Your “Third Act” Healthspan

Did you know that life expectancy in the U.S. remains lower than in many other industrialized nations that spend less on health care? According to the American Heart Association, 79% of adults 60 and older have two or more chronic illnesses―such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease ―and more than 50% of young adults are reporting at least one chronic condition.

Your lifespan refers to the years you are alive, including those characterized by chronic illness and disease. Your healthspan, on the other hand, is the portion of your life where you thrive in a state of active wellness, free of illness and disease.

If you’re under 50 now, you still have a promising runway to prepare for optimal health throughout your Third Act of life, which the great Jane Fonda famously refers to in her books Prime Time and My Life So Far. Your First Act is from birth to age 30, your Second Act is 30-60, and your Third Act us from ages 60-90 (and beyond).

The saying “Take what you want and pay for it” certainly applies here, as does the phrase keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Happily, this applies to habits that support optimal health just as much as those that impair it.

Once you are committed to lifestyle actions that increase your healthspan, you start boosting your odds of enjoying vibrant health throughout your Third Act of life, and it’s easier than you may think. Stay tuned for 7 Keys to Increasing Your Healthspan Naturally.