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Myth #1 | Myth #2 | Myth #3 | Myth #4 | Myth #5 Myth #1 Aging inevitably brings illness and disability. At one time a truth. Now a myth since several major diseases, most notably coronary heart disease and stroke, have become less common over the past two decades. The number of disabled people over age 65 has dropped dramatically. Three-fourths of people age 75 to 84 report no disability at all. Because body weight, blood pressure, blood cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels tend to increase, and bone density and immune function tend to decline, the risk of disease still does rise with age. Taking steps to manage lifestyle choices, nutrition and exercise can slow, stop, or even reverse the changes once blamed on aging. In studies of twins, only one third of the loss of physical function with age can be blamed on heredity; the rest stems mainly from poor health habits. Researchers estimate that if people born today practiced good habits, the average life span could soar from the current 76 years to 100 years. One key step -- regular exercise including low impact aerobics, strength training, and stretching, can help keep you disease free as well as fit, strong, and limber as you age. In one study, 70 year old men who had done strength training since middle age were just as strong, on average, as 28 year olds who hadn't.
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