"Your Life, Phase Two: Natural Health and Secrets of a Successful Midlife Transition"
By Jessica Groach
Midlife crisis. The term instantly conjures up clichéd images of little red sports cars, hairpieces, and lovers half your age. Although midlife crises are often the subject of jokes, for many this is a painful, difficult time. But with the recent prominence of natural health, natural medicine, and second careers, it doesn't have to be.
Midlife is a time of deep reflection. It's a time of creating positive and lasting changes both personally and professionally, and focusing on beginning the second half of your life. With the average life expectancy in the U.S. at around 80, chances are good that most of us will be active and working well into our 70s, creating an important role for natural health schools and natural medicine careers and training.
Aging Gracefully
Baby Boomers have gone and reinvented the way people are aging. Those 70-million-plus Americans that comprise the largest segment of our population are about to create a longevity revolution in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that by the year 2030, the number of Americans 65 and older will have more than doubled. This will affect everything from the cost and availability of health care to the financial sector, and even the student populations in colleges and universities.
By the time you hit midlife, you've spent years taking care of others -- your spouse, your kids, your clients -- and now you have a great reason to start taking care of yourself. The University of Virginia's Midlife Health Center reports that the hormonal changes caused by menopause improve middle-aged women's chances for breast and other types of cancers, and other chronic illnesses. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for U.S. women over 55. Half of all women over age 50 will have a fracture caused by osteoporosis. The National Health Information Center finds that people who are obese in midlife face a significantly higher chance of suffering from a heart attack, diabetes, dementia or Alzheimer's disease. The facts are clear: taking care of your body now, at midlife, may help prevent illness as you age.
The good news for you is that according to the CDC, many of these chronic illnesses are preventable. Nearly 40% of deaths in the U.S. are the result of smoking, lack of physical activity, poor diet, or the misuse of alcohol. While there's no cure for cancer, its chance for development can be significantly lowered with regular self-exams and doctor check-ups, combined with a diet that's low in fat, high in vitamins A and C, and rich in fiber from grains, fruits, and vegetables. A 1999 study conducted by the American Cancer Society suggests that over one-third of cancer deaths that year were caused by poor nutrition. Research shows that calcium and vitamin D may significantly lower your risk or slow the progression of osteoporosis. Calcium has even been linked to weight loss, heart disease prevention, lowering of PMS moods, healthier teeth, and colon cancer prevention.
Regular exercise and lowered use of alcohol may also contribute to a healthier life. Physical activity, the CDC found, helps to control weight, protect bones, muscles, and joints, relieve arthritis pain, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and decrease hospitalizations and the need for medical care.
Alternative Therapies
Proper nutrition and natural medicine can greatly improve physical health, relationships, and careers, and the benefits to the mind and emotions are enormous. A natural approach to treatment, which may include yoga, massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, or other complementary alternative therapy is more satisfying, less invasive, and less expensive. Doctors are now even recommending these methods to patients. A 1994 survey reported by NaturalHealers.com reveals that more than 60% of doctors recommended alternative therapies such as yoga, massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, or natural medicine to their patients at least once, and 47% of them used these therapies themselves. More than 62% of Americans now turn to those with natural medicine training to address health concerns. With the rising costs of health care, and the impending crunch the industry is about to feel as Baby Boomers age, alternative therapies and natural health careers, now more than ever, seem practical.
Relearning Your Life with Natural Health Schools
Your physical being isn't the only house you need to put in order at midlife. Even after retirement, you may have 20 or 30 years of living to do. Beginning a career now, at midlife, may be a great way to put your financial house in order. And for many middle-aged Americans, the second career is about feeding the bank account and the soul. Many Baby Boomers today aren't happy with their careers. The Midlife 2003 Life Stage Study conducted by the AARP found that finances and work life are the least satisfying aspects of these people's lives. Midlife may be the perfect time to prepare for a new career.
Senior World Online reports that the number of students age 40 and up increased by 235% between 1970 and 1990, and that number has steadily grown ever since. Factors such as divorce, widowhood, and children leaving home further increase the chances that a midlifer returns to college.
Why is school so appealing to these students? First, at this phase in their lives, middle-aged students have greater focus and clarity of purpose. They know what they want, and have the self-discipline to attain it. Typically, these people are training to follow a calling, not a salary, which instills a deep sense of peace and fulfillment. Also, statistics show you'll have plenty of company as a midlifer returning to school. The financial issues of living longer make having a second professional career viable, and a college degree ensures greater success.
Pursuing Natural Health Careers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that health care is the fastest-growing industry in the United States. Attending natural health care schools makes sense, because it ensures a rewarding position in this field. And with Americans spending nearly $40 billion a year on alternative therapies and natural health, exceeding expenses for U.S. hospitalizations, with that number steadily growing, getting natural medicine training makes sense.
Nearly three-quarters of U.S. medical schools offer electives in alternative therapies. Natural health schools prepare students for a wide variety of natural medicine careers, including massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, nutrition, herbal medicine, chiropractic, aromatherapy, Feng Shui, and many others. In many cases, natural medicine training can be completed in two to six years, sending you on your way to a more fulfilling, socially-redeeming, and lucrative career. It's a perfect way to spend the second, best half of your life.
About the Author
Jessica Groach is a freelance writer and has taught writing at the University of Nevada, Reno for five years. She has nine years' experience in advertising and media production. Her writing has appeared in a number of publications and a Warner Business Book. Jessica earned her bachelor's degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. and her master's degree in writing from the University of Nevada, Reno.
