When I was five years old my father was committed to Camarillo State Mental Hospital. He had become increasingly stressed and depressed because he couldn’t find work to support his family. I grew up wondering what happened to my father and whether I inherited his “mental illness.” I talk about my healing journey in my...Continue reading
Category: Aging
What Does the Semen Analysis Really Mean?
Ever hear of the Buddhist parable of blind men describing an elephant? The man facing the elephant describes it as thick like a snake. The man who grabs its large floppy ear suggests that the creature is fan-shaped. The man who holds its leg insists that elephants are tree trunks and the one on its...Continue reading
Playing the Odds of Being an Older Dad
How do you handle risk? Some believe it’s part of the game of life, found everywhere in different doses. Unavoidable but often knowable. Others fear its existence, preferring the familiar and secure. As Oscar Wilde said: “It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.” Where do you stand on risk? Take...Continue reading
Guarding Against Elder Abuse
Dear Mr. Dad: I am 74 years old and handicapped. My 43-year-old daughter moved in to my house with her boyfriend and was supposed to help me with basic caregiving. But instead, the two of them have turned my house into a dump, destroying my furniture, damaging the walls, and more. I made the mistake...Continue reading
Sperm Banking: The Littlest Things Can Mean the Most
Did you ever notice how the smallest things can make your day? Think of all of the things you do every single day, some by habit and some by intent. Realize that any one of them can make your day, if you let it. Join me for a moment in thinking small. Double Dare Read...Continue reading
Erectile Dysfunction Solutions
These treatments can help restore your sex life. Sexuality is an important part of the human experience, which is why a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction (ED) can be troubling for men and many couples. The good news is that there are many options to consider. “As couples age, they may lose intimacy unnecessarily,” says urologist Stanton Honig, MD,...Continue reading
Eye Health and Diabetes: What Every Diabetic Should Know
Millions of people today suffer from diabetes. If you are one of them, you probably know about its effects on different parts of your body. But, did you know that diabetes poses a major threat to your eye health as well? Read to know more about the different types of eye disorders that diabetics are...Continue reading
Skin Biopsies: What You Should Expect
Here are the 10 steps involved in having a skin biopsy. When you notice a concerning rash or mole on your skin, the body’s largest organ, it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist to have it evaluated. Sometimes after checking the area, your dermatologist may recommend a skin biopsy. Skin biopsies are an important part...Continue reading
Promising Techniques for Earlier Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Recent technologies allow doctors to diagnose the degenerative brain disease earlier. A dense forest of 100 billion nerve cells flourishes deep within each of our brains. Each of those nerve cells has about 15,000 dendrites that branch out to connect with dendrites from other nerve cells at more than 100 trillion points. Electrical signals race...
Retirement Doesn’t Have to be Scary
When we’re young and agile, most of us look forward to starting a family, buying a nice car, buying a house and making it into a home. Then as we age, we invest money, time, and energy in our kids, our careers, and our social lives. That’s all pretty normal, but when’s the right time...Continue reading