What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy? • Hacker News Board

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#21

Post by mandeepj » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 3:59 PM UTC

avgDev wrote: post #15

This is survivorship bias at its finest. What his father is experiencing is luck mixed with good genetics. Plus, additional support of good diet and exercise. Yes, we all can control our diets and exercise. However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects. We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases. T…

> However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects.

>We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases.

Seriously? The answer to all of the above - Yes, we can!

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#22

Post by terran57 » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:03 PM UTC

While staying active and eating healthy are very important contributors to a longer life, it seems one also needs to have a healthy social life and sense of purpose to foster the will to live longer.

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#23

Post by jl6 » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:05 PM UTC

avgDev wrote: post #15

This is survivorship bias at its finest. What his father is experiencing is luck mixed with good genetics. Plus, additional support of good diet and exercise. Yes, we all can control our diets and exercise. However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects. We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases. T…

Perhaps chance is a major factor, but perhaps there are things you can do to increase your odds.

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#24

Post by cma » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:06 PM UTC

mandeepj wrote: post #21

avgDev wrote: post #15

This is survivorship bias at its finest. What his father is experiencing is luck mixed with good genetics. Plus, additional support of good diet and exercise. Yes, we all can control our diets and exercise. However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects. We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases. T…

> However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects. >We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases. Seriously? The answer to all of the above - Yes, we can!

I assume what he means with medications is if the benefits outweigh the side effects, that person is stuck with the side effects.

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#25

Post by neogodless » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:06 PM UTC

If you work backwards from what kills people, you can theoretically work out what will improve your chances.

In the elderly, heart disease and a rapid decline in health after a broken hip are high on the list of events that lead to death. So keeping the cardiovascular system healthy, and strengthening the muscles that support balance and reduce injuries make sense.

Strength training and a sufficient, consistent amount of exertion each week make sense. They do not, of course, guarantee you'll never have a genetic condition, or some other unfortunate incident. That's not how biology and bodies work. But it does help prepare you as you age.

Diet seems much trickier, because dietary needs do vary somewhat depending on your specific body! The hacker approach of experimenting (and journaling) and figuring out what leaves you feeling healthy and energetic is what I'd recommend to anyone who cares!

So write it off as "yet another" anecdote if you please. But also consider whether these ideas are good for your quality of life, and if they are a trade-off worth making.

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#26

Post by cma » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:08 PM UTC

lqet wrote: post #10

Anecdotally, most of my family members who actively tried to stay healthy died relatively early (< 70 years). Those who didn't usually lived to be at least 85. My grandfather, who never did any type of sports, ate meat every day, who came home after worked and watched TV until bedtime and who drank 1-2 liters of cider per day after retirement died at 92 and was completely healthy up until a few hours before his death…

Exercise doesn't really improve lifespan in rats, beyond enough to not be completely sedentary.

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#27

Post by avgDev » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:08 PM UTC

jl6 wrote: post #23

avgDev wrote: post #15

This is survivorship bias at its finest. What his father is experiencing is luck mixed with good genetics. Plus, additional support of good diet and exercise. Yes, we all can control our diets and exercise. However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects. We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases. T…

Perhaps chance is a major factor, but perhaps there are things you can do to increase your odds.

This I definitely agree with, but things are always changing.

There is always new research coming out. Some of the research is bogus, just look at earlier days of smoking, the opiate scandal.

We are constantly adding new factors to the mix, like microplastics. The environment is changing.

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#28

Post by Insanity » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:11 PM UTC

A healthy lifestyle definitely helps, and some genetic luck. My grandfather recently passed away unexpectedly at age 88.

He was working in the garden daily or going for walks / riding a bike. He had a more active social life than I did before COVID hit. He read daily, did crossword puzzles at night, and ate healthy. No mental or physical issues.

Lifestyle plays a role, but he was dealt good cards genetically as well which I am aware of.

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#29

Post by avgDev » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:12 PM UTC

mandeepj wrote: post #21

avgDev wrote: post #15

This is survivorship bias at its finest. What his father is experiencing is luck mixed with good genetics. Plus, additional support of good diet and exercise. Yes, we all can control our diets and exercise. However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects. We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases. T…

> However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects. >We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases. Seriously? The answer to all of the above - Yes, we can!

You can control the side effects you may get from a medication you take? If you get an infection you are taking meds. If you get kidney stones, you are very likely getting meds, if you injure yourself and need surgery you are getting meds. These carry risks, therefore, every time your chances of "perfect health" are decreasing.

I get that most people on HN, can control the air they breath as they have the means to decide where they want to live, this isn't the case for most of the people.

Cancer is literally just a numbers game, people in perfect health at their PEAK get diagnosed with cancer. A top club soccer player is now going through testicular cancer treatment.

I am not sure how general person can control any of this.

Re: What does my 80 year old father do to stay healthy?

#30

Post by Broken_Hippo » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:15 PM UTC

mandeepj wrote: post #21

avgDev wrote: post #15

This is survivorship bias at its finest. What his father is experiencing is luck mixed with good genetics. Plus, additional support of good diet and exercise. Yes, we all can control our diets and exercise. However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects. We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases. T…

> However, we cannot control the medication that we take, which carry side effects. >We cannot control what is in our food, we cannot control the air we breath, we cannot control cancer and hundreds other diseases. Seriously? The answer to all of the above - Yes, we can!

No, it really isn't. "Control your medication" might leave you dead if you are diabetic or leave you hearing voices if your meds control a psychiatric condition.

In the same vein, you don't really get a choice in most cancers. Sure, you can do things like never smoke tobacco, but you might just be an 8-year-old with bone cancer. And lots of other afflictions and diseases are similar in this manner, much like you probably won't be able to avoid whatever cold is circulating in your workplace.

And I've not seen any proof otherwise.