Physical Health
Healthy lifestyle behaviors
Healthy lifestyle behaviors such as smoking cessation, physical activity , proper nutrition, and oral health can help maintain a healthy status and prevent disease.
Smoking remains the number one cause of preventable death in the United States . State data indicate that the median prevalence of current cigarette smoking in Texas is 26.1 percent among people 55-64 years, 19.9 percent among individuals aged 65-74 years, and 15.3 percent among individuals age 75 years and older. Despite the lower prevalence of smoking among older adults, older smokers are at greater risk because they have smoked longer, tend to be heavier smokers, and are more likely to suffer from smoking-related illnesses. However, smoking cessation, even at older ages, can improve the management of chronic disease symptoms and reduce further risk of adverse health outcomes.
Physical activity improves health for people of all ages. Research shows that physical activity can lower the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, certain types of cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and obesity. Exercise can also increase strength and balance to prevent injuries such as falls, improve mental health, and help maintain independent living, thus enhancing overall quality of life. Older adults are, however, the least likely to participate in any type of physical activity. In Texas , 33 percent of those age 55-64 and 37 percent of those over age 65 reported no physical activity in the previous month.
Proper nutrition lowers the risk for many chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, some types of cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. However, a large gap remains between recommended dietary patterns and older Texans' actual diet. Nutrition interventions (e.g., general information, professional nutrition therapy), can reduce adverse health outcomes. Medicare has expanded its coverage to pay for some nutrition education for diabetics and those with kidney disease. Factors such as poor oral health and difficulty in eating can lead to malnutrition. Successful oral disease prevention measures adopted by communities (e.g., water fluoridation), individuals (e.g., self-care), and oral health professionals (e.g., advances in treatment, patient education) have led to marked improvements in dental health. Oral cancers, tooth decay, and periodontal disease are still serious problems, though, calling for increased prevention efforts.
Updated: November 2, 2007
