“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
—Benjamin Franklin
I think it’s safe to say that we all have the same desire to live a long and healthy life?
So for today’s column, I want to focus on are eight key ways you may be shortening your life.
• Ignoring the signs of a heart attack
Heart symptoms aren’t always intense or obvious, and they vary from person to person.
Doctors warn against ignoring possible warning signs, waiting to see if they go away, or being quick to blame them on heartburn, muscle soreness or other causes. That’s especially true for people over 65, as well as for people with heart risk factors, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, diabetes, or family history of heart disease.
• Stress
A stress-filled life will raise the odds of heart disease and stroke down the road. Researchers have found that after middle-age, those who report chronic stress face a somewhat higher risk of fatal or non-fatal heart disease or stroke. As well, constant stress takes a toll on our immune system, heart and lungs, nervous system, muscles and skin.
• Not exercising regularly
We all know that exercise is good for us, but as a senior it is truly one of the best things you can do for yourself. About 60 per cent of people over age 64 are considered sedentary.
An inactive lifestyle causes older adults to lose ground on enjoying a healthy, happy and independent lifestyle
• Extra weight around the belly
Beer bellies and muffin tops are what we call carrying excess weight around the midsection. There is a strong correlation between visceral and central abdominal fat and obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Regular check-ups from a doctor
Health professionals stress that these regular exams are important to help identify risk factors and problems before they become serious. If diseases are caught early, treatments are usually much more effective.
• Smoking
The largest population of smokers are baby boomers between the ages of 44 and 54. By now it’s hard to imagine that we haven’t got the message about the health risks of smoking. We just need to act on it.
• Lack of sleep
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports most people are not getting enough sleep and it adversely affects our own health and puts others at risk especially when we get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
• Making poor food choices
Most seniors over the age of 65 have one or more degenerative disorders, such as heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, macular degeneration or osteoporosis.
These conditions were once considered inevitable diseases of old age, but now are recognized as life-style diseases. So, making good food choices can prevent and reduce the risks of developing these diseases.
