The CDC recently reported, ” 55- to 64-year-olds have about 19 to 27 years of life expectancy remaining.’ That is exceptionally encouraging news not just for baby boomers but for anyone who loves life.
However, the other part of that same sentence says we are also “at growing risk of developing chronic conditions.” The headline from which this post emanates is, “Aging Boomers Living Longer Despite Health Issues.” And so I think there may be a lesson in this information. For in order to function at one’s personal peak, there must be a commitment to constant physical activity. Yes I know that is easy to say. But the question is why are boomers living longer and how to put what we can learn from their practices into action in such a way that we can make longevity a reality for each of us.
The report says boomers address getting old in very specific ways:
- From 2009 to 2012 the chronic diseases of diabetes, high cholesterol, acid reflux, depression (among a few others) remained unchanged. Forty percent of us are over-weight and more than 51% have hyper-tension
- Yet our death rates have declined (good news)
- Most of us are using drugs to address these chronic problems
- We are extremely stressed out which sort of confuses me. I am not sure why that is except that perhaps ( I say, perhaps) we are not adjusting to psychological distress. From my own life, I’d wager that some of us feel an ennui for the past and are looking to give more meaning to our lives.
What steps can you take today
Between 2012 and 2013 we started to exercise MORE than in the period 2002 to 2003. That may account for the declining death rates, along with a willingness to take drugs, which our predecessors did not take as much. When I look at these summary findings my takeaway is that I will up my gym visits. Federal guidelines recommend “adults perform at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity.”
Travel, walk, stretch, dance, play with your grandchildren. Just be creative and intentional in your activities so that they give you multifaceted results. And if you have agreed to take a regimen of medicine, then follow your doctor’s instructions. Do not self-prescribe. How much regular exercise do you get in?
Ruth Curran says
Important research perfectly put in the context of our lives! I think you captured it here Patricia: “Just be creative and intentional in your activities so that they give you multifaceted results.” That is the message isn’t it?
Patricia A Patton says
Yes it made sense to me when I initially read. thanks Ruth. I think creativity must be comvined with intention because the best intentions, well you know what they say about them paving the way to hell. No seriously I know I have to work with my intentions to manifest them. So yes, I think that is the message (smile)./
Ani says
Excellent article Patricia! My life certainly changed when in menopause my sleep patterns changed drastically leaving me too exhausted to exercise. I’ll never forget your sage insight when you mentioned “Menopause will throw you off your game, girl.” Well you never lied on that count. It’s about mitigating these changes as best we can. Recently I’ve pushed through and started back to exercising and it fuels me! I find so many great benefits to exercise like the natural tendency to make better eating choices. It’s 2:12 a.m. Am I stressed about being up? Nope! But on the other hand I shouldn’t be on social either at this hour But look at this great gem I found. Kudos!
Patricia A Patton says
Mitigating the changes as best we can is the activity behind using your time creatively and intentionally. That is for sure. I was up at 2:30 after passing out at 11:30 pm. But that simply is not enough sleep. I need to confer with my doctor. One wouldn’t think that a slight change in estrogen could cause so much havoc.