Healthy Aging: What Can You Control?
Genetics isn't the only factor in aging. Here's how to break the mold.
By Stephanie Watson
From the WebMD Archives
When it comes to aging, Bebe Shaw didn't hit the genetic lottery. Her mother died from congestive heart failure, her father of a heart condition. The younger of her two brothers had a heart attack at age 52, and her younger sister is on the verge of congestive heart failure. Shaw, 69, has high cholesterol -- a serious risk factor for heart disease.
With such a checkered health history, she's not taking any chances. "I am an advocate of exercise and diet," says Shaw, who works as a paralegal in Ocala, Fla. "I play tennis 3 days a week, go to [indoor cycling] and Zumba classes at the Y twice a week, and try to ride my bike on a nearby trail every day." She also eats well, takes a statin drug to control her cholesterol, and visits her doctor regularly for checkups and screenings.
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/healthy-aging#1
