Columns

Q. A friend of mine had poliomyelitis when he was a kid and now the disease seems to be coming back in his old age. Have you heard of this?

The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that more than 440,000 poliomyelitis survivors in the United States may be at risk for post-polio syndrome (PPS), a condition that strikes poliomyelitis survivors decades after they've recovered from an attack of the poliomyelitis virus.

Various researchers estimate that PPS affects from 40 to 80 percent of poliomyelitis survivors.

Q. My husband told me he has no energy to do chores around the house because he's suffering from male menopause. He's a very funny guy.

Your husband was obviously trying to yank your chain, but there's some truth in his joking. Fatigue is a common symptom of male menopause, also known as andropause (andro means male).

Both andropause and male menopause are used to describe decreasing levels of the male hormone testosterone that come with aging. Most men see testosterone levels drop as they get older. Some have described andropause as puberty in reverse.

Q. They're starting a tai chi class at our senior center. Do you think this is worth taking?

Tai chi (tie-chee) has helped many people feel better. However, you should check with your doctor first to see if this form of exercise is OK for you.

Tai chi is practiced all across China, where it was developed in the 12th century. It's common in Chinese hospitals and clinics. In Asia, tai chi is considered to be the most beneficial exercise for older people, because it is gentle and can be modified easily if a person has health limitations.

Q. Does massage do anything more than make you relaxed?

Massage therapy or simply massage was first employed thousands of years ago. Ancient writings include references to massage in Greece, Japan, China, Egypt and the Indian subcontinent.

Massage first became popular in the United States during the 19th century. In the middle of the 20th century, advances in medicine overshadowed massage treatment. Then, massage started a revival in the 1970s.