Health Care and Anti-Aging

Ever since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, mankind has been looking for ways to stop the aging process. Although the life span thousands of years ago when they were around was hundreds of years, the thought lingering in the back of everyone’s mind at some point was “How do I get rid of these wrinkles?” Well, when you’re 698, likely you look like a Sharpei anyway. However, since the average life span today is typically in the 70’s for most people, looking younger is much more of an issue.

The process of turning back the clock for your skin starts when you’re young—stay out of the sun, don’t go to the tanning booth so much, and eat healthy food. Most 6 year olds aren’t that concerned about frown lines, age spots, and crowfeet around the eyes; but when people get into their twenties, the need to suppress the aging process becomes much more critical. Too much exposure to UVA and UVB rays, smoking, drinking alcohol, stress, less sleep, and bad food all start to add up to damaging your health.

At the risk of sounding vain, the need to look younger is very common among most adults. What’s the secret to great hair, pore-free complexion, or flawless teeth? Everyone wants to have the inside scoop. And, since no one has yet been able to locate the Fountain of Youth, the best way to begin the process of looking younger is going to be found in common sense and some practical application of products designed to help you do just that.

According to Health.com, “anti-inflammatories are the best anti-agers out there. From improving heart and immune functions to helping hair grow and skin look supple, they truly do wonders.” Also, another tip is to avoid processed sugar in your diet. The reason: It speeds up the aging process by binding to and eventually weakening the collagen in your skin, which can lead to premature wrinkles and sagging.

For better looking teeth, you can snack on anything with malic acid—like strawberries, apples, and grapes—which act as a natural tooth cleanser and help break down stains. Coffee has the same affect on staining teeth. Avoid drinking a lot over a long period of time at one sitting, especially if you use cream or sugar. Plus, blow drying your hair damages it over time. Put a small amount of conditioner or treatment mask into damp hair before blow-drying. The conditioner not only tames fly-aways and frizz but also provides serious hydration. 

Additionally, Q-tips and cotton balls will only get you so far—you need the right gadgets to get gorgeous. These essentials make it easy to look flawless. So, stock your beauty kit now. For many more anti-aging tips, visit this website: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306759,00.html .

Also, if you want an entire video library on anti-aging secrets, you can always visit Dr. Oz’s recommendations on his website: http://www.doctoroz.com/topic/anti-aging . Dr. Oz has cutting-edge information on anti-aging techniques and guidelines. Learn how to slow aging from the inside out! Plus, get pertinent information on beauty products, supplements, diet and nutrition, mental health, and fitness routines to turn back the clock.

As well, be careful not to overuse retinol based products for your skin. Vitamin-A derivatives [like retinol and the widely prescribed Retin-A] are strong molecules that focus on short-term results, over-stimulating the skin without considering the long-term consequences. This is not a sustainable approach for beauty and youth, according to Simon Erani, the founder and CEO of The Somme Institute in New York, and reported on Into The Gloss.com.

According to information on this website: http://intothegloss.com/2013/03/anti-aging-in-your-twenties-too-much-too-soon-skin-care-products-retinol/ ,   “The only problem with those drugs is that women’s skin is already considerably thinner than men’s, and these medications take off the top layer—so you’ve lost the first or second layer of your skin, and though your skin looks fresh and bright and great, it can actually get worse. With repeated use, retinol products begin to thin out your skin and will eventually make you more susceptible to UVA rays. If you're not wearing adequate SPF all the time, with passing years you’ll have more melasma, more discoloration... Plus, they can be way too harsh on the skin, even if you don’t feel the redness.”

From Dr. Elizabeth Hale, vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation and a Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at the NYU Langone Medical Center “…there’s two types of aging of the skin: intrinsic aging, which would happen if you lived in a vacuum or a bubble, and then there’s extrinsic, which is sun-exposure and smoking, which accelerate your skin’s break-down. I’m a believer in prevention, even in your twenties, so that you can age gracefully and naturally, versus trying to reverse the signs of UV exposure or smoking later on. The number one thing you can do is just wear sunscreen. Every single day. Ninety percent of the signs of premature aging come from UV exposure.”

According to the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, around the world, people are seeking medical guidance for ways to stay healthy, active, and vital well into their older years. As a result, the principles of the anti-aging lifestyle are gaining rapid and widespread acceptance as a framework for lifelong habits for healthy living. Anti-aging medicine is the pinnacle of biotechnology joined with advanced clinical preventive medicine.

The specialty is founded on the application of advanced scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related dysfunction, disorders, and diseases. It is a healthcare model promoting innovative science and research to prolong the healthy lifespan in humans. As such, anti-aging medicine is based on principles of sound and responsible medical care that are consistent with those applied in other preventive health specialties.

The anti-aging medical model aims to both extend lifespan as well as prolong healthspan - the length of time that people are able to live productively and independently. Much more material about this topic is located at this site: http://www.a4m.com/conferences-attendees-what-is-anti-aging-medicine.html.

For seniors, the need and desire to turn back the aging clock is even greater. According to a study on physical activities in the senior population by Humboldt University, “Running mitigates the age-related deterioration of walking economy whereas walking for exercise appears to have minimal effect on the age-related deterioration in walking economy.”  Active seniors who regularly run or walk experience a definite difference in aging over those who are sedentary. For more details, visit this website: http://www.worldhealth.net/news/run-stay-young/ .

Aging happens. What you can do about it to either slow down or mask the process is literally based on your lifestyle, medicine and certain products, and your genes. Inevitably, at some point, you are going to be old. Looking old and acting old are not always the same thing. Remember, the older you get, the more responsibility you have to take care of yourself so that the features you were given at birth are still recognizable when you come to the end of life.

Until next time.