Aging, Death and Dying

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 Aging–What are the impacts of aging on physical, psychological and social health?

What can be done to promote successful aging and minimize these effects?

Being a hospice volunteer for 17 years, and taking care of my 90 year old father for 3 years, taught me a lot about aging, death and dying.  The best thing that we can do for ourselves as we age is to take care of what we have.  Eat well, exercise, and keep our weight at a normal BMI. Stimulate our minds by reading, doing puzzles, having fun, laughing, and reduce stress to a minimum.

I do yoga, walk, golf, and ride horses once a week.  My favorite is riding.  I wanted to share what I have learned.

I have always been passionate about horses.  I started riding horses when I was young. Riding and showing horses was so fun, and I am grateful to still be capable of doing it.  It really works the core muscles that stabilize the trunk, abdominals, back and pelvic muscles.  It improves coordination and stability as well.  It is an isometric exercise, which means it uses specific muscles to stay in certain positions.  In this case balance is so important!! It’s challenging, especially when the horse is moving at a canter or gallop, and or jumping which is more difficult than trotting. (I have never jumped a horse.) It improves posture, muscle tone and makes you strong.  Horseback riding requires effort and energy which increases the cardiovascular system.  There is a confidence that comes from learning how to handle and interact with a huge animal.  You learn about yourself as you experience time on a horse.  Its grounding, you have no worries or issues, because for the time you are riding, the only focus is staying on the horse!

Psychologically, as we reach middle age, we start thinking about the end of our lives and start to plan. Many people retire, start planning their will, reduce their need for buying things, and start giving things away to their children or grandchildren, and travel.  Some of us will still work instead of retiring, especially if they enjoy what they do.

At this time in our lives, we are also seeing some friends and family members pass on in their life, children move away, and because of ill health become isolated, this brings depression, depression reduces the will to live.

Socially, people need to stay active, and have a purpose every day.  Keep doing what you love to do whether it is work related or just getting together with friends and family.

As for the time spent with my father, we enjoyed going to dinner, sitting on the deck in the sunshine, going for walks in his wheelchair, taking road trips and being with family. He liked donating money to help others, his favorite charity “Warm the Children” and St. Jude’s.

HGH-Does it really slow aging?

In hopes of keeping us feeling and looking youthful, some people turn to HGH. (Human Growth Hormones). HGH is produced by the pituitary gland and spurs growth in children and adolescents. It also helps to regulate body composition, body fluids, muscle and bone growth, and metabolize sugarand fat. The experts at the Mayo Clinic found that these claims are found to be untrue.  HGH can actually be harmful and not approved by the FDA for anti-aging.

HGH is used successfully for many things such as muscle wasting diseases caused by the effects of AIDS and HIV, or Prader-Willi syndrome, Turner’s syndrome, which are all associated with poor muscle tone.

HGH is has been marketed on TV infomercials and online, claiming that they turn back your body’s biological clock.

• Reducing fat
• Building muscle
• Restoring hair growth and color
• Strengthening the immune system, normalizing blood sugar
• Increasing energy
• Improving sex life, sleep, vision and memory

Side Effects of HGH:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Numbness and tingling of the skin
• High cholesterol levels
• Nerve and muscle joint pain
• Edema
• Increase the risk of diabetes

The quality of the drugs can be counterfeited if you order them on line.  If you are not getting the drug from your doctor you may not be getting the real thing.

Age gracefully, take care of what you have, and be grateful every day! Pick a sport that you are passionate about and do it!  Walk, run, stretch, and have fun with whatever you choose.  Surround yourself with your best friends, family and eat well!

…make a memory everyday and don’t apologize for who you are..rebecca

 

Reference:

Essential Concepts for healthy Living, Sixth Edition, Sandra Alters & Wendy Schiffmwebmd.com

mayoclinic.org (Healthy Lifestyle/Healthy Aging) (Mayo Clinic-20045735)

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