Face ageing without fear
Ageing should not be feared but faced with optimism and hopefulness, according to Malaysian Dr Muar Nathesan. Dr Nathesan was one of many clinicians to attend the First World Congress on Healthy Ageing in Kuala Lumpur recently – and what he learnt from proceedings was “ageing is a physical phenomenon and something that is inevitable”.
Ageing should not be feared but faced with optimism and hopefulness, according to Malaysian Dr Muar Nathesan.
Dr Nathesan was one of many clinicians to attend the First World Congress on Healthy Ageing in Kuala Lumpur recently – and what he learnt from proceedings was “ageing is a physical phenomenon and something that is inevitable”.
“Greying, wrinkles and loosening of body muscles are part and parcel of old age. As stressed in the congress, it is important that ageing is a healthy one,” he said, as quoted by The Star Online.
According to Dr Nathesan, many people had a muddled perception of what it meant to age actively.
“I think healthy doesn’t mean physically fit. It means free of any serious ailment and possessing a healthy mind. One should have a positive attitude towards life.”
He added retirement does not mean we are “at the end of our journey” – rather, he claimed it was all in the mind.
“It’s just a mindset. We have many senior citizens in our midst happily enjoying life as it is. I think that is healthy ageing.
“As long as senior citizens are engaging in some activity, I strongly believe he or she can live healthily. Studies show an active mind keeps diseases and aliments at bay.
“Let us all, including me a retiree, look forward to ageing as a phenomenon and part of life and not as an alarming factor. We should learn to take life as it is.”
Australian ageing researcher based at the University of South Australia, Henry Klis, shared with DPS News his thoughts, and that of older Australians, is to listen carefully to Dr Nathesan’s advice.
“Old age should be considered a privilege and people shouldn’t fear what is to come; embrace it and you will be on your way to ageing gracefully,” Mr Klis says.
Do you agree with Dr Muar Nathesan and Mr Klis that old age should be embraced? Share your thoughts on this by commenting in the box below.
