Boating & health

[John]

The thread I previously started on issues about sailboat size for a blue water cruiser started to morph into a discussion on health, especially that of older sailors. Rather than post my comments on that thread, I'm starting a new one, because I do have some ideas on this issue, spoken from experience as I'm 62 (and counting).

The first issue is blood chemistry and diet. The popular conception, fueled by the medical/pharmaceutical industry is that cholesterol, especially the LDL kind, is inherently harmful. Every few years they lower the figure you're supposed to have of ldl. Anything above this and you should take the statin drugs - very profitable and also damaging. I know of several people who started with the statins and experienced muscle problems, including torn muscles.

In fact, there is strong reason to doubt the prevailing view on cholesterol, which is a naturally produced (by the body) and is a necessary chemical. There is a great book called "The Cholesterol Myths" by Ravnskov which really exposes much of this. I think that very high cholesterol is more a symptom that the body is under stress (either chemical or psychological) than it is a cause. In my own case, I had extremely and unnaturally high cholesterol (over 325 or so). This indicated that something was wrong. My doctor dealt with it by a combination of nutritional supplements and diet - no, not stopping eating red meat, eggs, etc. but cutting out sugar and refined flour, white rice, etc. This brought the level down by some 80 points.

A side benefit of this was that my knees stopped aching.

This issue is obviously of concern to older sailors, especially those that are interested in cruising since muscle problems could be a real danger.

I'd say I am stronger and in better shape now than I was when I was working (in construction). The main reason, along with the changed diet, is better exercise. In my own case, I practice a "non-violent" martial art (which I have more time to do now that I'm not working), and prior to class we do some yoga to warm up. I've never done yoga before but I find it is great for building both strength and flexibility. Obviously, this is important for sailors, and yoga can easily be practiced on any sailboat over 20 feet or so I would guess.

Anyway, these are some of the main things I've found about health as we age.

 

[Hermit Scott]

My first rule in life is: Never take advice from someone that doesn't have what you want. If your doctor is obese don't listen to him/her! Get a new doctor.
I'm a pretty healthy person. This is my philosophy. We were made to live on this earth and eat the things that are here. This is intuitive but takes some discipline to master.
Something with any hydrolized oil is not natuarlly occuring on this earth. This is also called transfat. (They are cheap and cause food to last longer) Through lobbying the large food corporations are allowed to say that their products have no transfat, even though they have hydrolized oils. The rule is less than .5 g per serving. So most things you eat are 2 servings or more anyway. If 6 potatoe chips contain .8 g of transfat, they cut the serving amount to 3 chips and presto, no trans fat. You can look it up to see just how bad transfats are.
If you read the label and don't know what it is, why in the world would you eat it? Don't eat it if you don't know what it is. Never eat fast food. Never drink sodas, way too much refined sugar. I also don't eat any white bread.(High glyaemic index=BAD) Sometimes that's a tough one when getting a burger. Yes I eat hamburgers. As long as you don't get the baconator 5 lb. colon buster they are ok to eat. Just like sailboat things eating healthy takes research to find out what is right to do. However there are many conflicting views even among professionals. Common sense goes a long way with alot of things in life and what to eat is one of them.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Super size me

I believe sailing is very good for your health. It gets you away from the fast food stores, tends to force you to cook your own foods produced from basic staples, and gives you the exercise and lower stress that have all been proven to help any body's health issues.
Just stopping the trips to the fast food joint makes a big difference in my kids. The ex wife noticed that they where calmer after a long weekend on the boat. I'd note that the kids hate the boat because there is no TV or video games.

 

[Ross]

Waiting until you are feeling your age is not the best approach to maintaining good health. But perhaps the most important factor in maintaining good heath into your old age is the proper choice of genes. The medicine man can help you make the most of what you have and you can cook in such a way that you know what is in your food. Moderation in all things is always good and staying active and productive is wise. I am the middle of seven kids, we are all in excellent health, all very active physically and mentally. We have all adjusted our lifestyles to accomdate our aging bodies. Backs ,knees, hips, shoulders and elbows do tend to wear out. When I was younger I could carry a 94 pound bag of portland cement. Today I can lift it into the back of the truck and out into a wheel barrow.
Continue to do all that you can but find ways to work that won't cripple you.

 

[sailaway78]

Age is in the mind

Well to some extent anyway. If you THINK you are too old to do it, you probably are. At the age of 70, the only things I am too old for is those that I try and just can't do. I think that Ross is pretty accurate, with the genes comment. My mother turned 94 Sept.1 and my health is excellent, I take no drugs of any kind, do not go to Dr.s,and will never stay alive by taking Rx drugs. I can still single hand my S37 fairly easily. I do take things a little slower, and don't get too concerned about being the first boat there. Keep in mind that death is one of the requirements of life, and it is a fact that you will not get out of here alive. And there are no guarantees of even one more day. Live each day like it's your last, and enjoy every thing life has to offer.

 

[Deadline]

In-mast furling has added ten years to the timeframe an older sailor can solo. Now that's a health breakthrough.

 

[Ross]

In-mast furling has added ten years to the timeframe an older sailor can solo. Now that's a health breakthrough.

It would take me ten years to pay for such. When I get too decrepit to hoist my own sails I will find a young beautiful crew to do that for me . By then I won't be a threat to them.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

If you need a mast furler, it's time to get a trawler... (this is a joke- I hope this does not offend anyone... except the trawler crowd)

 

[Mike B]

Ross, I hate to tell you this but I suspect they don't see you as threat now
Mike

 

[Ross]

Mike , most of them tell Nancy that I'm cute. Ain't that a kick! Just another little old man.

 

[Rick D]

Sailing and Aging

It is true that things do get more challenging as you age. However, you also learn to use your head instead of just muscle which can extend your sailing days a lot. Modern designs aid the effort too.

I find sailing is great exercise as is sailboat ownership itself. I say sailboat ownership not out of a bias but rather because I have observed over the years that sailboat owners DYI a lot more than powerboat owners (with the possible exception of trawlers... Don ). That is good exercise over time and every bit helps.

Having said all that, I do consider health with respect to where I sail and who crews. The guys that crew with me when I'm doing longer trips are all plenty old and the nature of the beast is they all have some kind of health condition or another (as do I). So far, I just figure they may be better off under a doc's care with a problem than a lot of others who don't know what is wrong with them, so I don't exclude them.

 

[Ross]

On the restored liberty ship John Brown the crew is the men that sailed her during the war. There are placards in every work space reminding the crew to take their meds.
My doctors tell me that i am in excellant heath but with a few controlled conditions. The meds just replace the hormones and chemicals that my body doesn't produce any longer.

 

[Bob V]

One way that boating helps to maintain health...

I often practice "boat yoga" by installing components like hydronic heat systems, new hoses for the head and other items in hard to reach places that force one's body into positions that are not usually attempted. One can also improve coordination by learning to install items in places which are too small to see what you are doing.

 

[sailaway78]

Old and decrepit

Hey Ross,
It isn't so much about old and decrepit, but much more about staying off the foredeck when it gets kind of snotty out there. Around here in the summer, we get some pretty vicious thunderstorms fairly often. Winds can go from ten knots to 40 plus in about three seconds. The shallow bays get really choppy real quick. Not having to go up on the foredeck in these conditions, sure is a blessing when the legs are old and tired. I still have to go on deck to reef the main, but is much closer and easier than would be the foredeck to drop a big jib or jenny.
And it is much easier, even when the weather is nice. Besides that, the furlers are not that expensive. I recently replaced mine, along with the forestay. Total cost was a tad under 2K. With all that, I have sailed boats with roller mains, and do not want one of those. Every one I have seen always seems to screw up, sooner or later, and as per Mr.Murphy, always at the most inopertune time.

 

[John]

My original intent of this thread was to raise some ideas as to how us older people can slow down the process of the body breaking down. There's another thing I've discovered about my body, in particular, my knees, that may apply to others:

One job I was working on I had to go up and down stairs fairly often. After a week of this, I noticed that the sides of my knees were hurting quite a bit. I started paying attention to when they hurt, and found they hurt going down the stairs. Then I noticed that I ran down the stairs with my knees turned out - kind of in a bowlegged position. I think a lot of people do this. I also noticed that when I drive, I tend to let my right knee flop out in this same position. I find that this is what makes my knees hurt. If I keep them lined up straight, then they don't hurt.

Except for the toes and feet (anybody ever have turf toe?), I think the knees are the most important joint as far as determining what we can and can't do. If you have bad knees, then that prevents doing most things. I think making sure you use your knees properly really helps a lot. Also, regarding the knees - despite everything, I used to have a fair bit of pain from arthritis in the knees. My doctor had recommended the low sugar low refined flour diet to lower my general inflammation level in my body. I found that this diet also helped my knee pain a lot.

 

[Ross]

John , Just my observations here but many people I know with damaged knees and hips have carried excess body weight for many years, or are combat veterans, or have had employment that required many hours working in a kneeling position on floors or roofs. Knee pads are essential, controling body weight make great differences, some sports are very harmful to the knee joints. We are taught to lift with our knees to protect our backs but we are not told that our knees can also be overloaded and damaged. I don't like to work with men that are 60 pounds and 8 inches bigger than me because they want to set the load standards. Never work above you limits for prolonged periods.

 

[Mike B]

I had one of those jobs many years ago. Worked on machines that required me to kneel down to repair them. Towards the end of that role I started using a knee pad. Unfortunately it was too little too late. Both bother me if I over do it, but the right more so. In addition to the knees I find the musles, tendons, etc tighten up. I try to do stretches to keep things loose. Considering taking Yoga classes which will help. Overall I find I'm in much better shape when on the boat. I eat less, work more, sleep like a log and generally feel fantastic. I can't wait for spring so I can get back to it.
Mike

 

[Mike B]

Ross, I'll take being called "cute" but I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen. I like to respond to the young ones at restaurants, stores, etc that ask if there's anything else they can do for me by telling them yes, stop calling me "sir"
Mike

 

[Ross]

Mike are the 30 something women calling you Mr. Mike yet ? That's the one that gets me. I don't like to be called mister.

 

[John]

knees & weight

you are so right about knees and weight. I was reading that every step a person takes puts six times their weight of stress on their knees. That's just from walking on level ground. I already have a little arthritis in my knees. Not much I can do about that, except minimize the damage. I think that's the same for others - the damage often is there for life, but we can minimize the effects of it. As for yoga - I just started doing about five minutes three or four times a day, and I think it's great.