Pro-aging

Growing up as the youngest in a three-generation household, I always looked forward to growing older. 

I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
'cause it's a long way to go. . .
But in the meantime . . .
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

– “Beautiful Boy,” by John Lennon

But I didn’t look forward to living forever, which seemed like an exhausting prospect.  Instead, I preferred that others outlive myself, so I wouldn’t have to be the one left behind having to deal with loss, grief, sadness, etc.  However, according to Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin of The Longevity Project, my exceptionally high conscientious personality is a strong predictor of longevity.  So onward, I go forth growing older and aging in my conscientious manner . . . 

According to The Living to 100 Life ExpectancyCalculator and Northwestern Mutual Lifespan Calculator, my life expectancy is 100 years and 96 years, respectively. 

I was amused and somewhat alarmed about these predictions.  Because my grandparents lived past 90 years old before succumbing to pneumonia, I’ve been using age 90 when making retirement calculations so now I’m alarmed that I may have to build a larger nest egg for my retirement! 

The Living to 100 feedback indicated that I could increase my life expectancy by making the following lifestyle changes:  taking an aspirin every day to improve heart and brain health could add 1 year, and minimizing sun exposure to reduce skin cancer risk could add a quarter of a year.  However, I have no intention of following these recommendations because I don’t really desire to live an additional 1.25 years beyond age 100. 

I see no reason to take aspirin daily to prevent a heart attack/stroke when I don’t have disease risk factors, and when risk of gastrointestinal bleeding may outweigh any benefits.  I am skeptical of daily aspirin advice, which sounds like pharmaceutical marketing, when tastier food can be medicine such as DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension, which prescribes lots of fruits and vegetables, less sodium and fat).

I also don’t plan to minimize sun exposure if it merely adds 3 months to my life expectancy.  I use UV rays to make sunshine vitamin D, which is needed to properly use calcium and phosphorus to strengthen bones.  If out in the sun for more than 30 minutes, I take reasonable precaution like wearing a wide-brimmed hat and covering up my skin.

The Living to 100 feedback also suggested the following nutrition and physical activity changes to increase my life expectancy:  add more dairy products or take calcium supplement to add half a year; increase exercise to 30 minutes, at least 4 days a week to add 1 year; and being more active in my leisure time could add half a year.     

I often wonder if the dairy and pharmaceutical industries have teamed up to market this idea that the best sources of calcium for bone health come from dairy and calcium supplements.  According to Amy Lanou’s Building Bone Vitality, high animal protein (dairy) diets are associated with high hip fracture rates because they increase calcium loss due to high renal acid loss (kidney stones); instead, highly alkaline, cruciferous greens are better sources for calcium absorption.

         

If my busy schedule permits, I would like to increase my physical activity, which is also recommended for bone health.  However, my motivation for making changes would be to reduce pain and suffering (potential bone fractures) and to balance my introspective activity, rather than to extend my life (as I might not be able to afford to live longer).

Northwestern Mutual’s question on blood pressure didn’t provide a response for low blood pressure (hypotension) so I responded with “best” answer that my blood pressure reading is normal.  In fact, I have low blood pressure, which is not really a problem unless it causes symptoms like dizziness and faintness that can increase the risk of falls and thereby shorten longevity if fatal.

(Photos taken from Tulipmania at Pier 39.  Tulip blooms for two weeks: die young, stay pretty.)