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THE QUALITY OF LIFE
How to live forever: lessons of history

Steven Shapin and Christopher Martyn
BMJ 2000; 321: 1580-1582 [Full text]

Send response to journal:
Re: Living longer and better: lessons of history and evidence.

Email Enrique Sànchez-Delgado, M.D.:
e-sanchez-d@doctor.com

Dear Editor:

Shapin and Martyn did a sound analysis.1 I want to contribute some thoughts remarking actual evidence and intuitive wisdom declared by many old persons.

Dietary balance is indeed a constant recipe for longevity. Obesity and Diabetes shorten lifespan. Caloric restriction consistently prolongs it.2 Physical activity is another validated advice.People,even elderly, with higher exercise capacity, have a lower mortality.3 They also tend to have lower body mass index, resting heart rate (RHR), Pulse X mass Index and global cardiovascular risk.2 Measures that lower RHR (physical, psychological, philosophical, spiritual or pharmacological, like betablockers) tend to reduce mortality.2 This is understandable when we consider the actual theories about ageing and death: adrenergic-metabolic, oxidative, inflammatory, endothelial dysfunction, atheromas,thrombus, ischaemia, infarction, arrhythmias, etc.

Longer life must not be boring or too restrictive. Some people, for fear of death, live in some kind of health "slavery" (Hebrew 2:15). A calmed and joyful heart is "life" (Proverbs 14:30). Before we die, we should eat, drink, enjoy life, wife, family, friends, job, learning, creativity, with balance and gratitude for this gifts (Ecclesiastes 9: 7- 10).

Many old people advise: to have a life that is occupied, moderate and honest. Work hard and enjoy your job, but have enough rest, relax, some wine and few disgusts. Eat everything moderately. Have humor and laugh. Have self esteem and optimism. Be communicative. Enjoy learning and life.

An important question: are about 120 years the limits of human lifespan? Much actual evidence points to that, but the last word is not yet said.

Prof. Dr. med. Enrique Sànchez-Delgado
Member of the Executive Committee of the International Society of Internal Medicine (ISIM) and of the Asociaciòn Nicaraguense de Medicina Interna (ANMI).

References:

1. Shapin S, Martyn C. How to live forever: lessons of history. BMJ 2000; 321: 1580-1582

2. Ross G, Stier J, Lloyd-Jones DM, Levy D, Sànchez-Delgado E, et al. Lifetime risk of developing coronary heart disease. Lancet 1999; 353: 924- 925.

3. Goraya TY, Jacobsen SJ, Pellikka PA, Miller TD, Khan A, et al. Prognostic value of treadmill exercise testing in elderly persons. Ann Intern Med. 2000; 132: 862-970.