Many boomers face a decade of sickness and disability in their later years (Canada)

A new Heart and Stroke Foundation poll reveals that Canadian baby boomers plan to grow old with vitality, living full lives. But the reality is many of these boomers may not be healthy enough to see these plans through. Heart disease, stroke and other chronic conditions will cause the average Canadian to live a decade in sickness, disability and immobility later in life. Research shows that there's a 10-year gap between how long Canadians are living and how long they live in good health. Research also shows that through lifestyle choices, we can add health to our years and shrink that 10-year gap. The 2013 Heart and Stroke Foundation's Report on the Health of Canadians looks at what Canadian baby boomers are doing in terms of their health and lifestyle habits, how that may be impacting their 10-year gap, and what they can do about it

Boomers fight aging with exercise

"Fitness goals and objectives change drastically as you move into your mid-40s to 60s. The shift moves from exercise for physical appearance to good health. Boomers want quality of life. They want to look and feel good, and are fighting the effects of aging every step of the way. Boomers will not give in to the aging process easily; however, natural physiological changes will guide their activity choices. For people who have been active throughout their life, moving into this stage of life can be frustrating as joint injuries, strains and pains and other health issues begin to appear. These changes in physiology affect the volume, intensity and type of exercises that can be performed. It is common to see endurance runners become endurance cyclists as joint problems make it more appealing to ride than run. A health crisis may be the motivation that gets boomers active who may not have previously been involved in fitness activity. Careful exercise design is critical for anyone who has been inactive for a period of time and is coming back after a health issue. As boomers strive to stay young, more and more research is pointing to exercise as the fountain of youth. When it comes to exercise choice and preference, this generation tends to look for health benefits: a combination of cardiovascular activities, resistance training and stretching is highly recommended. - Calgary Herald

Baby boomers may outlive their kids (USA)

"Because of rising obesity rates among young people, more and more baby boomers may outlive their children. A new study shows that a generational shift in obesity rates is setting the younger generation up for shorter life and poorer health in comparison to their parents. 'Our research indicates that higher numbers of young and middle-age American adults are becoming obese at younger and younger ages,' researcher Joyce Lee, MD, MPH, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Michigan, says in a news release. Researchers found that 20% of people born between 1966 and 1985 were obese in their 20s, an obesity prevalence milestone not reached by their parents until their 30s or by their grandparents until their 40s or 50s. That means more Americans are getting heavier earlier in their lives and carrying the extra pounds for longer periods of time, which suggests that the impact for chronic disease and life expectancy may be worse than previously thought. In the study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers compared national obesity rates for children and adults born between 1926 and 2005."

Aging baby boomers may swamp cardiac care (USA)

Baby boomers are not in good shape, even when compared with their counterparts 10 or 20 years ago, researchers warn. According to a new study, more aging boomers are being hospitalized for heart attacks now than people their age were a generation ago, and the increase in cases could place a big burden on cardiac care wards nationwide. But on the upside, improvements in medical care may allow more people from this generation to recover and leave the hospital after a heart attack, the researchers say. "The first baby boomers will begin turning 65 in a year-and-a-half, making the aging of this group an important public health issue," said Hylan Shoob, lead author of a study that was to be presented Thursday at an American Heart Association conference in Palm Harbor, Fla. - Business Week