Three simple ways to stay healthy as you age

PRIME – June 2014 By Victor Acquista, MD Author: Pathways to Health: An Integral Guidebook I think most of us are familiar with the Vulcan salutation made famous by Star Trek's Mr. Spock, "Live long and prosper!" No argument from me with respect to the sentiment expressed here, but I would qualify it a bit to suggest, "Live long, stay healthy, and prosper!" And I would like to focus on the staying healthy part as you age with some simple suggestions. Keep physically active Physical activity may need to be modified as we age in respect to age related wear and tear to our joints and potentially diminished cardiovascular and respiratory capacity. Even if we recognize that our physical prowess may have diminished from the peak capacity of youth, that should not be an excuse to remain sedentary. You should try and have daily physical activity equivalent to walking two miles a day. You can use a pedometer to measure your steps per day. If you have difficulty walking, there are chair exercises you can perform. It is helpful to stretch your muscles as part of your routine. Resistance bands are an inexpensive way to help maintain muscle mass and do exercises. Tai Chi is an excellent way to improve balance. Regular exercise has also been shown to reduce cognitive decline as well as physical decline. Keep mentally active Think of this activity as exercising your brain. The adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" is false. No matter what your age or physical health, you are capable of new learning. Exercising your brain also helps to reduce cognitive decline. Read, work on a crossword puzzle, try to learn something new, take on a new hobby, or continue to pursue an old hobby. The point I am making is that you need to make an effort to challenge your brain and to stay sharp. There are computer programs such as Lumosity specifically designed to keep you mentally active by playing brain games. Every day you should make a point to spend time with some mentally stimulating activities. When it comes to your brain, use it or lose it. Keep socially active The stereotype of an elderly shut-in leads me to ask the question, "Why?" We are social beings and need social interaction in much the same way we need food and drink. There are many community, organizational and church-sponsored programs to reach out to the elderly. Whether it is to assist with transportation, shopping, medical appointments, etc. or to participate in activities at the local senior center, library, or volunteer center there are many opportunities to remain socially active. Of course, spending time with family and friends is an excellent way to enjoy life. Remaining socially engaged helps to keep us young and is a wonderful way to share our life experiences. Invite people to your house, host a dinner party, start or join a bridge group. Whatever your social inclinations might be I encourage you to plan time to be with other people and include this as part of your strategy to remain healthy. Of course, eating sensibly, not smoking or consuming too much alcohol, and getting sufficient rest are important components of your efforts to stay healthy as you age. Make healthy choices about how you spend your time and may you also live long and prosper. Stay well! – Victor Victor Acquista MD is author of "Pathways To Health: An Integral Guidebook". For more information on Dr. Acquista's book, visit http://pathstohealth.info/