Baby boomers, the generation of the largest and most successful middle-class in history, may be aging faster than previous generations, according to a recent CNN article.

But wait, aren’t boomers remarkably resilient? They are the benefactors of high quality care and technology that defines 21^st century medicine.

Maybe that is part of the problem.  The CNN article, by Madison Park, suggests that boomers take more medications than previous generations. Of course they do; medications that were not around even forty years ago are now commonly used to prolong life. Think of the common anti-hypertensive medication class, beta-blockers, which are taken by millions to lower blood pressure.  The first of these medications was developed in 1964.

I have a number of older patients who would not be alive if it were not for the innovations of steroids and antibiotics. Regarding heart disease, remember the days when we used to tell people to go to bed after a heart attack?  We now know that inactivity promotes heart attacks!

Boomers may be “showing a lot of increases in chronic diseases,” as expert Jim Bacon describes in the CNN article. But aren’t we more adept at diagnosing and treating disease?

Technology is a double-edged sword. It saves us and allows us to live longer than ever before, albeit, with chronic illnesses.

Obesity is on the rise, and boomers may be victim to the ease of processed foods. Stress can also result in over-eating.  In addition, recent research suggests that chemicals, including those in plastics and those present in take-out food containers may be making us all heavier. Perhaps there are factors promoting obesity that are beyond our control.

Of course, many people could do more to take care of themselves. Yet, I can’t help but wonder if the CNN article is another example of how we feel entitled to take shots at baby boomers. Some boomers have trouble with self-care. But we all do. Most statistics suggest that almost half of all Americans are noncompliant with medical recommendations.

Medical technology explains a lot of the variations in the boomer’s need for medications and their relative poor health.  Let us not make up reasons to pick on a generation that seems to be genuinely trying to do all that they can. Boomers are experiencing a life expectancy never before seen in history. Increasing the shame that people already feel when they are not healthy is not a good public health message.

Compassion is often a better route.

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From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (May 13, 2011)

    Last reviewed: 12 May 2011