Graceful aging tackled in PHA episode

The importance of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle as people age, as well as the factors contributing to longevity and healthy aging, took center stage during an online discussion hosted by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) on Friday and streamed live on Facebook.

The PHA featured its Usapang Puso sa Puso (UPP) episode titled “The HeArt of Aging Gracefully,” bringing together three health experts - an internal medicine (IM) cardiologist-cardiographer, an IM geriatrician and an IM-cardiologist electrophysiologist.

PHA director III and Advocacy Committee Chair Dr. Eric Oliver Sison hosted the discussion, guiding the conversation on the art of aging gracefully, the distinction between lifespan and healthspan, and the various factors that influence how people age.

Life expectancy, lifespanand healthspan

Renowned internist-geriatrician Dr. Mark Evans Abad discussed the distinctions between life expectancy, lifespan, and healthspan, explaining how each reflects a different aspect of human longevity and healthy aging.

Abad is the head of the Center for Healthy Aging and the Section of Geriatric Medicine at The Medical City. He is also a clinical associate professor at the Section of Adult Medicine of the University of the Philippines Philippine General Hospital and a consultant at Manila Doctors Hospital and Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

He explained that life expectancy refers to the average number of years a person is expected to live based on the prevailing conditions during a particular period.

“Right now, for example, the average life expectancy of a Filipino during this period is 72 years,” Abad said.

The Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) recently found that Filipino women continue to have a longer life expectancy than men in 2026 based on the 2020 Census-Based Population Projection.

PSA data showed that women’s life expectancy exceeded that of men in 2020, with females expected to live 73.26 years compared to 66.17 years for males. The figures are projected to rise to 74.60 years and 68.05 years, respectively, by 2026.

Abad, meanwhile, distinguished this life expectancy from lifespan. The IM geriatrician said lifespan referred to the maximum number of years a person or organism can live, noting that humans can live up to approximately 120 years.

He, however, explained that healthspan pertains to the number of years a person lives in generally good health, free from major illnesses or complications, while remaining physically active.

Staying active as one ages

Dr. Maria Belen Carisma, an eminent cardio-electrophysiologist and former PHA president, shared how maintaining an active lifestyle and pursuing healthy hobbies can contribute to graceful aging.

Aside from her work in cardiovascular care, Carisma is also passionate about dancing and has competed in international dancesport competitions, demonstrating that staying physically active can remain part of one’s lifestyle even in older age.

Asked how she inspires her family, particularly her nieces and nephews, to practice self-care and pursue healthy hobbies, Carisma emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“My advice to family members, patients, and friends is still the mantra of the Philippine Heart Association, which is living a healthy lifestyle. And that means eating right, exercising, sleeping adequately, and finding something useful to do,” she said, responding to Dr. Sison.

The former PHA president stressed that growing older does not mean a person loses their purpose or ability to contribute to society.

“Hindi naman ibig sabihin matanda ka na and wala ka nang silbi (It does not mean that just because you are old, you are no longer useful)”, Carisma said.

Why some 70-year-olds feel stronger than those in 50s

Sison raised the question of why some senior citizens in their 70s remain physically active and energetic, while others in their 40s or 50s easily experience fatigue and various health concerns.

The IM cardiologist noted that some older adults can still walk, exercise, and travel, sometimes appearing even more active than their grandchildren, while others begin experiencing physical limitations at a much younger age.

Sison asked whether a 70-year-old could actually be healthier than someone in their 50s and what factors contribute to these differences in physical condition as people age.

In response, IM geriatrician Dr. Abad explained that genetics plays an initial role in determining a person’s health as they grow older.

“Some people or families are really endowed with good genetic factors that give them good health later in life,” Abad said.

“However, as with anything genetic, it can only bring you so far and for so long. This is where other external factors, those that are outside the human body but affect our health, come into play,” he added.

Abad identified lifestyle as one of the most significant external factors influencing a person’s health, emphasizing the importance of diet, personal habits, educational background, and other aspects of one’s life.

He also pointed out that a person’s occupation and life achievements contribute to their overall health and well-being.

“And the particular work you do, everything you have achieved in life, all of that contributes to achieving your optimal health,” he said.

According to Abad, some people in their 70s maintain good health because they exercise regularly, eat properly, avoid unhealthy habits, and practice good health-seeking behaviors, which may also be influenced by their educational background.

In contrast, he noted that people who begin smoking, consuming alcohol, and maintaining unhealthy eating habits at an early age may experience the consequences as they grow older.

Towards graceful aging, preventing heart disease

Former PHA president Dr. Carisma shared that she personally pays attention to exercise, emphasizing its importance in keeping the body healthy, strong, and functionally independent as people grow older.

Aside from regular physical activity, she stressed the need to maintain a balanced diet rather than resorting to fad diets or quick weight-loss methods.

“Do not just lean toward fad diets. Those who want to lose weight suddenly should not really do that. A balanced diet means eating fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in the recommended proportions,” she said.