A SENSIBLE APPROACH TO MIDDLE AGE: HEALTH PROBLEMS
Exercise
Paul Dudley White, the noted cardiologist, helped to popularize the concept that the risks of heart disease could be lessened through regular exercise. The attitude of most cardiologists at present is that the onset and severity of coronary heart disease is probably influenced by many variables such as age, heredity, the presence of other ailments, and eating habits. Along with these, exercise also plays an important role.
The sag, spare tyre, and middle-age spread are other good reasons for regular exercise. Exercise helps to tone up muscles and improve your figure. It also helps in weight loss.
Given a state of reasonable health, the middle-aged person can easily engage in and enjoy walking, bicycling, tennis, swimming, bowling, and many other activities.
Accidents
For the middle-aged person, a ‘minor’ accident may have serious repercussions, because bones tend to be more brittle and the body balance may be upset. This in turn may lead to the worsening of illnesses that the body had been able to keep under control until the accident.
I should like to point out here that in addition to the well-known effects of alcohol, there are many medicines that can slow down a person’s reactions and make driving or any other hazardous activity even more dangerous. It is always best to ask your physician about what restrictions you should observe when taking medicines.
Psychiatrists feel that in many cases accidents do not just happen. There may be unconscious wishes to gain revenge or sympathy, or even to commit suicide. Therefore, it seems to be good advice not to drive or engage in hazardous activities when in a state of severe emotional upset, depression, or agitation.
Diet
Throughout life, the quality and quantity of the food we eat is of tremendous significance. In the younger years, proper growth and maturation depend on a balanced diet; in the middle years, a diet that is well-balanced helps to maintain a healthy body and prepare it to resist mental and physical strain.
A significant health problem in the middle years is overweight. Life insurance tables show that in the age group from 45 to 60, the death rate increases roughly 1 per cent for each pound of excess fat.
Some of the problems that overweight causes are an increased incidence of arteriosclerotic heart disease, blood-vessel disease, high blood pressure, and the unmasking of diabetes that would not have become apparent otherwise. In addition, there is a prolongation of convalescence from surgery and an increased risk of surgical and anaesthetic complications.
I discuss what to do about overweight and how to approach dieting. Of particular interest at this time of life is the role of cholesterol in the diet.
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