Wednesday MeMes: Various Questions!

When was the last time that you put loose change into a donation box? What was it for?
Yesterday, at Denny's, it was for Tsunami Relief in Indonesia. Usually, I put it in anything for sick children.

What is your favorite Girl Scout cookie?
Samoans, or, as they're called today-Caramel Delights! Yum!

What are your thoughts about a sex education program that only teaches abstinence?
Stupid! Kids are going to do it anyway and asking them to abstain 110% from something that is so culture-driven, hyped up, natural and human is dumb. While I do NOT agree that people under the age of 18, or even 20, should be having ANY kind of sex, there's also a reality that we must face: THEY DO, and they'll do it anyway-no matter what we tell them. So, my personal opinion is tell them the realities of sex; the STD's, the preganancies, the emotional/psychological aspects, and different methods of protection and birth control. I don't necessarily agree with handing condoms out in school, but like I said, b/c they'll do it anyway, we might as well give them the education and the means to do it as safely as possible. I think absitence only programs are so early 20th century.

What has given you the most satisfaction in your life?
My relatoinship with my God, my relationship with my mom, grandma, sisters and boyfriend. I treasure each of these relationships greatly and work on them on a daily basis. I try to make sure and include them all in my life and be involved in theirs. Relationships aren't always easy-no matter what form they come in, but they're well worth it. Having a support system is priceless! They'd do anything for me, and they know that I'd do anything for them. I'd gladly throw myself in front of a bus for any one of my sisters, no questions asked! The love that I give and recieve from all of these people, including God, is what makes my life special, meaningful and worth getting out of bed for each and everyday! Also, my writing, reflecting and meditating brings me a lot of satisfaction, as well as eating amazing food! :)

What do you like the most about your best friend?
I have TWO best friends! My mom, and my boyfriend. Don't ask me to choose! They're both my bestest friends! :) Aren't I lucky? :) Ok, let's see, my boyfriend:
Hugh: his extremely non-judgemental, accepting, humurous attitude about everything! He's SO incredibly funny and can make me laugh like no one else I've ever met! He never judges anybody and has accepted me, and all my faults and shortcomings, with absolute love, compassion and loyalty! That cannot be beat! I'm so blessed to have him! I love him so, so, so much!
Linda: my mom! Her caring, generous never-ending source of love and understanding. She too gives so much love and caring into everything that she does. She's literally the sweetest, most caring and loving person I've ever met. She is always there, no matter what, and is so strong, loving and just an all around super woman! I'm so lucky she's my mom, and one of my best friends! Thanks mama, I love you carebear! :)

20 Questions!

one. who am i? I'm Sarah Liz, determined, loyal, compassionate, loving, caring and sweet!

two. who knows me best? my mom & my grandma

three. how old am i? (or how old do i feel?) I'm 21, I feel about 37

four. the most important thing in my life is my relationship with God and my family

five. i always carry water, chapstick, my inhaler & ID

six. something i always do freak out for nothing when things go wrong

seven. i'm at my happiest when I'm meditating, writing, singing, cooking, talking to my grama and sisters or when I'm with my boyfriend and or mom.

eight. on a monday morning, you can find me trying to catch up on sleep that I lost over the weekend!

nine. my favourite mode of transport car

ten. my eyes are green/hazel

eleven. my favourite material posession my crystals, photographs, computer and Minnie Mouse Doll that I've had since birth!

twelve. to relax, i like to meditate, sleep, write.

thirteen. the town i live in is Las Vegas

fourteen. my worst habit picking my fingers, being a scatterbrain, and eating too much popcorn!

fifteen. my guilty pleasure Tiramisu, spending too much time on this blog, popcorn!

sixteen. when i look at someone, the first thing i see is their eyes, smile and aura.

seventeen. i think children/roses/my mother & sisters are beautiful

eighteen. one thing i can live without love, mom, knowing God.

nineteen. one thing people don't know about me I can stand on my head against a wall for three minutes straight.

twenty. my life is great, beautiful, miraculous and very blessed!

How Long Will You Live?

I got this from another website, it's really cool, you can check it out and take the quiz yourself at http://www.agingresearch.org/calculator/quiz.cfm

I always thought I'd live to be in my 80s, but this aparently says 95, although I really don't want to think about the state of the world when I'm 95. Let's see, it'll be 2079! Yikes! I did one of these death calculator a few weeks ago and it also said I'd live until about 2076, which would make me 92. So, I guess I'm going to live well into my 90s, cool! As long as I'm sane, healthy and mostly independent. Let's just say I can picture myself about 52, which is the age of my mother, anything beyond that, quite frankly, scares me. LOL! Hopefully, I'll age well as I wear sunscreen every single day and drink LOTS of water and do not smoke! Anyhow......

Here are my results in full:
Your calculated health span is 95.7 years.

Below, please find the reasoning behind the questions,
which you answered that made your score less than it should be:
BUY THE BOOK!


ABOUT THE BOOK AND AUTHORS
Healthspan Calculator: Feedback and Reasoning
A: PERSONAL
1. What is your gender:
Being female gives you a head start in the longevity marathon.
Facts: Women have a head start in the longevity marathon. Many scientists speculate that estrogen plays a role. After menopause (average age 51 years), this advantage seems to diminish. Another theory holds that chronic iron deficiency (due to menstruation) gives a woman her advantage. Iron is critical to our cells' ability to produce age-accelerating free radicals that also predispose to heart disease, stroke and cancer.
3. What is your marital status:
New England Centenarian Study experience suggests that an unusual proportion of the female centenarians never married (about 15%). Perhaps personality features that lead to perseverance, independence, and assertiveness provide a survival advantage. Such women may also be particularly good at managing stress.
Facts: Interestingly, New England Centenarian Study data suggests that marriage or having a partner in your life has different effects upon your life expectancy depending upon whether you are a man or woman. An unusual proportion of the female centenarians never married (about 15%). Perhaps personality features that lead to perseverance, independence, and assertiveness provide a survival advantage. Such women may also be particularly good at managing stress. On the other hand, nearly 100% of the male centenarians are married or were only recently widowed.
4. Close distance to family members:
Do what you can to foster meaningful relationships with family and/or friends who live near enough to you that they can spontaneously drop by. Having such people in your lives is conducive to a longer, healthier life and probably helps you manage stress better and enjoy life more.
Facts: Extended family cohesiveness and frequent contact is a notable feature of centenarian families. Researchers have noted that people who do not belong to cohesive families have fewer coping resources and increased levels of social and psychological stress. Psychological stress is associated with heart disease, various cancers and increased mortality risk.
5 (a and b). Stress Level/ Coping with stress
Excellent! Managing your stress in such a way that it doesn't eat away at you, and in your case actually acts as a motivator is tremendous. Your ability to manage stress effectively will substantially improve your life expectancy and increase the number of healthy years ahead of you.
Facts: Centenarians shed emotional stress exceptionally well. Their stress-shedding personalities and the familial support, which they receive and contribute to are important stress-reducing mechanisms. Refer to the Mind Body Institute for more information [http://www.mbmi.org/default.asp]
6b. Sleep
Not getting enough sleep or experiencing ineffective sleep is common. There are many causes of sleep-related disorders and of not getting enough effective sleep.
Facts: Not getting enough sleep or experiencing ineffective sleep is common. There are many causes of sleep-related disorders and not getting enough effective sleep. There are also numerous good approaches and treatments to reverse these problems. Unfortunately, there are ineffective and even harmful ways of attempting to cure sleep problems. Two helpful sites are the Stanford University Center for the Center of Excellence for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Disorders [http://www.med.stanford.edu/school/psychiatry/coe/] and sleepnet.com [http://www.sleepnet.com/].
B. Lifestyle Habits/ Environment
1. Air quality
The good news is that cities are cleaner now than they were even ten years ago. The bad news is that you are still exposed to air pollution. If you are experiencing new respiratory symptoms and you don't smoke, consider air pollution as a potential cause and discuss this with your physician or a specialist. Don't go out exerting yourself when smog alerts are in effect.
Facts: Numerous air pollutants are potent causes of cancer and contain oxidants, which accelerate aging.2. Seatbelt usage
You obviously know the statistics about survival from a car crash with a seatbelt versus without one. Continue to be diligent in wearing your seatbelt.
Facts: Wearing a seatbelt, even in the presence of an airbag, dramatically increases your chances of minimizing injury or surviving a serious car accident.3. Coffee
One to two cups of coffee are certainly better than drinking more than that. You are doing a good job keeping your coffee consumption down to a minimum. If you can now take those 1-2 cups of coffee and convert them to tea, even better!
Facts: Excessive coffee can be a sign of increased stress. Stress can lead to a hormonal imbalance, which can physically stress and age numerous organs. In addition, coffee predisposes the stomach to chronic inflammation of the stomach and ulcers. Such chronic inflammation leads to the release of substances that raise the risk of heart disease. Tea, and especially green tea, on the other hand, has been noted for its significant antioxidant content, and tea drinkers in general appear to be healthier.
4. Tea
Try to give tea a chance. You may find that it grows on you. Regular tea consumption is a healthy habit that may actually be life extending. The antioxidants in tea may decrease your risk of heart disease and cancer.
Facts: Tea contains a powerful class of antioxidants known as polyphenols. It is controversial whether green tea has more bioavailable polyphenols than black tea. Either way however, you can't go wrong.
5b. Smoking/ Tobacco exposure
By not smoking or being exposed to substantial second hand smoke, you are avoiding a prevalent and important cause of people dying in their 70s and earlier. 400,000 deaths per year are attributed to smoking and many more people suffer from smoking-related and debilitating diseases each year.
Facts: Cigarette smoke contains toxins, which directly damage DNA and subsequently cause cancer. Cigarettes are the biggest direct source of nitroamines humans are exposed to. These substances along with other constituents of cigarette smoke are potent oxidants and carcinogens that lead to accelerated aging, and diseases associated with aging. Each day, nearly 5,000 adolescents (aged 11-17) smoke their first cigarette. Almost two million teens annually, and approximately one-third of those that become smokers will eventually die of smoking-related illnesses. Helpful internet sites: Quitnet [http://www.quitnet.org/qn_main.jtml] and the American Lung Association [http://www.lungusa.org/]
5c. Second hand smoke
Avoiding second hand smoke is a very important habit. Because second hand smoke is even more toxic than the filtered smoke that smokers inhale, it takes less of a "dose" or exposure to be toxic to your lungs and your body in general. Thus, keep avoiding the secondhand smoke as you have been doing.
Facts: Second hand smoke is more toxic than what the smoker gets because it is unfiltered. Such exposure is clearly a substantial cause of cancer, heart disease, asthma and other lung diseases.
6. Alcohol consumption per week/day
There is significant evidence indicating that mild to moderate alcohol consumption can be good for you. Some people cannot tolerate even a small amount of alcohol for medical reasons or because it makes them sleepy, for example. However, if you like the idea of a glass of wine or beer with dinner, know that it may be good for you as well.
Facts: Excessive alcohol is a toxin, which damages the liver and the mitochondria within most cells of the body. This leads to acceleration of aging and increased susceptibility to many diseases associated with aging. Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with decreased heart disease risk. This may be one explanation for the "French paradox", in which the French are known for their love of high saturated fat foods, and yet their heart disease risks may be lower (except in the case of those who smoke cigarettes), perhaps because of the higher consumption of wine in that country. Refer to Alcoholics Anonymous [http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/].
7. Aspirin
Perhaps you cannot tolerate an aspirin a day because it hurts your stomach or you have a propensity for bleeding. On the other hand, if you really don't have a reason to not take an aspirin a day, consider taking one daily.
Facts: 81 mg of Aspirin per day has been noted to significantly decrease heart disease risk. This benefit may be due to the anti-blood clotting effects of aspirin. Chronic inflammation may also play a role in heart disease (see 11, below) and therefore, aspirin's effect on inflammation may also be helpful. For more information go to: American Heart Association's findings [http://www.americanheart.org/]
8. Sun exposure & Sunscreen
You are doing a good job protecting yourself from the sun and therefore from accelerated aging of your skin as well as deadly skin cancers such as from melanoma. Just because you do protect yourself, does not mean you should not have a regular skin (dermatology) check up and perform a monthly self-examination of your skin.
Facts: The association between sun exposure and accelerated skin aging is clear. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight directly damages DNA. More sun means more wrinkles sooner. It also means a higher risk of deadly skin cancer. Excessive sun exposure may also have toxic consequences for the body in general. For guidance on a self-exam, see skincheck.com [http://skincheck.com/]
9. Sexuality & Drugs
Be careful! Assumptions about the infectious status of your partner or that needle might end up being the worst assumption of your life. It is much wiser to be safe and not sorry.
Facts: Viruses such as HIV and others, which are transmitted by risky behavior, not only cause AIDS but also various cancers including lymphoma. These viruses change DNA and probably also, as a result, influence aging as well. For more information, go to: Centers for Disease Control and Advocates for Youth and Prevention Online
10. Flossing
Keep flossing away! Not only will it improve the chances of longer kisses, but it improves your heart health as well.
Facts: Recent scientific evidence reveals that chronic gum disease leads to the release of inflammatory, toxic substances and certain bacteria into the blood stream which potentiate plaque formation in arteries and ultimately lead to heart disease. This process probably also increases the risk of stroke and accelerated aging. For more information, go to: American Dental Association's findings [http://www.ada.org/].
C. Nutrition & Exercise
1. Preserved meats & fast food
Your answer suggests that you avoid fast food restaurants and preserved meats. You are already going a long way towards a healthy diet. Keep it up!
Facts: Fast food, generally fried foods and hamburgers, are high in calories and saturated fats. These will make you gain weight and they increase your risk for heart disease, stroke and perhaps cancer. Some studies suggest that 90% of all human cancers are environmentally induced, 30-40% of these by diet. Preserved and cured meats (bacon, sausage, lunch meats, etc.) are the largest source of nitrites in our diet. Nitrites lead to the formation in our bodies of nitrosamines, which are important environmental oxidants and probable carcinogens. For instance, there is a suggestive association between nitrosamines and stomach cancer.
2. Fish, poultry, Meat preparation
Good, you are being careful with your grilling and barbecuing by not exposing your food to extremely high temperatures. Such high temperatures can alter proteins to produce carcinogens known as heterocyclic amines. On the other hand, be careful to cook foods, such as poultry and hamburger, enough so that harmful bacteria such as E coli and Salmonella are killed.
Facts: Broiling (high heat) can change proteins and amino acids into substances called heterocyclic amines, which are potent mutagens or substances, which can alter your DNA.
3. Calcium Intake
Continue to do your best to insure that you are getting plenty of calcium from your diet and if needed, from a vitamin or calcium supplement. The recommended calcium intake is generally about 1,000 - 1,500 mg per day. In addition, be sure that you have enough vitamin D in your diet (fortified in milk, often added to calcium supplements, made by our bodies with 15-20 minutes of exposure to the sun}.
Facts: Adequate calcium intake in later life can slow the bone loss associated with aging. In addition to dairy products, calcium-fortified juices, breads and cereals are also excellent sources, as are calcium supplements like TUMS and over the counter calcium supplements. Vitamin D is necessary for the body to absorb the calcium we get in our diets. Milk is fortified with vitamin D and our bodies also make it when our skin is exposed to 15 to 20 minutes a day of sunlight. People who rarely go outside are prone to vitamin D deficiency. Large quantities of salty foods and meat can significantly increase the amount of calcium lost in the urine. Adequate calcium intake may not prevent the accelerated bone loss in women during and for several years after menopause, caused by estrogen deficiency. Some foods high in calcium also contain oxalic acid, which interferes with calcium absorption. Spinach is such a food.
4b. Snacks
Good job… some of the snacks you are eating are at least healthy. Be careful that you don't eat too much though, leading to weight gain. Be mindful of the number of calories in the foods you eat and try to not go above a healthy number of calories per day.
Watch out! Snacks are a common cause of excess calories that lead to being overweight or even obese. Add on top of that the poor nutritional value of the snacks that you are eating and you could really be doing yourself some harm. Do your best to change this habit. At least change the type of snacks you eat. Try fruit, vegetables like carrot sticks, popcorn, healthy fruit drinks etc. Even with some of these healthy foods, such as fruits and fruit drinks, you can take in significant calories so be aware of not only what you are eating but how much.
Facts: Nutrition experts vary on the benefits of snacking. Some say that 6 small meals a day is better than three big meals. Others indicate the opposite. You should choose a dietary habit that works best for you with the goal of not being overweight. Certainly if you do snack, be sure they are healthy snacks. Most sweets have little if any nutritional value and in the end, because they are so calorie rich from fats, they will certainly predispose you to being overweight or even heavier. Switch from those unhealthy snacks to healthy ones. Then, consider if the snacks are helping you maintain a lean body mass or not.
5. Meat
Good for you. A vegetarian, or at least a meatless diet is a healthy diet. Less meat in the diet is conducive to less heart disease and risk for heart attack and stroke. Furthermore, there are nutritional sources of antioxidants in foods that replace meat in a person's diet especially the polyphenols present in certain vegetables and fruits and the omega-3 fatty acids in fish that help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol.
Facts: When weighing meat against vegetables and fish or skinless poultry, meat definitely loses out when it comes to your health. The American Heart Association recommends a diet that minimizes meat in the diet and emphasizes these alternatives. Vegetarian dishes, in addition to being an alterative to meat, also have antioxidants that protect the heart and brain. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help a person raise their good cholesterol (HDL) and lower their bad cholesterol (LDL) thus decreasing their risk for heart attack and stroke.
6. Desserts
Avoid those checkout lines at the grocery store that sell candy bars! You are eating too many sweets and/or candy bars. By staying away from these foods that have little in the way of nutritional value and yet significantly increase propensity for obesity and therefore heart attack, stroke, cancer and diabetes, anyone will make great gains in their life expectancy and the proportion of their lives spent in good health.
Facts: Most desserts and certainly candy bars are high in saturated fats and calories. Both are terrible for you predisposing for weight gain, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. By helping you become obese, they increase your risk of various cancers.
7. Carbohydrate consumption
Facts: Not only is the number of calories you eat important, but the type of calories are important as well. Grains, pastas, fruits, and starchy vegetables like potatoes are the most common carbohydrate foods. Simple carbohydrates like white bread, potatoes (especially French fries), pasta, white rice and sugar as well, cause the body to produce insulin in response to elevated levels of glucose in the blood. The insulin in turn induces the storage, instead of burning, of fat. Other foods like fats, protein, and more complex carbohydrates like whole grain foods and fiber are less prone to turn on the production of insulin.
The glycemic index of food is a ranking of foods based on their immediate effect on blood glucose (blood sugar) levels and thus the production of insulin. Carbohydrate foods that break down quickly during digestion have the highest glycemic indexes causing blood sugar and insulin to rise fast and high. Carbohydrates that break down slowly, releasing glucose gradually into the blood stream, have low glycemic indexes. The lower the glycemic index, the less likely that food is going to contribute to the production of fat. There are numerous books and websites that provide the glycemic indices for foods and drinks. However the general food groups noted above are a good start in your education.
9. Calorie consumption
Good for you! You are doing better or at least aiming for a goal better than more than 60% of the country who are at least overweight. Being overweight is a significant risk factor for many age-related diseases as well as various cancers. Keep up the good work. Stay lean!
Facts: Obesity is associated with inefficient energy production and an increased production of oxygen radicals within cells, therefore leading to increased risk of various cancers, heart disease and accelerated aging. It may also lead to diabetes. For more information, go to: ShapeUp America! and NIH: Nutrition and Obesity
11. Exercise and physical activity
Good job! It is great you are making the time to get that exercise in at least three times a week. Don't forget to be balanced in how much aerobic exercise you do versus strength training. Both are very important. Also, if you are doing a lot of high impact workouts, gauge how much wear and tear you are putting on your weight-bearing joints so that you don't set yourself up for premature osteoarthritis.
Facts: Exercise leads to more efficient energy production by your cells and less oxygen radical formation (which speeds up aging and increases your risk for heart disease, stroke and cancer). Muscle is a tremendously efficient burner of fat and maintaining muscle mass has many benefits. Therefore, strength training is important. Depending upon how much one weighs, we generally lose a third of a pound of muscle every year after age 30, which is replaced by fat. Muscle loss can be completely reversed no matter what your age, by regular strengthening exercises.
D. Medical Check-up
1. Bowel movement
Having a bowel movement at least once every two days may be at least associated with decreased risk of colon cancer.
Facts: Keeping gut transit time under 20 hours seems to decrease the incidence of colon cancer, probably by decreasing the contact time between the gut lining and cancer-potentiating substances in the diet. These substances influence DNA damage and repair and therefore probably also influence the rate of aging as well. Epidemiological studies in humans and animal studies suggest that increasing dietary fiber will reduce the risk of certain cancers perhaps by increasing the frequency of bowel movements. On the other hand, recent reports indicate that the association may not be as clear as once believed. In addition to increased transit time and therefore less contact between carcinogens and the bowel wall, perhaps other factors that increase transit time such as regular exercise might be the real reason for decreased cancer risk.
2. Female: Self- examinations for cancer
Excellent. Early detection of breast cancer is so critical and monthly self-examination is an important step in catching the disease early enough. Go to the American Cancer Society's informative page on breast cancer to be sure you are examining yourself properly and that you are taking the other necessary steps to catch the disease before it catches you.
Facts: Breast cancer is a commonly diagnosed cancer in women. A shocking one out of nine women will be diagnosed with this potentially lethal disease that when detected early can be cured. Please refer to the American Cancer Society's website on breast cancer which discusses many aspects of the disease including how to detect it early with monthly self examination (they have a very clear set of instructions on how to do the exam) and other steps women need to take including mammogram. Go to The American Cancer Society at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/lrn/lrn_0.asp
3. Cholesterol & Triglyceride level HDL
The first thing to do is congratulate you on knowing what your HDL level is. And second, it is good to know now, rather than later that your HDL level is too low. The sooner you can correct the situation the better. There are a number of steps that you can take to lower your LDL level, including diet, exercise, not smoking, weight loss and certain medications.
Facts: HDL cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol because a high level of HDL cholesterol appears to protect against heart attack. Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is processed, dumped in the intestine and then passed from the body. Some experts believe that excess cholesterol is removed from atherosclerotic plaque by HDL, thus slowing the build-up. However, low HDL cholesterol levels (lower than 35 mg/dL) may result in a greater risk for heart disease and stroke. For more information about cholesterol, other risk factors and treatment, go to the American Heart Association's website at: http://www.americanheart.org/
LDL
Good job on knowing what your level is! And, congratulations on having a level that places you at lower risk for developing atherosclerosis or plaque in the arteries. However, there are other risk factors as well.
Facts: A high level (higher than 130 mg/dL) of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, reflects an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. That's why LDL cholesterol is often called "bad" cholesterol. When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can lead to the formation of plaque in the blood vessels that feed the heart and the brain. When enough of this blockage occurs, a heart attack or stroke can occur. To learn more about risk factors you can modify, go to the American Heart Association's website at: http://www.americanheart.org
Triglycerides
Good job on knowing what your level is! And, congratulations on having a level that places you at lower risk for developing atherosclerosis or plaque in the arteries. However, there are other risk factors as well.
Facts: Triglycerides are the form in which fat exists in meats, cheese, fish, nuts, vegetable oils, and the greasy layer on the surface of soup stocks or in a pan in which bacon has been fried. A recent Danish study found that men with the highest levels of triglycerides were more than twice as likely to have a heart attack when compared to those with the lowest triglyceride levels. In a healthy person, triglycerides and other fatty substances are normally moved into the liver and into storage cells to provide energy for later use. People with less than 200 milligrams of triglycerides per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood are considered to have normal triglyceride levels. However, the Danish study indicated that levels even as low as 145 mg/dL could indicate increased risk. Between 200 and 400 mg/dL is borderline high; between 400 and 1,000 mg/dL is a high triglyceride level; and greater than 1,000 mg/dL is considered very high triglycerides. For more information about triglycerides go to the American Heart Association's Website at: http://www.americanheart.org/
4. Blood pressure a. Systolic
You have what many would call a low blood pressure. Usually it gets too low if you are on blood pressure medication (you may be getting over-medicated). On the other hand, if you are not on blood pressure medications, this level is probably conducive to longevity. Centenarians generally have a history of a low blood pressure for most of their lives.
Facts: Blood pressure results from two forces. The first force is created as your heart pumps blood into the arteries and through the circulatory system and this is the systolic pressure. The second is created as the arteries resist the blood flow and this is the diastolic pressure. A systolic blood pressure greater than 140 is considered high, meaning that the person is at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. The risk climbs thereafter in proportion to the pressure.
b. Diastolic
You have a good diastolic blood pressure. Centenarians generally have a history of a diastolic blood pressure in this range for most of their lives.
Facts: Blood pressure results from two forces. The first force is created as your heart pumps blood into the arteries and through the circulatory system and this is the systolic pressure. The second is created as the arteries resist the blood flow and this is the diastolic pressure. A systolic blood pressure greater than 140 is considered high, meaning that the person is at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. The risk climbs thereafter in proportion to the pressure.
5. Diabetes/ Blood Sugar Level
Of course, it is great that you don't have diabetes. Lower your risk by losing weight if you are overweight. Get your blood sugar checked at least every three years and watch for some of the more common symptoms of diabetes including excessive and persistent thirst, voiding large amounts of urine frequently with normal amounts of fluid intake, unexplained weight loss.
Facts: Diabetes occurs because a person's body does not make enough insulin and/or because the cells and tissues in their body are relatively resistant to the insulin they produce (and so the insulin is less effective). As a result, diabetics can have large amounts of glucose in their circulation. By far and away, the more common form of diabetes is Adult Onset Diabetes and this is often associated with obesity. This form is often well controlled (meaning the blood glucose level is kept normal) with weight loss, diet and/or oral medication. Sometimes insulin injections are necessary. The other form of diabetes is called juvenile diabetes, which more often occurs in children and requires insulin injections. Good control has been shown to decrease risk of heart and kidney disease and diabetic eye problems, all unfortunate problems associated with diabetes. Like high blood pressure, a person can have diabetes for a long time and not know it, thus it is very important that children and adults are regularly screened for it. The good news is that people are living long, productive and basically otherwise normal lives given the excellent treatments available. Watch for some of the more common symptoms of diabetes including excessive and persistent thirst, voiding large amounts of urine frequently with normal amounts of fluid intake, unexplained weight loss. Take a diabetes risk test: American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp
6. Last medical check-up
E. FAMILY HISTORY
1. Diabetes in Family
Diabetes appears to at least be present in your family. If you yourself don't have diabetes, this is a warning to you that you should be extra diligent about screening for diabetes and to do what you can to prevent it.
Facts: Diabetes causes excessive exposure to glucose and therefore debilitating cross-linking of proteins. This results in age-related problems such as cataracts, impaired nerve function, eye disease, heart disease and other vascular problems. Take a diabetes risk test: American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp
2. Cancer in Family
Your family history is warning you to be extra diligent about screening for various cancers and to do what you can to prevent it. Speak with your health care provider about what you can do to screen for cancer and catch it before it catches you.
3. How old and how healthy are/were your parents?
Mother:
It is great that your mom is healthy. Given that she is less than 80, it is still a bit hard to predict her longevity and therefore form some idea of the longevity in your family.
b. Father
It is great that your dad is healthy. Given that he is less than 80, it is still a bit hard to predict his longevity and therefore form some idea of the longevity in your family.
Facts: Genetics plays a significant role in the ability to achieve extreme old age. If both sides of your family contract diseases associated with aging significantly before average life expectancy, then it behooves you to do all you can to maximize your health status. If you have significant extreme longevity in your family, this will help significantly in your own ability to achieve old age in good health.
4. In terms of longevity in your family, did any of your grandparents, or siblings of your parents live beyond the age of 98 years? You may well have someone in your family who is currently alive at 100 years old or older. If this is the case, please go to: www.bumc.bu.edu/centenarian. The New England Centenarian Study studies centenarians and their families from around the world and because centenarians are so rare, your assistance would be so greatly appreciated.
5. Regarding how old were you when you last had a child
Facts: In a study of over 100 centenarians, the Harvard based New England Centenarian Study found that 20% of the women had at least one of their children after the age of 40. This was compared to about 5% of women who lived to just average life expectancy. Thus, a woman who has a child after the age of 40 (without fertility assistance) is about 5 times more likely to achieve exceptional old age. There is also an increased probability in the case of having a child between the ages of 35 and 40, though it is less. It is probably not the act of having a child in her forties that helps get a woman to 100. Rather, this is probably a sign that her reproductive system is very healthy and aging very slowly and therefore the rest of her is probably aging slowly as well. Furthermore, she probably has an increased resistance to diseases associated with aging that might also impact fertility, such as heart disease and diabetes. Thus, do not purposefully put off having a child until you are forty or older because you think it will help you live to 100. In actuality, for most women, fertility markedly falls after age 35 and the risk to both mother and child increases after that age.
Take the Quiz Again
For more information on healthy aging, visit the Alliance for Aging Research at www.agingresearch.org.