Baby Boomers — the next 60 years

Some will celebrate their 120th birthday. But, there is a major difference between celebrating your 100th with those you love and simply still being alive at that age.

by Dr. Bill Gallagher — 

Baby boomers start turning 60 years old this year (yes, some of us are only turning 42), and we have much to look back on. Ahead of us is a longer life expectancy, and with it, the time to do more. The key, of course, is staying healthy enough to do what we choose.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, those of us who are alive today can expect to live well into our 80s. Those in better health than the average boomer can feel safe adding 15 years to that and have a very good chance of seeing their whole families together for their 100th birthdays.

Some will celebrate their 120th birthday. But, there is a major difference between celebrating your 100th with those you love and simply still being alive at that age.

We can do lots of things to stay healthy. Most of us know what these things are, but too many of us ignore them. Three primary factors determine how healthy we are: our chemical, emotional and structural health.

Chemical health refers to what gets put into the body. Food is, of course, part of this; even if we don’t eat properly, we are all aware of which foods are healthier for us. Chemical health also includes the pollution we are exposed to, either at work or within our communities. Finally, it includes the drugs we take. Alcohol can be healthful in moderation, but in excess it can destroy the body. Tobacco is never good, and all those other drugs we may sample will take their toll over time.

Emotional health is equally important and includes how we relate to the world around us, as well as how we fit in as spiritual beings. It is important to find a church where we feel comfortable and/or learn to meditate, or at least how to relax. Understanding our place in the universe will help us deal with life’s stresses.

Structural health involves maintaining a healthy body. Exercise is essential for better health, and the more we do, the more the body appreciates our efforts. Additionally, we need to keep our weight down and see the chiropractor regularly to maintain a healthy spine and keep the whole body functioning at its full potential.

The choice is yours. For your 100th birthday, you can lie there on life support while everyone comes by to share their memories about your life, or you can dance all night and create new memories.

Dr. Bill Gallagher, a chiropractic physician in Scottsdale, Ariz., practices Directional Non-Force Technique and is listed in the Guide to America’s Top Chiropractors. [email protected], 480-513-3909 or www.drbillgallagher.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 25, Number 1, February/March 2006.