk of heart attacks by 10-20%. About one in ten are thought to have a genetic mutation which can increase homocystine levels.

So which veggies are high in folate/folic acid? The green leafy ones….bok choy, spinach, kale, mustard and collard greens, Swiss Chard, etc.

Bon Appétit!

Women who say no to carbs, but yes to protein as recommended in the South Beach and Zone diets, do not increase their risk of coronary heart disease, according to researchers here.

And women who consume low-carbohydrate diets that emphasize vegetables rather than animals as the source of protein and fat may be rewarded with a moderate reduction in risk of heart disease.

Read More:No Heart Risk for Women Who Favor Protein Over Carbs