DIET

Losing Weight

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I am 82 and minimally obese, with a BMI of 30.9. I live with atrial fibrillation and minor congestive heart failure, which limit my ability to climb stairs or push my bicycle past a heart rate of 150 bpm. My cardiologist’s office notes mention “weight reduction needed,” though he has never raised it with me directly. Why?

Perhaps because my last serious attempt at dieting — a fasting regimen I carried out all wrong — ended with me in the hospital with sepsis. Or probably because many doctors, even cardiologists, are reluctant to engage deeply with weight-loss strategies beyond general advice.

Diet1 

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Best Eating Habits for an 80-Year-Old Man

Diet2

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Drinking Cranberry Juice Reduce UTI

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I have heard that drinking cranberry juice is a way to reduce UTI. Is that true? What recommendation should one due to reduce UTI if he or she has a history of annual incidents of UTI?

CHATGPT

Cranberry juice and UTIs is one of those health topics where the “yes, but…” answer applies.

Diet3

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Planning for Assisted Living

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Priorities -  Goal: Age in place (stay in your home). Values: Independence, comfort, privacy, and continuity. Concerns: Support for daily tasks as needs increase. Finances: Available resources to fund private home services. These priorities sets a flexible support plan.

Pharmacy of the Future

ED Salon: Optum • July 2018

AI as My New Medical Advocate

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In the October 23, 2023, 60 Minutes interview with Geoffrey Hinton—the so-called “Godfather of AI”—Hinton predicted that systems like ChatGPT would one day serve as our “home doctor.”

His comment stayed with me because, as of August 18, 2025, that is precisely the role AI has begun to play in my life.

Ride Your Bike Until You're 109

APHASIA

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Aphasia, often caused by a stroke or brain injury, primarily affects language abilities, such as speaking, understanding, reading, and writing.  While aphasia itself doesn't cause hearing loss, many individuals with aphasia also experience hearing difficulties, which can further complicate their communication challenges. Hearing loss, especially in the presence of background noise, can exacerbate the problems in understanding speech that are already present with aphasia.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

APHASIA1

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In August 2021, an ischemic stroke altered my life in ways I never fully expected. The most persistent legacy of that moment is aphasia—a disorder that disrupts the brain’s ability to use and understand language.

It does not affect intelligence, but it affects almost everything else: how I listen, how I speak, how I read, how I write, and how I process the world around me. Living with aphasia means living with a mind that works just as hard as ever, but must fight through a layer of fog before it can communicate clearly.

APHASIA2 

Atorvastatin and Ezetimibe. What's the Difference.

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My cardiologist has me daily using 40 mg of Atorvastatin and 10 mg of Ezetimibe. Why both don't they do the same thing? If they accomplish different benefits, what is that?

CHATGPT

They’re both cholesterol-lowering drugs, but they work in different ways and target different parts of how cholesterol gets into your bloodstream — so taking them together can have an additive effect.

Here’s the breakdown:

What's a PCP?

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My previous PCP proactively reviewed my medical experiences on our annual review. When he retired, I had to find a replacement. My selection was based on positive comments from his patients and his willingness to accept Medicare.

My new PCP is totally reactive in our annual reviews. Unless I ask him questions, we accomplish little. Is my past PCP unusually special, and my new PCP typical?

CHATGPT

From what you’ve described, your previous PCP sounds like they were unusually proactive — the kind of doctor who took ownership of reviewing your entire health picture, connecting the dots between specialists, and anticipating issues before you brought them up. 

HEART DISEASE

Congestive Heart Failure

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I have been diagnosed with mild congestive heart failure. What is that? What should I or my doctor do for treatment?

CHATGPT

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Mild congestive heart failure (CHF) is a manageable condition, especially when caught early. Let’s break it down simply and clearly:

 

HEART1 

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Living with a Pacemaker

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*AFIB*

SLEEP

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

https://myair.resmed.com/

CHATGPT

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common yet serious sleep disorder characterized by the repeated cessation and resumption of breathing during sleep due to the upper airway becoming wholly or partially obstructed. This obstruction reduces or completely stops airflow, even though the body continues to try to breathe.

Sleep1

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CPAP Water Substitute

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Can I use water from my humidifier as a substitute for distilled water in my CPAP machine?

COPILOT

Using water from your humidifier as a substitute for distilled water in your CPAP machine is not recommended. Here's why:

Sleep2 

Retirement Myth

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You’ve seen the ads: silver-haired couples drinking wine in Tuscany, smiling on catama-rans, renewing their vows in Santorini.      Retirement, we’re told, is life’s final upgrade — an 18-year-long cruise buffet of freedom and fulfillment.

Let’s be real. For most Americans, retirement is not a cinematic slow-motion montage. It’s a tightrope walk between declining health, fixed income, and an existential battle with the TV remote. 

You’re more likely to spend your golden years waiting in line at Walgreens than ziplining in Costa Rica.

It’s time to torch the brochure. Here’s the unfiltered breakdown of what actually happens between retirement and death.

PALLIATIVE

What is Palliative Care

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Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals and their families facing serious, life-limiting illnesses. It involves managing symptoms, relieving suffering, and addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs, alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. It's not just for end-of-life care; it can be initiated at any stage of a serious illness and is often used in conjunction with other therapies.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

PALLIATIVE1

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Palliative vs Hospice

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What is the Difference between Palliative Care and Hospice Care

Palliative care and hospice care are similar, but there are some key differences. Both palliative and hospice care are focused on the patient's needs andquality of life. Palliative care focuses on maintaining the highest quality of life while managing treatment and other needs. Hospice care focuses explicitly on the period closest to death.

PALLIATIVE2 

AFIB

I am 82. I have had an ischemic stroke due to AFIB. I have a Watchman in my heart to minimize future strokes, but I have arrhythmia. What should my cardiologist and I be doing? 

 

CHATGPT

Thank you for sharing that. You're clearly thinking ahead and advocating for yourself, which is essential in managing complex heart conditions, especially at age 82. Given your medical history—ischemic stroke due to atrial fibrillation (AFib), implantation of a Watchman device, and ongoing arrhythmia—here’s what you and your cardiologist should be focusing on now:

AFIB1

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AFIB for Older Adults

As a geriatrician, I’m often asked about atrial fibrillation (afib), a common heart rhythm issue in older adults. In this video, I sit down with Dr. Cara Pellegrini, a cardiologist and an expert in cardiac electrophysiology, to discuss what you need to know about afib, including its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

AFIB2

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PREVENT AND REVERSE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

This video does not appear to be fraudulent or quackery. Dr. Navinder S. Sawhney is a board-certified cardiologist and electrophysiologist affiliated with Palomar Health Medical Group.

AFIB3

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AFib After an Ablation: What to Know

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Experiencing persistent or recurring atrial fibrillation (AFib) can be frustrating, especially when it happens after an ablation procedure.  Oussama Wazni, MD, MBA, and Ayman Hussein, MD, discuss treatment options like medications, redo ablations, and the Convergent procedure.

June 10, 2025
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/love-your-heart/afib-after-an-ablation-what-to-know  

Podcast Transcript

AFIB4

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