Living longer and healthier

Press, 21 July 1988, Page 10

Living longer and healthier

Q. I just read that if I live to be 60,1 have an 80 per cent chance of living to be 80 years old. I like the idea of putting the odds in my .favour to do just that. What are some “best bet” things that I can do to improve my chance for a long life? A. Putting the odds in your favour is not a bad approach to health management, if it works to motivate you toward a more healthy lifestyle. The single biggest usk that you can factor out of your life is smoking.

By

JUDI SHEPPARD MISSETT

Drinking and driving is another practice to put on your “never” list; it’s always a bad bet. , Do what you can to reduce the level of stress in your life, or learn to manage it. Stress can negatively affect many aspects of physical well being. There are positive steps to playing the odds, to. For example, always wear your seat belt in the car. Some experts figure that seat belts are at least 80

per cent effective in reducing death and injury. You also greatly improve your prospects if you become fully aware of the vital statistics about your body. Know your blood pressure, for instance, and your cholesterol levels, and any other facts that can help you head off serious trouble. And if you’re armed with this information, you can take a more active role in managing your own health, rather than leav-

ing it up to your doctor. Keep your immunisations current, such as a tetanus shot every io years. It’s a form of insurance that’s a real health bargain. People over 65 might also consider pneumonia and flu shots, just to be on the safe side. Women can avoid disability and premature death from calcium deficiency by making certainthey consume at least 1000 mg of calcium every day. If it’s not practical to

get it in foods, then a supplement will do. Set up a regular schedule of medical examinations, then stick to it, including mammograms and pap smears for women, prostate examinations for men. People over 45 are being urged to have their stool checked for blood at least once a year; and adults over 40 should have glaucoma screenings. Keep your weight at its desirable level, and include exercise, stretching and aerobic workouts in your regular routine.