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Exercise: The aging antidote by Annie Cruzan MUSC Harper Student Wellness Center For more information on the benefits of exercise and designing your own exercise programs, visit the Wellness Wednesday booth from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at MUSC Children’s Hospital lobby.   According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), more than 70 million individuals in America will celebrate more than 65 years of life by 2030. Seniors 85 years and older will become the fastest growing age group during the next decade.   Modern medicine and healthy lifestyle promotion is partly responsible for this increase in an elderly population, and research continues to prove the benefits of a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Below are some age-related changes andtips to combat them.   The cardiovascular system becomes less efficient as age increases. The heart works harder to pump the same amount of blood throughout the body at rest and during activity. Cardiovascular or aerobic training strengthens the heart and lungs and improves circulation, thereby lessening the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease.   Also, the musculoskeletal system experiences a decline with age. Flexibility, balance and agility are compromised, making even daily chores appear more challenging later in life. Regular physical activity involving strength and conditioning may reverse some of the adverse affects associated with aging.   Basal metabolic rates and bone density decrease with age. Increasing calcium intake along with a healthy diet, regular resistance training and weight bearing aerobic conditioning are known to help with maintaining or improving bone mass. Weekly tips from the Healthy S.C. Challenge Healthy S.C. Challenge is a results-oriented initiative created by Gov. Mark Sanford and first lady Jenny Sanford to motivate people to start making choices that can improve health and well-being. Visit http://www.healthysc.gov. Tobacco When smokers try to cut back or quit, the absence of nicotine leads to physical and mental withdrawal symptoms that can include dizziness, depression, frustration or anger, trouble sleeping, headache, tiredness, constipation, and increased appetite. Knowing what to expect can help you quit successfully. Editor's note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of Health 1st. Striving to bring various topics and representing numerous employee wellness organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA, and UMA employees with current and helpful information concerning all aspects of health.     Friday, Sept. 8, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.