Men Are Bad at Retirement

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When envisioning retirement, many men imagine traveling, playing with grandchildren and driving that sexy convertible they can finally afford. The reality? For those over 70, 94% of adults watch television every day, with nearly 10% spending more than nine hours a day staring at the shows.

Men die earlier, with an average life expectancy of 73.5 years, according to a 2021 study. That’s about five years earlier than women in the U.S. One study found that men who considered themselves “traditional” men — unemotional and self-reliant — were more likely to ignore medical problems, and suffered worse health outcomes than women. And the problem gets worse as they get older. About 74% of men 55 and older go to the doctor for an annual check-up, compared to 43% of men age 35-54 and 26% of men age 18-34. Why So Many Men are Bad at Retirement https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-so-many-men-are-bad-at-retirement?

This is an interesting article. Just more reasons why I’m not retired.

Retire. Watch TV all day long. Repeat.

Yikes.

There Are Health Related Benefits to Working Past Age 65

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“Our perceptions of working after age 65 have changed over time, and these data suggest that most older adults who are still able to work after the traditional retirement age derive health-related benefits from doing so,” said poll director Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., a primary care physician at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and associate professor of internal medicine at U-M. “As we learn more about how loneliness, lack of social connection and isolation intertwine with physical and mental health in older adults, the role of work is important to consider.”Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan. “As more Americans work later in life, poll shows positive health impacts, especially for those over 65.” ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250211141049.htm (accessed February 12, 2025)

National Poll on Healthy Aging Team. The Intersection of Work, Health, and Well-Being. University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. January/February 2025. Available at https://dx.doi.org/10.7302/25186

Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate (not just for ADHD anymore)

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Llisdexamfetamine dimesylate is currently the only drug to be approved in the USA for the treatment of moderate to severe binge eating disorder (BED) in adult patients. – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29134566/

Just a few side effects BTW.

The prescribing information also includes warnings and precautions regarding serious cardiovascular reactions, blood pressure and heart rate increases, psychiatric adverse reactions, suppression of growth, peripheral vasculopathy (reduced circulation of blood flow to body parts), and serotonin syndrome (a potentially life-threatening overage of serotonin). Please see Vyvanse’s full prescribing information for additional details.

The most common side effects in children, adolescents and/or adults with ADHD taking lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules and chewable tablets were anorexia, anxiety, decreased appetite, decreased weight, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, irritability, insomnia, nausea, upper abdominal pain, and vomiting. The most common side effects in adults with BED were dry mouth, insomnia, decreased appetite, increased heart rate, constipation, feeling jittery, and anxiety. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-multiple-generics-adhd-and-bed-treatment

Take Home Lesson for Life Underwriters

Know your drugs and read the prescription DB reports. You’re welcome.

Compounding Compounds the Problem

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Compound pharmacies that bulk produce weight-loss drugs without FDA approval are doing so without that oversight.  And because compounding pharmacies aren’t required to report instances of patient harm involving their medications, problems may go undetected.“It’s kind of like ‘Whack-A-Mole,’” said Al Carter, a pharmacist and executive director at the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. He said state boards will only investigate when they receive a complaint.“There are bad actors out there, purporting to be compounding pharmacies that are licensed in specific states or have the credentials to be able to compound when in actuality they don’t,” said Carter. “My understanding is most licensed, legitimate pharmacies aren’t compounding” weight-loss medications. ‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators – https://stateline.org/2024/07/08/compounded-weight-loss-drugs-are-a-growing-problem-for-state-regulators/

A website sold patients obesity drugs at affordable rates. Now they’re paying the price.– https://www.npr.org/2025/02/08/nx-s1-5246124/a-website-sold-patients-obesity-drugs-at-affordable-rates-now-theyre-paying-the-price

“The two main goals of the medication are weight loss and diabetes management, so patients should stay on the lowest dosage possible until they feel like they’ve plateaued,” said Charu Sawhney, DO, MPH, an internal medicine physician with Harbor Health in Round Rock, Texas. When patients move up on the dosage too fast, they’re going to have more trouble, said Sawhney. “This is when we see the most severe side effects like the malnutrition and dehydration that can sometimes land patients in the hospital,” she said. Considerations for Prescribing GLP-1s Get More Complicated – Medscape – February 07, 2025 – https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/considerations-prescribing-glp-1s-get-more-complicated

I admit as a Former Fat Man that the world of obesity and now a miracle drug to fight the disease fascinates the hell out of me. Caveat emptor!

Low Serum Levels of 3 Carotenoids Linked to Increased Risk for Migraine

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The cross-sectional study, which was performed on a nationally representative United States cohort, indicated an inverse association between serum carotenoid levels and migraine risk in adults. https://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/news/low-serum-levels-of-3-carotenoids-linked-to-increased-risk-for-migraine/

α-Carotene, β-Carotene, β-Cryptoxanthin, Lycopene, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin – https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/carotenoids

Yum.

An unexpected event in which an individual comes to rest on the ground, floor, or lower level

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A fall is defined as an unexpected event in which an individual comes to rest on the ground, floor, or lower level.1 Falls are a leading global health challenge, ranking as the second cause of death from unintentional injuries.2 Over 80% of these fatalities occur in low-income and middle-income countries, with the highest mortality rates observed among individuals aged 60 years and older.3 WHO emphasises environmental and health-related gaps contributing to fall-related mortality, such as limited access to the health-care system and inadequate infrastructure.2 However, the implementation of fall prevention strategies in low-income countries (LICs) and some middle-income countries (MICs) is often hindered by challenges such as data scarcity, inadequate health-care infrastructure, and limited resources.2 In contrast, several high-income countries (HICs) such as Denmark, Switzerland, and Austria found persistently low or even declining rates of fall-related mortality, despite an ageing population.4 Investigating the underlying factors contributing to these trends in HICs is crucial, as it not only provides valuable insights into effective prevention strategies but also serves as a basis for adapting such approaches to resource-constrained settings like LICs and MICs. – Temporal trends and patterns in mortality from falls across 59 high-income and upper-middle-income countries, 1990–2021, with projections up to 2040: a global time-series analysis and modelling study – https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(24)00198-3/

Second cause of death from unintentional injuries.

Remember this the next time you underwrite a case where the applicant is my age. Yikes.

Nutrition, Drugs, or Bariatric Surgery?

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The key to healthy and sustained weight loss is to “become attuned to the body’s signals, learn how to honor hunger, stop eating when satisfied, and eat more healthful foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins — especially plant-based proteins — and the body gives signals that this is what it wants.” Supatra Tovar, PsyD, RD — Nutrition, Drugs, or Bariatric Surgery: What’s the Best Approach for Sustained Weight Loss? – Medscape – January 10, 2025 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/nutrition-drugs-or-bariatric-surgery-whats-best-approach-2025a10000kj?src

Lifestyle changes worked for me.