5 Key Health Habits That Add Quality to Longevity

by Darline Turner Lee, Physician Assistant, ACSM Exercise Specialist

Article Last Reviewed: Sept. 9, 2006

Members of the senior aerobics class at the Southwest YMCA defy many beliefs about seniors. This class of approximately 30 participants ranges in age from 65 to 83 years, and meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. If you plan to participate, get ready for a workout including jumping jacks, a step aerobic segment, strength training, stretching and toning.

The superior health of this group begs the question, why are these folks living freely and fully while many of their counter parts are confined to nursing homes in ill health physically and mentally? Five of the class participants shared what they believe are the keys to successful senior living.

Pauline Weldon, 71 years, believes physical activity is key. “I have always been physically active since grade school. Where I grew up, we walked everywhere. Weight maintenance was never an issue.

Betty Roe, age 67, agrees. “I began doing regular exercise while I was a nursing student. I found that exercise helped to control stress and anxiety. Exercise was a very important part of my recovery from breast cancer.

No one smokes or ever smoked for any significant amount of time. Ralph Wassinger, age 75, says, “I smoked a little bit from age 17 to 24. Then I just quit cold turkey. I haven’t smoked since. As for exercise, I’ve exercised on and off through the years. I’ve never had a weight problem and have always been skinny.

Milt and Penny Schwartz live a life that many of us can strive for as we approach our golden years. At 87 and 83 respectively, the couple will celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary this year and just returned from a Hawaiian vacation. When asked if they thought genetics played a role in their longevity, Milt answered, “Both our parents passed away in their seventies and my siblings are gone. Penny and I are essentially orphans now.”

Penny added, “My younger sister is in a nursing home suffering with Alzheimers and like Milt said, my parents died in their seventies. I doubt its genetics in my case.”

Mary Maxwell, MD, a geriatric physician in private practice, provides home visits to elderly patients. She has these observations.

“Seniors who continue to engage in a moderate amount of regular physical activity and continue to participate in hobbies of all kinds tend to have a better quality of life. Those with a lot of social interaction and a willingness to try new things fare better than seniors who are isolated. A dangerous situation is one where one spouse solely cares of the other (ailing) spouse. This can lead to neglect of the caregiver, who may actually die first. It is important that seniors focus on personal needs and interests and balance their needs with those for whom they provide care.

Steven Dobberfuhl, MD, is an internist with Adult Care of Austin. His practice is approximately 70% senior adults.

“Successful seniors rarely if ever abused their bodies. They neither smoke nor drink excessively, but if they did, it was for a very short time long ago. Also, they were never overweight. The seniors in my practice who are still vibrant and independent are still physically and socially active and accountable to family and friends.”

So if you want to live to be 80, you may want to adopt the following lifestyle habits:

• Exercise regularly
  Maintain your weight in the healthy range for your height
• Don’t smoke
• Avoid excessive, abusive behaviors (obesity, drinking, etc...)
• Remain socially active and accountable