next half century”. The segment offered the following insights:

• Matt Lauer is turning 50 on December 30 of this year. This must be the catalyst for the entire premise I assume.
  • In 1991 a fresh faced 34 year old Matt was in NY doing industrials. At the time I was with a major NY mutual fund company and they had just completed a training video for clients. The subject was teller referrals to financial advisors in the branch….wow he has come far.
• Men just don’t see doctors as often as they approach 50 and when they do they do not disclose all symptoms.
  • This almost 50 guy can’t stand to see doctors for another reason: excessive costs. The cost of health care is obscene and prohibitive…and I have insurance. In order to keep costs down I have a crazy high deductible of $7000 for me and the Mrs. This high deductible shifts the thought process to me as the consumer. I constantly find myself questioning if the procedure/office visit is necessary or excessive. As an example, why do I need to go for an office visit to request a cholesterol test? Just send me the damn lab order and I’ll go. I don’t need to pay you $75 for an office visit, on top of the lab work, to get the answer that keeps me healthy! Just this month I find myself with numbness in my right arm – a by product of a pinched nerve I believe. Will I go to the doctor? No. Why? Too much money to spend. I’ll see if goes away on its own first. My primary driver for not seeing doctors? COST.

• Starting at age 50 men should regularly receive the following tests:
  • Colonoscopy – every 5-10 years: my dad has been on me to get this done since I turned 45. I will, just not today.
  • PSA test – I’m good to go on this one and have been since 44.
  • Cardio testing – also good to go
  • Blood pressure test – all is good here
  • LDL at 70 – this may be a stretch. I have no desire to go on Lipitor like drugs as I have had a bad experience with them. That combined with poor family history leave me to manage this dimension of my health via diet and exercise.

  Other facts gleaned:

  • The brain starts to shrink – I did not need to have Today tell me this. I have been dealing with CRS (can’t remember shit) for years now.
  • Skin looses elasticity – that explains some of the embarrassing droopy areas…..
  • Eye sight declines – yes I know. In addition to the previous post on this subject, I recently moved to the higher strength reading glasses. I did find a great new (to me) name for these glasses though: “CHEATERS”!
  • 40% of men over the age of 45 have lower testosterone: yes and they are subject to MANOPAUSE
  • Men will loose 1 pound of muscle per year starting at age 50: all the more reason I am glad I started to workout.
  • The 3 most health issues in men over 50
    • Prostate
    • Health Disease
    • Diabetes

Apparently there are other installments of the series for the balance of the week.