Aging is a matter of mind. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. Staying healthy while aging is up to you. One-half to three-quarters of our physical and cognitive health is dependent upon our choices and lifestyle, not our genes or our parents. Therefore planning and action are critical elements of healthy aging. Life expectancy in 1900 was 47, and now it is about 77-80 years of age. Some of us will have 10-20 years of living in retirement.
Healthy Aging
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Dr. Philip Lisagor, MD , Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular), answered on behalf of The Rest of Your Life (ROYL) -
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredSee All 6 AnswersThe environment continually ages our bodies through oxidation or other internal processes. What is oxidation? Like the rusting of your house's foundation or pillars, it is a natural process and a byproduct of your body functioning properly. But when too much oxidation occurs, it puts you at a higher risk of aging-or rusting-your body. This is why so many foods that are good for us contain antioxidants, which slow the oxidation process. We don't know for sure if the antioxidant property of these foods is responsible for the health benefits you get from eating them, but it's likely a contributor. -
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Dr. Dawn Marcus , Neurology, answeredSee All 3 AnswersMany research studies have evaluated the health benefits of volunteering in senior citizens. Seniors often develop loneliness, depression, and worsening of physical health as they retire and have friends and close relatives die. Volunteering often helps fill an important gap for seniors. In addition, senior volunteers report better mood and health than those who don't volunteer. Formal volunteer programs can help provide an important new identify and purpose for older adults. This new sense of purpose results in an improved life attitude, as well as the health benefits that go along with increasing social engagement.
Drs. Harris and Thoresen at Stanford University published their findings of a link between volunteering and mortality in the Journal of Health Psychology. They monitored a sample of over 7500 seniors in the United States for 8 years. Compared to people who "never volunteered," people who "volunteered rarely" had a 41 percent decrease in mortality risk. People reporting they "sometimes volunteered" reduced their risk of death by 42 percent, while those "volunteering frequently" reduced their risk by 53 percent. -
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Dr. Vonda Wright, MD , Orthopedic Surgery, answeredSee All 2 AnswersAs you age, the regeneration capacity of your cells slows down; your tissues become stiffer and perform less efficiently. There are many examples in nature, from insects to humans, of decreased performance with increased age. Because of this overall slowdown, your physical prowess changes over time.
Fitness After 40: How to Stay Strong at Any Age -
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Shelley Webb , Nursing, answeredSee All 2 AnswersIntangible, psychological benefits have been documented with pet ownership. Stroking animals relieves stress, and the presence of non-judgmental, devoted pets combats loneliness. As a result, depression, often due to loss and isolation, is greatly reduced. Elderly people also regain a sense of self-worth and self-confidence when they are responsible for the care and feeding of another life. Additionally, pet ownership pushes seniors to take better care of themselves. A trip to the grocery store to stock up on necessities or preparation of a meal may seem burdensome to some older people. Once they are concerned about having food on hand for their dog or fixing a meal for their dog or cat, the daily routines become important again. -
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Dr. Kevin J. Soden, MD , Family Medicine, answeredSee All 3 AnswersStaying healthy as we age depends on a number of factors. Finding happiness and staying vital is dependent not only on physical factors but also on our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The old axiom of “Use it or lose it” is especially true for both our bodies and our brains as we age. Here are the key strategies that provide the best hope for staying healthy as we age:- Exercise at least three to five times per week for at least 30 minutes each time.
- Stimulate your brain through a variety of regular creative activities.
- Eat three meals per day plus two light snacks.
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
- Spend your time and energy with those important to you.
- Cultivate relationships with those who bring positive energy into your life.
- Practice preventive maintenance by making regular visits to your doctor.
- Use strength training twice a week to maintain muscle mass and function.
- Find a purpose in life so that you look forward to getting up each day.
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HealthyWomen answeredThere are many social activities you can suggest to your aging parents. Your parents and their friends may just need an excuse to get together. Help them set up a weekly event so there is always a fun social activity on their calendar.- Set up a game night. Board games, card games, party games -- the possibilities are endless. Give the event a jumpstart by having each member of the group bring their favorite board game to share.
- Start a book club. Do your parents love to read? Encourage them to share their passion by meeting monthly with friends to discuss their latest reads.
- Host trivia nights. See how much your parents remember from the big events of their youth. Test their knowledge of current events and random facts. Your parents will soon be competing with their friends to see who is the ultimate trivia master.
- Dance. Get your parents up and moving by signing them up for dance classes. Most studios offer a series of classes followed by a dance party where they can put their new skills to use.
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HealthyWomen answeredDraw your aging parents away from the TV by asking them about their past. Ask specific questions to start. What groups did they belong to in high school? What was their first car? How did they meet?
- Look through photo albums. Bring out the old photo albums and ask your parents to tell the stories behind the pictures. You never know what teenage tale they might regale you with!
- Make a scrapbook. Are your parents' old pictures and letters scattered around the attic? Bring them down for Mom and Dad to organize. They can put them together in a scrapbook that can be displayed in the living room.
- Record their stories. Have your parents tell you their stories while you film or record them. Have them create a journal where they record their most memorable moments. Preserve their memories so they can revisit them anytime they want.
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Dr. Anaisys M. Ballesteros, DO , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Baptist Health South FloridaSee All 2 AnswersHere are the primary factors in preparing for aging while young:- Exercise: Countless studies remind the public of the benefits of regular exercise for overall health and stress management.
- Eating healthy: Nutritional experts recommend a balanced diet containing the proper portions of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein sources.
- Regular checkups: Regular physical exams and blood tests are very important in detecting early risk factors for heart disease and other conditions.
- Stress management: Many studies have found that stress seems to worsen or increase the risk of conditions such as obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems and asthma.
- Don’t smoke: Avoiding habits that are detrimental to your health may be an obvious factor, but many young people are still opting to smoke cigarettes despite decades of studies linking chemicals in tobacco products to various cancers and heart disease.
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Dr. Dawn Marcus , Neurology, answeredSee All 2 AnswersResearchers at the University of California surveyed 205 elderly people who were still living in the community about successful aging. They defined successful aging as being able to live independently, readily adapt to changes, be engaged with others, be healthy, and have a strong sense of well-being and life satisfaction. Four factors were strongly linked to successful aging:
- Having more close friends
- Spending more days each week reading
- Spending more days each week listening to the radio
- Spending more days each week visiting family