Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 73
Island Life - December
ISLAND
LIFE is 2010
great at 60...
longer than men of moderate weight.
deterioration is a major cause for loss
The results for women are expected to
of stamina, since the muscles act as a
be the same.
storehouse for glycogen, or body fuel.
Exercise such as aerobics, even for
Myth: An older person's body
older people, can not only help
can't stand the stress of strenuous
control the loss of muscle mass but
exercise.
also reduce body fat, blood pressure,
Reality: Exercise such as weight lifting
and cholesterol levels. Exercise also
or aerobics can increase muscle mass
increases bone density.
in older people, even if they have
Aerobics and weight lifting, though,
previously been sedentary most of their
should be done with supervision, since
lives.
pain from workouts is not good for
An average person loses 30 percent of
older people. Muscle fibre takes longer
muscles and nerves by age 70. Muscle
to repair as a person ages.
Are the elderly fit to drive?
Drivers aged 70 and older are three times as likely to be killed or seriously injured in
a road crash as those aged between 40 and 65, and insurers are calling for tougher
restrictions. Would older people benefit from cognitive and eye tests - or are they
being unfairly singled out? Read the article and email us your views on elderly drivers,
as well as driving standards generally to [email protected]
JAN TOMS - ISLAND RESIDENT
everyone safe.
I learned to drive over forty years ago,
standard eyesight check.
“All that is often required is a quick
have never had an accident and am
TREVOR PRIOR - LOCAL
reminder that these habits could
comfortably familiar with the twists
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
potentially become dangerous if not
and bends of Island roads. However,
When reaching 70 years of age, drivers
corrected. Elderly drivers do have the
when I had my first car there wasn’t
would perhaps be best advised to seek
advantage of experience over the
a single roundabout on the Island.
assurances that they can still cope with
younger driver but reaction times can
Later, a rash of mini roundabouts
modern day conditions.
often &R&