Good morning. It’s February, which means my heating bill just arrived and my blood pressure went up before I even got to the health section.
In this issue:
- American Heart Month: the tests that actually matter
- Worth Knowing: Super Bowl heart risk, celebrities aging well, and a tax credit you might qualify for
- From the Archives: the online tools Frank subscribed to
- Slice of Life: a Super Bowl observation
Heart disease kills 1 in 4 Americans. For adults 65 and older, it’s the leading cause of death — more than cancer, more than stroke, more than everything else combined. February is American Heart Month, and instead of vague advice about “heart health,” here’s what you can actually do.
Four tests matter. (1) Blood pressure check — free at any pharmacy, or grab a home monitor for $30-50. If it’s above 130/80, talk to your doctor. (2) Lipid panel — that’s your cholesterol and triglycerides. Medicare covers this every five years, more often if you have risk factors. (3) A1C test — if you’re at risk for diabetes, Medicare covers it twice a year. Diabetes doubles your risk of heart disease. (4) EKG — covered by Medicare as part of your Welcome to Medicare visit, or anytime your doctor orders one.
Here’s the part most people miss: heart attack symptoms in seniors don’t always look like the Hollywood version. Unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, back pain, jaw pain. Women especially are less likely to have classic chest pain. The takeaway: If something feels off, don’t wait it out.
What you can do this week: check your blood pressure. Take a 20-minute walk. Eat one more serving of vegetables. That’s it. Small changes, real results.
If you want to go deeper on heart health, Benjamin Wells wrote our most comprehensive guide — covering everything from early signs to treatment options to managing the condition at home.
🏈 Super Bowl Sunday heart attack risk is real.
Not trying to ruin the party, but studies show cardiac events spike on Super Bowl Sunday — stress, overeating, alcohol, and staying up late are a bad combination. If you’re watching the game: keep your nitroglycerin nearby if prescribed, go easy on the wings, and if you feel chest pressure, don’t wait for halftime. Call 911. The game will still be there when you get back.
🌟 Aging like fine wine — 10 seniors who prove it.
Sometimes you just need a reminder that getting older doesn’t mean slowing down. Victoria Sinclair ranked Hollywood’s most stunning seniors — from George Clooney’s unfair hair to Jane Fonda at 88 refusing to behave the way anyone expects. It’s fun, it’s opinionated, and the book club hasn’t stopped debating it.
💰 EITC: you might qualify and not know it.
The Earned Income Tax Credit isn’t just for young families. If you had any earned income in 2025 — part-time work, self-employment, gig work — and your income was below ~$17,640 (single, no kids), you could get up to $632 back. It’s refundable, meaning you get the money even if you owe $0 in taxes. In plain English: the IRS pays you. Ask your tax preparer or check irs.gov/eitc.
The Online Tools I Actually Use (and the Ones Frank Accidentally Subscribed To) — by Victoria Sinclair
This is one of our funniest articles. Victoria tests every platform her friends recommended — from Coursera and Zoom to a $6.99 crossword subscription that became a competitive sport in her book club. And then there’s Frank, who thought “Start Free Trial” meant free forever and now pays $14.99 a month for a meditation app he’s opened twice.
If you’ve ever signed up for a free trial and forgotten about it, this is your sign to check your credit card statement. Victoria’s honest about what works, what doesn’t, and what her friend Lynne’s password notebook was doing in the refrigerator.
My dad’s Super Bowl tradition: he makes the same chili he’s made since 1983, falls asleep during the third quarter, wakes up for the final two minutes, and asks who’s winning like he’s been watching the whole time. My mom sets the score on a Post-it note next to his recliner. Forty-three years of this. I hope I never stop finding it funny.
Until next Tuesday,
Nino
P.S. February is a good month to check on your heart — and on someone you care about. Forward this to someone who’d appreciate it. I read every reply.
