Health Wrap Episode 50 discusses healthy ageing, longevity and racquet sports
The episode discusses how food, physical activity, sleep and other aspects of lifestyle can influence health over the long term, while emphasising the need to build habits that are practical and sustainable
The 50th episode of The Health Wrap, hosted by The Hindu, delves into the subjects of longevity, healthspan and the factors impacting health during the aging process. In this episode, Ramya Kannan, the Health Editor of The Hindu, engages in conversation with Dr. Navin Gnanasekaran, a longevity physician and head of Radiology at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, about the aspects of healthy aging and the difference between lifespan and healthspan.
As India's population ages, the proportion of people aged 60 and above is expected to rise from 10.5% in 2022 to 20.8% by 2050, according to the United Nations Population Fund's India Ageing Report 2023. The episode delves into the implications of this demographic shift for maintaining health and preserving functional abilities in later life.
The conversation encompasses racquet sports as a significant form of physical activity, alongside nutrition, sleep, muscle strength, stress, metabolism, inflammation and cognition. The episode also emphasizes the significance of cultivating long-lasting health habits. Physical activity is highlighted as a crucial element in the discussion, with the World Health Organisation recommending a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week for adults, along with muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days.
For older adults, the guidelines also advise activities that enhance balance and reduce the likelihood of falls.
Racquet sports are examined as a specific type of physical activity during the episode. Dr. Gnanasekaran examines how these sports can merge exercise with social interaction and cognitive involvement. The episode further explores whether longevity guidance must take into account Indian lifestyles and health necessities, such as dietary habits, physical activity, and other facets of everyday life.
The discussion is focused on the practical facets of sustaining health and physical performance as individuals live longer, and on the discrepancy between merely extending lifespan and preserving health throughout those extra years. The episode is available on The Hindu health page, and also forms part of the full playlist of The Health Wrap.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
