Extended life expectancy???

[BirchBB]

My hiking partners and I usually comment after a long hike that "we just added x number of days to our life expectancy" by completing this hike. Great physical exercise, cleansing of the soul by being outdoors in a wilderness setting, and one of the best get-a-ways from all the stress factors back at home and work. I say at least a week or two extended life expectancy added after completing a good, long hike. Any thoughts???

 

[CatskillsYeti]

one-for-one

I figure hiking time is counted like time spent fishing. As one old saying has it, "The time spent fishing is not counted in one's lifespan." I think about time spent hiking the same way. I'll settle for that.

 

[NH_Mtn_Hiker]

I say at least a week or two extended life expectancy added after completing a good, long hike. Any thoughts???

Does that mean that if we hike at least once a week, we'll live forever?

 

[CatskillsYeti]

could be - I'm willing to try and find out!

 

[peakbagger]

Whenever I am at the doctor for a checkup he asks me where I have been hiking lately, when I tell him I just got off two weeks of hiking on the AT, he makes a statement that I passed the "stress" test. Of course I think part of it is that I try to make sure that I am in good enough shape in advance of the trip that I can have a good time on the trip. I know that for me there is no subsitute to getting out on the trail for a few weeks.

I do get more than a bit concerned when I encounter "weekend warriors" out on the trails where they are trying to fit in a seasons worth of hiking in one day with no prior conditioning.

 

[maineguide5]

you never know....

I have been a very avid hiker, mtn rescue search & rescue spec. wildlands firefighter, etc etc....even at 51 running a 10 mile 1/2 marathon. Last year I felt I could not keep up with the others on the trail, and snowshowing had me feeling I was frosting my lungs in the colder air.....Hmmmm maybe I should go see a doc....took a bunch of cardiac stress tests, treadmill, Sestamibi nuclear tests....no problem. Doc said I was just out of shape..go exercise more. Did it. Then on a power hike to "exercise more"...I got pains in my chest....guess what?? All 3 of my coronary arteries were 90% blocked. Maine Med did a great job in 3 stents and I'm back on the trail again without any problems. Watch your family history and watch your health...take your health seriously. I like to think that all my hiking and outdoor activity helped me get through it with quick healing and a positive attitude. Keep active as long as you can. Pete

 

[CatskillsYeti]

test results

Mainguide - now you've got me worried. I had a nuclear stress test a couple of weeks ago (I turn 60 later this year - I hope!) and was told by the nurse practitioner at the time that "your heart is responding like that of a 40-year-old." My doc called with the results and had similar things to say. I have no family history that would raise any red flags, but now I'm wondering, do these tests reveal enough? Glad to hear you're back on the trail, though!

Pete

 

[maineguide5]

Hi there;

from what I gathered, the Sestamibi test is not fail safe....maybe 80% accurate. Of course, the gold standard is the coronary cath lab, but runs more risks and is ussually only used if there has been episodes of chest pains or cardiac problems. I say live well, exercise, and hike as much as you can!
I've seen a lot of 70 year olds on the trail and they were doing fine!! Pete

 

[jbreen]

The traffic on the drive to/from the trailhead, plus worrying if your car will get broken into negates the week you pick up. But I would do it anyway.

 

[pbernard]

Thank you maineguide5 for sharing your medical problem with us. It creates an important awareness in the value of health. Best wishes, and keep on hiking.
pb

 

[Remix]

I am going for a physical on Monday-- I know that they are going to an EKG, but should I expect a some sort of stress test. Or is a stress test given if the EKG reveals something...

I have a feeling my HMO/primary care provider will do anything to cut costs (duh).

 

[Dalraida]

Aging and hiking

As people who have hiked with me can attest, I am a moderately slow hiker. Years ago, at age 45 I was a trail runner and had no problems except for the occasional pronated ankle. Now at 65, I have to maintain my heart rate below 120 or I get really fatigued due to reduced blood flow throughout my system. I keep my aerobic capacity up by a daily 30 minutes on my Stairmaster 4400, but there is nothing I can do when my heart gets up in its rate but the flow is not there. I correct this on the trail by 15 to 30 second breaks when I feel this happening. I am pretty sure that my stopping every few minutes bugs my hiking companions, but I thank them for their patience. I take a Beta-blocker to reduce my heartrate, and if I forget this medication, I have an awful time on long duration uphills.

Hopefully, I won't code out on any of my hikes with partners. I expect to expire on a hike someday, I only hope that I have maybe fifteen more years to go and, it will be accepted as a normal part of my life if I am hiking with others.

My first solo overnight was Mount Major in 1954 in a thunderstorm. What fun hiking all these years!

Tom W

 

[frytz]

Live forever!

Does that mean that if we hike at least once a week, we'll live forever?

I hike every day, so at least I seem to be hiking forever! I suppose 2500 miles a year would seem like forever to some!


Fred

 

[Skyclimber]

Hiking does alot for us physically and I won't even get into the details. I'll just say, "luckily I was a hiker" or else my consequences would had been quite high.