The choices you make today – from what you eat and how much you move to whether you stay on top of routine health screenings – can have a lasting impact on your wellbeing in the years ahead. After 40, it is worth taking a closer look at the habits that may be holding you back and making changes that support your health for the long term. As you get older, paying attention to your health and everyday habits becomes increasingly important.
The heart surgeon highlights, “We get more sedentary as we get older, we sit more at work, we come home late, we sit on the couch. Movement is medicine. Skipping routine check-ups or not being under regular medical supervision can mean missing important warning signs or abnormalities that may otherwise be detected early, potentially leading to complications later. For many people, starting a healthy habit or breaking an unhealthy one can feel like a daunting task, especially when they believe it is too late for them. Some may hesitate to start exercising as they get older or struggle to quit smoking, assuming the damage has already been done. However, Dr London emphasises that it is never too late to make healthier choices. He notes, “Many times people feel like they’ve had a bad habit for a long period of time and it’s just too late. They were a star athlete in high school or college and restarting an old habit with high expectations is a setup for failure. Bottom line is, it’s never too late to start or restart a positive, healthy habit.”
Cancer screenings after the age of 40 should become a regular part of your healthcare routine. Because we know that’s where we start losing muscle mass, our bodies were made to move, both aerobic training and resistance training, and it’s so important at this portion of our lives.
