Why Do We Age Faster After Retirement? The Culprit: A Broken Daily Rhythm [Professor Ahn Cheol-woo’s Hormone Encyclopedia]

[Financial News]Hormones have been passed down and developed from species to species alongside the evolution of life. If there is a chemical substance that must exist for as long as life exists, it is “hormones.” In this sense, hormones are immortal. Through his column, Professor Ahn Cheol-woo aims to provide accurate information about hormones, the chemicals that govern the body, and suggest ways to live a healthier and happier life. [Editor’s note]
Aging is the biggest reason growth hormone secretion declines in old age, but a disrupted daily rhythm is another major factor. Until middle age, commuting and raising children are at the center of daily life, bringing a regular cycle of moderate stress and rest. But in old age, retirement brings social life to a halt, and once children become independent, they no longer need support. The anchor that kept life regular disappears. As a result, people can fall into a rhythm-free pattern of waking, eating, and sleeping whenever they feel like it.
Growth hormone is actively secreted through regular, deep sleep, vigorous exercise, prolonged fasting, and moderate tension and stress. A rhythm-free lifestyle is therefore an ideal way to deplete growth hormone. If you want to enjoy a healthy old age, you need to make a deliberate effort to create rhythm and variation in your life. Here are three ideas I’ve come up with.

You could arrange to work part-time only in the mornings, or join a club and go hiking, do yoga, or swim regularly with other members every day. If you make a schedule of getting up at 6 or 7 a.m., having breakfast, and leaving the house, you can structure the rest of your day around it.

Growth hormone secretion increases when the body is under a moderate level of stress. Taking on something new can provide a healthy degree of tension, whether it’s housework such as cleaning or laundry; physical work such as a part-time job at a café or assisting in an office; or playing an instrument, doing crafts, studying a language, preparing for a certification, or volunteering. If you spend about four to five hours a day focused on something new while experiencing moderate stress, your evening rest will feel all the sweeter. Physical and mental exertion make it easier to rest and relax; that helps you sleep better, which in turn helps growth hormone be secreted more effectively.

Spending more time alone at home can erase the ups and downs of daily life: you may eat more often, making it harder to extend your fasting periods, and spend more time napping and watching TV. Making plans to go out often and meet people can help you feel that you’re still part of society and provide a healthy degree of tension. Old friends or new friends—both are good. Share stories about your lives and seek out new experiences, such as visiting an art museum or going to a concert or play.
/Ahn Cheol-woo, Professor of Endocrinology, Gangnam Severance Hospital
 


[email protected] Jung Myeong-jin, Medical Correspondent Reporter