Just got back from the supermarket. As you may know, here in Japan we have a disproportional number of old people. Meaning those over 65.
I meet a lot of these people every time I shop there and we get to know each other. I am often floored when they tell me they are 67 or 71 or whatever. Many of them look over 80. On the other hand there are some who look to be in their 50s who are well into their 70s. Do you see this in the US, too?
Wondering what causes this "extreme aging". Some say "a hard life". But I think not.
The economic boom in the 50s in the US and Europe and in the 70s here in Japan assured people would be able to live in a house (albeit small) eat enough food, have access to medical care, etc. No one I know following a ox who was pulling a plow trying to break up prairie soil to make a new farm.
Could it be junk food? Poor choices in recreation (thinking drinking).
Could it be from the moment of conception and their mother did not eat correctly during her pregnancy? (Have to blame someone).
Any thoughts on this? When I was growing up in the States there were a lot of people in my home town who had had a hard life, but they did not look so downtrodden, slumped over, etc. They had a pride about themselves.
Well, just wondered if any of you had any thoughts.
It's a combination of lots of things. Genetics, environment, care.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I was behind a lady at the store once. She looked about 60. She reeked of cigarettes and was buying alcohol. Cashier asked Her birthday. She was 48. I think heavy drinking and smoking can contribute to aging as well as sun exposure, diet, lack of sleep.
Years of heavy smoking really makes your skin look old. And I know a fair number of heavy drinkers and ex-heavy drinkers who look older than they should.
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No matter how educated, talented, rich or cool you believe you are,
The ones who have lived a "hard life" and by hard life I mean cigarettes and whole lot of booze and partying all night, etc. They seem to be the worst looking honestly. Smoking really ages you.
Smoking and booze and sun. The trifecta of aging poorly. Lol
I am a fanatic about sunscreen. I use 100spf on my face. I am 43 and I got carded for wine the other day 😜. The woman ringing me up actually couldn't believe I was born in the 70's.
Sunscreen people! Use it!
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
I would say it is a combination of genetics, lifestyle and environment. This is from my observations of people I know.
For example, I have a friend who is 59. She looks a good 10-15 years older. She spent a couple of decades of being an alcoholic (she no longer drinks due to AA meetings), and smoking since she was a teen (she quit in 2014). She was diagnosed with COPD and emphysema awhile back. Her lung capacity is at 37% and it is slowly declining. She appears ill, frail and elderly. Her skin is very thin, wrinkled, and breaks easily, no matter how much lotion or sunscreen she puts on. Her hair is thin and getting thinner. Her immune system is so weak that a simple cold can put her in the hospital. But she is the type of person to suffer from a sinus infection until it moves into her lungs (before she will even consider seeing a doctor). I have had to take her to the Emergency Department on a number of occasions in the past because of breathing issues, which have always lead to admission. She has also had to make the trip by ambulance. She does not take very good care of her health overall. She also suffers from manic depression, PTSD, and OCD, and chooses to not medicate. Not an easy person to get along with since she is irritable, snarky and is prone to lashing out at others.
I have met both her parents, and they do (did) look their chronologic age.
I have known her for over 20 years, and it has been a slow decline for her. But I can't assist someone who does not want to help herself and pushes away my attempts to be supportive.
I, on the other hand, do not smoke, drink, and have never tried any "recreational" drugs. To others, I appear youthful (some think I am 20-25 years younger than what I am), without wrinkles, and have smooth, soft skin (weird for a dude, I know). I have a full head of thick, wavy hair with very little gray in it. I don't eat very well due to budget constraints, but I manage to maintain my weight (my doc thinks I could stand to gain 40-45 pounds, which is the average for someone my height). I do have some heart rhythm issues as well as joint issues (the joint issues come from being very physically active with a number of injuries in the past). I usually get only one sinus infection a year, so my immune system is good (I did not have any illnesses in 2014). Overall, I appear healthy.
G will be 65 in a couple of months. Except for his white hair (he started turning white in college) you would never EVER guess his age. Even when he was sex drugs and rock n rolling, he took care of himself. He has more energy than most people my age. He doesn't stop. Ever. And he's beautiful...
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
My great grandmother was 96 when she passed. She had the skin of a 40 something. Porcelin, very minimal crinkling, and rather taunt for her age. She still had nice full apples in her cheeks.
And she grew up working in the sun all day every day.
She always used Ivory soap and she used Oil of Olay daily.
She wore a big sun bonnet outside.
Even her hands were well cared for even though she washed more clothes on a wash board than not in her years.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I don't know. I was always assumed to be older than I was. Of course, I had big pop bottle type glasses for year and had that nerd factor going on so that was part of it.
G will be 65 in a couple of months. Except for his white hair (he started turning white in college) you would never EVER guess his age. Even when he was sex drugs and rock n rolling, he took care of himself. He has more energy than most people my age. He doesn't stop. Ever. And he's beautiful...
I think the happier people are, the better they "age". I'm frequently taken for 12-15 years younger than my chronological age - maybe the fat cheeks help also!
