Illness and health behavior in septuagenarians.
A random sample of septuagenarians was obtained by taking 400 consecutive names from a city birth register. Information regarding survival and present residence was acquired. The investigation comprised those septuagenarians who were still alive and had not moved abroad. The results showed that one-third reported no physical disease. Only half of those with physical disease considered themselves ill. Hypochondria was observed only in 3.9%, which contrasting with the high proportion of hypochondria in studies based on voluntary subjects. Active interest in physical exercise and a restrictive attitude to smoking and drinking correlated with health.
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012907:Smoking