Noticing more hair in the sink doesn’t automatically mean you’re simply getting older. Doctors say thinning hair can be tied to hormones, stress or nutrition, and that figuring out the underlying cause matters more than grabbing the first product on the shelf. Dr. Rhea Rogers puts it plainly: identify the cause before deciding on any treatment.
There’s a second lesson in this story, and it applies well beyond hair. Gerontologist Sam Cradduck says normal aging doesn’t have to hurt, which means symptoms deserve a real explanation rather than a shrug and a mention of your age. If that happens to you, ask what else could be causing it and request it in your chart. And if insurance denies a claim, know that persistence pays. One family had a $600 neonatal formula claim rejected three or four times over a missing code before it was finally approved.
For a little inspiration, consider the Flailing Fossils, a group of seniors in Vermont who climb rock walls three days a week. Member Denise Coriell is 73, and newer member Pat Hunter is right there with her. Strength training, camaraderie and a little bit of chalk. What’s the one activity you’ve been meaning to try here on the Suncoast?
