How to live upto a healthy old age.

Anybody can be a centenarian.

The tiny Italian island Sardinia boasts of the largest number of centenarian men anywhere.

What is the magic?

Lifestyle.

Anybody can live longer and healthier by suitably modifying the lifestyle.

Now Interesting findings about healthy lifestyle.

The immune system of the body adapts to ageing, according to a recent study by Dr. Franceschi. If the T and B cells decline with age, the macrophages that offer innate immunity gets better after the age of 60. “Those who live longer are able to continuously adapt to the deteriorative changes occurring in the immune stystem with age.” He says.

What to do? Control the risk factors and modify life style. The risk factors are:

a sedentary life with no exercise
Hypertension or uncontrolled blood pressure.
Overweight
smoking
Uncontrolled Diabetes.

Captain C.K. Nair of Kozhicode is 93 and a regular winner in 100m, 200m. Since there is no category above 90 he competes in the category above 80.

On the 80th birthday, a reporter asked Winston Churchill if he could be interviewed on his 90th. Churchill looked at the reporter and said: “I do not see why not, you look healthy enough.”

Oxygen, Key to wellbeing

Depression due to lack of oxygen intake?

Depressed moods are common. How to get rid of it? There seems to be no apparent reason for the lack of enthusiasm and self esteem or the depression.

The state of wellbeing comes from the oxygen content in my cells. To increase the oxygen I have to ask my lungs to increase the intake. For that more air has to be pumped into the lungs. How to do it? Increase my body movements mainly the calf muscles . To put it in the best way is ‘exercise’. The more I exercise, the more air is pumped into my lungs and the blood can absorb more oxygen for the cells. Doing some exercise regularly can help people with depression by improving their mental health. It is reported that the feel good brain chemicals such as endorphins are released during exercise.

When my feelings are down I get out and do something physical.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

GOOD HABITS

A few years before retirement I started thinking of post retirement life. My planning took an year. I decided to have an active life of 20 years after retirement. That meant I had to live at least up to eighty. How to? How will I be at 80? How can I find out?

I had to look at people above 80 to find out how I would look like. It was easy. None of them was fat and none of them smoked. They were more active than a lot of above 60s. After 25 years of smoking I had to stop. Went to Government Naturopathy Hospital at Varkala and reduced 10 kgs within 15 days to have a reasonable chance of living beyond 80.

That could not be the end. I went through books and health magazines. I started to eat fruits and vegetables. Sleep had to be sufficient. I started to go to bed at 10. A 4 km walk in the mornings became a part of my lifestyle. Slowly a few meters of jogging was added. Tread Mill taught me my limits. Climbing two steps at a time became a habit. My experience taught me to eat only what is required. Eating beyond my requirements converts into fat and get deposited around my waist. My efforts are still on for reduction of my waist.

Enhancing functional capacity can only achieve a healthy lifestyle to enjoy a long life in better health.