Healthy Aging Month

September 3, 2003

By Mark Spencer, MD


September is “National Healthy Aging Month”. None of us like to think about aging but since it is inevitable, we might as well take steps to age in the healthiest way possible.
What is aging?
Aging is defined by the online Hyperdictionary as:
1. [n] the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age
2. [n] acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time
3. [adj] growing old
In human medicine we are usually speaking of the first and third definitions (although the second may sometimes apply.) The human body reaches maturity between the ages of twenty and thirty, after that point deterioration begins.

The outcome of aging is getting “old”. When you think of an old person, you may think of someone who is slow, weak, stiff, easily tired, impotent and/or sometimes confused.
Healthy Aging?
The term almost sounds like a contradiction. However, medical science has found the above characteristics are not mandatory. We can partially or completely prevent many of these changes. Let’s look at what can be done.
The enemies
Several factors lead to the changes in our bodies that we call aging.

One is the process called Degeneration. This means the break down of the body’s components, sort of wear and tear over time. An example of this is the breakdown of the joint lining in the knee, leading to stiffness and deformity.

The second factor is Illness. It can cause major acute problems or minimal changes that lead to problems years later. A stroke can cause a severe and sudden loss of function. An infection, like rheumatic fever, may cause damage to a heart valve. Damage may not become a problem until 30 or 40 years later when the valve becomes scarred and blocks blood flow through the heart.

Injury is a third factor. Damage to the body may not always heal completely. While infants may heal “as good as new” after a trauma, as we get older our healing ability diminishes.

Any of these factors may result in Disability. Various changes in our body may make it difficult to perform our normal bodily functions. For instance, the degeneration of the nerves in the eye results in the disability of blindness (Macular Degeneration).
The weapons
What can we do to deal with these enemies?
· First and foremost, we can use nutrition. What foods and additional supplements we use make a big difference in how our bodies age.
· Almost as important are the activities we do regularly, our exercise regimen.
· Protecting ourselves from exposure to harmful substances is also important.
· And finally, medical science offers tools to use in the battle.
The strategies
Resisting Degeneration might seem futile. Everything in the world wears out. Our bodies eventual will return to the dust. However, by providing them with good nutrition we can make our organs and other parts significantly more resistant to wear and tear.

Key to this strategy is planning. The effects of nutrition are slow and accumulate over a long time. Healthy eating during childhood and early adulthood is much more effective than when it is started in middle age.

Regular exercise helps the body maintain its condition. Joints stay flexible, and muscles work better, and for longer, if they are used regularly.

Avoiding harmful exposures also slows degeneration. For instance, all of us will develop emphysema eventually if we live long enough. Exposure to tobacco smoke, smog, and other harmful inhalants speeds up this degenerative process, causing it to occur at a younger age.

Nutrition, exercise, and avoiding toxins have obvious benefits. Additionally medical science has provided immunizations to resist infectious diseases, medications to control blood pressure, lower cholesterol and treat diabetes, all of which help us stay healthy for longer.

The same principles apply to resisting and preventing illness and injury. Disability would be almost unknown if we were able to use the above strategies successfully. When this is not possible, medical science has much to offer in helping overcome the eventual problems that develop.
The battlefield
Where is the main conflict in this battle? I believe it occurs at the level of our habits. We make most choices regarding nutrition and exercise by habit. We usually eat the same types of food. Our level of exercise usually does not vary. Our “bad habits” frequently deal with the use of toxic substances such as tobacco and alcohol. In order to win in the fight against aging we must effectively manage our habits.

Steven Covey’s well known book Seven Habits of Highly Successful People is worth reading by anyone attempting to change his or her habits. He shows many examples of how our habits make a huge impact on our lives.
Conclusion
Most of us hope to continue to enjoy life as we move through middle age into the “golden years”. We don’t want to be frail, weak, fatigued, disabled and dependent. Good habits in nutrition, exercise, toxin avoidance, and regular preventive medical care will go a long way to make us more likely to have a long and healthy retirement. Talk to your personal health care provider about the steps that would be most beneficial to you as you age.