Sipping Iced Coffee a la French style by the small road in Hanoi.
Legs and Hips
When I served National Service, at 18 years of age, I graduated into the Armoured Artillery Corp, of the battery supporting the 46th Singapore Armoured Regiment. As a vehicle commander, I recall that I had and could easily jump from a height of 6 feet (1.8 metres) to the ground with hardly any impact on my sprightly joints. The Armoured Personnel Carrier or M113 which was the mainstay of the soldier transport back in the 1980s, was my military 'Grab'. I had a driver, Loh Swee Chuah, who was a competent and nice guy and my relationship with him was superb. I normally sat or operated my duties at the vehicle coppola, at the centre and topside of this vehicle.
Everytime, we laguered (or stopped to deploy), we had a "Commander O group" which each Section Commander had to go to the Forward Officer's Unimorg for a briefing. I recall, I had to jump from the top of the vehicle to the ground and then sprint with my weapon to the Officer's Unimorg. The height of the vehicle was 6 feet or roughly 1.8 metres.
Today, at 63 years of age, I can barely jump from 1 foot (0.3 metres) without feeling some "Ooh" on my joints. That is how far my orthopaedic strength and flexibility has gone down, due to age and wear and tear.
Lateral Crucia Ligaments (LCL)
I need regular massages with moxibustion as I feel these ligaments to my balance, flexibilty and weight bearing ability. Many of my peers my age are showing terrible signs of this degradation, by virtue of them struggling to get in and out of cars. The fact that I take 3 to 5 collagen health supplements and they really do help is testament of how much my joints have aged over the decades.
Back
Very fortunately, to date, I have no or very little lower back pack. Thanks to my investment of buying and using only top quality running shoes, visiting a podiatrist (Dr. Leong Lee Seng) and taking 4 pills of :
- Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Monosodium Sulphate (MSM)
3 (+ 3) pills of :- Collagen (High Strength)
I also keep on practising karate till this day (over 23 years).
This martial art emphasizes flexibility of back and hips as well as maintaining core strength so I am still very mobile and active.
Regular eye checkups are key too. I am due for mine soon.
Sitting inside one of the exam booths of the Temple of Literature (1000 Year Old University)
Teeth
I have had gum disease, and am been treated by my long time dentist Dr Paul Choo of Bedok Town Dental Surgery for the better part of 5 years. Recently I had a tooth implant done, and I can safely vouch that from now on, I must floss my teeth daily and keep my mouth healthy.Price of teeth implants in Singapore is not cheap ranging from $2,000 to 3,000 per tooth but oh boy, I need to have the feeling of biting hard to give myself tremendous satiation when eating.
There are a lot of diseases which start from the mouth, so its the very first line of defence.
Hearing
Fortunately I am not addicted to my Ipods, in fact I have an ear plug for music which I very infrequently use, as I rather listen to my environment when I am running and walking from point A to point B.
I have numerous friends and relatives who have suffered hearing loss from their early 50s, so I am very mindful that the loss of this crucial sense is another key to the beginnings of dementia disease amongst the elderly.
Heart Health
I have been on a course of statins (AZ Rosuvastatin 10mg ) for over 3 years already. While my LDL and triglyceride levels are on the optimal levels, there is always no room for complacency. I have been battling high LDL levels for close to 20 years in the past. While my HDL levels are OK, it is the triglycerides and the high LDL levels which have given my doctors cause for concern.
This area of my health, I need to take control and mitigate any sense of complacency.So I exercise as regularly as I can, (3 to 4 times a week walk and run, as well as practice with dumbells and use the outdoor gym as much as possible).
Regular checkups are a must and I am overdue for a full blood and stool test any time soon.
Colon Health
I am due for a colonoscopy soon, I will not delay this any further, and will go for one by July.Its been close to 3.5 years since my last colonoscopy (Dec 2022). At home, we eat a lot of fibre on a daily basis, and I have been taking regularly, (30 Billion) Probiotics capsule for over 3 years now.
Prostate Health
I also need to go and take a prostate test for prostate cancer.All these are 'must dos' and not 'nice to do" thing which will supposedly prolong my quality of life for as long as possible.
Metabolic Disease
I am very mindful that after 50 years of age, the body slows its metabolism drastically. I have been watching videos on Youtube from ER doctors and experts and have been religiously following their advice to exercise, moderately, after meals and do not succumb to sleeping on a full stomach
The spike in insulin after eating a carbohydrate heavy meal, it tantamount to a slow buildup and ultimately an insulation resistance which if nothing is done, will lead to insulin resistance, and metabolic disease, which includes the following killer diseases :
a) diabetes mellitus
b) cancer
c) high blood pressure.
Brain Cognizance
Retiring and staying at home doing nothing, is one sure way for my brain to go downhill fast.
I am still very active in my business, learining new things like languages (I plan on learning at least one or two in the coming year), and expanding my circle of friends and acquaintences will definately halt or at least diminish the rate of brain deterioration or brain fog which affects many seniors above the age of 60.
Maintaining and improving relationships with my closest loved ones, family and then friends is my top priority.
Keeping this blog going. Posting on social media, learning new skills and experiencing new places (like visiting Hanoi recently) will I hope, put me in good stead to face my silver years with enthusiasm and hope.
Carpe Diem.
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