I often ask a group of patients whom I am speaking with this question; “How many of you want to live to be 100 years old?” I soon came to realize the way a person answers this question is determined, in part, by the way they envision themselves reaching this age. Wouldn’t all of us want to live to be one hundred if we could drive safely, play a favorite sport, solve crossword or sudoku puzzles and travel the world with friends and loved ones? Unfortunately, most of us are all too familiar with the pain and suffering associated with the end stage of life and understandably do not want to be a part of that. How long we live is referred to as our lifespan, while how long we live our lives healthy is considered our Healthspan and how long we suffer with chronic illness defines our diseasespan.  As we contemplate our goals, plans and ambitions for a healthy new year, I would like to share 3 ways to help you start your journey and stay on course to not just lengthen your lifespan but lengthen your healthspan.  

   While the average American’s lifespan of has increased by 10 years over the past 70 years, so have the years spent living with chronic illness. According to the National Council on Aging 95% of people over the age of 65 have one chronic condition and 80% have two or more. Multiple chronic illness accounts for two-thirds of all health care costs and 93% of Medicare spending. Yet less than 3% of all health care dollars are spent on prevention or how to improve overall health.   

   The Cleveland Clinic estimates that 80% of chronic illnesses including cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, dementia, and many cancers are lifestyle induced. While most of us know we need to improve our diet, get a little more exercise, sleep better, and manage our stress levels, change is hard, especially for the long term. So why is this and how do we make the necessary changes that our very lives depend on, become effective and permanent ones?  

   The first question we must become truly clear on is our “WHY.” If our why is not strong enough and clearly defined it will soon fade away when you face a tough day, and things will become as they once were. Our  answer to defining our big why involves moving away from something painful, such as receiving a serious or life threatening diagnosis, or succumbing to a chronic illness that seems to run in the family, living in a wheelchair or becoming a burden to other family members, and moving towards something desireable like having the energy and vitality to play with your grandchildren, or travel with your spouse, being able to live independently, with little to no pain and maintain a good memory or the comprehension to read, play games and solve puzzles. Once your why is clearly defined, write it down and paste it in many places to remind yourself of the why(s) you are making changes to your life, and then share it with those closest to you. Realize it is often family and friends who end up derailing us because they may not be ready to make the same lifestyle changes. Stay strong by realizing what your triggers or weaknesses are and see yourself getting through tough situations before they happen. Spend time visualizing reaching your desired goals and outcomes and really feel what it is like to live there.  

   Number two is we need to take doable yet consistent action steps. Changing our health is not a sprint, it is a marathon. Remember habits are often formed over a lifetime and can take months to change. Be patient with yourself but not complacent.  Consider 2-3 realistic changes you can make like doubling your water intake, eliminating soda, cutting out white sugar or walking 10-15 minutes, even in place, just to get yourself moving more. Reward yourself with a simple affirmation like, “way to go,” “you got this,” or “you are one step closer to becoming _________,” (fill in the blank of a desired outcome). Once you make a few changes you may notice the motivation to make a few more. This is due to the natural release of dopamine (the feel-good neurotransmitter) that is released when we reach a goal or complete a project. Do not beat yourself up when you have a difficult day, we all have them. Every day is another opportunity to start again. Continue to learn about overcoming your triggers and then making the small shifts necessary to reach your goals. Turn hardships and struggles into an opportunity to become a stronger and healthier version of yourself!  

   Number three is finding a coach and community of like-minded people to keep you on course when life wants to steer you off. This support can also help you sort through the confusing health information we are bombarded with. It seems every time we turn around there is a new miracle supplement, exotic fruit, gadget, or exercise routine promising us an easy fix to our health problems. The information is overwhelming and often conflicting. How do we know which way to go? The truth is there is no easy fix, no one diet, exercise or lifestyle plan that is right for everyone. We are all unique individuals; however, we can get a glimpse of what a healthy lifestyle looks like by observing groups of people across the globe who consistently live long and active lives. There are 5 “Blue Zones” throughout the world with the highest number of centurions, living healthy lives free of chronic illness. There are a few common lifestyle denominators, amongst these groups we can all adopt to improve the quality of our lives. They sit less and move more, especially outside. They have a sense of purpose; and manage stress by having time to unwind, pray, meditate, or take a nap. They stop eating when they are 80% full, and 4 of the 5 zones enjoy alcohol in moderation. They eat whole, nutrient dense, clean, and locally grown food rich in a variety of vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds, fruits, and pasture raised eggs, dairy, and meat. The starchy vegetables and grains consumed varied between the regions; however, they were local and unprocessed. Successful Centurian populations always put family and loved ones first and had strong ties to community or faith-based organizations. Aside from incorporating some of these foundational principles of living a long, life full of purpose, and connection, we can also be more specific about our individual health needs by incorporating functional medicine testing, including expanded inflammatory blood markers, oxidative stress, toxicity load and DNA testing, to help us identify and understand our unique challenges. These tools allow us to become more specific in finding root cause resolution to our unique biochemistry and develop a personalized approach to healthcare. This provides us with the opportunity to decrease our diseasespan and increase our healthspan. As this New Year unfolds, and you contemplate making some health changes, please reach out to our office if you need a coach and community to help direct you on the right path to living your best life longer.  

Dr. Laura Korman is the lead practitioner at Korman Relief and Wellness Center, located at 16954 Toledo Blade Blvd., Port Charlotte. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 941-629-6700 or visit https://www.drlaurakorman.com/