Why do people live longer in the center of Moscow

Or how they struggle with old age in our country

"Free Press"The Day of the Elderly is celebrated on the first of October.

We decided to talk about how today modern pensioners are helped not to succumb to age.

Not a verdictVery often people perceive retirement as a sentence.

Retirement means old age, deterioration of health and living conditions, and no prospects for the future. Only 3 million pensioners live in the capital today, i.e. every fourth inhabitant of the metropolis is on a well–deserved vacation. Almost the same statistics for the country, where there are more than 33 million pensioners. At the same time, more than 30% of them continue to work. It is difficult to accept, for example, yesterday a blooming and energetic lady that today they will write in her work book: "old-age pension". What is old age if she feels quite young? Or a man in his 60s, would it turn the tongue to call an old man?

Humanity in general has recently begun to look much younger and has revised its view of age. It has shifted by about 10 years. As gerontologists say, now 50-year-olds look like forty-year-olds quite recently, those who are 60, you can't even give 50. And yet, even so, the years are taking their toll. With age, almost every person accumulates 5-6 chronic diseases, the immune system weakens, it becomes easier to catch any acute disease. So what should we do so that old age is not perceived as a terrible sentence? Is there a way out?

To be cured of old ageGeriatric offices are being actively opened in Moscow especially for elderly patients.

According to the Department of Health of the capital, there are 101 such offices and one department in the city. The reception is conducted by 133 geriatric doctors. Only last year, 67 thousand Muscovites used their services. For a huge metropolis, the figure may not seem too significant, but experts believe that the need for such services is increasing every day. Such offices are also being opened in other cities of Russia. Even if not as massively as in the Mother See, but such specialists appear. So what can doctors on senile diseases really offer their patients?

As Margarita Kashtanova, a practicing geriatrician, says, the main thing that a geriatrician gives to his patient is attention. Unlike a regular therapist, he can devote not 12 minutes to each visitor, as required by the regulations, but half an hour. Listen to all the problems, do not dismiss them. Not to say the usual: "well, what do you want, age!" And this in itself is very important. Especially if you recall the city polyclinics, queues at the registry office, consisting mainly of embittered grannies who cannot get to the right specialists, and therefore are nervous. And here is a completely different attitude.

Of course, a geriatrician will not cure old age as such, but it will definitely help to prolong longevity. He will advise you how to properly monitor your health. He will tell you about age-related changes that are difficult to avoid after 60, but can be greatly facilitated. He will send the patient first for a full examination, and then, if necessary, he can put him in the hospital. After all, a person not only accumulates a lot of diseases with age, but irreversible changes occur in the brain, he suffers from a lack of oxygen, memory and reaction deteriorate. Plus, the elderly are more prone to osteoporosis. The bone tissue becomes looser, it is easier to get a fracture. Be sure, during the examination, they will do an X-ray of the bones.

Think more!But still, according to geriatricians, people age faster and shorten the years of their lives not so much from physiological diseases as from their psychological state.

With retirement, many feel depressed, unnecessary to anyone. The main problem of old age is lack of demand, loneliness. It is especially typical for megacities. Lonely people are more often embittered, sick, they do not leave the feeling of anxiety. In this case, the geriatrician starts working with the patient's family. Communicates with children, asks for help, support the mother or father. He sends them to a psychotherapist or psychologist to help relieve feelings of anxiety, change the mood.

According to Margarita Kashtanova, and any doctor will support her, the main secret of longevity is in an active lifestyle. Adds years of life – mental work, physical activity, proper nutrition. It is no coincidence that life expectancy in Moscow is higher than in the country.

The professor of the Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics of the Russian National Research Medical University is also sure of this. Pirogova Mikhail Yakushin. For example, he sees nothing surprising in the fact that the average life expectancy of Muscovites is six years higher than in the country. And it is 76 years old, as in Europe. Although, it would seem that the situation with the environment is worse in the capital, there are more stresses than in any small provincial town.

"This can be explained by better medical care, nutrition, the fact that Muscovites themselves are more concerned about their health, lead a more active lifestyle. For example, in the central district of the capital, the standard of living is generally the highest not only in the city, but, it turns out, throughout the country, although the ecology there is worse than in all districts. So, life expectancy does not depend on ecology. Over the past five years, life expectancy, by the way, has increased by an average of 3.8 years in the country, and according to the presidential decree, it should reach 74 years by 2018, 75.7 years by 2020. There is such a trend all over the world: people have begun to live longer," says Yakushin.

But Mikhail Yakushin sees the secret of longevity of the residents of the center of the capital, among other things, in the fact that in these areas of the city there are more people engaged in intellectual work.

"It has always been like this, the life expectancy of members of the Academy of Sciences back in Soviet times was five years higher than in the country," the doctor is convinced.

According to the professor, it certainly affects the longevity and the opening of gerontological offices. "I would also like this activity to be systematized in our country. In the meantime, I see that the work is being curtailed: The Research Institute of Gerontology of the Ministry of Health of Russia was first transformed into a Scientific and Clinical Center - a branch of the N.I. Pirogov RNIMU and recently closed altogether. The Institute of Social Gerontology is closed. There is no full-time chief specialist in geriatrics of the Ministry of Health of Russia. Departments of gerontology and geriatrics in a number of leading universities of the country are being closed or re-profiled. But, nevertheless, even the individual work of specialists gives its results."

According to experts, it is impossible to cure old age as such, of course, but it is possible to maintain health in order to live longer. An important factor in the process of prolonging longevity will be that at last the country will be engaged in the employment of pensioners. There has been talk about this for years and the Ministry of Labor promises that they will create such an opportunity. So that people in retirement are not looking for the lowest-paid and low-prestige work, but can fully realize their abilities, professional skills and receive a decent salary for it. To feel in demand by people. Modern pensioners do not rely on the state, they are used to depending on themselves.

So do not rush to enroll in the old men. Gerontologists, by the way, have their own age measurement scale: up to 45 years old, a person is considered young, from 45 to 59 – mature age, from 60 to 74 – elderly, from 75 to 89 – senile, 90 years and above is the age of centenarians.

What to do in retirementIn the capital and other major cities of the country, pensioners are not allowed to get bored at all.

Many programs for the older generation are being implemented for them: "The best half of life", "University of the third age", "Active longevity", etc. In Moscow alone, there are 116 computer literacy clubs, 115 foreign language studios, theater, dance, art studios, pensioners master Oriental wrestling, wellness gymnastics, Nordic walking and even open their fashion studios. In total, 1120 interest clubs have been created in the capital. Who work at territorial social protection centers in each district of the city. And there are such centers not only in Moscow. Ask your district social protection department, for sure you have the same thing. Everyone understands perfectly well that now a completely different generation of people is going on a well-deserved rest. They own computers, drive cars, travel the world. They need to find a decent occupation. They just won't put up with old age.

Simple tips from a geriatricianEat fractional and often.

1. There should be a lot of fiber in the food, it should not be greasy and salty. Preferably poultry meat, fish, sour-milk products, fruits and vegetables.
2. Drink a liter of water a day. In small sips throughout the day.
3. Move on. Sign up for a pool, dance, walk in the park, walk more.
4. Communicate more with children, grandchildren, friends, try to keep a good mood, do not get angry.
5. Train your brain: learn languages, write, read more, learn poems by heart, master modern technologies.

The most famous old - timersFamous artist Vladimir Zeldin will celebrate his 100th anniversary in February.

• As he himself admits, he never thinks about age. He wouldn't remember now if he hadn't been reminded all the time about the upcoming anniversary. He is still engaged in performances, and it is on stage that he feels young.
• Irina Antonova, the president of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, who has been its permanent head for more than 50 years, believes that her favorite work gives her strength. She always makes plans for the future and always works. At the age of 92, Irina Alexandrovna always looks flawless, but she does not follow any special diets.
• Beloved artist Vladimir Etush is also 92. But he is sure that it is not work that prolongs life, but positive emotions. But if work also brings pleasure, happiness is doubly.

NumbersIn Moscow, people over 80 years old – 318,901 people; centenarians from 90 to 100 years old – 34,960 people, centenarians over 100 years old – 655 people, five years ago there were 480.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru01.10.2014