Reverse the Pace of Aging
From the April / May newsletter, Gerontology Network
In honor of Older American’s Month, Gerontology Network conducted research into the latest and greatest that can help older Americans improve their quality of life. It is also the mission of Gerontology Network is to improve the quality of life for older adults and their families and care providers.
We stumbled on the book “RealAge: Are You As Young As You Can Be?”. The premise is that choices you can make today can add to your life expectancy and your quality of life. Maximum years gained past average life expectancy are about 26 years for women and 24 years for men. “But we can make sure that at age 90, you live like a 74-year-old,” Dr. Michael Roizen asserts in his book.
While there are hundreds of health choices that impact on our real age, there are only about eight that make a substantial difference, Roizen says (who at 52 calendar years has a real age of 37). And if you choose correctly, you can start taking on the years.
- Exercise
There are three components to a fitness programs, First work off at least 3,500 calories a week. Second, engage in activities that raise your heart rate to 70 percent of maximum for 60 minutes a week. And finally, do strength and flexibility exercise at least 30 minutes a week.; - Lower your blood pressure to 110/75
This alone can take 10 chronological years off you age. - Passive smoking
In terms of longevity, sitting in a room with secondhand smoke for one hour is equivalent to smoking four cigarettes yourself. - Lower your blood pressure to 110/75
This alone can take 10 chronological years off you age. - Stress/Social Connections
Laughter, a stress reducer, makes your immune system up to eight years younger. Laughter and friends can lower your real age by two years. - Chronic Disease
Learning how to manage chronic diseases like diabetes will minimize the diseases impact. - Family History
Identify genetic risks and take action. For example if heart disease runs in your family, take extra steps to keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check. Your real age will be four years younger. - Hormone replacement therapy
Roizen stresses the importance of postmenopausal women working with their doctors to find a HRT regimen that works. By age 70, a woman can reduce her real age by eight years. - Patrol your own health
Seek out quality health care and be alert to early signs of illness, he advises. Checking with a doctor as soon as there is a sign something is wrong can take 12 years off your real age.
According to a Census Bureau projection, nearly 9 million of the 80 million baby boomers are expected to live into their late 90s and 3 million will hit 100. Taking the steps now, can make those later years more enjoyable and improve the overall quality of life.
If you would like more information on Healthy Aging, click here for Educational Services.