Most people's grandmothers outlive their grandfathers, and 85 percent of centenarians are women. Behavior patterns contribute. Eighty percent of Americans who have a serious drug addiction are men; more than 80 percent of drunk drivers are men; during young adulthood, the peak age for homicide, suicide and accidental death, three men die for every woman.
However, Daniel Kruger, a research fellow at the University of Michigan who has done extensive studies on mortality rates, notes that behavior isn't the only factor in men's shorter life span; there are contributing genetic and physiologic differences.
Just as in many other species, he says, human "males are built for competition and females for longevity." Physiologically, the male hormone testosterone builds muscle mass, while the female hormone estrogen boosts the immune system and increases the level of HDL, the "good" cholesterol.
Tom Perls, founder of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University, estimates that about 30 percent of the male-female disparity in longevity is due to biological differences, and 70 percent to social and cultural factors.
Primary to those particular factors is that women are known to tune in more to their health care. Women visit the doctor more often than men, and nearly twice as often for preventive care, according to a 2001 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is trying to get men more interested in their health. An ad campaign ( www.ahrq.gov/realmen) promotes the idea of getting regular checkups.
But if you're already geared up and just need a little extra help, read on for an age-by-age breakdown on what men should do at various ages to maintain their health.
What to do in your ...
20s:
Arrange for a complete physical every five years, which should include:
• Cholesterol profile
• Blood pressure check
• Testicular cancer screening (Young men should also perform monthly self-exams.)
• Waist measurement and height and weight measurements to calculate your body mass index, or BMI
• Complete blood count, a blood-sugar test and urinalysis
• Adult-type tetanus-pertussis-diphtheria booster (and follow up every 10 years)
• Dental visit every six to 12 months
30s:
Sign up for complete physicals, which should repeat the tests conducted in your 20s, but every three years instead of every five. At 35 you can stop testicular exams.
40s:
Get a complete physical every two years.
Also:
• Schedule a baseline EKG at 40 and repeat it periodically.
• Take a fasting blood sugar test at 45, then every three years.
• Start skin cancer screening, with additional exams by a dermatologist for men at high risk.
50s:
It's time to make your complete physical an annual event. Your regular health-care schedule should from now on include these four important additions:
• Colon cancer screening, which should take one of four approaches: Annual fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) with colonoscopy if a positive test; FOBT plus sigmoidoscopy every five years; colonoscopy every 10 years; double-contrast barium enema every five to 10 years.
• Prostate cancer screening. The physician should discuss the pros and cons of annual PSA blood tests and digital rectal exams.
• Eye exams by a specialist
• Annual flu shot
60s:
In addition to maintaining the pattern established in your 50s, ask your doctor about a shingles shot. Also, get the pneumonia vaccine. At 65, men who have ever smoked should get an abdominal aortic ultrasound.
70s and beyond:
From here on out, you can keep doing what you've been doing. After all, you've made it this far.
Better still, when you hit age 75, you can delete prostate cancer screening from your checklist.
And if some of this sounds a little familiar, it's probably because you've heard it before. One of the challenges of primary care, according to Harvey B. Simon, who compiled this information, is persuading men to get regular physicals. Simon should know. He is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the editor of Harvard Men's Health Watch.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090224/LIFESTYLE03/902240392
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
10 Health Habits That Will Help You Live to 100
You don't need to eat yogurt and live on a mountaintop, but you do need to floss
The biggest factor that determines how well you age is not your genes but how well you live. Not convinced? A new study published in the British Medical Journal of 20,000 British folks shows that you can cut your risk of having a stroke in half by doing the following four things: being active for 30 minutes a day, eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol.
While those are some of the obvious steps you can take to age well, researchers have discovered that centenarians tend to share certain traits in how they eat, move about, and deal with stress—the sorts of things we can emulate to improve our own aging process. Of course, getting to age 100 is enormously more likely if your parents did. Still, Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine, believes that assuming you've sidestepped genes for truly fatal diseases like Huntington's, "there's nothing stopping you from living independently well into your 90s." Heck, if your parents and grandparents were heavy smokers, they might have died prematurely without ever reaching their true potential lifespan, so go ahead and shoot for those triple digits. Follow these 10 habits, and check out Perls' lifetime risk calculator to see how long you can expect to live.
1. Don't retire. "Evidence shows that in societies where people stop working abruptly, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease skyrockets after retirement," says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Chianti region of Italy, which has a high percentage of centenarians, has a different take on leisure time. "After people retire from their jobs, they spend most of the day working on their little farm, cultivating grapes or vegetables," he says. "They're never really inactive." Farming isn't for you? Volunteer as a docent at your local art museum or join the Experience Corps, a program offered in 19 cities that places senior volunteers in urban public elementary schools for about 15 hours a week.
2. Floss every day. That may help keep your arteries healthy. A 2008 New York University study showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease. "I really do think people should floss twice a day to get the biggest life expectancy benefits," stresses Perls.
3. Move around. "Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists," says Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "It's like the oil and lube job for your car. You don't have to do it, but your car will definitely run better." Study after study has documented the benefits of exercise to improve your mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bones. "And the benefits kick in immediately after your first workout," Olshansky adds. Don't worry if you're not a gym rat. Those who see the biggest payoffs are the ones who go from doing nothing to simply walking around the neighborhood or local mall for about 30 minutes a day. Building muscle with resistance training is also ideal, but yoga classes can give you similar strength-training effects if you're not into weight lifting.
4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast. Getting a serving of whole-grains, especially in the morning, appears to help older folks maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, according to a recent study conducted by Ferrucci and his colleagues. "Those who do this have a lower incidence of diabetes, a known accelerator of aging," he says.
5. Get at least six hours of shut-eye. Instead of skimping on sleep to add more hours to your day, get more to add years to your life. "Sleep is one of the most important functions that our body uses to regulate and heal cells," says Ferrucci. "We've calculated that the minimum amount of sleep that older people need to get those healing REM phases is about six hours." Those who reach the century mark make sleep a top priority.
6. Consume whole foods, not supplements. Strong evidence suggests that people who have high blood levels of certain nutrients—selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E—age much better and have a slower rate of cognitive decline. Unfortunately, there's no evidence that taking pills with these nutrients provides those antiaging benefits. "There are more than 200 different carotenoids and 200 different flavonoids in a single tomato," points out Ferrucci, "and these chemicals can all have complex interactions that foster health beyond the single nutrients we know about like lycopene or vitamin C." Avoid nutrient-lacking white foods (breads, flour, sugar) and go for all those colorful fruits and vegetables and dark whole-grain breads and cereals with their host of hidden nutrients.
7. Be less neurotic. It may work for Woody Allen, who infuses his worries with a healthy dose of humor, but the rest of us neurotics may want to find a new way to deal with stress. "We have a new study coming out that shows that centenarians tend not to internalize things or dwell on their troubles," says Perls. "They are great at rolling with the punches." If this inborn trait is hard to overcome, find better ways to manage when you're stressed: Yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi, or just deep breathing for a few moments are all good. Ruminating, eating chips in front of the TV, binge drinking? Bad, very bad.
8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist . Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it's important to cherish the body that's on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and get plenty of exercise. They're also very focused on family and community.
9. Be a creature of habit. Centenarians tend to live by strict routines, says Olshansky, eating the same kind of diet and doing the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is another good habit to keep your body in the steady equilibrium that can be easily disrupted as you get on in years. "Your physiology becomes frailer when you get older," explains Ferrucci, "and it's harder for your body to bounce back if you, say, miss a few hours of sleep one night or drink too much alcohol." This can weaken immune defenses, leaving you more susceptible to circulating flu viruses or bacterial infections.
10. Stay connected. Having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to premature death, something that's particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers. Some psychologists even think that one of the biggest benefits elderly folks get from exercise the strong social interactions that come from walking with a buddy or taking a group exercise class. Having a daily connection with a close friend or family member gives older folks the added benefit of having someone watch their back. "They'll tell you if they think your memory is going or if you seem more withdrawn," says Perls, "and they might push you to see a doctor before you recognize that you need to see one yourself."
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/baby-boomer-health/2009/02/20/10-health-habits-that-will-help-you-live-to-100.html?PageNr=2
The biggest factor that determines how well you age is not your genes but how well you live. Not convinced? A new study published in the British Medical Journal of 20,000 British folks shows that you can cut your risk of having a stroke in half by doing the following four things: being active for 30 minutes a day, eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol.
While those are some of the obvious steps you can take to age well, researchers have discovered that centenarians tend to share certain traits in how they eat, move about, and deal with stress—the sorts of things we can emulate to improve our own aging process. Of course, getting to age 100 is enormously more likely if your parents did. Still, Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine, believes that assuming you've sidestepped genes for truly fatal diseases like Huntington's, "there's nothing stopping you from living independently well into your 90s." Heck, if your parents and grandparents were heavy smokers, they might have died prematurely without ever reaching their true potential lifespan, so go ahead and shoot for those triple digits. Follow these 10 habits, and check out Perls' lifetime risk calculator to see how long you can expect to live.
1. Don't retire. "Evidence shows that in societies where people stop working abruptly, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease skyrockets after retirement," says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Chianti region of Italy, which has a high percentage of centenarians, has a different take on leisure time. "After people retire from their jobs, they spend most of the day working on their little farm, cultivating grapes or vegetables," he says. "They're never really inactive." Farming isn't for you? Volunteer as a docent at your local art museum or join the Experience Corps, a program offered in 19 cities that places senior volunteers in urban public elementary schools for about 15 hours a week.
2. Floss every day. That may help keep your arteries healthy. A 2008 New York University study showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease. "I really do think people should floss twice a day to get the biggest life expectancy benefits," stresses Perls.
3. Move around. "Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists," says Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "It's like the oil and lube job for your car. You don't have to do it, but your car will definitely run better." Study after study has documented the benefits of exercise to improve your mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bones. "And the benefits kick in immediately after your first workout," Olshansky adds. Don't worry if you're not a gym rat. Those who see the biggest payoffs are the ones who go from doing nothing to simply walking around the neighborhood or local mall for about 30 minutes a day. Building muscle with resistance training is also ideal, but yoga classes can give you similar strength-training effects if you're not into weight lifting.
4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast. Getting a serving of whole-grains, especially in the morning, appears to help older folks maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, according to a recent study conducted by Ferrucci and his colleagues. "Those who do this have a lower incidence of diabetes, a known accelerator of aging," he says.
5. Get at least six hours of shut-eye. Instead of skimping on sleep to add more hours to your day, get more to add years to your life. "Sleep is one of the most important functions that our body uses to regulate and heal cells," says Ferrucci. "We've calculated that the minimum amount of sleep that older people need to get those healing REM phases is about six hours." Those who reach the century mark make sleep a top priority.
6. Consume whole foods, not supplements. Strong evidence suggests that people who have high blood levels of certain nutrients—selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E—age much better and have a slower rate of cognitive decline. Unfortunately, there's no evidence that taking pills with these nutrients provides those antiaging benefits. "There are more than 200 different carotenoids and 200 different flavonoids in a single tomato," points out Ferrucci, "and these chemicals can all have complex interactions that foster health beyond the single nutrients we know about like lycopene or vitamin C." Avoid nutrient-lacking white foods (breads, flour, sugar) and go for all those colorful fruits and vegetables and dark whole-grain breads and cereals with their host of hidden nutrients.
7. Be less neurotic. It may work for Woody Allen, who infuses his worries with a healthy dose of humor, but the rest of us neurotics may want to find a new way to deal with stress. "We have a new study coming out that shows that centenarians tend not to internalize things or dwell on their troubles," says Perls. "They are great at rolling with the punches." If this inborn trait is hard to overcome, find better ways to manage when you're stressed: Yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi, or just deep breathing for a few moments are all good. Ruminating, eating chips in front of the TV, binge drinking? Bad, very bad.
8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist . Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it's important to cherish the body that's on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and get plenty of exercise. They're also very focused on family and community.
9. Be a creature of habit. Centenarians tend to live by strict routines, says Olshansky, eating the same kind of diet and doing the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is another good habit to keep your body in the steady equilibrium that can be easily disrupted as you get on in years. "Your physiology becomes frailer when you get older," explains Ferrucci, "and it's harder for your body to bounce back if you, say, miss a few hours of sleep one night or drink too much alcohol." This can weaken immune defenses, leaving you more susceptible to circulating flu viruses or bacterial infections.
10. Stay connected. Having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to premature death, something that's particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers. Some psychologists even think that one of the biggest benefits elderly folks get from exercise the strong social interactions that come from walking with a buddy or taking a group exercise class. Having a daily connection with a close friend or family member gives older folks the added benefit of having someone watch their back. "They'll tell you if they think your memory is going or if you seem more withdrawn," says Perls, "and they might push you to see a doctor before you recognize that you need to see one yourself."
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/baby-boomer-health/2009/02/20/10-health-habits-that-will-help-you-live-to-100.html?PageNr=2
Saturday, February 14, 2009
'Elderly' no longer acceptable word for older people
A new guide for journalists warns against using terms which discriminate against people of a certain age.
'Senior', 'fossil' and 'biddy' have been blacklisted by the lexicon of unacceptable phrases, which has been compiled by an international think tank.
Instead, people aged over 50 should be referred to as 'older people' or simply 'man' or 'woman' followed by their age, the guide suggests.
'Old ladies' of both the 'little' and 'sweet' variety are also to be avoided, according to the report.
The advice is included in a media guide on reporting issued by the think tank The International Longevity Center, and ageism campaign group Aging Services of California.
The guide says it aims to help journalists report stories about "older people" in a "fair contemporary and unbiased" manner.
The authors of the report state that 80 per cent of older Americans have been subjected to ageist stereotypes.
"While names and characterisations may vary, the message is the same: older men and women are incompetent and lack sufficiency," the guide states.
Journalists are advised: "If you need to identify individuals over the age of 50, 'older adults' is preferred over 'senior' and 'elderly', which can be discriminatory in nature.
"After all, we don't refer to people under 50 as 'junior citizens'.
"Instead, say 'man' and 'woman', and give the age, if relevant to the story."
In a preface to the report, Robert Butler, president of the International Longevity Centre, described the guide as "an important step in overcoming ageist language and beliefs".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4596139/Elderly-no-longer-acceptable-word-for-older-people.html
'Senior', 'fossil' and 'biddy' have been blacklisted by the lexicon of unacceptable phrases, which has been compiled by an international think tank.
Instead, people aged over 50 should be referred to as 'older people' or simply 'man' or 'woman' followed by their age, the guide suggests.
'Old ladies' of both the 'little' and 'sweet' variety are also to be avoided, according to the report.
The advice is included in a media guide on reporting issued by the think tank The International Longevity Center, and ageism campaign group Aging Services of California.
The guide says it aims to help journalists report stories about "older people" in a "fair contemporary and unbiased" manner.
The authors of the report state that 80 per cent of older Americans have been subjected to ageist stereotypes.
"While names and characterisations may vary, the message is the same: older men and women are incompetent and lack sufficiency," the guide states.
Journalists are advised: "If you need to identify individuals over the age of 50, 'older adults' is preferred over 'senior' and 'elderly', which can be discriminatory in nature.
"After all, we don't refer to people under 50 as 'junior citizens'.
"Instead, say 'man' and 'woman', and give the age, if relevant to the story."
In a preface to the report, Robert Butler, president of the International Longevity Centre, described the guide as "an important step in overcoming ageist language and beliefs".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4596139/Elderly-no-longer-acceptable-word-for-older-people.html
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Simple Changes That Slow Down The Aging Process
We live in a society in which everybody seems to want to look and feel younger than their chronological age, yet too many of us live lifestyles that will make us look anything but youthful. The truth is that overeating, cramming junk food down your throat and sitting on your bottom playing video games and watching TV when you aren't at work will actually speed up the aging process. If you also drink a lot of alcohol, smoke cigarettes or partake of illegal drugs you will grow old even more rapidly. If you live unhealthily even the most expensive anti aging skin care products available on the market can do nothing to help slow down the aging process. If you want to slow down the aging process so that you can look and feel younger than your years and increase your life expectancy, you must change the way you live.
What You Put Into Your Body
If you would like to slow down the aging process you have to eat right. Most of us know that a healthy diet comprises more whole foods like fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and whole grains and less of those products that contain an excess of carbohydrates or saturated fats. However, following a healthy eating plan is easier said than done. If you want to start eating right keep away from fast food outlets and go grocery shopping when you aren't hungry so you'll be less inclined to put high calorie items into your shopping cart.
If you want to slow down the aging process you will also need to watch the number of calories you consume. Just because you are eating healthier food that doesn't mean you can eat 3,000 calories per day. If you ate enough apples you would still get fat. The key to maintaining a healthy BMI is not to eat more calories than your body is able to burn. You may find it helps to stop eating just before you start to feel full.
Taking regular vitamin and mineral supplements can also do a great deal to slow down the aging process. It stands to reason that when the cells and tissues of the body receive all of the minerals, vitamins and essential nutrients they need for optimal functioning they work better and do not degenerate as rapidly.
What You Do
If you would like to do what is required to slow down the aging process you also need to change what you do. Too many of us do not exercise at all despite the fact that we have jobs that entail sitting in front of a computer for eight hours a day. If you want your heart, muscles and skeleton to remain strong then regular cardiovascular and resistance exercise is a must.
You also need to keep your mind active if you do not want to develop senile dementia in your old age. Find a hobby that stimulates your brain and spend some time doing crossword puzzles and IQ tests whenever you feel bored. Read books, debate with friends and play competitive games like chess and scrabble with them. Take an active role in family life and get involved with your community. Do whatever it takes to stop your mind from becoming passive and sheep-like.
http://www.worldmedicalguide.com/medical-treatment/anti-aging/simple-changes-that-slow-down-the-aging-process/
What You Put Into Your Body
If you would like to slow down the aging process you have to eat right. Most of us know that a healthy diet comprises more whole foods like fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and whole grains and less of those products that contain an excess of carbohydrates or saturated fats. However, following a healthy eating plan is easier said than done. If you want to start eating right keep away from fast food outlets and go grocery shopping when you aren't hungry so you'll be less inclined to put high calorie items into your shopping cart.
If you want to slow down the aging process you will also need to watch the number of calories you consume. Just because you are eating healthier food that doesn't mean you can eat 3,000 calories per day. If you ate enough apples you would still get fat. The key to maintaining a healthy BMI is not to eat more calories than your body is able to burn. You may find it helps to stop eating just before you start to feel full.
Taking regular vitamin and mineral supplements can also do a great deal to slow down the aging process. It stands to reason that when the cells and tissues of the body receive all of the minerals, vitamins and essential nutrients they need for optimal functioning they work better and do not degenerate as rapidly.
What You Do
If you would like to do what is required to slow down the aging process you also need to change what you do. Too many of us do not exercise at all despite the fact that we have jobs that entail sitting in front of a computer for eight hours a day. If you want your heart, muscles and skeleton to remain strong then regular cardiovascular and resistance exercise is a must.
You also need to keep your mind active if you do not want to develop senile dementia in your old age. Find a hobby that stimulates your brain and spend some time doing crossword puzzles and IQ tests whenever you feel bored. Read books, debate with friends and play competitive games like chess and scrabble with them. Take an active role in family life and get involved with your community. Do whatever it takes to stop your mind from becoming passive and sheep-like.
http://www.worldmedicalguide.com/medical-treatment/anti-aging/simple-changes-that-slow-down-the-aging-process/
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