6 minute read
Getting There
Keep Moving TO LIVE LONGER, BETTER STAY ACTIVE
What’s better than a long life? A long, active and healthy life. Here’s where transportation policy and health policy work together.
People are living longer. There have been dramatic increases in lifespan over the last century, but increases in healthspan have not kept pace.
Healthspan is the portion of your life spent in good health, free from chronic disease and the disabilities of aging. Clearly, it’s desirable to be robust rather than frail as we age.
There are signifi cant personal, familial and social costs when someone becomes so frail or bewildered that they need help with ordinary activities. Being unable to perform routine tasks represents a lack of function that puts a burden on loved ones and society.
The best approach to health is through a healthy lifestyle. We know not smoking, maintaining a good diet, social networks and physical activity increase lifespan and healthspan. Making positive changes in those areas shorten the gap between the end of a healthy life and the end of life.
Though public health has historically not been factored into transportation decisions, the two are bound together. Transportation causes air pollution, fatalities and injuries from traffi c crashes.
On the fl ip side, biking and walking for transportation (not just for recreation) are simple, cost-effective ways to incorporate physical activity into daily life. Walking or biking for a trip to a grocery or drug store, restaurant, post offi ce or workplace can be just as convenient as driving—and more pleasurable.
It’s not possible to correct all the consequences of a lifetime of poor eating, but it’s never too late to reap the benefi ts of increased physical activity. Start right now.
Research indicates bicycling increases both lifespan and healthspan and reduces the risk of dementia. A New Zealand study found those who biked to work had a 13 percent reduction in mortality. A British study showed bicycling improved the immune system.
Carlijn Kamphuis of the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands observes, “You could say that for every hour you cycle, you get an hour back in return. So, it adds to your life actually.”
And it adds to a healthier life. Bicycling helps avoid the four common diseases (among others) that account for 80 percent of chronic disease related deaths: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders and (some) cancers.
The World Health Organization designated 2021-2030 the decade of healthy aging. Prevention and delay of disease make economic and moral sense. We can focus not just on preventing death, but prolonging health. Longterm poor health doesn’t have to be inevitable. Moving our bodies needs to be a movement.
W S
By Walt Se fert Getting There
The sad fact is age is a risk factor for many conditions, including cancer, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and dementia. Age is a risk that can’t be avoided.
Currently, about 20 percent of a person’s life is lived with morbidity, that is, having a disease or medical condition. Today we’re living not just with a pandemic. We’re also in the midst of chronic diseases.
This reality so concerned oncologist and bioethicist Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel that he wrote a 2014 article (when he was 57) in The Atlantic magazine titled, “Why I hope to die at 75.” He expressed fears about a non-vigorous, nonproductive, non-creative life. His notion, greatly simplifi ed, was: Give me health, or give me death.
Many baby boomers have entered their 70s. Most probably disagree with Emanuel. Still, they are likely experiencing the physical deterioration that often accompanies aging. Despite America’s wealth and enormous outlays for health care, we fare poorly in outcomes compared to other developed countries. Even worse are our disturbing differences in lifespan and healthspan among different socioeconomic groups.
Walt Seifert is executive director of Sacramento Trailnet, an organization devoted to promoting greenways with paved trails. He can be reached at bikeguy@surewest.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n
THEATRE GUIDE THEATRE GUIDE
CLUE: The Musical
May 4 – May 22 Sac Theatre Company 1419 H St, Sac 95814 Sactheatre.org
Based on the internationally popular board game, this fun-filled musical brings the world’s best-known suspects to life and invites audience members to pick the who, what, and where cards and then play along to help solve the mystery: who killed Mr. Boddy, where in the mansion, and with what weapon. There are over 200 possible solutions but only one hard-nosed female detective is qualified to unravel the merry mayhem. Comic antics, interactive fun, and a possible surprise twist await you in this clever who-dunnit! Subscriptions are currently on sale for our 2021-2022 in-person Season of WHO, WHAT & WHERE. Single tickets go on sale September 7th. The ASL Interpreted performance will take place on Friday, May 20th at 8:00pm
The Barber of Seville
May 7 Presented by Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center 1301 L St, Sac Sacphilopera.org
Many years ago, two great composers once met in Vienna. “Rossini, I congratulate you. The Barber of Seville delights me. It will be played as long as opera exists,” Ludwig van Beethoven excitedly told him! The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera presents Rossini’s masterpiece, The Barber of Seville. Fully staged, with costumes, lighting, and sets – at the new SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center. The Barber of Seville will truly be a performance to remember!
Tootsi
May 17 – May 22 Presented by Broadway Sacramento SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center 1301 L St, Sac Broadwaysacramento.com
Call it “musical comedy heaven” (Rolling Stone). Call it “the most uproarious new musical in years!” (The Hollywood Reporter). Call it TOOTSIE! This laugh-out-loud love letter to the theatre tells the story of a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until one show-stopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime. “In these turbulent times, when the world seems out of balance, we need a place to let the good times roll,” raves Rolling Stone. “TOOTSIE is it!”
Livin’ Fat
May 6 – May29 Celebration Arts 2727 B St, Sac Celebrationarts.net
LIVIN’ FAT, directed by Michael Benjamin. Set in the 70s, the Carter family is guaranteed to warm your heart and make you smile.
SUBMIT EVENTS TO ANIKO@INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM Sac State’s College of Continuing Education Youth Programs 7th-12th Graders
Monday – Friday June 20 - 24 June 27 - July 1 July 11 - 15 July 18 - 22 July 25 - 29
Experience hands-on classes in STEM, creative arts, education, business, public safety and more!
Register Now
Browse the course descriptions at: www.cce.csus.edu/youth-programs
ale OPI Cosmedix Image Hempz American Wave Bellami Extensio
Mother's Day May 8 Mix and match 3 of your favorite KMS, Goldwell, Style Sign or DualSenses and receive a Beach Bag!
Pop-Up Botox event with The Botox Fairy coming up on May 22nd
Grand Re-Opening
June 11
5-8PM There will be a DJ, local vendors, over $1000 in raffle prices with raffle tickets starting at $5, grab bags, food, drinks, and fun!
