Question Time - Health Risks

A business person knows all the factors influencing the profit and loss of their company and will act on any potential or emerging risks as and when they appear. Think about your health in the same way - know your key risks and your health numbers, get them checked regularly and act to head off potential ill health.

It's important to remember that the risk of heart disease, many cancers and diabetes increases with age and often that risk progresses silently at first. As we get older many of us sacrifice looking after ourselves in the pursuit of success, which can allow potential health risks to develop.?

Adopting a less than healthy lifestyle, including a lack of sleep, fast food diets, too much alcohol and taking little exercise, if continued over the years can negatively affect our health. Here are the important questions to ask.

DO YOU HAVE A SIBLING, PARENT OR GRANDPARENT WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HEART PROBLEMS, CANCER OR DIABETES UNDER THE AGE OF 55?

Research has shown that there is an increase in risk of certain types of heart disease and cancers when they are prevalent in previous generations. Risk can also jump a generation, which is why more clinics are now asking their clients for medical information about their grandparents, brothers and sisters as well as their parents.

DO YOU SMOKE?

There is irrefutable evidence that smoking is strongly associated with heart disease and cancer. What some people don't realise, though, is that passive smoking also carries a risk. There are over 1,000 toxic effects of smoking that can damage the heart and lungs and even irritate the stomach lining. If you are a smoker, try to give up and keep trying until you succeed; there is strong evidence to show that people who regularly try are more likely to stop eventually. Don't leave it so long that the effects are irreversible. I lost my own father to chronic emphysema (lung disease) even though he had stopped smoking a number of years before.

ARE YOU AWARE OF RECENTLY PUTTING ON WEIGHT?

Visceral fat, around the middle of the abdomen level with the belly button, is especially dangerous to health, and it tends to be the hardest to shift as it has a special density, protecting the body for 'feast or famine’. This is why people who diet but take little exercise tend to lose weight everywhere but the central truncal regions. The key is to combine exercise with a healthy diet, aiming to lose the weight gradually at the same time as focusing on local muscular conditioning and aerobic exercise.

DO YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH AND REGULARLY ENJOY SUGARY FOODS?

Excess sugar is stored as fat, so it can accelerate the deposition of fat in the wrong areas, particularly visceral fat. Try to replace sugary foods where possible with savoury choices and fresh snacks, particularly vegetables and nuts (walnuts and almonds are al great choice).

DO YOU TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR TEETH, VISITING THE HYGIENIST EVERY SIX MONTHS AND AVOIDING SUGARY SNACKS?

here is a strong association between bad teeth and gums and certain diseases, such as myocarditis inflammation of the heart muscle). The bacteria associated with poor dental hygiene, meanwhile, has been linked to some heart and stomach problems. Many energy drinks are high in sugars, which may compromise dental health, and it's a good idea to brush more regularly if you are consuming lots of these sports drinks.

DO YOU KNOW THE LATEST RECOMMENDED ALCOHOL INTAKE NUMBERS?

The latest government guidelines state that we should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week (a unit being a glass of wine, a single measure of spirit or half a pint of beer or lager). There is even a suggestion that women should have no more than 11 units per week as, compared to men, they don't metabolise alcohol as efficiently due to a greater concentration of fats in their bodies. Alcohol is toxic to the liver and drinking every day can lead to significant liver damage over time. It's also being increasingly associated with disrupted sleeping patterns, which can in turn affect the body’s ability to rest and recover properly.

DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR LIFE TO BE FAR MORE STRESSFUL THAN THE LIVES OF OTHERS?

The latest research has shown that being subjected to persistent stress without the armoury to deal with it increases the body's white blood cell count, particularly a section of those cells that fight off infections, viruses and inflammation. As a risk it's right up there with high cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugars. Performance psychologist Jim Loehr cites the need to take time out every 60-90 minutes in order to release the brain from tension and prevent the increase of stress hormones in the body. Getting enough sleep is also vital to help the body repair its cells, and there is growing evidence that long-term loss of sleep is linked to early dementia. Aim for seven to eight hours.

DO YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH YOUR SLEEP?

The value of getting seven or eight hours sleep a night is increasingly being recognised as essential for a healthy mind and body. It's where exercise was 30 years ago in terms of how it is viewed as contributing to wellbeing. A whole host of things can influence how well you sleep, from the quality of your mattress and temperature of your bedroom (slightly cool is best) to whether you have phones and other technology in the bedroom (don’t) Practising simple one-minute mindfulness techniques can help you to relax and drop off.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR RISK NUMBERS AND DO YOU GET THEM CHECKED AT LEAST BIANNUALLY?

It is essential that you know your health numbers, the five sub-fractions of which are cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, body fat percentage and biological/metabolic age. Always remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of treatment. Try to stay cognisant of the main risks to your health as you age and look at how you can adjust your lifestyle to minimise those risks.

Be well,

Dorian

https://www.drdoriandugmore.com/