Forget failing eyesight and fragile bones-forget everything you thought you knew about ageing; it's out of line with what the leading researchers know. And Dr David Lipschitz -- PBS's beloved 'Doctor David' -- is here to shatter some of the biggest myths, and to outline a new way to understand and manage the ageing process. The big news? There are things you can do right now to dramatically reduce or eliminate the most common afflictions of old age. But they're not what you think! The fact is, beyond your 50's dieting is a bad idea; a little extra weight will help you live longer and feel better. Dr David also examines the ailments commonly associated with ageing-memory loss, vision impairment, Alzheimer's disease, etc. -- and gives an in-depth review of their causes, risk factors, and treatments. He includes the number one factor that will keep you active beyond your 80s. With his special brand of wit, wisdom, and humour, Dr David has brought cutting-edge insight to nutrition, exercise, memory loss, frailty, nursing home care, heart disease, creativity, and 19 other important topics including sexuality and ageing.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Old age gets a bad rap, argues geriatric specialist Lipschitz. The senior years do not inevitably mean loss of mental or physical prowess, he maintains: in fact, the cliched advice to "take it easy, you're not as young as you were" is exactly the wrong approach. Lipschitz cites studies showing that exercise is beneficial to the elderly, and that sexually active seniors live longer than celibate ones. He even decries the obsession to lose weight, claiming that "thin isn't healthy," since "pleasingly plump" (but not obese) people live longer. Lipschitz's approach is balanced and well reasoned, never fanatical. He argues against invasive surgery for most coronary disease, contending that if a person has no symptoms, surgery can cause more problems than it solves. However, he goes on to list specific conditions that do warrant surgical intervention. Many seniors are over-medicated, he notes, which leads to negative side effects, and he offers specific advice for replacing dozens of medications with a few carefully chosen ones. The host of a public television series called Aging Successfully with Doctor David, Lipschitz is articulate and entertaining, and he clearly explains medical terms and procedures for the layman. His upbeat book reassures seniors that if they look after themselves, their golden years can be their most rewarding.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Forget everything you thought you knew about aging. Dr. David shows you what's real. -- Robert N. Butler, M.D., Founding Director, National Institute on Aging
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Required reading for over-50's,
By
This review is from: Breaking the Rules of Aging (Hardcover)
It's nice to hear from a doctor who doesn't chant the party line. Lipschitz is not afraid to criticize common medical mistreatments: unncessary heart surgery, overmedication, and overemphasis on weight. His discussion of alternative medicine, while a little too conservative for some readers, is more balanced than most.The most valuable part of the book is Lipschitz's portrayal of his elderly active patients who defy the stereotype. Yes, people over seventy can be active healthy and sexual. For my career coaching clients who say they're too old to go back to school, I plan to share the story of the man who completed a doctorate at seventy-five. I especially appreciated the discussion of weight and weight gain. So...being "a little bit chubby" can actually be healthy? About time we heard this view! And he questions the prevailing wisdom of light exercise. Work out and work hard, he says, and weight-lifting is the preferred exercise for the midlife-to-elderly set. Lipschitz also offers well-informed guidance about excessive or overzealous medicine -- topics doctors usually avoid. Under certain circumstances, he says, chemotherapy and other strong measures can make sense. But sometimes doctors are guilty of jumping in with painful measures to save a life that's already doomed. On the downside, Lipschitz encourages us to believe we can control our destiny, yet he glosses over the aspects of life that we cannot control. He deplores the six-minute office visit, yet most people will deal with time-stressed physicians in HMOs or worse. He encourages us not to be overconcerned with weight loss, yet he says those who gain weight in their midsection ("apples") are at greater risk than those who gain in their thighs ("pears"). We can't control where the weight lands and we need more discussion of these implications. Lipschitz devotes considerable space to discussing heart attack prevention, yet ignores other killers, such as diabetes, and other life-destroying conditions, such as hearing and sight impairment. Of course one book can't cover everything, but this book is relatively small for a hardcover (250 pages). A few chapters on other quality-of-life conditions would have been welcome. And I can't help noting a minor error on page 6 -- possibly a typo. The research, he says, is unambiguous. After age 70, weight and longevity are "inversely" correlated: the heavier you are after age 70, the longer you are likely to live. This correlation is positive, not inverse. Well, nearly every doctor has trouble with statistics -- although the subject is important for interpreting medical studies, as Lipschitz himself amply demonstrates throughout the book. Finally, Lipschitz's patents seem to have ample income and social support as they age. Going back to graduate school at age 70 calls for not only health, but also some financial reserves. Many of the elderly lack funds and many are estranged from family, with few close friends. Medical care is cold, impersonal and often wasteful under the best of conditions. Try seeking medical services when you're not accompanied by a six-foot, able-bodied son or a daughter who just happens to be an attorney! Lipschitz's examples seem to live in a well-cushioned vacuum, and that perhaps is what's missing in an otherwise strong contribution.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for everyone who is 40,
By Harry Singh, MD (Mena, Arkansas, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Breaking the Rules of Aging (Hardcover)
Wonder how our understanding in aging has evolved over years.It was high time someone from medical field put to light the real facts about aging in 21st century. Who could have done it better than Dr Lipschitz, a leading world expert in Geriatrics, well known by public as Dr David. This book is brilliantly written, easy to understand by our lay baby-boomers who need to know these facts not just for the parents, they are involved in taking care of but also for themselves. The book is divided into 12 chapters. One by one, Dr Lipschitz tears down the age old myths about 'obesity' in elderly; and the real role of high tech medical interventions and too many pills that almost every elderly, especially nursing home residents are being prescribed. He systematically explains how myths about harmful effects of sex in old age are plain wrong. Chapter on benefits of increasing one's excercise regimen gradually is very enlightening as well. Being a geriatrician myself, I have read and reread this book. Each of my patients whom I recommended this book, have found it an extremely useful read as well. Here is a chance for those who might have missed Dr Lipschitz in PBS series, "Aging Successfully with Doctor David", to get acquainted with today's reality with growing old gracefully and not being shy on going to buy a Harley, as Dr Lipschitz puts it, to experience a fulfilled life right till our last day!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb, practrical advice from a master physician,
This review is from: Breaking the Rules of Aging (Hardcover)
Dr. David has put together the sum total of all of the aging research that is at his fingertips as Director of the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging. He has written it down in an easy to understand practical manner. It is obvious why US News and World report has named his geriatric program at UAMS among the country's top ten. He openly shatters the myths that are fed to seniors by their doctors, the media, supplement companies, and fitness guru's. Dr. David's advice is based upon a no-nonsense, unbiased look at the medical research. If you are "young" and want to be a healthy, happy senior - read this book. If you, or your loved ones, are in the "third" stage of life (60+) then this book will open your eyes and your mind to healthy, scientifically based, and refreshing ideas that your doctor isn't likely to share with you. Dr. David empowers the reader with his knowledge and skillfully mixes conservative medicine with a focus on healthy lifestyles and disease prevention. I would have loved to have a class from Dr. David during my doctoral studies. I plan to use the information in this book in my life and for my patients. Don't hesitate to buy it, you will be pleased.
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