Since the 19th century, common prolonged existence or longevity is greater than before. At one time, the average male expected to live up until the mid-forties, while the average female expected to live until the late forties.
This seems illogical since many of our older generation of people born in the 1900s are still around today. As our system advanced, experts found that people were living beyond the 70 and 80s.
The longevity has changed dramatically providing the people gain. Still, in recent times, men are expected to live over 80, and women are expected to live past 90.
Rarely do you see someone who has lived past 100 years of age. According to experts, a person living past 125 years of age has the same odds of finding a needle in a large haystack.
Most people can live past 90 however providing they have quality medical care and their hereditary makeup is healthy.
Many illnesses today emerge from poor eating habits, lack of exercise, poor sleeping habits, and bad habits such as excessive drinking, drugs, nicotine, etc.
Still, some people are marked at the beginning since they have a genetic makeup that poses threats to their health. According to experts, genetic makeup is responsible for some cases of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and so on.
According to experts, genetics influences a person’s longevity. If a person has a family history of the disease, their risks are higher when coming in contact with the same or similar disease.
In short, if a person has a high risk of genetic factors, the person will likely have a shorter living expectancy.
How do doctors consider longevity?
Doctors review family history to search for genetic factors that may show short or long life expectancy.
If you have a history of diabetes, the doctor will take actions to reduce your risks, yet it may not help stop the disease.
Doctors also consider your lifestyle. Do you smoke? Do you have an alcohol problem? Do you have drug problems? Do you have anorexia or bulimia? Do you exercise?
If you answered no to each question, then likely you will live a longer and improved life. On the other hand, if you answered yes to these questions you can expect to live a shorter lifespan.
Doctors will also consider factors, such as environment when considering longevity. If you live in an area where toxins are high, likely you will have unnatural exposure to these toxins, which shortens your life.
Even if your genetic makeup illustrates longevity, your environment plays part in how long you can live.
Doctors consider medical care. If you have a history of visiting your doctor often, then you will have a better chance at living healthy.
Medical care is the process of reducing risks of disease, preventing disease and finding treatments for pending disease.
What you should know:
Did you know that some types of not all cancers are curable providing the disease is spotted early? Did you know that Alzheimer’s disease is curable if the disease is caught in the early stages? Did you know that most diseases are curable, providing the disease is caught at an early stage?
If you know this, you will see that medical care is essential to live healthy while aging. Since the 19th century, medical experts have come a long way.
In addition, the experts continue to find ways to help people live a longer life. Doctors took their roles in life because they care about your health (at least most) therefore listen to the considerations that doctors focus on to help you live a healthy aging life.
Anti-Aging and Hormones
Aging can affect all of us by changing our hormone levels. As we age the level of hormone that is formed by, our glands decline. Our glands produce the hormones and release them through the bloodstreams.
As we grow older, hormone production slows. To correct the slowness sometimes hormone replacement is essential.
Before you jump the gun however, searching for replacement takes note that medical experts discovered that men who seek hormone replacement therapy should consider carefully.
The replacement therapy is behind, or part of the cause of prostate cancer. You want to check with your doctor always before taking any non-prescribed supplements, therapy treatments, etc.
Our body produces two major hormones that are very important. We start to lose these necessary elements as aging progresses.
Our body relies on estrogen and testosterone to keep our metabolism, sex reproduction functions and so forth healthy.
Testosterone is not only important for the men but women too. Men need a higher-level of testosterone. The hormones are what promote facial hair, larger muscles, and deeper voices.
Testosterone is what makes the men seem younger and helps them to perform sexually, since it is their drive.
As it lowers in men, they lose their sex drive. On the other hand, too much testosterone in our bodies can induce side effects, such as heart disease and enlarge the prostate glands.
For this purpose, you want to consult with your doctor before taking replacement hormone therapy.
Estrogen is the other major hormone that our bodies need to keep up with life in general. Women take estrogen to counteract menopause by taking a supplement directly from their doctor.
Taking estrogen can also help reduce the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s. Estrogen therapy reduces our risks, yet side effects can lead to uterus or breast cancer.
Some women experience blood clotting while others may not. In addition, some women have endured heart attacks and strokes after taking estrogen therapy units.
Like all other supplements or treatments over-the-counter, one must consult with their physician before taking the treatments. Discuss the good and bad points of taking replacement therapies, such as estrogen and testosterone.
Do you have a hard time sleeping at night?
Maybe you’re lacking the Melatonin hormone. The lack of melatonin is known to interrupt sleeping patterns as we age. Our glands produce Melatonin and it slows down, as we grow older.
Study shows that while we are sleeping during the hours of 8PM and 5AM, is when this hormone is produced the most. By taking Melatonin supplements, it can help in the reduction of breast cancer and help to reverse aging along with improving our sleep.
The side effects may include drowsiness. Melatonin can cause the blood vessels to constrict as well. It depends if your body has sufficient or deficient amounts. Again, talk with your doctor first. Melatonin according to few can cause heart conditions.
Melatonin is dangerous to those diagnosed with high blood pressure. Like most things, it is very important to consult your physician before taking this supplement.
Discussing the aspects of healthy aging:
We have various aspects of the body to consider when discussing healthy aging. Our body produces hormones, cell bodies, neurons, and so on.
When our bodily functions are interrupted, it affects the body and mind as a whole and determines how fast we will age.
Still, you must consider that environmental factors, doctors, medications, smoking, using alcohol excessively and so forth plays a part in our aging process.
In fact, we have to review normal aging vs abnormal aging when considering healthy aging.
Camille McClellan, MD, DNM, MBS
Naturopathic practitioner
McClellan Natural Health, Wellness & Nutrition
Free Naturopathic/Homeopathic Consults Available
