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Health October 2017

Phase Three

The Aging Process Isn't for Wimps

By Arnold Bornstein

A friend once sent me an e-mail that included a statement, the source of which I do not know. It said: "Life is a gift. Unwrap it." In other words, try to live your life as fully and as well as you can. It's worth it, to you as well as your family and friends.

A psychiatrist acquaintance who was even older than I am once said to me: "Old age isn't for wimps."

In recent weeks, while hearing about the health problems of some friends and residents in our adult community, as well as reading various articles and reports on health, my thoughts went back to that statement about the aging process.

There is no doubt that, thanks to medical advances and lifestyle changes, life spans have become longer and general health has substantially improved when compared to the eras of my parents and of my grandparents.

So, in one sense, a life can be held in check longer and problems are more controlled. In another sense, the life can go further into the aging process, requiring increased inner strength to cope with additional burdens that may arise in a longer lifetime.

When health issues arise, either prematurely or in the later part of life, the process isn't for wimps, as my acquaintance whimsically noted. In a larger sense, I think he also was saying that we shouldn't complain too much and that, fortunately, most of us seem to get through the bad times and count our blessings.

Lifestyle has become a major factor in our health – at any age – according to past studies. While there is little that you can do about heredity genetics, there were studies that concluded that genes account for 30 percent of health factors, while the other 70 percent depends on an individual's lifestyle.

The media has had past articles about the main causes of illness and death in our country, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.

While not pleasant subjects, it was noted the outlook is improving, the diseases are appearing later in life and the death rate is decreasing.

There have been past reports on problems of obesity, particularly among younger people. Medicine and science continue to stress the importance of exercise and nutrition for people of all age spans. For older people, reports still emphasize the need to also exercise the brain.

Other factors remain, according to reports, about stress and pressure, and how they are or aren't controlled, and affect your health. Interaction with other people also plays a key role in your sense of well being.

Research on aging is obviously ongoing. I like some of the comments about it: "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." And, "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?"

Taking regular advantage of the diagnostic tools of modern medicine – which weren't available to your relatives of many decades ago – through regular exams – is evidently a way of avoiding problems, or at least catching them early.

We know people who evidently take care of themselves and still developed a serious illness or disease. Obviously, heredity is involved, but that certainly isn't a reason to be lackadaisical about trying to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

A friend once sent me an e-mail that included a statement, the source of which I do not know. It said: "Life is a gift. Unwrap it." In other words, try to live your life as fully and as well as you can. It's worth it, to you as well as your family and friends.

Whatever kinds of changes you may need or may be considering – and not just changes about maintaining a healthy lifestyle – I like the following quotation, which is attributed as a Chinese proverb: "If we don't change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going."

 

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