Healthspan

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“Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you should have always been.” – David Bowie

Listening to a recent Ten Percent Happier podcast, The Science of Longevity, with Dan Harris and his guest, Dr. Peter Attia introduced me to a new word: healthspan. Dr. Attia specializes in longevity and he was talking about his recently published book Outlive: The Science and the Art of Longevity

“There is this other component that if really I think push people will acknowledge is more important to them and that is healthspan. Which is harder to understand and define because it’s not binary but it’s an indication of quality of life. The medical definition of healthspan is the period of time from which you are free of disability and disease. I think some definition of healthspan needs to touch on physical robustness, cognitive robustness, and emotional resilience and health.”

Dr. Peter Attia, Ten Percent Happier Podcast

As I celebrate another birthday, this seems like a topic worth digging into. After all, when I grow up, I want to be just like our blogger friend, Julia Preston, who published a fantastic book at age 83, Voices: Who’s In Charge of the Committee in My Head?, and who regularly sprinkles this blogging community with delight, joy, and encouragement.

So how do we do it? Dr. Attia had five main areas: exercise, nutrition, sleep, pharmaceutical tools, and emotional health.

Exercise is the tool that turns out that it impacts lifespan (and healthspan) the most. The more exercise the better – he describes it as “the most potent longevity drug in our arsenal.” I found his breakdown on what we need to be very interesting – of the time we spend exercising, he gave the rough rule of thumb as half aerobic and half strength training. And of the aerobic half, 80% low intensity, 20% high intensity. For the strength half – 80% strength and 20% stability.

His comment on what we should do was more nebulous. It turns out that measuring our VO2 max is the best predictor of longevity, which matches what I remember when writing The Unified Theory of Breathing drawing from James Nestor’s book Breath. So the exercise we choose should ultimately improve our VO2 max because it is the best “predictor of length of life.”

Strength they measure by grip strength. Dr. Attia threw out this comparison: “If you compared the top 10% of grip strength to the bottom 10% – there is a 70% reduction in both incidence and mortality from dementia.” He followed that up with that it isn’t that they believe a strong grip protects the brain, but it works as an indicator.

The other bucket that really interested me was emotional health. Dr. Attia made the point that this one is different because it’s not age dependent but it affects the quality of life throughout. If we don’t have emotional health, we can make life more difficult for ourselves and those around us. Which makes me think of one of my favorite Oscar Wilde quotes, “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.“

For me, my emotional health toolkit contains faith, meditation, writing, and love. When I start the day with meditation, faith, and writing, I have a better chance of facing the challenges of the day with openness and less worry. These tools help me put down the stuff I don’t need to carry and keep so that I can face the day, and my loved ones, with open arms.

Growing up with two parents who made emotional health look easy, I didn’t develop my toolkit until life tossed me around a bit. I thought enthusiasm and optimism could cover everything over. Maybe we all have maladaptive ways of doing things we have to relearn but don’t have the opportunity until life gives us something to practice. It makes me think of all the tools I carried when climbing to help in the case of falling into a crevasse or needing to rescue someone else. Thank goodness I never had to use them – because all I knew was the theory of what I should do, not the adrenaline packed reality of facing the tough situations.

But now that I’ve had plenty of opportunities to find out just how important emotional health is in the quality of life, I’ve found that doing my work, just like exercise, truly makes such a difference. There might not be the statistics to compare what happens when we do or do not do our work as it relates to emotional health, but I know for me, it is the key to enjoying each day that I’m lucky enough to walk on this green earth. And for each of these days I have in my life span, I’m so grateful. So thank you all for being part of my tool kit!

Speaking of someone who has done her work, I was lucky enough to have a wonderful podcast conversation with Vicki Atkinson about her book, Surviving Sue. As we talked through the themes in the book, she told me about doing the work to turn her well-deserved anger at her mother into compassion and positive regard. Episode 22: Themes in Surviving Sue with Vicki Atkinson

It’s a great episode, please give it a listen and subscribe! Search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, or PocketCasts or click on the link above.

61 thoughts on “Healthspan”

  5. First of all, happy birthday! I love your post Wynne, and I agree absolutely with the quote on the photo “Happiness is a inside job” and I would add that it is also a choice!

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Happy Birthday Wynne! Good stuff about growth and becoming the person we’re destined to become. Love the shout out to Julia. I got to agree with you. And yes Vicki’s book reminds me of area I still have to work on too. A great Friday reminder. Hope you have a wonderful birthday weekend!

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  7. What an unexpected and lovely surprise to find myself mentioned in one of your blogs, Wynne. Thank you so much for your support. You truly are the Queen of Supporting Others! Many blessings of love to you on your special day. Happy, happy birthday! I hope this day brings you all of the wonderful joys that you deserve. 💕🎂🌹🥰

    Liked by 5 people

  8. Wow, what a rich post! Thank you. I ordered Julia Preston’s ebook. I hardly ever do that, but her cover, title, and your recommendation snagged me. 🙂 I’ve sent you a private message through your contact page, when you have time. Hope you have a wonderful birthday, Wynne. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  9. Happy birthday, Wynne. Your theme for your birthday post is dead on. We need to take care of both our physical and emotional health at all times. It’s altogether too easy to let one or both slide. Mind you, it’s also important to give yourself some downtime. That might be a good birthday present to give yourself!! 😏😊💕

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, Jane! You are right on with the downtime – thank you for that little nudge. And I appreciate your perspective on physical and emotional health. So easy to let them slide! Thanks for the birthday wishes!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Happiest of birthday days Wynne!! There is so much truth in the David Bowie quote. I love it and can so relate, but gosh darn it, why is it that we have to wait to figure life out and wise up until so many years have gone by?! 😉

    I suppose there is an unseen process to seeking and growing wisdom and maybe you just need all those years of the tough outcomes, the learning and relearning and practicing to finally make a dent in knowing yourself. I now believe that having the ability to say, closer to the end of life’s journey, that when the time comes if I can say I did my best to figure out who and what I was supposed to be for myself and others then my life is fulfilled.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I love what you say “when the time comes if I can say I did my best to figure out who and what I was supposed to be for myself and others then my life is fulfilled.” Wow, wow, wow. That encapsulates so much in a beautiful nugget. And I don’t know why it takes so long! 🙂 Thank you, my friend! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Happy birthday to you, Wynne! Healthspan is a very interesting topic. As I dive more into the impact of increased longevity, I’m interested in the gap that exists between healthspan and lifespan. Increased longevity is great, but only if we are in good health and able to enjoy it.

    An interesting book I read a few years ago was “The Ripple Effect” by Dr. Greg Wells. He spoke of exercise as a miracle drug. At a talk he gave at an employee forum at my company, Dr. Wells said if there was a wonder drug that had all the health benefits of exercise, people would be clamouring for it. Yet, it’s right in front of us and people don’t take advantage of it. Pretty powerful words!

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    1. Whoa – those are powerful words! Right! Same thing in essence that Dr. Attia said. Hmm, makes those monthly goals more significant, doesn’t it? Thanks for the birthday wishes!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Happy birthday Wynne! Enjoy it and be good to yourself! That Bowie quote: *chef’s kiss!*

    Love the expression “healthspan”! This. I’ve met a few older people who said they didn’t expect to reach the age they did, and if they would have known they were capable of it, they would have taken better care of themselves!

    I think this applies to so many people in the USA who haven’t been focusing on a healthy diet and other things they can do for themselves. Is that the downside of being youth-focused as a society? I wonder!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. That’s what I’m thinking. It happens on a subconscious level, so we don’t even realize it!

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Happy birthday Wynne

    Every now and then I reach a personal roadblock – each time when i halt, i feel i wonr get up again. This time i decided to go into basically nothing mode, other than generally caring for me and home. Its been intersting but also i realised that in nothing mode, stuff shows you a way.

    one of the big takes this time is “slow down” but also factor in more “nothing time” 🙂

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  16. Sending you the biggest hugs for your birthday, Wynne – who provides so much light to people on a daily basis! 💕

    I agree about the five ingredients, although I’m curious about what’s meant by pharmaceutical tools. 😆 And I agree that exercise and emotional health are two important ingredients to prioritize and you do it so well, from what it seems.

    Enjoy your continued celebrations with the kids this weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Ab. What a kind comment and I appreciate the birthday hug!

      The pharmaceutical tools was his section on supplements. He didn’t talk a lot about it in the podcast – I think there’s more in the book. My general take away was that he was saying to pay attention to what regulation/science is behind the supplements we take.

      Hope you have a great weekend!! Thank you, my dear friend! ❤

      Like

  18. This is just brilliant: “These tools help me put down the stuff I don’t need to carry and keep so that I can face the day, and my loved ones, with open arms.” I also liked the start of your next paragraph, about life tossing you around a bit. I want to use that! I find so much emotional health help by talking with friends when I’m down. They do me wonders. I’m thinking of one in particular who has repeatedly been there for me through a recent spate of rough patches. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I bet that friend has been through plenty of rough patches of their own and is so grateful that they can be of use to someone else, especially someone they value highly as a friend! 🙂

      And yes, so much emotional help comes from talking with friends – it’s magic, isn’t it? Thanks, my friend! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      1. And not just that, but the right kind of friend–the one who knows just the thing to say to make you feel better, and, oftentimes, make you laugh despite your sorrow. THAT kind of friend is a real treasure.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes – the kind of friend who will check on you every day in a row when you are traveling and they know you’re disappointed. A real treasure indeed! ❤

        Like

  20. Belatedly, happy birthday!

    So much here resonated with me, but this especially: “I thought enthusiasm and optimism could cover everything over. Maybe we all have maladaptive ways of doing things we have to relearn but don’t have the opportunity until life gives us something to practice.”

    So beautifully put! The last three words feel so hope-filled to me. Through such a lens, I can further still let go focus on the speed–or, arguably, lack thereof!–of my own learning and be glad I did eventually find just the “something to practice” I needed to learn at all. My health and the health of those around me will be improved for this. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love this comment, Deborah! I hadn’t thought of “something to practice” as hope-filled but you’re right, it totally is. We all get to practice. I love it – so thank you for this beautiful reflection back and for the birthday wishes!!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Happy Birthday Wynne!!! 🎂 Thank you always for your wisdom and the light you shine. I love your toolkit.
    And Vicki turning adversity to meaning is a great example for all of us. I’ve been reading her posts too. And found her through you. So see, the joy and wisdom you share is something I’m very grateful for. What a joy that you were born. Happy Birthday. 💕🌸

    Liked by 1 person

  24. First of all, a belated Happy Birthday to you! I had never heard the term “healthspan” before. It’s really something to think about. Thanks for teaching me something new 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Happy Belated Birthday Wynne. I hope you had a great day.

    Thanks also that for the tips and advice on expanding (hopefully) healthspan. You’re so right about looking for a quality of life in later years that is built on health and fitness

    Liked by 1 person

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