9/4/07

Healthy Aging

Americans are now living longer.  For those seniors wanting a long life, it is important that they maintain a healthy lifestyle and take some preventative measures.  

Living a healthy lifestyle helps protect against the deterioration that is often associated with aging.  Dr. Don Scott, associate professor and chief of general internal medicine at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says the most important thing for a healthy lifestyle is exercise.

SOUND BITE: “. . . one thing that’s important to point out when it comes to seniors is the importance of doing some sort of balance exercise to help prevent falls.  And, also getting the type of exercise that’s called either resistance training or weight training to help strengthen muscles and to help strengthen bones.”

Dr. Scott says nutrition is another key factor in healthy aging.  He recommends eating five servings of fruits and vegetables every day and staying away from saturated fats.  Maintaining good health in the senior years also includes getting the various health screenings.

SOUND BITE: “. . . the ones people think of most frequently are cancer screenings and so certainly, the basic ones are breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening for women.  Colon cancer screening for men and women and prostate cancer screening for men.” 
Dr. Scott also recommends influenza vaccinations, quitting smoking and having body mass index measured. 

For more information about healthy aging, check with a personal physician, a local senior citizen center or public health department, or visit the American Geriatric Society Web site at www.healthandaging.org.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.