When to Blame Aging—and When Not To

Summary

Chasing Life Podcast Summary: "When to Blame Aging—and When Not To"

Release Date: July 15, 2025
Host: Dr. Sanjay Gupta

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Introduction

In the episode titled "When to Blame Aging—and When Not To," Dr. Sanjay Gupta delves into the complexities of distinguishing between natural aging and underlying medical conditions that affect mobility and balance. Through listener questions and expert insights, Dr. Gupta aims to equip listeners with the knowledge to maintain their independence and quality of life as they age.

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Listener Question: Patty's Balance Concerns ([00:28] - [06:24])

Patty’s Story: Patty, an 80-year-old active woman, shares her struggle with worsening balance following a fall in March 2020 where she hit her head. Despite maintaining an active lifestyle—daily walks, stair climbing, 30 sit-to-stand exercises, and tap dancing three times a week—her balance continues to decline. She questions whether her balance issues are a normal part of aging or if she should consult a neurologist.

Dr. Gupta’s Response: Dr. Gupta expresses empathy for Patty’s situation and commends her active lifestyle. He emphasizes the importance of seeking medical evaluation, especially given her history of head injury. “One of the consequences of falling and hitting your head is could be that you've developed a slow bleed on top of your brain, something known as a subdural hematoma. You should probably get that checked out” ([02:22]).

Expert Insight from Dr. Kelly Starrett ([03:59]): Dr. Kelly Starrett, a physical therapist and former professional athlete, underscores the severity of falls in the elderly. He states, “What's the number one reason people end up in the ER? Turns out it's falls. What's the number one predictor of death about people 65? A fall” ([03:59]).

Personal Anecdote: Dr. Gupta shares a personal story about his own mother, who fell and broke a bone in her back. This illustrates the profound impact a single fall can have on an elderly person's life.

Understanding Mobility and Balance: Dr. Gupta explains that while aging naturally affects muscle mass, joint flexibility, and bone density, these changes can be mitigated with proactive efforts. He emphasizes that balance is intricately linked to overall mobility and independence. “Balance is deeply connected to all of this... It does not have to be a normal part of aging” ([04:10]).

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Kelly Starrett on Movement and Balance ([05:31] - [06:52])

Dr. Starrett elaborates on the importance of maintaining movement solutions for the brain to keep joints and tendons functional throughout life. He highlights that muscles and tissues retain the ability to adapt and heal at any age, although the process may slow down. “Muscles and tissues are like obedient dogs. They always adapt. At no age do you stop healing... your body is always going to adapt” ([06:37]).

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Five Tips for Better Balance and Mobility ([06:52] - [08:29])

Dr. Gupta outlines five actionable tips recommended by Dr. Starrett to improve balance and mobility:

1. Vary Your Body Positions: "Try getting your body into different shapes. Easy way to do this, just try sitting on the floor while watching television” ([06:52]).
2. Hanging Exercises: “Just hang from a bar, three minutes a day... stretching a little bit upward can really help walk more” ([06:52]).
3. Maintain an Active Lifestyle: "Aim for around 8,000 steps a day to keep stiffness at bay” ([06:52]).
4. Make Movement Enjoyable: “Movement doesn't have to be a chore. Try and have some fun with it” ([06:52]).
5. Proper Nutrition and Rest: “Eat enough protein, enough fiber, drink water, prioritize sleep” ([06:52]).

Dr. Gupta reinforces that it’s never too late to work on balance, regardless of age, and encourages listeners to consult healthcare professionals if they notice any decline in their mobility.

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Listener Question: Bill’s Tinnitus Concerns ([10:14] - [10:49])

Bill’s Inquiry: Bill from Nevada seeks clarity on tinnitus—a condition he struggles to pronounce and understand. He notes the scarcity of credible information on its causes and treatments, speculating it might be neurological.

Dr. Gupta’s Explanation: Dr. Gupta provides a comprehensive overview of tinnitus, explaining it as the perception of sound without an external source, such as ringing or buzzing. He details its prevalence (10-25% of U.S. adults), potential causes (hearing loss, loud noise exposure, earwax blockages, certain medications), and its neurological basis. “The noise you hear may feel like it's coming from your ears, but research actually shows that it's being generated in your brain in a region called the auditory cortex” ([10:49]).

Management Strategies: While acknowledging the lack of a cure, Dr. Gupta suggests various management techniques:

• Sound Masking: Using white noise, fans, or nature sounds.
• Hearing Aids: Amplifying real sounds to overshadow phantom noises.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Reducing emotional distress and improving sleep.
• Caution Against Unverified Treatments: Advising against unproven supplements or drops without medical consultation.

Research Insights: Dr. Gupta mentions promising research on magnesium's protective effects on the brain's sound-processing centers, hinting at future treatment avenues.

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Conclusion

Dr. Sanjay Gupta wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to stay proactive about their health concerns, whether related to balance, mobility, or other conditions like tinnitus. He reiterates the importance of seeking professional medical advice when experiencing changes in health and commends listeners for their engagement and questions.

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Notable Quotes

• Dr. Kelly Starrett: “Balance is a movement problem. Getting up and down and being independent is a movement problem... your body is always going to adapt.” ([03:59], [06:37])

• Dr. Sanjay Gupta: “It does not have to be a normal part of aging. So if something is out of whack, don't ignore it…” ([04:10])

• Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Tinnitus: “Understanding it and knowing what helps can make a real difference.” ([10:49])

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Key Takeaways

1. Assessing Balance Issues: Not all balance problems are a normal part of aging; medical evaluation is crucial, especially after head injuries.

2. Preventing Falls: Active engagement in mobility exercises and maintaining muscle mass can significantly reduce the risk of falls.

3. Managing Tinnitus: While there's no cure, various strategies can help manage and mitigate the effects of tinnitus.

4. Continuous Adaptation: The human body retains the ability to adapt and heal at any age, emphasizing the importance of staying active and seeking appropriate medical guidance.

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This episode of "Chasing Life" provides valuable insights into distinguishing between the natural aging process and medical conditions affecting mobility and balance. Through expert advice and listener interactions, Dr. Gupta empowers individuals to take charge of their health and maintain a high quality of life as they age.

Transcript

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Welcome to paging Dr. Gupta. Or as I have come to call it, office hours. I look forward to these episodes because the conversation starts directly with you. I get to hear from you, your voices, your stories, and of course, your real health questions. Kira's back. Who are we hearing from first?

[Kira]

Hey, Sanjay. So our first question today is coming from a listener named Patty. And she called in with a great question. Take a listen.

[Patty]

Hi, Dr. Gupta. My name is Patty. I'm an 80 year old female. In March of 2020, I fell during a neighborhood walk and I hit my head. Since then my balance has been worsening. I am able to take daily walks, climb stairs, complete about 30 sit to stand exercises without any problems. And I tap dance three days a week. But my balance continues to wor. Should I see a neurologist or is this just a part of aging? Thank you very much, Dr. Gupta.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Okay, Patti, first of all, I'm so sorry to hear that you fell and hit your head. I want to talk about that. I will say I love how active you are. I mean, tap dancing three days a week, that's fantastic. You are doing so many of the right things. But I do hear concerns here as well and something I want to talk about right after the break.

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[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Okay, first of all, Patty, you fell and you hit your head. I need to get a better sense of how significant that was. I realized that was several years ago. I want to make sure that you got a follow up visit with a neurologist at the time and maybe even got a CT scan again. I realize some time has passed, but one of the consequences of falling and hitting your head is could be that you've developed a slow bleed on top of Your brain, something known as a subdural hematoma. You should probably get that checked out. If the question is if you should see a neurologist, the answer is yes. Maybe just getting a CAT scan to make sure that you haven't developed a problem on top of the brain. Now, let's say that's all okay, and I hope that it is. Let's talk about mobility in general. Mobility is one of those things we often take for granted until it becomes a challenge. But it is the key to living independently and aging well. Mobility, just how well you get around. As we get older, the body does naturally lose some muscle mass, some joint flexibility, and some bone density. Those changes can actually start in your 30s, and then they start to speed up after age 50 or 60. So you do have to work on it. But if you work on it, you can actually stay pretty mobile, pretty functional, much longer than I think most people realize. And balance is deeply connected to all of this. Earlier this year, on an episode of Chasing Life, I sat down with Dr. Kelly Starrett, a physical therapist and a former professional athlete.

[Dr. Kelly Starrett]

What's the number one reason people end up in the ER? Turns out it's falls. What's the number one predictor of death about people 65? A fall.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Falls. It's something that we should talk about a lot more. I may have mentioned to listeners of the podcast that my own mother fell last year and she broke a bone in her back. She's in her early 80s. It can totally change your life. And as you can imagine, balance issues can lead to a fall. They can also be the result of a fall. If you hit your head. Sometimes they are the result of a medical condition or even a new medication. But again, I want to make this point clear. It does not have to be a normal part of aging. So if something is out of whack, don't ignore it and just think, hey, I'm just getting old. Especially if your problem started after a head injury. That is something you need to get checked out. If you feel that the situation is worsening, start with your primary care document who might refer you to a specialist. Could be a neurologist, it might be an ENT doctor. Could help rule out issues with the brain or your inner ear. There are many different types of treatments for balance problems, depending on what is causing the issue and what kind of symptoms you're having. But again, Dr. Kelly Starett put it simply, balance issues, they are not minor. They are not necessarily normal. Left unaddressed, they can trigger a chain reaction that affects Your whole quality of life.

[Dr. Kelly Starrett]

Balance is a movement problem. Getting up and down and being independent is a movement problem. Being able to rise from a chair while you're holding your baby or your cat or holding a cup, cup of coffee in a book is just a movement problem. So how can we keep as many movement solutions available to the brain as we can? And the stiffer we become, the less access easily that we have of our joints. The hits are going to come. If you're over 50, you are going to something bad. You're going to body's going to throw an error, you're likely to have something bad happen to, you're not as robust. So what we're really saying is, hey, if I want to have a joint and tendons that act like joints and tendons my whole life, I better use that joint and I better load those tendons and otherwise they're not going to be available to me as readily.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Now the good news is that most balance and movement problems can be solved and they can be solved at any age. The body adapts when we challenge it. And that's the part I found most encouraging.

[Dr. Kelly Starrett]

Muscles and tissues are like obedient dogs. They always adapt. At no age do you stop healing. At no age do you lose the ability to reclaim range of motion. It can be a little slower than when you were 15, that's true. But the bottom line is your body is always going to adapt.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

So Patty, you're doing so many things right. Again, I gotta say, I really love the tap dancing. But I wanted to give you five tips Dr. Sterrett recommends for better balance and better mobility. First of all, try getting your body into different shapes. Easy way to do this, just try sitting on the floor while watching television. People sitting on the floor automatically put their body in a new position. And when you get up off the floor, you often are using muscles that you don't normally use. Try this. Just hang from a bar, three minutes a day. I know that might sound a little weird, Patty, but if you've got shoulder, neck or back stiffness, just hanging from a bar or even stretching a little bit upward can really help walk more. You're already doing a lot of this. Aim for around 8,000 steps a day to keep stiffness at bay. Play more. You know, movement doesn't have to be a chore. Try and have some fun with it. And then finally, very important, fuel and rest. Eat enough protein, enough fiber, drink water, prioritize sleep. And remember, your body needs recovery. So whether you're 40, 60 or 80, like Patty, it's never too late to work on your balance so you can better maintain your mobility, reduce your chance of falls. And always remember, it's a good idea to speak up if something feels off. Now, speaking of things that might feel off, have you ever heard a ringing in your ear that no one else can hear? I'm going to explain what that is and what can be done about it next.

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[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

Okay, Kara, what do we have next?

[Kira]

So since we were talking about how our bodies change with age, we actually have another listener question that's kind of along the same lines, and this one's coming from Bill in Nevada. Take a listen.

[Patty]

Hi Dr. Gupta. My name is Bill. As an aging man, I am experiencing tinnitus or tinnitus. Not sure how to pronounce it. As I conduct research, I can find very little credible information as to what causes tinnitus and how to treat tinnitus. It seems to be a neurological condition. Could you please clarify, discuss, inform? Thank you so much.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

First of all, Bill, I've heard both pronunciations as well, tinnitus and tinnitus. And about 10 to 25% of adults in the United States experience it. Tinnitus is the Perception of sound that does not have an external source. You could hear ringing, buzzing, humming, sometimes even roaring in one ear, sometimes both. The symptoms of tinnitus can vary significantly from person to person. It can be loud, it can be soft, it can come, it can go, it can be present all the time. Tinnitus can go away on its own, but if it lasts longer than three months, it's considered chronic. Now, it's most often linked to hearing loss as we age, but also to exposure to loud sounds from concerts, construction work, even video games. There was a recent study which found that regular gamers, especially those using headphones, were more likely to report tinnitus and hearing problems. Other causes, earwax, blockages. Certain medications can do this. Aspirin, antibiotics, and in rare cases, blood vessel issues in and around the brain, jaw problems, or even other conditions. Now, the noise you hear may feel like it's coming from your ears, but research actually shows that it's being generated in your brain in a region called the auditory cortex. One theory is that when your brain isn't getting enough sound signals because of damage or hearing loss, it starts to try to fill in the gaps by creating its own. Or it could be due to abnormal interactions between the auditory cortex and other neural circuits. So, Bill, is it neurological? Yes, because it is coming from the brain and there is no external source for the sound. I will tell you, Bill, that for most people, they do experience tinnitus from time to time. So as long as it's not something that is chronic or interfering with your way of life, it's probably not something to be worried about. But you should talk to your doctor to rule out some of the medical causes. And while there's no cure for tinnitus as of yet, there are ways to manage it. You can mask sounds with white noise, a fan, or nature sounds, especially at night. Hearing aids to amplify real sounds may make the phantom ones less noticeable. And for many people, cognitive behavioral therapy can actually reduce the emotional distress associated with this and also improve your sleep. Sometimes medication is used not to treat the tinnitus specifically, because there is no medication specifically for that, but to address the distress that it can cause. Some people might be tempted to try supplements or drops advertised as cures. But I want to tell you there is no strong evidence that that those work. Sometimes they can even be harmful. Talk to your doctor first. Probably not something to worry about, but important to rule out some of the more serious potential causes. Now, there is one promising lead from the research world I want to talk about. In lab studies, magnesium has shown some protective effect on the brain's sound processing center. It's not a cure, but it could be a future direction. So Bill, again, thank you for the question. A lot of people deal with this tinnitus can be incredibly frustrating, but understanding it and knowing what helps can make a real difference. Thanks as always to everyone who sent in the questions. I say this all the time, but it's true. This show would not exist without you and I'm so glad you're a part of it. If there's something health related you've been wondering about, send it our way and I might answer it next week. Record a voice memo, email it to asksanjaynn.com or give us a call 470-396-0832 and leave a message. Thanks for listening. I'll be back next Tuesday.

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[Audie Cornish]

This week on the Assignment with me, Audie Cornish. Just a few weeks ago, Hasbro announced layoffs, cutting about 3% of its workforce as it navigates the starts and stops of the Trump tariffs.

[Kira]

It's a lot.

[Audie Cornish]

I'm talking to the CEO of one of America's biggest toy and gaming companies about how trade wars and culture wars are influencing the way Hasbro does business.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta]

It's never too late to get into a dungeon and slay a dragon.

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Interview, we'll convince you to come roll some dice and make some silly voices with your friends.

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