Hi friend,
Some of the most valuable health skills have nothing to do with willpower and everything to do with being an informed, engaged patient. This week, three small shifts that can help you get better care — and avoid being over-treated.
🧭 One health idea: yesterday’s advice gets revised — and that’s okay
For years, many older adults were told to take a daily low-dose aspirin to prevent a first heart attack. Then the guidance changed: for most healthy adults over 60 who haven’t had a heart event, expert panels now say starting daily aspirin generally isn’t recommended, because the risk of bleeding can outweigh the benefit.
The lesson isn’t “aspirin is bad.” It’s that good medicine updates itself, and it’s worth periodically asking your doctor, “Is everything on my list still right for me?” — especially as the years go by. One critical caveat: if you’re already on aspirin (or any medication), do not stop on your own. For people who’ve had a heart attack or stroke, aspirin is often still important. This is a conversation to have with your physician, not a decision to make from a newsletter.
🌟 One win: make your next physical actually accurate
Your lab results and blood pressure reading are only as good as the conditions you bring to them. A few simple moves help:
- Fast 8–12 hours before bloodwork when your doctor asks for it (water is fine), so your cholesterol and blood sugar aren’t skewed by breakfast.
- Pause biotin supplements for a couple of days beforehand if your doctor agrees — high-dose biotin (common in “hair, skin & nails” products) can actually distort some lab tests, including thyroid and heart markers.
- If your blood pressure reads high, ask to sit quietly for five minutes and recheck. A single rushed, anxious reading shouldn’t necessarily launch a lifelong prescription. Accurate numbers lead to better decisions.
🎯 One thing to try: don’t ask for antibiotics for a cold
Here’s a rare bit of “do less” advice. Colds, the flu, and most sinus and chest congestion are caused by viruses — and antibiotics do nothing against viruses. Taking them when you don’t need them won’t help you recover, can give you side effects, disrupts your gut bacteria, and feeds the very real problem of antibiotic resistance that makes these drugs less effective for everyone.
So this season, if you come down with a typical cold, try resisting the urge to ask for “something strong.” Rest, fluids, and time are usually the real medicine. Save the antibiotics for when a professional determines you genuinely have a bacterial infection — that’s how we keep them working when they’re truly needed.
That’s it for this week. Being a thoughtful, engaged partner in your own care may be the most underrated health habit of all. Reply anytime — I read every message.
Age boldly, Robert