Discover Healthy Aging

Increasing, Americans are living longer. Today, the fastest growing sector of the population are people 85 years and older. Although Americans live longer, they can develop a chronic disease which causes frailness. To achieve healthy old age, building and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is paramount.

Health Aging means paying attention to your physical, intellectual, and emotional well-being. Walking and stretching keeps your body agile, reading and learning keeps your mind sharp, and developing and nurturing relationships keeps your spirit alive. By tending to these aspects of life, a good attitude may develop which can make you look and feel younger.

Growing older cannot be prevented. Some of the effects of aging can be slowed and even prevented. Life style strongly determines how well we age. A healthy lifestyle includes:

• Seven – eight hours of sleep at night
• Weight control
• Exercise (physical and mental)
• Limited alcohol consumption
• Not smoking
• Eating breakfast

Sources: The Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center; Mayo Clinic, Senior Health Center; NetWellness, Consumer Health Information

For more in-depth information on living a healthy lifestyle and increase the chances of healthy aging, visit:

• American Academy of Family Physicians, Clinical Care & Research, Nutrition Screening Initiative
• Administration on Aging
• American Federation for Aging Research
• HealthyAging
• Healthy People 2010
• MedlinePlus: Seniors' Health Issues
• National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
• National Council on Aging
• National Institute on Aging
• The Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center, Aging Successfully
• University Hospitals HealthSystem, Geriatric Assessment Program