Start Now To Protect Yourself Against Age-Related Illnesses

26th May 2017

When you hit your thirties, let’s be honest: you might still feel like a young pup, but every now and then you realise that things aren’t quite working the way they should. And although – hopefully – you have a long way to go, the truth is that what you do for the next decade could have a big impact on the future of your health.

You aren’t a teenager anymore, and despite the fact you might feel young, fit and healthy, now is the time to start making some lifestyle changes that will improve your chances of enjoying a healthy old age. Let’s take a look at some of the things you need to focus on right now.

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Watch your body mass index

According to research, the body you have when you hit 40 is the one that you are likely to have for the rest of your life. So, do all you can to keep down that Body Mass Index by as much as possible. Ideally, you should be somewhere between 18 and 25. If you do indulge in unhealthy foods and keep boozing like you are a teenager through your 30s, there’s a good chance that you will be overweight when you are 40. And that will be a lot more difficult to shift by then, due to your slower metabolism and ability to burn off fat.

Protect against cancer

Cancer will affect one in three people – although a lot of this is down to an ageing population. But the reality is that half of all cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes. Stop smoking for a start – if you do this by the time you are 30 you will have plenty of time to clean out your lungs of tar completely by the time you are 40. Start drinking less alcohol, too, and if you can stop altogether,  your liver might even repair itself to a condition you enjoyed as a pre-teen.

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Remember memory loss and dementia

There are no guarantees that you will be free from memory loss and mental health problems as you grow older. But there are some things you can start doing now that will help you avoid needing to become a resident in Dementia care homes. Keep your mind active, for a start – reading, Playing games, playing musical instruments and even things like crossword puzzles can all help. Make you are socialising, too, and getting outdoors as much as possible – there is a little bit of evidence that low vitamin D levels could impact cognition.

Body pains and arthritis

Finally, a lot of people will suffer aches and pains as they get older, but there are several things you can do to reduce the impact of ageing on your body. Maintain a healthy weight, for a start, and make sure you are exercising regularly. Take care of your joints, too, and if you do develop arthritis, make sure you see a doctor quickly,. The earlier you start to manage it, the more likely you will be able to keep it at bay.

30 is an important age – more so than, perhaps, you might think. So start looking yourself after now, and you will hopefully have a fit and healthy life long into the future.

 

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