A Practical Gide to Better Health “We Control How We Age” By: Lou Ann Walker

A Study of Adult Development at Harvard Medical School, done by Dr A Study of Adult Development at Harvard Medical School, done by Dr. George E. Vaillant, was on two major groups: The “Happy-Well”, those who where physically healthy and find life satisfying The “Sad-Sick”, those with various ailments who do not seem to enjoy life. And it analyzes those who died during the course of the study (Prematurely Dead)

Dr. Vaillants Seven major factors that at 50, predict what lifes outcome will be at 80 Not smoking or quitting early – Terms in health The ability to take life’s ups and downs in stride – Terrible things happen in life, you have to be able to deal with them and be happy. Absence of Alcohol Abuse – Destroys physical and mental health Healthy weight – Obesity is a risk factor to the poor health later in life. A solid marriage – Important for physical and psychological health Physical Activity – Exercise/fitness – Important for mental health Years of education – Take the long view, seek education because they believe it is possible to control the course of lives. People with less education are more likely to be obese.

The Study had found that people who had 4 or more of these 7 factors at the age of 50 were 1/3 less likely to be dead by 80; 3 or fewer of these factors at 50 were 3 times likely to die during the following 30 years.

My Disagreements I disagree with basically two of the 7 factors as follows: I don’t disagree fully with the absence of alcohol but I think they just definitely add in Drug Abuse. I disagree with people having to have a solid marriage in order to live a long life.

Why I disagree Drug use affects both your long term physical and mental health. Karen Ershe of the University of Cambridge, a behavior neurologist, studies have shown that Baby Boomers that have done drugs in their younger years are now aging a lot faster. They problems are then seen in the elderly people, such as, memory loss, higher rates of cardiovascular disease, and increased proneness to infection. In my article it had stated that “Happy-Well” people were six times more likely to be in a good marriage than the Sad-sick. I feel the same as sociologists, Susan Brown and I-Fen Lin of Bowling Green State University, who wrote a paper titled “The Gray Divorce Revolution”. Among people 50 and older, the divorce rates have doubled over the past two decades. In the 1980’s, the “gray divorce rates has risen to the highest level, In 1990, only 1/10 divorced age 50 and older, and by 2009, the rate was ¼. Today it is at 53 percent of people 50 and older getting a divorce.

Sophia, Me, Chase and Jordan My Children Family, Friends, and a Good Support Group will make you live long and stay happy.

My dogs Buddy and Zepplin, they bring a lot of happiness to my family My dogs Buddy and Zepplin, they bring a lot of happiness to my family. The more happiness and less stress the longer you live.

We Can Control How we age Work Cited http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/04/cocaine-may-age-the-brain.html?ref=hp www.cocainmayagethebrain.com - Science Now Article: A practical Guide to Better Health We Can Control How we age By: Lou Ann Walker