CARING, HEALTH AND LONGEVITY

CARING, HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
BY
PROFESSOR BOLUWAJI AYOKUNLE REUBEN FAJEMILEHIN
B.N.Sc, M.Sc.N, Ph.D. FWACN.

Longevity
Longevity or growing old is a process and product of several factors such as genetic, active physical state, life styles, health behaviour and self management techniques that takes place in the human body even when the individual does not seem to be aware, which is concerned not only with the biological process of ageing but also with the socio-cultural and economic factors influencing it. Hence, old age cannot be linked with ill-health or disability, although it is a period of increased health problems to many due to changing economic ability, living arrangement and post modernization role changes (Ekong, 2006). Several studies (Fajemilehin, 2000; and Giddens, 2001) reported that females, with a few exceptions all over the world outlive their male counterparts- sometimes as much as 9-10 years longer on the average.

• Influences on longevity
  The longevity of Adam and some of his descendants who their ages range between 365and 950 years (Genesis chapter 5) was explained to be as a result of the following perspectives:




• Human race being genetically purer




• Provision of water which were above the firmament and shielded people from environmental factors that hasten ageing (Genesis 1:7)




• God-given so that man would replenish the earth (Genesis1:28) and later to 70-80 years because of man courting God’s wrath through his iniquities (Ps.90:7-9).




• World –wide, there tends to have been a marked improvement in longevity and life expectancy. This according to Fajemilehin (2000) and Fajemilehin and Odebiyi (2009) could be linked to: Socio-cultural factors (truthfulness, contentment and experience of self-fulfillment in or successful culmination);




• Education and the general awareness of the leading causes of diseases;




• Improved nutrition;




• General improvement in socio-economic factors that affect health including the environment;




• The global positive change of attitudes toward women who reproduce and care for the society;




• Technological breakthroughs in drug research and manufacture (Immunocal); v Breakthroughs in methods of diagnosis, disease prevention and cure of infectious and parasitic diseases;




• Expansion in recreation and leisure;




• Advances in communication, transportation and enhanced mobility;




• Institution of democratic governments and the rule of law as a universal ideology; andThe growing perception and acceptance of development as being more than growth in GDP but embracing human development and holistic grow.

Health promoting factors

• Truthfulness
• Contentment
• Patience
• The use of the tongue (watch what one says) and observation of traditions
• Familial care and support
• Exercises in form of unrestricted daily activitiesAdequate and proper feeding in line with other traditional habits- i.e. low intake of cassava products, sugary sweet and refrigerated food items. (jeun to dara nitori ohun ti eye ba je ni eye maa gbe fo)
• Satisfaction with life past experiences (period of culmination)
• Compliance with home training e.g. respect for elders (in my days , young ones were made to respect the elderly person but today a boy of ten will willfully knock down a man of 50 without any mind of pity) . It is believed that those disrespecting elders will incur the wrath /curse of the elders and such action will result in ill-health.
• Hardworking spirit (nitori ise sise kii pani aise re gaan ni abuku)
• Taking life easy with the fear of God(sise jeje pelu iberu Olorun)The broad analysis of the highlight above on health promoting factors and growing old were well corroborated issues in 1ST Timothy 6 verse 6 and 11 which expressed that ‘there is great gain in Godliness, truthfulness with contentment’, while the verse 11 says “aim at righteousness, godliness, fight the good fight of the faith, love and patience. The health point of view agreed with the various analytical positions , since both truthfulness and contentment not only prevent fear, anxiety, and stress of life but also promote peace of mind, thus preventing cardio-vascular, diabetes and other stress induced disease conditions. Of importance is “exercise” in form of unrestricted daily activities which provides for active state of musclo-skeletal function and alert state of the individual. Traditional habits (such as, use of chewing stick, restriction on starchy, sugary, and sweet as well as refridgerated food items) prevent, teeth, eye, and other systemic health problems. Virginity was a major traditional requirement for marital union in the olden days. Observation of this tradition not only prevents sexually transmitted infections, but enhances lasting love in marriage. The need to maintain all stages of marriage was also stressed as this will ensure successful marriages as unhappy marriages can negatively impact on the health of those concerned. Finally, Fajemilehin (2000) posited that longevity is a product of several bio-socio-cultural factors.
  
  The positive effects of ageing
  To an individual, living to old age
• May be an indication of possessing genetically strong disposition to have withstood the ravages of time;
• May offer Opportunity to retire and free oneself from the constraints of work;
• May bring honour, respect or high esteem in societies where experience and wisdom are ascribed to age;
• May bring personal satisfaction where the life had been a fulfilled one. In other words, the opportunity to eat the fruits of one’s labour and see the progress of the next generation is a function of how long one lives;
• May be the time to travel, learn new skills or pursue further education which one could not while in active service and/or carrying full parenting responsibilities.

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