Taking up exercise triples rate of healthy aging

It’s never too late to start exercising to improve your health, even if you’re about to retire, according to a recent study.

People who took up exercise over a four-year period were more than three times as likely to be healthy agers as those who did nothing, according to the study of 3,454 people in England whose average age was 64. Active adults who continued to exercise during that time were seven times as likely to be healthy agers as those who were consistently inactive.

The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, is one of the first to focus on how exercise affects health in the elderly.

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for premature death — after smoking, excessive drinking and obesity — causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally, according to the World Health Organization.

“This study supports public health initiatives designed to engage older adults in physical activity, even those who are of advanced age,” the researchers, led by Mark Hamer at University College London, said in the published paper.

Participants, taken from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, described the frequency and intensity of regular physical activity from 2002 and every subsequent two years until 2011. Any participants with existing chronic disease were excluded.

Healthy aging was measured through absence of major disease and disability, mental health, cognitive abilities and ability to maintain social connections.

The study was funded by the U.S. National Institute on Aging and a consortium of British government departments coordinated by the Office for National Statistics.

Video: how to be as healthy as possible

Reference:  Makiko Kitamura 

Bloomberg News 

Dental Cleanings and Prevention

Importance of regular dental teeth cleanings and dental exams.

We recommend that you have a routine dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on your teeth. A routine dental teeth cleaning is often called a prophylaxis.

Even when you brush and floss your teeth properly every day, some plaque remains on your teeth and hardens to become tartar. Tartar can be removed effectively only with a professional teeth cleaning. It is important to remove plaque and tartar because they are the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease.

A dental exam every six months is recommended in order to identify and prevent a variety of oral health problems.

A regular check-up includes a complete visual exam of your mouth. We check for decay on the biting surfaces of teeth, signs of wear, cracks, or other problems with restorations such as fillings and crowns.

In addition, we check the color and contours of your gums. Red, swollen gums are often signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease. We use a periodontal probe to check the depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums. Readings deeper than 3 millimeters often indicate periodontal disease.
We also diagnose any sores or lesions on the soft tissues of your mouth, screening them for signs of oral cancer.

Other conditions cannot be easily seen, so we often take x-rays. X-rays show us decay between and inside the teeth and tartar on the teeth and tooth roots. X-rays also show us signs of periodontal disease, such as the loss of bone around the teeth. In addition, x-rays allow us to see cysts, abscesses, and other problems.

We may also examine your jaw joint to help diagnose problems with your bite or TMJ. Sometimes check-ups include additional treatments based on your individual situation.

Regular check-ups are important because neglecting dental conditions can lead to much more serious problems, such as-

• Infected teeth.
• Tooth loss and shifting teeth.
• Receding gums.
• Loss of bone in the jaw.
• Painful jaw joints.

With regular dental exams and dental cleanings, we can detect problems early and help you maintain your oral and overall health.

Schedule a dental visit.