Aging and diet, exercise, health, companionship, sex and sugery

DIET

 The aging person should at the well-balanced diet we have advocated in Chapter 6. Many older people feel better when they take a multivitamin tablet or capsule daily. If this produces indigestion, ask your doctor to prescribe a diet that will provide the extra vitamins. Old people do better, whenever possible, taking small meals at frequent intervals rather than depending upon one or two large meals a day.

WEIGHT The older person does best to be on the thin side. This can be achieved by regulating intake of calories and by using regular exercise. (See page 65 on weight reduction.)

EXERCISE

 One of the truly important aids to vigorous healthy old age is regular daily exercise. Brisk walking is one of the best exercises.

Swimming another

 But the choices are limit- Aging less. Simply check your kind of exercise, what you enjoy most, with your doctor to determine that it falls within the capacity of your heart and lungs. And reread Chapter 8 on exercise.

HEALTHY EMOTIONAL LIFE

 Good physical condition is necessary for a good emotional life in old age because it is a rare person who can be happy when constantly bothered by chronic illness or pain. On the other hand, good physical condition does not guarantee emotional health. It is such a pity to find elderly people whose bodies are in good shape but who are mentally depressed, lonely, or dispirited from empty hours. Retirement from work is always a serious change and should be discussed with your doctor. If you are a "doer" and not a "sitter," it may be necessary for you to find a new job, full or part time; or if you prefer not to work or cannot find employment you like, then as a doer you need vigorous activities and work hobbies.

COMPANIONSHIP

 This is very important, and as friends and relatives move away or die, new human contacts should be sought in church groups, clubs, and social groups for older citizens. For those who do not work, the day can still be full if there are friends and relatives to visit, books to read, movies and television to see, radio to listen to-and time for exercise. Each season has its appropriate sports, and there is much enjoyment to be found. in viewing them on television or in person.

SEX

 Part of healthy emotional life of old age is sex. Good medical thinking today recommends that people continue sexual activity until they die. The enjoyments and also the health/Disease Scenarios benefits of an active sex life are set forth in detail and persuasively by Dr. David Reuben in his book, Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex (David McKay, Publisher, 750 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017).

SURGERY IN THE AGED

 With the great advances in surgery and anesthesia, even the very elderly today can be operated on safely. There is no need for an older person to be disabled by a hernia for fear of the surgery involved. And the same applies to cataracts and many other conditions that require surgery for correction.