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The Secrets to Long Life A Cardiologist’s Perspective BY MIAN A. JAN, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.S.C.A.I., AND SURAJ JOSHI
§2. What to do.
“It is our duty, my young friends, to resist old age; to compensate for its defects by a watchful care; to fight against it as we would fight against disease; to adopt a regimen of health; to practise moderate exercise; and to take just enough of food and drink to restore our strength and not to overburden it… greater care is due to the mind and soul; for they, too, like lamps, grow dim with time, unless we keep them supplied with oil.” (de Senectute §11) You may have heard the above from a doctor (without the flowery language). But it’s actually from Cato Maior de Senectute, an essay on aging written in 44 BC by the Roman rhetorician Cicero. Cato the Elder, 83 years old, advises two 30-year-olds who heard terrible things about old age. They demanded that Cato explain how he survived so long. Arguably, Cato’s response is the best prescription for longevity even now.
(Image: NIH News in Health) Eat healthily; eat less. Eating a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and diverse protein sources adds up to 13 years to your life (Fadnes 2022). But it can be difficult to keep all the diet recommendations straight. The Harvard Crimson has an excellent rubric for portioning foods throughout the day.
Of course, medical wisdom has progressed since Cicero, especially in the last century. In 1900, people in the US lived on average to 47 years (CDC). Now, it’s up to 81 years – almost double. If we double it again in the next century, we’ll live to over 150. Yet in many ways, the best advice has stayed the same. With few modifications, the Harvard Health blog agrees with Cato above, recommending that people avoid smoking, challenge their minds, exercise every day, and eat healthily. The Princeton Longevity Center also recommends regular preventative medical exams like colonoscopies, cardiovascular stress tests, and immunizations. Staying on top of all this can be daunting, but it’s never too late to commit to a longer, healthier life. In §2 and §3, we’ll review the best medical recommendations for prolonging life. We’ll cover some new research on prolonging life in §4. We’ll conclude with the key takeaways in §5.
As a general rule, green plants and vegetables are good (spinach, kale, green peppers). Margarine-based foods and white bread/pasta are bad due to their highly processed nature and high carbohydrate content. continued on next page >
SPRING 2022 | CHESTER COUNT Y Medicine 11
