Age Better with Barbara Hannah Grufferman

“They won't know they've had AFib, and then they present with a stroke.” — Dr. Anthony Pearson  Key Links  Dr. Anthony Pearson — The Skeptical Cardiologist: Read and subscribe to his Substack  Dr. Pearson's Updated Primer on Atrial Fibrillation: Understanding AFib, stroke prevention, and treatment options  KardiaMobile Card: Learn about the credit-card-sized personal ECG device discussed in this episode.  Apple Watch ECG and AFib Monitoring: How to use Apple's heart-monitoring features  Fish Oil and AFib Risk: Dr. Pearson's analysis of omega-3 supplements and heart health  The DECAF Trial: New research on coffee consumption and AFib recurrence  The 2026 AVANT GUARD Trial: Research comparing pulsed field ablation with antiarrhythmic medications  The OPTION Trial: Research comparing left atrial appendage closure with anticoagulation after ablation  In This Episode  You can be fit, active, and seemingly healthy—and still develop atrial fibrillation (AFib). Even more concerning? You can have it without knowing it, and a stroke may be the first warning sign.  I know firsthand. About three and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with AFib, despite nearly 20 years of running marathons and doing everything I thought I should to protect my heart.  For this AGE BETTER Deep Dive, I invited cardiologist Dr. Anthony Pearson, aka The Skeptical Cardiologist, back for a candid conversation about AFib, stroke prevention, and the treatment decisions that aren't always as straightforward as we think.  Here's what you'll learn:  What AFib actually is, why it becomes more common after 60, and why some people never experience symptoms.  How to recognize AFib before it causes serious problems, including what smartwatches, personal ECG devices, and monitoring can—and cannot—tell you.  The surprising risk factors, including genetics, endurance exercise, alcohol, and high-dose fish oil supplements—and why your morning coffee may not be the problem you think it is.  What happens after an AFib diagnosis: the difference between controlling heart rate and restoring normal rhythm, and why medication, cardioversion, or ablation may be recommended.  The pros and cons of Eliquis and other blood thinners, including bleeding risks, stroke prevention, and emerging research on whether certain carefully selected patients may be able to use anticoagulants intermittently.  The latest treatment options, including traditional and pulsed field ablation, the Watchman device, and why Dr. Pearson believes patients should sometimes question recommendations for invasive procedures.  Dr. Pearson even challenges my own decision to undergo cardiac ablation—and explains why getting a second opinion can be so important.  The bottom line: AFib is common, often silent, and potentially serious. But understanding your risk and your options can help you make better decisions with your healthcare team.  Stay Connected  If this episode helped you, please share it with a friend or family member, especially someone over 60 who may not know much about AFib.  Follow AGE BETTER wherever you listen to podcasts, and subscribe to my free AGE BETTER Cheat Sheet on Substack for more practical, science-backed ways to stay strong, healthy, and independent after 60.  Have a question or an idea for a future Age Better Deep Dive? Email me at [email protected] or reach out on social media.  Remember: We can't control getting older, but we can control how we do it! 

 “You need to do something for your feet.” — Dr. Erin Futrell  We spend a lot of time thinking about strengthening our legs, our core, and our bones—but what about the muscles in our feet?  In this episode, physical therapist and researcher Dr. Erin Futrell explains why the small muscles that make up our “foot core” deserve much more attention, especially as we get older. We talk about foot strength, balance, fall risk, the surprising role our shoes may play, and the simple exercises that can help us keep our feet strong and responsive.   KEY LINKS  Learn more about Dr. Erin Futrell and the FiTT Lab HERE   Watch Dr. Futrell’s Foot-Strengthening / Toe Yoga Video HERE   Read Dr. Futrell’s 2026 study on minimal footwear, balance and fall risk in older adults HERE   Read Dr. Futrell’s 2024 study on long-term minimal footwear use in older adults HERE    Read USPSTF report on fall prevention HERE  Read study on minimal footwear and osteoarthritis HERE  Learn more about The Foot Core System research HERE   Get the toe spacers Barbara mentions in the episode HERE    WHAT YOU’LL LEARN  What the “foot core” is—and why these small muscles matter for stability and balance.  What happens to our feet as we get older, and why it is not too late to strengthen them.  Simple “toe yoga” exercises—including toe lifts, toe spreading and the short-foot or doming exercise.  What Dr. Futrell’s research found when older adults trained their feet or gradually wore minimally cushioned footwear.  Why proprioception—our ability to sense where our body is in space—may be one of the most fascinating connections between our feet and our balance.   Why more cushioning and support isn’t necessarily better for everyone—and why any transition to less supportive footwear needs to happen gradually.  How stronger, more responsive feet may help us keep doing the thing that matters most as we age: moving.   This conversation completely changed the way I think about my own feet—and I have a feeling it will do the same for you.  Listen or watch now, check the show notes for Dr. Futrell’s exercise video and research, and then take five minutes today to give your feet a workout.  And if you found this episode helpful, please follow AGE BETTER, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who wants to stay strong, steady and active for years to come. 

“Bone loss is silent until it isn’t.” — Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein   Key Links  Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein’s Book: “The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan”  “The Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause” — PubMed  Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation  World Osteoporosis Day  What You’ll Learn  For World Osteoporosis Day, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein returns to AGE BETTER for a conversation about something most of us cannot see or feel happening: the gradual changes in our bones, muscles and joints as we move through menopause and beyond.  But this episode is not just about osteoporosis — and it is definitely not about accepting weakness as an inevitable part of getting older.  Dr. Wittstein explains what happens to bone around the menopause transition, why bone loss can remain unnoticed until a fracture occurs, and why knowing your own bone-health status can change what you do next. She also addresses one of the biggest questions women ask: If I’m already in my 60s or 70s and I haven’t been strength training, have I waited too long? Her answer is reassuring: you can still build muscle and get stronger.   You’ll also hear why muscle matters for far more than appearance, what kinds of strength and impact exercise actually challenge bone, how to adapt exercise when arthritis gets in the way, why balance and agility deserve a place in your routine, and how a DXA scan can help you make more informed decisions about your health.   Most importantly, this conversation is about what you can still do right now to protect your bones, preserve your strength and keep yourself moving confidently for years to come.  One More Thing  World Osteoporosis Day is a good reminder to make bone health part of your overall health plan. The Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation offers trusted information, programs and resources on prevention, exercise, nutrition, testing, treatment and fracture prevention.    If this episode makes you think differently about your bones, share it with a friend who needs to hear it — especially someone who thinks it might be too late to get stronger.  And be sure to follow AGE BETTER and subscribe to my Age Better Cheat Sheet on Substack for more practical, science-backed ways to stay strong, healthy and independent after 60. 

“No matter how old you are, it is not too late to start doing all of the things that can help you age in the healthiest way.” — Dr. Margaret Nachtigall   Key Links  American Heart Association: Life’s Essential 8 — the eight key measures Dr. Margaret references for supporting cardiovascular and overall health: nutrition, physical activity, nicotine avoidance, sleep, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure – is HERE   Previous AGE BETTER episode with Dr. Margaret Nachtigall on vaginal health and vaginal estrogen is HERE   What You’ll Learn  Menopause doesn’t stop mattering when the hot flashes end.  In this special World Menopause Day episode, I’m joined once again by reproductive endocrinologist and women’s health expert Dr. Margaret Nachtigall to talk specifically about what menopause means for women in their 60s, 70s and beyond.  We discuss:  Why menopause can still affect your health decades after your final period  The important difference between starting hormone therapy after 60 and continuing hormone therapy you began earlier  Why the so-called “window of opportunity” for systemic hormone therapy isn’t the same as an automatic stop date  What women who never took systemic hormone therapy can still do now  Why vaginal estrogen has no age cutoff and may be especially important for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections  The health basics that become even more important after menopause — exercise, sleep, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, smoking and alcohol  What women over 60 should still be discussing with their gynecologists  Why it is never too late to take meaningful steps to protect your health  We also set the stage for next week’s AGE BETTER episode with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein, when we’ll go deeper into the impact of menopause on bones, muscles and joints for World Osteoporosis Day.  A Quick Ask  If this episode helps you, please share it with a woman who needs to hear it. And subscribe to the Age Better Cheat Sheet on Substack for more science-backed, practical information to help you stay strong, healthy and independent for years to come. 

"You are the expert on you. If you know something feels off, get it evaluated. And if someone brushes you off, get it evaluated even more." — Dr. Shelby Harris  Key Links  Dr. Shelby Harris: drshelbyharris.com  Her book, The Women's Guide to Overcoming Insomnia: https://link.amazon/B008CMJ2D   Learn more about CBT-I: drshelbyharris.com/insomnia-treatment-cbt-i  Follow Dr. Shelby: Instagram @sleepdocshelby | TikTok @sleepdocshelby  Barbara Hannah Grufferman: barbarahannahgrufferman.com  Age Better Cheat Sheet on Substack: https://substack.com/@barbarahannahgrufferman?r=7i9qw6&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page  In This Episode  Sleep gets a little strange after 60. You fall asleep fine, then you're wide awake at 3 a.m. You can't sleep in, no matter how hard you try. Is this just part of getting older?  Dr. Shelby Harris, a board-certified sleep psychologist, 27-time marathoner, and author of The Women's Guide to Overcoming Insomnia, says no. Here's what you'll learn:  How sleep changes after menopause, and whether we really need less of it as we age  The real reason you keep waking up at the same time every night  A sleep disorder that often goes undiagnosed in women after menopause, even in women who are fit and active  Why your sleep tracker might be making things worse  The truth about melatonin, magnesium, and other sleep supplements  What to do (and what not to do) when you can't fall back to sleep  CBT-I, the drug-free, first-line treatment for insomnia that helps about 70% of people  Why marathoners, including Barbara and Dr. Shelby, sleep terribly after a big race  Dr. Shelby's three top takeaways for better sleep, starting tonight  Stay Connected  If this episode helped you, please share it with a friend who's been struggling with sleep. Follow Age Better wherever you listen so you never miss an episode, and subscribe to the free Age Better Cheat Sheet on Substack for practical, research-backed tips delivered to your inbox.