Pension maximum: Russians have pushed back the limit of old age
Russians do not want to grow old and believe that scientists will surely unravel the secret of eternal youth — this is the conclusion reached by VTsIOM experts. At the same time, our compatriots do not sit idly by waiting for the magic pill, but try to slow down the passage of time themselves with the help of a healthy and rational lifestyle. What to pay attention to in order to be beautiful at any age, what problems prevent you from fighting old age — in the material of Izvestia.
Old age and joy
VTsIOM experts emphasized that the proportion of supporters of natural aging is decreasing, and the conditional limit is gradually shifting closer to 65-70 years. Active longevity and the anti-age (anti-aging products) market are in fashion. Russians actively take care of themselves, lead a healthy lifestyle, and are convinced that scientists will come up with magic pills to prolong their youth.
Men fight age mainly through physical activity, a healthy lifestyle and medical prevention, while women reinforce these important measures with novelties in the cosmetology industry and medicines.
Denis Prokofiev, a general practitioner, cardiologist, and holder of the "Moscow Doctor" status, emphasizes that Russians have really become more serious and responsible about their health. The expert attributes this to the expansion and increase in the availability of medical examination programs, checkups and the formation of an informed attitude towards risk factors among people. They know that to meet old age beautifully, you need to monitor your body mass index, cholesterol and glucose levels, and monitor blood pressure. All this makes a significant contribution to increasing life expectancy and its quality.
Meanwhile, the doctor notes that there is a sharp increase in risk factors associated with physical inactivity and smoking. Such negative aspects thoroughly undermine health, reducing life expectancy and prematurely turning people into frail old people.
— This is happening despite a fairly serious government program to combat smoking. Unfortunately, there are other forms of nicotine delivery into the body, such as vapes. They also harm the body and inevitably lead to endothelial dysfunction, a condition in which vascular spasms occur, the tendency to thrombosis and inflammatory processes increases, warns the editorial interlocutor.
For this reason, the blood supply to the organs suffers, which negatively affects both the state of health and appearance — a person prematurely becomes and looks decrepit. The expert also draws attention to oncological diseases. Despite the dramatic increase in functionality for early diagnosis, the problem remains very painful in every sense.
— The assistance provided under the basic compulsory medical insurance program and under the state guarantees program is focused not on the prevention of oncological diseases, but on their early detection, complains Denis Prokofiev. — Timely diagnosis is certainly important, but it is better to act, as they say, to intercept.
In his opinion, any examination should be conducted individually, "for the patient." At the same time, it is necessary to take into account risk factors and heredity, focusing on the prevention of the development of diseases.
— It's worth working on, and, of course, information resources are now making a big contribution to the literacy of the population — various blogs of doctors who tell people about the right lifestyle. But blogs should come specifically from the medical community, and not from uneducated people who decided to make money on a relevant topic, the cardiologist emphasizes.
Who goes to the doctors
Dr. Prokofiev notes that there is no talk of a sharp increase in life expectancy. Generations of people between the ages of 40 and 60 are now seeing doctors. But it is still difficult to say whether these groups of patients will overcome the threshold of 80 years or more. They are followed by a trail of consequences related to old bad habits and diseases that will be difficult to overcome even with new trends in healthcare.
— Unfortunately, it is necessary to admit that recently type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular pathologies, autoimmune diseases have become much younger, - the doctor informs. — The threshold of such problems is decreasing, which inevitably affects a decrease in life expectancy. In this case, it is important to involve each person in drawing up an individual examination plan — it should be annual.
The Izvestia interlocutor once again draws attention to the need to reduce risk factors — this is the right and feasible task. But, as it turns out, not for everyone.
— We see that there are government programs in place to limit tobacco consumption and reduce consumption of energy drinks. But, on the other hand, coffee is sold everywhere — a vasoconstrictor, tonic drink, which also causes irreparable harm to the cardiovascular system," he comments.
People are aware of the problems that a fashionable product provokes, but they don't take the warnings seriously. Dr. Prokofiev emphasizes that the vector of combating the same tonic and alcoholic beverages is set correctly, but there are many problems that need to be solved so that people make the right choice and follow it.
How to respond to ageists
While middle-aged people are optimistically pushing age limits, young people still believe that old age begins around 55-65 years. And some people even write down forty-year—olds as old men, and sometimes with offensive overtones. In particular, for Internet haters in negative comments, the transition to personality consistently begins with the addresses "grandma" and "grandfather" if the interlocutor annoys the detractor in some way.
For young haters, the age difference does sometimes seem enormous, explains Alina Koroleva, Candidate of Psychological Sciences.
— In their eyes, those who are older really look old. But already in 30-year—olds, the perception of age is changing and the age line is moving away," says the Izvestia interlocutor.
The peculiarities of the psyche are such that kids sometimes feel as if grandma and grandpa were always old, and dad was born with a beard. At a tender age, this is the norm, but as you gain life experience, this "frozen" perception of time passes. But when adults think this way, it's a reason to be wary, experts say.
"If such a perception occurs in an adult, then it may indicate his immaturity and childish egocentricity — he seems to think that the whole world revolves around him," the expert comments.
According to her, people normally grow out of a child's perception of the world around them, begin to understand how life works, relationships and patterns.
— We remember our loved ones from the moment we begin to clearly recognize them and distinguish them from other people. And if the pope had a beard, then the beard is perceived as an integral part of the pope. However, as children grow up, they realize that their parents were once children. And over time, they come to understand that age is not only about grandpa or dad, but also about themselves, says psychologist Yuri Kudryavtsev.
As for the haters, the expert sees the reason that people are so annoyed by someone else's age is that they themselves are afraid of old age. That's why they voice this fear, insulting others in order to be less afraid.
— Perhaps the biggest and most powerful fear on earth is the fear of death. And aging is his sign, the inevitable breathing of the "girl with a scythe." Some people prefer to drown out this fear with venomous ridicule. Remember how viewers love horror movies and even laugh when they watch them. This is how they struggle with their fears — they try to reduce their power. According to the same principle, people ridicule the old age of others, but this option is unproductive and immoral," says the Izvestia expert.
His colleague concludes that those who show disrespect to the older generation do not even particularly care about their health themselves, naively believing that they will remain forever young, vigorous and healthy.
— Young people's avoidance of direct and honest contact with people of the older generation, who are not as cheerful as in their youth, helps to combat the fear of old age in the same way as an ostrich tries to avoid danger by burying its head in the sand. This is the principle — I don't see it, so there is no problem," says Alina Koroleva.
The expert looks at life positively — the attitude towards people of an elegant age is already changing. Both young and mature people participate in the same volunteer organizations. Therefore, we can expect a shift in consciousness soon, says the candidate of psychological Sciences.
The secret of youth
According to experts, first of all, the attitude towards the age of Russians themselves, who have crossed the half-century mark, is important. According to Alina Koroleva, there are those who, even at the very beginning of adulthood — after the age of 20 — stop celebrating birthdays, believing that every year brings them closer to old age. But still, the majority of Russians are positive. They have a completely different attitude towards the second half of life than their peers in the last century.
— Many people give themselves the opportunity to finally be themselves, to live as they want, without trying to please someone. They change their profession and travel. And someone creates a new high-quality happy relationship, in which they remain themselves, not trying to please their partner, to earn his love and a good attitude. They value any period of their life," explains the editorial interlocutor.
Yuri Kudryavtsev emphasizes that age is not in the passport, but in the head. And if you manage to set yourself up for the "wave of youth and health," then your inner feeling will change. Then outwardly the person also seems younger and more cheerful. The main sign of youth is the preservation of a lively interest in life, the expert explains. Until the elixir of youth is invented, the psychologist advises you to try to be happy and find joy in your life, activity, profession.
— Researchers associate the notorious positive attitude, the ability to find the good even in the most difficult situations with active longevity, — explains the specialist. — From the point of view of psychology, a person who loves life subconsciously tries to prolong it, monitors his health and remains socially active for a long time. And those who see a lot of negativity around them subconsciously do not want to live in all this ugliness and do not cling to life.
The psychologist also reminds us that there is nothing unnatural in the very fear of age, or any other. It is necessary to treat him with understanding.
— But also do not forget that only you can manage your life and only you should do it, not someone else or some kind of fear. Don't let your fears control your life, control and live it yourself," the expert concludes.
The fear of aging is ultimately based on the fear of death, explains Alina Koroleva. On the one hand, it is evolutionarily completely normal and warns us against reckless actions that are life-threatening. But if it becomes too strong and absorbs a lot of attention, it interferes with a full-fledged life, worsens its quality.
— We must learn to face the truth: there is life and death — like two sides of the coin. Accept all stages of life with their characteristics — birth, childhood, adulthood, adulthood, maturity, aging and death. Accepting death increases the value of life in general and every day in particular. And then the quality of living at each stage of life increases, and their understanding improves. The same body works differently in adolescence and adulthood - this should be taken into account," explains the candidate of psychological Sciences.
Proper habits, a sound attitude towards oneself and one's age can appear without fear of the future, but out of love for oneself and one's life, the expert summarizes.
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