According to Professor Sir Chris Whitty, walking, yoga and maintaining friendships are some of the best ways to live a healthier life for as long as possible.
When publishing an annual report Health in an aging societyEngland’s chief medical officer has said people should use “old-fashioned” methods to stay healthy as they age and that illness is not inevitable.
Sir Chris urged people to take charge of their health through good diet and exercise, and called on the Government to do more to make healthy living the norm.
People are living longer and by 2050 a quarter of the UK population will be over 65. Sir Chris argued that these extra years should not be allowed to be spent on ill health.
Research shows that people become less active as they age, with a third of people aged 75 to 85 and 57 percent of people aged 85 and over being physically inactive.
Sir Chris said urban environments allow older people to safely use active transport, especially walking, which will improve both their current independence and their future health.
In his report, he called the Cumbria program called Live Longer Better a “huge success”. The program aims to reduce sedentary behavior in people recently discharged from hospital, using methods such as yoga for health classes; skill-based play activities for patients with dementia and their caregivers; Hiking routes with a bench in a socially disadvantaged area; and even bouldering classes for the blind and visually impaired.
Sir Chris said smoking rates were falling and alcohol consumption was falling in some groups, but “obesity is going in the wrong direction”.
He suggested that people resort to methods that are known to work. He said: “There are many things people can do themselves to delay the point at which they first develop disability and then multimorbidity.”
“Lots of exercise, mental stimulation and social networking, a reasonably balanced diet (with) not too much fat, sugar and salt, drinking alcohol in moderation, stopping smoking if you do – these are old-fashioned things, but they are still works.”
For example, being physically active for as long as possible is known to have “a huge positive impact on physical and mental health in older age”, and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of chronic high blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease. Illness and stroke.
Its report continues to provide compelling evidence that “physical activity, a healthy, balanced diet, smoking cessation and moderate alcohol consumption improve health status and increase the proportion of life spent in good health.”
The report states that “it is possible to shorten the duration of people’s illness by delaying the time they become ill, and in some cases so that they never develop the disease before they die.”
The report says: “Reducing smoking, air pollution and exposure to obesogenic environments are other examples of how government plays an important role in delaying or preventing disease and disability throughout the lifespan and beyond. Life must play old age.”
The study authors say the type of food people buy and eat is “highly influenced by the food industry and the environment in which we live.” This points to the increasing availability of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, such as takeaways selling “large portions of high-calorie foods”.
Government measures could include limiting advertising of fats, salt and sugar, and using a planning system “to limit the concentration of hot takeaways in one area”.
Elsewhere in the report, Sir Chris says older people suffer when homes, public buildings and cities are poorly designed. He said it is “extremely difficult to be a parent in many parts of the country” because houses are currently being built “for young families” rather than for older people.
Sir Chris suggested that art galleries and libraries could have handrails or ramps to make it easier for people to move around, and pedestrian and cycle paths should be accessible on a level surface “because the main thing people want is independence”.
Environmental factors that can negatively affect health include poor or cold living conditions and air pollution, he added. Public spaces and green spaces should be designed to meet the needs of older people, including people with sensory and physical disabilities.
“This is critical for older people to be able to participate in their communities, stay active, enjoy life and reduce loneliness and social isolation,” the report says.
The report also looked at the areas in which people live and found that the “vast majority” of people leave cities in old age and move to coastal and semi-rural areas, “often with relatively poor services and transport links”.
As a result, “Manchester, Birmingham and London will age very slowly, but areas such as Scarborough, North Norfolk or the south coast will age quickly and predictably.”
Providing age-friendly services in these areas, including NHS care and social services, should therefore be an “absolute priority”, the report says.
It goes on to say: “Seniors’ homes should be located in locations where they can easily and safely access the shops and services they need for their daily needs, preferably by active transport (walking or cycling), to ensure the preservation of ‘Public Spaces and Green Spaces’. should be designed to meet the needs of older people, including those with sensory and physical disabilities.”
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Age UK, called on politicians and politicians to “get a grip”, adding: “Older people are isolating at home when the order in our communities prevents them from going out safely. When our built environment is overcrowded.” tripping hazards cause people to fall into the back of the ambulance.
“Our hospitals are at least partly overwhelmed because they are unable to provide adequate social care and community services to keep people safe and healthy at home. None of this is inevitable.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.