HOWTO LIVE TO 100
My Weekly’s favourite GP from TV and radio writes for you
We’ve all been touched by the news that the Duke of Edinburgh is to step down from his royal duties at the age of 95, after 70 years of public service. A man who’s still active at a ripe old age. How can you follow in his footsteps?
Life expectancy continues to rise in the UK – a boy born today could expect to live to over 79, and a girl to nearly 83. Of course, these are average figures – if half of men died at 89 and the other half at 69, the average would be 79. By 2015, there were 14,500 people over 100 years old in the UK – 65% more than there were in 2005.
As for the youngsters, there are over half a million over 90s living in the UK today. So how can you skew the odds in your favour?
You can’t choose your family – sometimes living longer is about inheriting the right genes. Being a woman helps. On average, women live 4 years longer than men. But the gap is closing, largely as death rates from heart disease, which has always killed more men than women, have dropped so much in the last 20 years.
Part of this is down to better treatment when people have a heart attack, but much of it is down to prevention.
For a long and healthy life, it helps to know your numbers – cholesterol as well as blood pressure. High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for stroke and a major cause of heart attacks. You won’t know you’ve got it unless you have it checked – at least every 5 years if you’re over 40, and more often if your doctor advises. If tablets are recommended, do take them.
Raised cholesterol is another problem you won’t
YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO EXERCISE! GREAT FOR HEART AND BONES, IT ALSO HELPS BALANCE AND REDUCES THE RISK OF FALLS
know you have unless it’s checked – and lifestyle and statin tablets can dramatically cut its impact. A reassuring major study just last month showed that muscle pain, the most well-known side effect of statins, is usually due to a “nocebo” effect – if you think you might get side effects, they’ll happen, but they’re down to mind over matter rather than the tablet itself. Except in rare cases of severe pain (always see your doctor) most muscle aches among patients taking statins are due to life’s stresses and strains.
Atrial fibrillation or AF, the most common abnormal heart rhythm in the UK, affects 1.2 million Britons, mostly older. You’re 5 times more likely to have a stroke if you have AF unless you take blood-thinning medicines called anticoagulants. Lots of people used to be on regular aspirin (75mg a day) as an alternative, but it simply doesn’t do the job for AF. It is, however, effective at cutting your risk of heart attack or stroke. So my top tips? They’re not rocket science! u Don’t smoke! It accounts for nearly 1 in 5 deaths among over 35 year olds u Watch your weight – being overweight raises your risk of cancer and type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Exercise more u Get your immunisations – influenza and pneumococcal infections are more likely to carry you off as you get older u Keep it Mediterranean – eat more fruit, veg, wholegrain foods, beans and lentils, swap from butter to healthier oils and red meat to fish u Have your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and pulse rhythm checked regularly u You’re invited for screening for a reason! Mammograms, colon cancer screening and cervical smears pick up cancers early, when they’re more treatable, or in some cases prevent them u Stimulate your brain as well as your body. Next week: Don’t reach for the tablets
KEEP LAUGHING! PEOPLE WHO LAUGH ARE LESS LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION – WHICH CAN SHORTEN LIFE, AND CERTAINLY MAKES IT LESS FUN
STIMULATE YOUR BRAIN AS WELL AS YOUR BODY – KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE BY LEARNING
SKILL’’ A NEW