Staying Healthy After 50
To kick off the new year and set the stage for our 7-day New Year Challenge starting Tuesday, January 4th, 2022, we thought it would be helpful to lay a foundation with tips on how to live a healthy life after age 50. Yes2Next recently had the honor to learn from Dr. Audrey Chun of the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Dr. Chun is Vice Chair for Clinical Services in the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine and Director of Coffey Geriatrics at the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai. So we’re in very good hands! We hope the conversation is helpful and inspires you to say yes 2 your next steps to get stronger and healthier!
Dr. Chun explained what happens to our bodies mentally and physically as we age and offered advice on what we can do to have a good quality of life in our 50s and beyond. Below is an excerpt from our chat (edited for brevity). We invite you to watch the full interview on our YouTube channel (click on the video link in the image above)
Thank you for spending a few minutes of your busy day with us. Can you tell us about yourself and your work with older adults?
I am a gerontology physician with the Mount Sinai Hospital. Our patients are in their 50s, 60s, and beyond — some at 100 — who want to have a better quality of life. We analyze their lifestyles, check their medications and health and make recommendations, focusing on what can be done to improve their quality of life.
What is happening to our bodies after 50, 60, and beyond?
Men and women both experience bone and muscle loss as they age. Muscle loss can lead to falls and balance problems and metabolism slows down. Also, chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes sometimes may appear. Older patients also experience hearing and vision loss, changes in taste affects appetites and balance problems. Many of these ailments are often associated with just getting older but that is not necessarily true. We try to identify the problems and find the answers to correct them.
Can you talk about the effects of sitting too much?
Sitting too much affects your overall health. There is an old saying, “move it or lose it.” Staying active is important as we age. We know that individuals who were active when they were young tend to be healthier with less problems as they get older. Listen to your body. It’s never too late to start exercising. It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as running a marathon. Walking and short activity helps.
How can feelings of loneliness and depression many older adults experience be addressed?
Last year was a difficult time. Also, as we age, our social network gets smaller and many of our friends are not carried with us. But today, social media and social networks are helpful to keep us connected to family and friends. Also, many communities have senior resources in churches, temples, etc., that offer classes to learn something new and to make new social connections.
Can you talk generally about nutrition and what is best for older adults to eat?
It’s good to eat a plant-based diet – not necessarily vegetarian – but one heavy on whole grains and protein. Eat less sugar and salt. One’s plate should be ½ vegetable, ¼ protein, and ¼ carbohydrates, (complex carbohydrates). Everything in moderation is the key. Even alcohol consumption for both men and women should be limited to one glass a day. Calcium and Vitamin D are important too. Calcium should be limited to 1200mg per day and should be gained from food rather than supplements since studies show that calcium supplements can negatively affect the heart. Vitamin D is important for your bones and supplements may be needed when sunshine is not available. Check with your physician to see about the proper Vitamin D dosage.
Supplements should be taken in moderation and it is best to check with your physician on whether a certain supplement is necessary.
Can you recommend a resource for more information on health matters for older adults?
The National Institute of Health is a great resource for older adults with helpful information on a variety of topics including nutrition, mental health, and exercise.
Is there one quote or individual that inspires you in your work?
I have a patient who came to see me the other day with a list of his ailments but despite this list, he said he wasn’t complaining about them because he was happy that he had another day to go over them again with me. So here was someone who despite his ailments still looked at the bright side and the good alternative rather than dwelling on the negative. That was special to me.
Note: This interview and video is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this interview and video are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of yes2next.
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