Men's
HEALTH
Getting old isn’t easy By Bryant Stamford
Seventy-year-olds were asked if they hoped to live to be 100. Most respondents said they couldn’t bear to think of living another 30 years, given the poor quality of their lives. Before I turned 70, I told myself that their quality of life would be much improved if they took better care of themselves by exercising regularly, healthy eating, and watching their weight. If they did these things, they would do as I’m doing, gliding easily into the latter stages of life, and enjoying the golden years.
Lesson 1: Pride goes before a fall Now that I am 75, I’ve learned that the Good Lord has a way of shedding arrogance. It’s not pretty. I have always been smug about not needing to take any prescription medications. Over the past few years, even though my diet has been consistently very healthy, my total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad kind that clogs arteries) crept up and were no longer stellar and fodder for bragging rights. In response, my preventive-oriented doctor convinced me to begin taking a low dose of a statin drug. Score one for aging.
Bryant Stamford is a professor of kinesiology and integrative physiology at Hanover College in Indiana. This article is courtesy of the Louisville Courier Journal.
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I used to be a good sleeper, but a few years ago I noticed that my sleep was not deep nor satisfying. In addition, despite my regular intensive workouts, my muscle mass was dwindling at an alarming rate. I suspected it might have something to do with my testosterone level, so I had it checked. Sure enough, my levels were so low, they weren’t even in the normal range. From there, I started on a low dose of prescription testosterone. Score two for aging. Want more? OK, here are two more embarrassing admissions. As an elder, my immune system isn’t what it used to be, and when we got a new hot tub, I immediately came down with a severe and stubborn case of folliculitis, an infection of one or more of the pockets from which hair grows. More prescription drugs followed. Score three for aging. And, speaking of aches and pains, here is the ultimate zinger. Just a few weeks ago, I had complete right hip replacement surgery. Yes, the Golden Years can be great, but I now humbly admit that no matter who you are or what you do, aging will exact a price. And if the price is too great, I now understand that it makes sense to not want to live to be 100.
