Healthy Aging- How Old is ‘Old’?
It’s a controversial word- OLD. And it is one that can spark fierce debate and get a woman’s back up just suggesting it.
But at what age do you consider someone to be old? This came up in our house the other night.
My hubby is 66 and he’s been retired for almost 4 years. I am a couple of years off 60 and happily having the time of my life after changing track and starting my business only a few years ago.
We have 6 kids and 12 grandchildren between us. Our kids have spread their wings, with half of them now living interstate.
We’ve been empty nesters for most of the last 7 years. But from time to time, we openly welcome our kids back whenever they need somewhere to live.
I was working away in my home office and I could here my hubby and stepson talking. And I just happened to hear hubby utter the words “Us oldies”.
I jumped off my chair, charged down the hallway into the kitchen and emphatically stated- “please don’t call me old. I am not one of the oldies”
We all know the signs of aging, whether you can see them or not. Gray hair, wrinkles, creaky joints, forgetfulness, dry skin, grumpiness, decreased mobility, you can’t avoid them forever.
OR CAN YOU?
Life expectancy has dramatically increased since the early 1900s due to significant improvements in the availability of food, clean water, housing, and the advances in the healthcare system that have significantly increased the survival rates of the human population.
But why is it that some will live to 100 or more without significant health issues, others will spend years living with long-term chronic diseases and reduced quality of life and there others who unfortunately die early and leave us wondering why.
Scientists have studied longevity for more than a century, to determine what contributes to living a long life. The 3 main components that influence the duration of human life are-
Your genetics
Your lifestyle
Your environment
GENETICS
The study of longevity is still a developing science, as is the genetics of longevity. It is estimated that approximately 25% of the variation in the human lifespan can be determined by genetics. Determining which genes are involved and how they influence longevity is still evolving. Whilst a few common gene polymorphisms (variations) associated with longevity have been identified, it is still confounding to scientists that these variations are not found in all long-lived individuals. There is much more work to do.
LIFESTYLE
Studying the life span of people 90+ they concluded that longevity definitely ran in families, with first-degree relatives more likely to remain healthy longer and they would live to an older age than many of their peers. Long-living individuals had very little in common in the areas of education, income, and profession.
However, many did share similar lifestyle habits that significantly contributed to determining their longevity. Those who lived a long life were more likely to be women, non-smokers, non-obese, and those who coped well with stress.
ENVIRONMENT
There are many factors that can impact healthy aging and these fit into two distinct categories- factors you can control and those you can’t. You can’t control your genetics but you can control your lifestyle and your environment- where you live, who you live with, and what you expose yourself to every day. And of course, the consequences of trauma and childhood added on top can contribute to your longevity
BEYOND SCIENCE- THE REAL HUMAN FACE OF AGING
Every day, I talk to clients and help them deal with what the conventional medical system calls the result of aging.
Actual living humans, suffering from chronic health problems, whose quality of life is compromised more and more every day.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Stuck with a diagnosis and no hope for recovery.
I sound skeptical, you’re right, I am. Because I’ve been where they are; their story is my story, and the story of many others.
Longevity and living a long life are in my genes, my great aunt lived to 104 years old, 99 of those years living independently in her own home.
On my health journey, I worked out how to reverse and manage the genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that had started to impact my health and longevity.
MY MISSION
Things are slowly changing, and there is hope for the future. Integrative, nutritional, and environmental medicine is changing lives.
It’s giving back hope, improving quality of life, and helping people take back control of their health and longevity.
I don’t know how long I will live; it’s not something any of us can really predict. I’m aiming for 100.
And in the meantime, I’m on a mission to make a difference, 1 client at a time.
Make no mistake, my mission is big and scary, and I have already had to choose those who I want to come along with me.
Every time I start listening to those who want me to stay small, I just remind myself of why I’m doing it.
YOUR HEALTH MATTERS!
