Very few have a chance to live a long and fulfilling life, whether due to genetics, environment, or a combination of both. However, such aspirations may become a reality thanks to modern medicine. In his latest New York Times Bestseller for Non-Fiction (Print and eBook), Peter Attia, MD, offers some helpful yet frank advice on improving your lifespan significantly.
“Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity” explores the latest research on how science can deliver the best nutritional interventions, optimized sleep and exercise techniques, and ways to address emotional and mental health.
Dr. Attia is unafraid to state mainstream medicine’s shortcomings, particularly its failure to make progress in providing interventions that kill most people. These diseases include heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Type 2 diabetes. Sadly, when diagnosed, such treatments or interventions are already too late to help, significantly affecting the person’s lifespan and quality of life.
Dr. Attia believes that by replacing outdated treatment interventions with personalized and proactive strategies, many of us can significantly improve our chances of living a healthy and fulfilling life despite current conditions.
Nevertheless, it’s important to note that it’s not “biohacking.” Dr. Attia relies on a well-founded strategic and tactical approach to expanding one’s lifespan while vastly improving one’s physical, cognitive, and emotional help. We can significantly improve our chances by emphasizing how we should approach achieving longevity.
How Does the Book Describe Longevity?
Many medical experts constantly research longevity and how humans can achieve it. Nevertheless, the book describes longevity as something different. While many may think of longevity as having a longer lifespan, Dr. Attia has some critical definitions that will help readers understand the term more intimately.
First, Longevity has two components. The first component is how long you live, which is your “chronological lifespan.” Many people often fixate on this component because it’s impressive to read how someone can live up to 100!
However, the definition continues beyond there. The second component is your quality of living, also known as your “healthspan.” Healthspan is the period of life when you are free from disability or disease. Typically, a healthy twenty-five-year-old is at the peak of their physical health and has zero long-term conditions.
These two components are interrelated. As a person ages, it’s natural to expect our years to pile up and our limitations to increase. However, Dr. Attia argues that it’s more malleable than we think. While we certainly can’t expect to do the same tasks at 80 when we were 25, we can at least make our golden years more fulfilling than 50 percent of people in a similar age bracket.
However, not many of us can have a long healthspan. Lifestyle aspects like diet and habits plus environmental factors like safe communities can risk our lives. It’s also crucial to note that mental health issues have risen significantly among young adults in the past decade, which can also affect life quality. This trend is concerning because mental illness robs a person’s capacity to enjoy life or find meaning.
Nevertheless, it’s important to note that it’s not hopeless for you, even if you have a disability or a long-term disease. While there may be some limitations to specific experiences, nearly anyone looking to improve their health journey can benefit from this handy book and even enhance their healthspan!
What Can I Expect From This Book?
Aside from the nature of longevity and the factors that influence a person’s lifespan. Dr. Attia expands on the “four horsemen,” also known as the four chronic illnesses that can affect a person’s quality of life. Some of these diseases include:
- Type 2 diabetes;
- Cardiovascular disease;
- Cancer; and
- Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.)
Each book is broken up into sections devoted to these horsemen. However, in the final quarter, Attia also makes it a point to emphasize emotional health. Many people often overlook mental health because of various reasons. Still, such a part cannot be overlooked because if a person has no will to live, how can they enjoy the rest of their lives peacefully? Fortunately, the book makes it a point that you shouldn’t just actively work to achieve physical health but mental health as well.
Aside from said diseases, readers can also expect preventive measures to prevent or reduce symptoms of each condition. Tips on preventing cognitive decline, incorporating exercise, and taking charge of your health now are some revolutionary lessons from this read. Many are science and reality-based, which means there is no one secret method to a long life but a combination of different factors.
Who Can Benefit From This Book?
Many adults can benefit from this book regardless of background. However, older audiences may find it especially helpful because of its practical advice, frank discussions on modern medicine, and its hopeful discussion on how you can take charge of your life. This feature empowers readers by providing them with recent research and knowledge in the medical field.
Nevertheless, young adults in their 20s and 30s can also gain much perspective from this book due to its preventive measures and making the most of their current years. If you’re currently in your prime, you can extend your healthspan longer with these handy tips. However, you can still age gracefully and find meaning in your life regardless if you’re beyond your prime.
Healthcare professionals can also benefit from this book. Since medicine is slowly making waves through patient-centered care and personalized treatment, it can significantly help many professionals learn some practical approaches to familiar conditions.
While the book may not give the most in-depth explanations on extending your life, it can still work well as a supplementary guideline on actively focusing on your health and making the most of your later years.
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity is available on Amazon in various formats. You can also check out Dr. Attia’s website, where he posts links to his podcast, The Drive. The Drive focuses on practical ways to slow down the aging process based on recent scientific research. Consider subscribing to his YouTube channel, where he posts content on his longevity expertise.
