Fifty Plus Advocates

By Dr. Gary Blanchard Q: My mother was just in the hospital, again, for the third time in the past six months, this time with pneumonia. She became agitated during her most recent hospitalization — not like my mother, at all. I was told that she became violent toward the nursing staff and needed a [...]

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By Dr. Gary Blanchard Q: I have been told by my friends — who claim they are acting as their doctor’s disciple — that the older I get (and I can’t get much older, I’m afraid, at 86), the less I need to be worried about my high blood pressure. Some “friend” even suggested to [...]

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By Dr. Gary Blanchard Q: My mother is in her 80s and has fallen multiple times in the past year. She is fairly sedentary, partly because she is deathly afraid of falling. I have been trying to stress to her that she needs to eat a healthier diet and start exercising. Is there any advice [...]

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I understand your confusion, Dizzy: selling a patient with decades of high blood pressure on their dizziness actually being caused by low blood pressure is a tough pitch indeed.

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By Dr. Gary Blanchard Q: I was diagnosed with osteopenia. I have been faithful with my diet, vitamin D, calcium and a strict walking routine. At 64, I have had very few other health issues. A few weeks ago I suddenly developed severe back pain. I was told that I have a broken bone in [...]

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By Dr. Gary Blanchard Q: I am a fit 55-year-old man with a family history of heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol. I work out daily and watch what I eat, but unfortunately my cholesterol and blood pressure is still very high. My primary care physician wants me to start taking cholesterol medication and high blood [...]

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