Transcript HEALTHY AGING - GerontologyIndia.com

HEALTHY AGING
Dr. VINOD KUMAR
Emeritus Prof., St Stephens Hospital, Delhi
Formerly, Prof. of Medicine & Chief, Geriatric
Services, AIIMS, New Delhi &
WHO Advisory Panel on Aging and Health
HEALTHY AGING
DEFINITION AND GOALS
Healthy and active aging is a process to achieve
physical, mental and social well being throughout
one’s life particularly in the later years
WHAT IS THE GOAL ?
Disease & disability free life with high physical &
cognitive function and active engagement with life
in old age
HEALTHY AGING IS A REALITY AND
NOT A DREAM
• Functional capacity like ventilator capacity, muscle strength
& cardiovascular output increases in childhood & peaks in
early adulthood, eventually followed by a decline resulting
in disease & disability in old age.
• Rate of decline however gets accelerated by negative adult
life style factors like smoking, alcohol, lack of exercise,
improper diet as well as by environmental & external
factors; Hence this decline can be slowed down or even
reversed at any age through the individual himself or the
policy makers.
DETERMINANTS OF ACTIVE AGING
• Behavioural: smoking, alcohol, exercise, diet, drugs
• Environmental: pollution, home safety, rural/urban
• Socioeconomic: family,community ,income, literacy
• Personal: biology, genetics, coping mechanisms
• Services: primary care, health prom. disease preven
IS PRESENT MINDSET CHANGING ?
• Traditionally, elderly in India have come to accept
failing health & dependency as a part of their old age,
disengage from material life, practice spirituality and
live in joint family.
• With increasing life span, greater social & household
involvement of elderly is happening but it is a
challenge for Indian geriatricians to change their
mindset so that they begin adopting healthy lifestyles
& environment to eliminate risk factors and remain fit
and independent.
HEALTHY AGING DETERMINANTS
With Impact on Life Long
Development and QOL
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
 Joint Family
• Poverty & Abuse
 Active Involvement
• Illiteracy
 Physical Activity
• Double Burden
 Vegetarianism
• Insanitation
 Spirituality & Relax
• Inaccessible Care
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MODIFIABLE DISEASE RISK FACTORS
Cardiovascular: sedentary, obesity, lipids, BP, salt, diet, smok, pollut
Pulmonary:
smoking, environmental pollution
Neurological:
BP, smoking, alcohol, diet, depress,mental inactivity
Diabetes:
diet,sedentary, obesity
Musculoskeletal: sedentary, obesity, hormone deficiency
Gastrointestinal: low fibre, alcohol, poor oral hygiene
Urogenital:
BP, hormone deficiency
Infections:
under nutrition, poor skin care and no vaccination
Cancers:
diet, smoking, chewing tobacco
Spl senses:
sunlight, noise, diabetes, water fluoride, drugs
Accidents :
unsafe homes
K S Sunil. Primer on Geriatric Care. Pp 12-18, 2002
SUMMARY OF LIFE STYLE GOALS
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Physical activity
Healthy diet
Avoid smoking
Judicious medication
Good oral hygiene
Health screening
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Social involvement
Mental activity
Immunizations
Hormones – HRT
Clean environment
Home safety
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• Benefits: Physiological, psychological and social.
if physical exercise could be dispensed as a pill, it
could be the most valuable prescription to prevent
diseases (Edward Staneley)
• Varieties: Aerobic, resistance and balance exercises.
yogic, spiritual & exercise related to work,
recreation, household and social interaction
• Duration: Brisk walk for 20-60 mts for 3-5 d/week
morning walk better as he is fresh, walks with his
whole body; in evening he walks only with his legs
1.WHO. The Heidelberg Guidelines. JAPA 5: 2-8, 1997; 2.Vinod Kumar. JAPA 6: 205-6, 1998
HEALTHY DIET
• Low fat, low salt, adequate liquids, proteins,
vitamins, calcium, micronutrients and high fibre,
fruits and vegetables
• Make them relish their food with good flavour,
smell, colour, utencils and environment
• Frequent small meals, no overeating
food left on the table does more good than what
has been taken
SMOKING AND EXCESS ALCOHOL
• It is never too late to quit smoking
• Consuming alcohol in excess is different from
taking in moderation
• Scientific methods are in place to give up
these addictions and to deal with problems
of withdrawl
JUDICIOUS MEDICATIONS
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Properly understand directions of their use
Take with or after food unless told otherwise
Get ingredients checked to avoid duplication
Consult doctor to avoid unnecessary medicines
Never hoard medicines you no longer require
Do not share medicines with anyone
MISCELLANEOUS
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Personal cleanliness and oral hygiene
Bowel movements and sound sleep
Avoid dust and pollution
Home and road safety
Specific tasks e.g.Screening, HRT, immunization
Engagement with life is a must: A perpetual holiday
is a good working definition of hell-Bernard Shaw
• Have a positive attitude: To me old age is always 15
years older than I am