In the last issue, I had mentioned that a correct lifestyle can solve many of your pre-post retirement problems. Let’s see what all comprise a good lifestyle.
Lifestyle means the system and style of our day-to-day living, such as the environment we live in, the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the fluids we drink. This also includes certain factors beyond our control, like the area we live in, and the quality of air we breathe. But we can certainly do something about the quantity and quality of food we take and the environment in which we eat. If you are eating in a hostile, unfriendly company, or in a hurry, you cannot enjoy your food. A simple meal of dal and roti can be more enjoyable than a five-star meal if you are eating in a peaceful atmosphere.

Is your lifestyle killing you?
The modern cocktail of tobacco, alcohol, junk food, stress and lack of exercise is sending all of us down a bleak alleyway. According to a recent global study, 25 years from now, most of us will succumb to lifestyle-related disorders, like heart diseases, depression and cancer. It will be worse than we can even imagine today.
We all know that diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder, characterised by increase in blood glucose level. This is caused by relative or absolute deficiency of insulin, a hormone produced by pancreas. Insulin enables sugar (glucose) to enter the cells. But in its absence, sugar cannot enter the cells and accumulates in the blood.

Living with diabetes
Diabetes occurs at a young age in India as compared to western population. Correct diet is the foundation for its treatment, and for many patients, it is the only treatment needed. A diabetic patient can eat almost any food that others can, provided it is balanced and within caloric limits. Exercise also lowers the blood sugar level through energy consumption.
Diabetes does not kill, but its chronic complications do. These include heart disease, stroke, nerve and kidney damage, peripheral vascular disease, and narrowing of the blood vessels that deliver blood to feet and legs. In severe cases, legs may have to be amputated.
The risk of developing diabetes can be reduced by following this five-point programme:
(1) Eating less at a time (2) Eating five meals a day (3) Exercising (4) Monitoring blood sugar (5) De-stressing.

Hypertension, the killer
Two processes make up the two figures on your blood pressure reading: The first is a measure of how hard your heart has to push to send the blood into circulation (systolic BP) and the second one is the resting pressure of the miles of blood vessels waiting to be filled (diastolic BP). Below 85/140 reading is considered normal while up to 90/160 are considered borderline cases.Reading of 105-114/160 and above reading is treated as severe case of high blood pressure.
High blood pressure or hypertension is a very common disease, not to be neglected at any cost. When the blood pressure is high, the heart has to work harder. The factors that induce hypertension are obesity, smoking, stress, and improper diet. Reduce these factors, restructure your diet and cut down on salt intake to prevent the disease. Regular exercise and walking also help in managing hypertension.

Watch your weight
The moment we realise our weight need to be reduced, we start eating less, and even fast, listen to nutrition experts, to our friends, almost everyone, except our own body. We try to copy the eating habits of our slimmer acquaintances, not realising that each person’s body requirements are different. There is nothing like an ideal body or perfect eating schedule.

"Stop eating when your body is satisfied and not when you are full. "

Stress, modern age plague
Work hard. Party hard. But die hard? When Sanjay Huku, an executive with an advertising company died at 31, everyone was shocked. How could he die so young? Straight forward, said the doctors. He worked and partied too hard and didn’t realise the danger. His lifestyle was writing cheques his body could not cash. Finally, he had to pay for it with his life. Here’s a list of stress-busters that will help you kick away this demeaning disease.
Kick back. Ensure that you take time off from work to relax. This gives body time to heal and recoup.

Shake a leg. A half-an-hour workout goes a long way in relieving stress.

De-Stress Yourself. Think before you commit yourself. Consider everything before you say ‘yes’. Do things only if you feel like doing them. Learn to ignore what you cannot control and learn to control what you can. Make this your everyday prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the thing I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.:

Build better bones
Life expectancy is going up. This increased expectancy comes with a significant price tag! The various organs/systems of our body have to function for longer time spans and hence show signs of fatigue through a variety of ailments. Bones are one of such organs.

Millions world over suffer from osteoarthritis, a painful disease in which joint cartilage degenerates. The disease is common among those above 50 and tends to affect hands, feet, knees and hips. People with severe osteoathritis of the knee, who exercise in moderation, have less pain than sedentary sufferers.

Another ailment encountered by men, and more by women as they age, is osteoporosis.
Bone’s mineral densitometry tests (BMD) is the only way to find if you are suffering from osteoporosis. It is a simple computerised test. Walking at least for 30 minutes daily, taking mineral calcium along with vitamin D as per physician advice, and basking in the Sun can save your from this painful disease

Hi-tech dangers
If you spend long hours on computer, you are prone to RSI or repetitive strain injuries. These occur due to repeated physical movements and can damage the tendons, nerves, muscles and other soft tissues. The onset is marked by tightness, discomfort, stiffness, sore or burning fingers, wrists, forearms or elbow. It can also cause tingling, cold or numb hands, clumsiness, and loss of strength. It also causes dryness in eyes. Here are a few tips to prevent these dangers:
• Do not rest your wrists on anything while typing • Don’t pound on keys, use a light touch • Take breaks to stretch and relax • Hold the mouse lightly • Avoid unnecessary computer usage • Take care of your eyes and back. Do not overexert.

Love and let live
It is official now! Love is good for your health. The American Psychological Society research has shown that people who maintain supportive and caring partnerships through their lives are less likely to suffer from chronic illnesses in later life. Studies have shown that if you argue all the time with your partner, or are criticised by him/her, you are twice as likely to suffer high blood pressure and high cholesterol; and by the time you are 60, you are most likely to suffer from a serious illness. In a bad relationship, there is an accumulative effect of emotional wear and tear that results in a weaker immune system which leaves you more susceptible to cardio-vascular diseases. Better the relationship, higher the intimacy level and better is your health.

Happiness is a habit
Happiness is a positive state of mind. Therefore, it cannot be assumed that men of immense wealth are always happy. In fact, the real happiness is within you. Feel it, cherish it. Fretting, envy, spite, jealousy and hatred are tenacious tenants of the mind. Worrying is the most common and worst of our mental status. It destroys both body and mind and never does any good. Elbert Hubbard had said that “Our most serious troubles are those that never happen.”
A latest US medical research report, suggests that you should rather attend a place of worship than going to the gym. It has established that attending a place of worship regularly is directly related to a significantly long life.

The author is Consultant (Retirement Planning), Bajaj Capital.