Nikki Sommer, a nurse with Key West Surgical Group, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5 FM for Medical Matters yesterday morning.
When does old age begin and how old is considered old?
Sommer said, “People are living longer, they retire later, and they maintain levels of physical activity and their mental health is improved. So now people are like, oh, I’m 70, but I don’t think I’m old. 70 is the new 60. But truly, over the years taking care of people I can see where it’s a thing. People come in the office, we had this guy come in and he was 82, fit. I’m talking to him, and I had no idea. Then I looked at his age and I was like, you’re 82? I mean, he was really fit. He takes care of himself. He exercises, his skin was good, just good genetics. But he lives a really healthy lifestyle. So it’s a state of mind more than a number.”
A lot of it has to do with perception.
Sommer said, “I think how you perceive your life and how you go through life makes a big difference, your stress level, health, diet, all those things, but how you perceive age is part of it.”
A recent study discovered that women thought old age starts about 2.4 years later than men did.
Sommer said, “My husband always walks around saying I’m old. I’m old. I’m old. I don’t feel old. I don’t act old, that is for sure.”
It is definitely a state of mind.
Sommer said, “I bring this up because we’ve talked about it before. If you are really healthy, doesn’t matter any how old you are, if you have a quality of life, and you’re in your 70s or even in your 80s up to 90s, there is no magic number when you need to stop getting your routine screenings.”
The routine screenings can really help keep you more healthy.
Sommer said, “We have had patients who were in their 80s but completely independent, you would again, you would never know it and they were told by their doctor 10, 15 years prior oh, you don’t need to get a colonoscopy anymore or you don’t need a mammogram anymore. And lo and behold, they ended up with cancer, where if they probably would have maintained their screening every couple of years that could have been caught earlier.”
Could the self fulfilling prophecy be part of it? In other words, you become what you think you are.
Sommer said, “I’ll use my husband as an example. He’ll say, I feel so old and I would say to him, nope, I saw somebody that was like, 10 years younger than you today and they were a train wreck.”
Negative beliefs about getting older are linked to higher stress levels.
Michael Stapleford of KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM added, “I’ll admit that I’ve been getting AARP stuff in the mail for a while, a couple of years and I won’t open it because I just don’t want to acknowledge it.”
Sommer said, “I get it. But you’ve got to look at the positive side. That means discounts, when you go to breakfast, you can get the early bird special.”
People who see themselves as younger than actual age have exhibited slower memory declines, better cognitive performance, and reduced symptoms of depression, while people who perceive themselves as older have a higher risk of mortality. So try to convince yourself that you’re younger.
Sommer said, “That is the bottom line.”
The PicoSure Pro laser can help you look young. Free consultations are available at Key West Surgical Group.
Sommer has experienced the laser first hand.
She said, “This past weekend, Mike and I went to the Kenny Chesney concert and we went up to the beer booth. He asked for our ID and I said ha ha, you just have to ask for everybody. He goes, no seriously. Let me take a guess what you guys’ ages are. He goes to Mike, you were born in 1987 and you were born in 1991. I said what is your name? He said Kevin. I said Kevin, if I wasn’t married, we’d date.”
Stapleford suggested, “Kevin also works on tips.”
Sommer laughed, “I know! That’s what I said, you’re trying to get a good tip. He goes, no, I’m being serious. I’m like, sure you are. He made us feel really good.”
Stapleford said, “That is a really good tip. We should all try to live and act younger.”
“And think younger,” Sommer added.
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