How to stay healthy at any age

Your body is the more accurate judge of your age. Your body is also telling you things about your overall state of health that may need improving on. Not just so that you look better but feel better too. Here we look at ways to keep your body in a healthier state at every age.

At every age, health and lifestyle factors are important. At different life stages and ages, specific factors may apply, but overall, we're all exposed to similar risks that can result in ill health and poor outcomes if not managed well.

Risk factors like smoking and stress legitimately age you more than you might imagine, and things like physical activity have been shown to tangibly increase longevity, as well as what's known as healthspan - the number of years you spend in good health. So, it's not just how long you live. It's also about how healthy you are during all those years of your life.

It is a good thing to proactively try and understand your health and any related risk factors you may have. This is the first step to educating yourself on the real state of your wellbeing. Knowing and understanding your health has become crucial in a country where nearly half of South Africans with hypertension have never been screened and remain at an increased risk of heart disease and strokes.

"If conditions like cancer can be diagnosed, and diabetes or hypertension managed as early as possible, this can result in at least 131,000 fewer days in hospital per year for Discovery Health Medical Scheme members; as well as an annual saving of R120 million for the medical scheme," says Discovery Health Chief Executive, Dr Ryan Noach. "Hence why screening and early detection is so important - for people's quality of life, as well as for the scheme that aims to better protect them." he adds.

Six ways to keep your body in a healthier state at any age?

When you start prioritising and practicing these healthy habits you will feel the difference in your overall wellness in just weeks:

1. Relax: Researchers have found that stress causes physical changes in the body that can be damaging. Adrenaline and cortisol cause blood pressure to rise and your heart to beat faster, and chronic doses of these hormone surges take a heavy toll on your physical and psychological health. Meditating for at least 10 minutes a day and getting enough good quality sleep go a long way in helping your body recover from stress.

2. Lose belly fat: There is overwhelming evidence, in animal research and increasingly in humans, that a kilojoule-restricted diet is associated with increased longevity. This study tracked more than 10,000 men and women for nearly 30 years and found that having considerable belly fat in midlife can increase your risk of dementia by up to 74% later in life.

3. Keep your mind sharp: Staying mentally sharp as you age can protect your brain from Alzheimer's and prevent cognitive decline. Don't stop learning and challenging your brain as you grow older - take up a musical instrument or a new language, join a special interests club, or try a new travel route to keep those synapses firing.

4. Up your aerobic activity: Aerobic activity is a powerful stimulus for improving mental health, says a 2012 study on the effect of aerobics on your brain structure. The researchers predict that future studies will demonstrate "the potential of exercise as a tool to remediate a variety of debilitating diseases, as well as to maximise cognitive potential in development or to lessen the burden of cognitive decline associated with aging."

5. Pack in those plants: Longevity studies have found that people who live the longest tend to eat less meat, and more plant foods which are packed with vitamins and antioxidants that can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, boost the immune system.

6. Keep all your Health Checks up to date: Preventive screening is an important health strategy that helps to benchmark basic health metrics, such as blood pressure, blood glucose levels, cholesterol levels, BMI and more. Discovery Health Medical Scheme members have access to screening tests through the Discovery Health Check which can be completed at a Discovery Store, an accredited pharmacy or GP or at an employer's Wellness Day. This Health Check is covered by the medical scheme from the embedded Screening and Prevention Benefit. With the metrics received during the check-up, you can learn how to better manage or improve your health status. This all-important yearly check up also unlocks the WELLTH Fund, a unique discretionary benefit that funds healthcare needs of up to R10 000 per single family policy. Members have access to up to six broad categories of health screening services, and certain screening medical devices, such as blood pressure monitors and glucometres, and can use the fund as needed during its two-year active period. Any claims for screenings made against this fund will not impact a member's Medical Savings Account or Above Threshold Benefits.

It's vitally important to keep tabs on your body as you grow older by going for age-appropriate physical health screenings, as well getting in healthy levels of physical exercise, and eating properly. A yearly Health Check is an opportunity for you to understand their health and be empowered to make necessary changes if needed. The WELLTH Fund is an additional once-per-lifetime benefit that covers such needs at no additional cost, and is available for use from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024.

So, there's no excuses for being able to stay healthy through every stage of your life.

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