You’ve read that one’s lifestyle affects aging. Here are some research results that indicate how much.
Healthy habits make a difference. In a study by the Berkeley Human Population Laboratory nearly 7,000 adults taking part are evaluated in terms of no smoking, regular physical exercise, moderate or no alcohol consumption, seven to eight hours of sleep daily, proper weight, regular breakfast and no mid-meal snacks. A 45-year-old man practicing zero to three of these health habits could expect to live 21.6 more years. A man the same age practicing six or seven of the habits could expect 39.1 more years of life.
Reduced pain from arthritis was reported by most of the 349 people 60 and up taking part in a Bowman Gray School of Medicine study. They walked briskly or lifted weights in one-hour workouts three days a week. Another benefit: the participants reported improved mobility.
Sleep improved for a group of healthy adults 50 to 76 years old after starting a program of moderate exercise. They snoozed an average of 45 minutes more and said they dropped off faster as a result of this Stanford University research.
Fatigue, in most cases, is related to lack of exercise, being overweight, sleep problems, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, stress, boredom, depression—or plain hard work, according to Dr. James. F. Fries.
A three-month exercise program increased the major muscle group strength an average of 57 percent for a group with rheumatoid arthritis. After their twice-a-week sessions, they also walked faster and noted better balance, less pain and reduced fatigue, reports the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging.
Walking endurance improved because of a weight training program for a group of sedentary men and women between the ages of 65 and 79. They increased their average distance from 25 to 34 minutes before fatigue set in. A control group that remained sedentary experienced no change in this study by the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
For every hour of exercise, from two to three hours of life are gained, based on the findings of an ongoing study of nearly 17,000 Harvard alumni men. The life extension proves most evident for people 70 and up.
Balance training programs such as Tai Chi may help older adults with stability problems reduce their risk of falls, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
The best drivers among older adults are the ones who rate highly on cardiovascular fitness, based on a study at West Virginia University.
Ask your doctor, if you are over 65, about the doses of over-the-counter medication you take regularly. Many seniors do not need—and should not take—full adult doses, according to the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.
Laughter controls pain in four ways, reports writer Barbara Johnson. It 1) distracts attention, 2) reduces tension, 3) changes expectations, and 4) increases the production of endorphins—chemicals released by the pituitary that increase one’s sense of well-being.
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