Life – Terror. Ecstasy. Fight. Denial. Flight. Failure. PAIN. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Hope. Love. Peace – Death.
Yesterday I had lunch with an old work colleague, a regular occurrence. He is a couple , maybe 3, years older than myself (64). The last time we met (and the time before) I noticed he seemed to have ‘aged’ somewhat and quite rapidly. We sat and ate lunch, our usual conversation topics, travel, football, politics but invariably we found our way to health, our health issues.
Previously, he had being having issues walking, a foot issue. I asked, ‘where are you up to with your feet, are you still having problems’? He replied, ‘well that’s a story’! We went talked ‘footy’ and then we talked (his) feet.
He said, have you heard the ‘snipers’ alley’ theory?
This is the idea that between the ages of 62 and 69 sinister illnesses are particularly likely to occur — but if you get past this corridor unscathed, then you can relax, settle in for the long-haul and look forward to a telegram from Buckingham Palace.
That corridor used to be classified as between 50 and 60 years of age… a number of doctors refer to it as “Sniper Alley”. “If you make it to 60, you’re winning!” it seems the alley age range has now shifted to between 60 and 70. Sixty being the new Fifty.
Statistics
Britons between 40 and 59 have the lowest levels of wellbeing of any age bracket. According to a report from the Office for National Statistics, life satisfaction troughs during that period, before rising again to a new peak at around 75. But even the over-90s feel life is more worthwhile than most middle-aged people do. In of terms of self-reported happiness, you can’t get lower than the 50-54-year-olds.
As the ONS points out, there could be a number of reasons for this statistical dip in well-being. The middle-aged folk of today might be an especially unhappy cohort, either because of their particular relationship to the economic cycle, or because they’re living through an era when everything actually is going to hell in a handcart. Life (the world) is just pretty shit at the moment?
It’s more likely that middle age itself comes with its own peculiar worries: parents age, friends die, children grow up and leave, careers stall, your once secure financial footing shifts unexpectedly beneath your feet. This time of life is traditionally considered a bit of a health ‘sniper’s alley’, although 40-59 is more a valley than an alley? That’s a good thing: the trials of mid-life are pretty spread out these days?
The goalposts for middle age have shifted over the decades – people in their late 30s were once included, and today’s most generous definitions stretch to 65 as, surprisingly, we are working longer and living longer (which is probably why people are working longer, to pay for living)?
What can we do to avoid snipers alley?
Most people (unless you are adopted) in the UK get a warning if their family’s medical history contains something they should watch out for. Both my parents died young (46, 69) of heart related issues. Unsurprisingly I am not the healthiest. Most of my more serious health issues ‘appeared’ at aged 56 right in the middle of (the previous) Snipers Alley. Surprisingly the only health issues I do not have (so fucking far) are heart related!
Take heed. For me there were warning signs? Early signs, symptoms, lifestyle excesses, stress that I ‘largely’ ignored until, for me, it was too late.
Turns out my lunch friend has Parkinson’s Disease. Not fully diagnosed but fairly conclusive. Based upon his symptoms he was given medication and after a couple of months asked if he ‘had improved’? He had. Unfortunately, that means that he, most likely, has the condition. He is waiting on a CT scan to fully confirm.
He seemed resolute but it is hard to tell, he is the type that does not give too much away, he never has. He has strong, close family support around him but he is not the most proactive in terms of insisting on treatment (his next appointment is in October 2024)! One thing I have learnt during my own treatment is that you cannot afford to be shy. You have to be that ‘squeaky wheel’. Otherwise you die sooner than rather than later.
I will be giving him some squeaky-wheel coaching.
Thanks for Reading
#Peace
Dying to Live 