While reaching age 40 is a gargantuan milestone and a huge success, it’s only the beginning of the rest of your life. If you are looking to stay healthy after 40 and live the latter part of your life in good health, it may be time to make some changes. Use the following health tips for age 40 to start evaluating your well-being and planning for a long and healthy future.
Beat the Bulge
One of the top ways to stay healthy after 40 is to beat the bulge, which will make you more prone to fight off chronic illnesses. Specifically, women can reduce their declining hormones, reduce the risk of breast cancer and menopausal symptoms by losing weight. Both men and women can reduce the likelihood of heart disease and a bevy of other medical conditions by staying fit and healthy.
Flex Some Muscle
Since people over the age of 40 lose approximately one percent of their muscle mass each year, one of the top health tips for age 40 and above is to flex some muscle. It’s a great practice to use light weights on brisk walks or join a gym for weight training. In any case, it’s best to have some type of resistance training to curtain the loss of muscle.
The Thyroid
If you are feeling tired, gaining weight, or having problems losing weight, it may not be your diet or exercise. It could be problems with your thyroid gland, which regulates hormones and your energy levels. As you approach 40, thyroid disease becomes a more prevalent issue, which makes it essential to have your thyroid checked for proper function.
Time to Butt Out!
One of the top health tips for 40 or any age is to stop smoking. While quitting isn’t easy, choosing to stop smoking will add years to your life and decrease the likelihood of a gargantuan number of chronic illnesses, such as strokes and heart disease. Simply put, it will pay dividends in years to your life to stop smoking as soon as possible.
Don’t Play with the Numbers
If you are looking to stay healthy after 40, you shouldn’t play with the numbers. At this age, your cholesterol levels, body weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure becomes extremely important. It’s a great practice to have these numbers checked to help identify potential increased risks for disease.
Smile
Did you know your smile can tell more about you than how you are feeling? As a matter of fact, your smile is connected to your heart. Several studies have linked gum disease with heart disease and many other chronic illnesses. As a result, it’s imperative to have good oral health and to visit your dentist regularly for checkups.
See Things Clearly
When you reach the age of 40, your vision can begin to deteriorate. With mascular degeneration affecting a staggering 9.1 million Americans over 40, it’s the leading cause of blindness in elderly. Although it has been found to be genetic, you can slow the progress of this disease with a healthy diet of vegetables and red fruit, which are rich in antioxidants and lycopene. You should also consider wearing sunglasses to thwart the damage caused by sun exposure, which increases the likelihood of cataracts.
Fantastic Fiber
When you were younger, you may have been able to eat whatever you wanted without gaining weight. However, as you probably already see and feel, things have changed! As you approach and climb over 40, your metabolism and ability to pig out gorging without gaining weight decreases significantly. The goal is to minimize your caloric intake from sweets while increasing the fiber in your diet. To stay happy and healthy, make sure your diet is loaded with whole grains, low-fat dairy, bountiful vegetables, fruit, and lean protein.
Know Your History
As the old adage goes, “You don’t know where you going, if you don’t know where you come from.” One of the top health tips for age 40 is to know your family history. For example, if your father and grandfather have all died from heart disease, you should do your best to take as many preventative measures as possible.
Preventive Maintenance
Simply put, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This means you should do everything possible to prevent the onset of any chronic illnesses. A preventative full body scan is one of the most affordable and state-of-the-art ways to detect even the smallest irregularities, months or even years before symptoms arise. For more information about how a full body scan can help you live a longer, healthier, and fuller life, contact Advanced Body Scan today.