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In 1511, Spanish conqueror Don Juan Ponce de Leon began his search for the legendary Fountain of Youth. The journey led him to an area now known as St. Augustine, Florida. Here, Ponce de Leon believed he might discover not only the age-restorative waters, but also a wealth of gold. Instead of the Fountain of Youth, the explorer found hostile Indians who killed him with a poison arrow to the stomach. Although the search for the mythical Fountain of Youth has ended, many people continue to seek ways to avoid the ravages of time and to improve health and quality of life at any age. For those interested in living longer and better, the following articles provide a variety of suggestions. "It is very important for people to stay active and connected to those around them."
The Body When it comes to good nutrition, there are “different strokes for different folks.” Find a healthy regimen that fits your needs and keeps you as close as possible to the ideal body weight for your height and build. Most importantly, do not overeat at any meal and avoid eating heavy meals before bed. Skipping breakfast is also not a good idea; after fasting for six to eight hours during sleep, it is important to give the body the nutrients on which it can operate. To keep the body feeling young, several things are important. You need to exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes all at once or spread throughout the day. It is very important to stretch before and after exercise as lack of stretching can lead to injuries and loss of flexibility. In addition to exercise, the body also needs rest. Most people think of alarm clocks as devices used to awaken them, but they also can be used to tell us when to go to bed. Without rest, the body is more susceptible to stress, illness and injury. The Mind It is a well-recognized fact that when the mind is active and engaged in ongoing learning, it helps the individual stay mentally alert and young. Maintaining the right attitude is also essential, which means looking at the glass as half full instead of half empty. Additionally, a positive attitude can assist in your ability to fight illness. Instead of being an epitaph, the letters R.I.P. can also stand for “renewal investment plan.” Your renewal investment plan can pertain to anything that fills you with happiness. It is essential to think about how you are going to renew yourself and replenish your own fountain of energy and spirit. One suggestion for finding what makes you happy would be to create a personal “joy list.” Then, ask yourself when was the last time you experienced those particular joys. Periodically, do the activities that lift your spirit, whether that means going for a run or watching a sunset. Finally, I would stress the importance of maintaining relationships. Positive interactions with loved ones and friends add to our health and decrease our stress level. The author of Why Bad Things Happen to Good People relates that no one on his or her deathbed ever wishes to have worked more; they wish to have loved more. The more we interact with the people who love us, the easier it is to stay young.
An anesthesiologist wrote a book with the intriguing title, Your Real Age. In the book, he adds and subtracts years from an individual’s chronological age based on his or her habits. Do you smoke? Are you overweight? Did your parents die young? If yes, add some years. Do you exercise? Do you take vitamins? Do you have a pet dog or cat? If yes, subtract some years. These are tactics we can all use to keep Father Time at bay. When we speak of life extension by modern medicine, things get a bit more technical. We should consider three areas where medicine has made major advances: plastic surgery; physical improvement of our bones and organs; and mental health. My own feeling is that mental health is probably more important than the first two areas. In regard to cosmetics, modern plastic surgery can easily improve appearance. You are familiar with face-lifts performed on movie stars, but even more dramatic changes come from removing eyelid bags or tucking the tummy. Breast reduction surgery readily corrects sagging breasts and breast reconstruction is truly wonderful if a breast has been lost to cancer. Maxillofacial surgeons can move a chin in or out; while dentists can change the appearance of a smile All that makes us look younger, but you cannot judge a book by its cover. Arthritis, the scourge of advancing age, sometimes requires the total replacement of a hip or knee. I cannot list all the medical advances that are applied to diseases of advancing age, but two come to mind. With coronary artery bypass surgery, our hearts can continue to serve us well for many additional years. For women, the use of estrogens can help to maintain the strength of bones and may even contribute to better memory. Sexual function can be maintained well into the later years and is a quality of life issue for seniors - just witness the demand for Viagra.™ Finally, in regard to mental health, retirement is not necessarily a good thing. It is very important for people to stay active and connected to those around them. By staying involved in some capacity through part-time work, activities or volunteering, seniors can help themselves to stay mentally fit. A healthy mind can be a great help in overcoming a physical difficulty. A Senior's Perspectives on Aging Now retired, Edward and Marge Lilien of Livingston have created a social schedule that rivals the busiest of workdays. On any given afternoon the couple might be volunteering at Saint Barnabas Senior Health, attending a stimulating lecture, participating in a Tai Chi or line dancing class, swimming, playing tennis or trail walking. Mrs. Lilien, now 75, attributes her activity and that of her 78-year-old husband to relatively good health and a youthful outlook. “My age is just a number to me,” says Mrs. Lilien. “I feel much younger than 75 and I enjoy being with younger people. When you feel good you want to be around people who are not focused on their health problems. I’ve always been very active and I think that when you keep moving you do not have a chance to worry about the future.” Genetics also play a role in the couple’s longevity; her parents lived into their mid nineties and his survived into their late eighties. In addition, exercise keeps the pair feeling young. Mrs. Lilien swims two to three times a week and recommends this activity for seniors because it works the entire body with less risk of strain or injury. The Liliens are pleased that at this time of life they can do as they please, whether that means a walk in the woods or a ride in the country. As to the secret of their success, Mrs. Lilien recommends that seniors stay involved in life. “Whether you volunteer or take a class, just keep active and enjoy today,” she adds. [ top ] |
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Jay Kaplan, M.D. President of the Medical Staff and Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Saint Barnabas Medical Center; Director of Emergency Care Services for the S.B.H.C. System 
Dennis Filippone, M.D. Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Saint Barnabas Medical Center 
