Better health the key to longevity

It isn’t great to live longer if it is without good health. We need to improve our lifestyles, change our eating habits and diet to promote healthy ageing.

I TURNED 65 last Friday. Considering my biological mother and father died at the age of 47 and 61 respectively, technically speaking, I am living on bonus time. All my siblings except one have heart problems. One of my brothers died of a diabetes-related illness. The cholesterol level is high in our blood, diabetes is waiting to pounce and blood pressure is always a worry.

I went through angioplasty two years ago because two of my arteries were blocked. When I had an occasional debilitating pain in the sternum area, I wrongly assumed that it was a symptom of heartburn. I read somewhere that heartburn symptoms are similar to those of heart problems.

I was in the state of denial. It simply couldn’t happen to me. I had never failed to exercise. I went on a brisk walk at least five days a week and I climbed hills and walked the jungle treks whenever I could.

I literally starved myself for I am vulnerable to weight gain. I ate very little starchy items, seldom taking anything sweet and consuming only fish. I avoided meat and chicken altogether.

Despite all that, there was 90% blockage in two of my arteries. Luckily, I am not diabetic (at least not yet), my blood pressure is reasonably good (“border-line case” is the more appropriate term) and my sugar level is at the category of “excellent control”.

So, I should have no reason to complain. But still I am envious of some people I know who are exceptionally healthy at old age. The Iron Man of Petaling Jaya, Adnan Osman, is 77 and shows no sign of slowing down. His last crazy stunt was cycling all the way to the London Olympics in 2012.

Uncle Sang is 89 and still a regular on the Bukit Gasing jungle trek. Royal Prof Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid stopped jogging only in his 80s. Uncle Chan is 86 and still jogging at Taman Jaya.

And Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is 93, the oldest head of government in the world today. He works like a man half his age. He is still sharp, alert and sarcastic. They say life begins at 40. Tun Mahathir has proven 93 is the new 40.

Ageing is baffling. There are those who age graciously, even smartly, while others grieve as ageing impacts upon their looks and vitality, not to mention libido. There are others who age faster than their age.

In today’s world, we are adapting to new realities about “ageism”. But having a long life is one thing, being healthy is another. There is little point of burdening the family and society when one is always sick. When living an extended life, it is of course best to stay healthy. After all, if some billionaires can buy life, they certainly would have done so. Money can’t buy health.

In Malaysia we don’t die of hunger. We die of excessive food.

Things were a lot simpler back then. Take the case of the Malays. Malay peasants eat nasi lemak, pulut (glutinous rice) and a lot of sweet cakes. But they toiled in the fields all day long. Our lifestyle have changed but our eating habits have not. And we were healthy back then – no junk food and our land was not poisoned by chemicals.

Yes, it is true the lifespan of humans has doubled over the last 200 years, especially in industrialised nations. But those who live longer are not necessarily healthier. Old people in modern societies are getting less and less well. The only thing that keep them going is the drugs – the medicines.

There are currently 33 million Americans who are reaching old age. There are 332 million Chinese in that category.

Of the world population, 10% are above 60 now. That is 700 million people. According to a projection by a United Nation agency, there will be two billion of them in 2050. Imagine the health cost and the impact on the economy if a substantial number of them are sick.

The goal should be longevity accompanied by better health. Modern medicine is not just to pro- long life but to promote healthy ageing.

The new conversation is not just about living up to a 100 but making sure it is a healthy 100. It is not easy to emulate communities like the Abkhasians, Vilcabambans, Hunzas or Okinawans, who are known for living long and healthy lives. They are exceptions.

They live in a world different from ours. But we must emulate their eating habits and dietary routines. We must learn from them the secret of living to be a robust centenarian.

What is the secret of long and reasonably healthy life? I don’t have to look far. I am learning from Dr Mahathir. After all, I have 28 years to reach his age. So I am not that old after all.