Body Aging Timeline: Professor Reveals Age when Regrets from Youth Start Taking a Physical Toll
For men entering their mid-thirties, maintaining good health becomes increasingly important as chronic problems, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart conditions, may not be immediately noticeable but can become irreversible after a decade. According to Dr. Alexander Dzhizariya, men enter a risk zone around 35-40 years old, as the body stops forgiving mistakes from this age.
Preventative health measures are crucial for men over 35 to maintain well-being and reduce the risk of these chronic diseases. Key strategies include regular health screenings, lifestyle modifications, and mental health awareness.
**Regular Health Screenings**
Annual blood pressure checks are essential, as hypertension, which has no symptoms, significantly raises the risks of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Cholesterol screenings should start from early adulthood and be repeated every 4-6 years, or more frequently if at risk. Diabetes screening is recommended from age 35, or earlier if overweight or with a family history, to detect prediabetes or type 2 diabetes early when lifestyle changes are most effective.
Colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 45, or earlier with a family history. This detects and removes pre-cancerous polyps, lowering colorectal cancer risk significantly. Prostate cancer screening is recommended for men over 50, or 45 with a family history, to discuss PSA testing and digital rectal exams with their doctor. Annual dermatology visits for skin cancer screenings, eye exams every 2 years from 40, and hearing assessments as appropriate are also recommended.
**Lifestyle Modifications**
Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are essential for reducing the risks of cancers and heart disease. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, combined with regular physical activity, helps control weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol, reducing the risks of various chronic diseases. Maintaining a healthy weight is also crucial, as obesity is strongly linked to diabetes, heart disease, and several cancers.
**Mental Health Awareness**
Men should recognize and address mental health issues, which often go untreated. Normalizing conversations and seeking professional support if needed are vital for maintaining good mental health.
By adhering to these screening schedules and lifestyle habits, men over 35 can significantly reduce their risk of chronic diseases while improving quality of life and longevity. Dr. Dzhizariya advises men over 35 to live as if they're already 50 to maintain good health.
It's best to start building future health by adopting a healthy lifestyle today. Symptoms such as increased tiredness, decreased libido, and an expanded waistline might be signs of lifestyle changes needed for men after age 35. Harmful habits can lead to diagnoses in their 50s, as the diagnoses are often formed long before that - precisely in their 30s and 40s. Metabolism slows down, hormones decrease, and immunity responds more slowly from age 35. If one lives with harmful habits, the chances of ending up with a cancer diagnosis increase significantly.
- Men over 35 need to prioritize regular health screenings such as annual blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, diabetes screening starting from age 35, colorectal cancer screening at 45, regular dermatology visits, eye exams every 2 years from 40, and hearing assessments.
- To protect themselves from chronic diseases, men should consider lifestyle modifications, including quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, adopting a balanced diet, incorporating regular fitness and exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight.
- Maintaining mental health awareness is crucial for men, as mental health issues are often overlooked. Men should normalize conversations about mental health and seek professional help if needed.
- By following these preventative health measures, men can significantly reduce their risk of chronic diseases and improve their quality of life and longevity.
- Aging brings changes in metabolism, hormones, and immunity, making it essential for men over 35 to start building future health by adopting a healthy lifestyle today to minimize the chances of a cancer diagnosis in their 50s.
