Doctors Share Tips to Prevent Common Future Illnesses
Doctors Share Tips to Prevent Common Future Illnesses
It’s easy to feel like we’re invincible when we’re young and not think about how everything we do now affects our health as we age. Yes, that tan you got when you were 20 on vacation in Mexico looked great at the moment, but it definitely caused skin damage to your future self.
Luckily, there are many things we can do now to protect our health and prevent future illnesses and conditions that commonly affect people as they age.
Since this can be a confusing and overwhelming topic, I spoke to experts and asked them how to best keep ourselves healthy starting now.
When asked about common health issues people often complain about in their 30s, 40s, or even 50s, medical director of integrative medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and author of The Wellness Principles: Cooking for a Healthy Life Dr. Gary Deng, MD, PhD replied: “People in their 30s complain about having less stamina, people in their 40s complain about weight gain and those in their 50s complain about early signs of diseases, such as pre-diabetes/diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer (breast and colon cancer come on top).”
While people might have these common complaints, there are things doctors recommend you stop doing and start doing more to prevent these future illnesses and diseases. Here are some of them.
Unhealthy habits you should stop doing:
Eating an unhealthy diet and abusing alcohol.
Living a primarily sedentary lifestyle.
Smoking and vaping consistently.
Living a fast-paced stressful life.
Not getting adequate sleep.
Healthy habits to incorporate into your life:
Taking a multivitamin to reduce dementia risk.
In addition, physical exercise and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle can also help prevent dementia in the long run. Limiting alcohol intake and having a healthy diet of dark leafy greens, berries, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, and healthy fats will also help reduce dementia risk.
Reduce stress levels by practicing gratitude and enjoying a hobby.
“Be it reading a book, listening to music, gardening, playing with kids, or spending time with close friends. There has to be relaxed ‘downtime’ every day. Lastly, learn some self-care stress reduction practices, such as meditation, yoga, tai-chi, etc., and practice them regularly,” Dr. Deng added.
Prevent type 2 diabetes by reducing excessive sugar intake and exercising regularly, preferably in the sunshine.
Avoiding smoking and eating a diet full of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables with limited processed foods can also help reduce your risk of diabetes in the future.
Try going to sleep one hour earlier to help repair aging skin.
As always, schedule your annual checkups with your doctors and speak to them if you have any questions or concerns.
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