Health Hotline Magazine | May 2022

Bone&MuscleHealth ALongHealthspan are key to By Lindsay Wilson

Aging is not what it used to be. These days, older adults lead active lives and are focused on extending not just their lifespans, but also, their healthspans, the years of life that we stay healthy and active. When I think of the healthiest long-lived adults I regularly encounter in my own life, I think of my aunt, who is 70 and runs 30 miles a week and visits the gym twice a week; I think of the 60- and 70-somethings in my yoga classes, sporting their sparkly workout gear and never missing a beat; and I think of my 84-year-young neighbor, who walks every day, rain or shine. These are the folks I think we all aspire to live like as we grow older. And we can! A key way to do it is to focus on building and maintaining strong bones and muscles. Some bone and muscle loss is normal as we age, but too much loss can lead to frailty and a loss of mobility. Osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone density and weak and brittle bones, can lead to bones that easily break. But a loss of muscle mass and weak muscles set the stage for falls that may lead to broken bones. If you work to build and maintain strong bones and healthy muscle mass (the earlier, the better), you’ll add plenty of active years to your healthspan.

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