40 and up only!

The body is an outstanding machine; though we may act invincible from our teens to our thirties, life starts at 40. Life begins catching up with our bodies, and the extensive damage we may have done to it over the years.

Rather than focus on what CAN’T be changed; let’s move on to habits that may prove beneficial for us in our 50s, 60s, 70s … up to hundred! These are little things you may do or change about yourself in order to brace yourself for the rest of your life. Time to get tough; this is for people who are 40-and-Up only, not for the weak of heart!

Train the Mind

Right now you may be split in a decision over what to have for lunch; but the untrained mind may spend his older years deciding on whether going to the bathroom is necessary … sometimes without knowing it.

The mind can only work to its peak performance when it is used extensively --- watch the Discovery channel, solve a crossword, or do some meditation; by your later years, its going to be useful.

Train the Stomach

Your metabolism will have changed by the time you get to your 40s. It won’t be the same eat-what-you-want-and-not-gain-weight anymore. By eating meals that are varied, and have the right vitamins and minerals, it will ensure you that you’d have less of a problem dealing with what you ate 20 years ago.

A dietary supplement may be in order too --- multivitamins, minerals and fish liver oil are just some of the bigger, important ones.

Train the Heart

Literally and figuratively --- you’d have to be accepting of how old you are in the present --- be grateful. You’re a champ because you’ve made it this far, and that also means that muscle in your chest has made it too!

Consult a trainer to know what kind of exercise is right for you. Mix up your routine from day-to-day, so that the body doesn’t become complacent, and will learn how to be adaptable.

Put all these three combined and you’re pretty much on the way to polishing the great machine that is the body.

40 and up only!

The body is an outstanding machine; though we may act invincible from our teens to our thirties, life starts at 40. Life begins catching up with our bodies, and the extensive damage we may have done to it over the years.

Rather than focus on what CAN’T be changed; let’s move on to habits that may prove beneficial for us in our 50s, 60s, 70s … up to hundred! These are little things you may do or change about yourself in order to brace yourself for the rest of your life. Time to get tough; this is for people who are 40-and-Up only, not for the weak of heart!

Train the Mind

Right now you may be split in a decision over what to have for lunch; but the untrained mind may spend his older years deciding on whether going to the bathroom is necessary … sometimes without knowing it.

The mind can only work to its peak performance when it is used extensively --- watch the Discovery channel, solve a crossword, or do some meditation; by your later years, its going to be useful.

Train the Stomach

Your metabolism will have changed by the time you get to your 40s. It won’t be the same eat-what-you-want-and-not-gain-weight anymore. By eating meals that are varied, and have the right vitamins and minerals, it will ensure you that you’d have less of a problem dealing with what you ate 20 years ago.

A dietary supplement may be in order too --- multivitamins, minerals and fish liver oil are just some of the bigger, important ones.

Train the Heart

Literally and figuratively --- you’d have to be accepting of how old you are in the present --- be grateful. You’re a champ because you’ve made it this far, and that also means that muscle in your chest has made it too!

Consult a trainer to know what kind of exercise is right for you. Mix up your routine from day-to-day, so that the body doesn’t become complacent, and will learn how to be adaptable.

Put all these three combined and you’re pretty much on the way to polishing the great machine that is the body.

How Macular Degeneration Changed My Life

One of our readers has something to say about Macular Degeneration:

For the longest time, I’ve been very afraid of losing my eyesight. That is, well, until I started accepting it.

I have this friend who broke his leg once --- everyone was giving him pity looks, saying things like, “awww, you poor thing, stuck with that horrible crutch.” However, for him, the crutch was his means of getting around. He felt he was lucky to have the crutch, rather than not being able to go anywhere.

He was sincere about that though, which got me into thinking: am I lucky to have macular degeneration? It’s all a matter of perspective.

Of course, I feel that macular degeneration is a horrible, horrible thing that ruins the eye sight, and that there is no redeeming factor about it. Then again, we’ve heard of extraordinary people who go through their lives without their eye sight who are doing amazing things.

We have blind teachers, attorneys and what-have-you. Macular degeneration doesn’t sound like something that would bring these people down. The difference between them and me? They felt lucky. Lucky to be alive, lucky to get to wake up daily and get a chance to make something of their day.

While I was focusing on the negative things about macular degeneration, I was missing out on my caring family who tirelessly take me to take me to the physician to get my eyes checked, I was missing out on my children of whom, without question, would read aloud some fine print that I’m not able to read anymore.

Let’s just say --- I was lucky without knowing it. For now, me and the family are considering a surgical solution. Sometimes, I just wish people knew how lucky they actually are --- macular degeneration or not.

It’s all a matter of perspective, you see, and sometimes you can see, but you don’t have the insight.

Life After Surviving A Heart Attack

Surviving a heart attack is just the big hit before the long life-changing journey. If you’ve suffered a heart attack before, then you’ll know what I’m talking about.

You get into questioning your own morality, you find that family is closer than ever, and serious life changes have to be made. Depending on the seriousness of the kind of heart attack you get, things are all going to be different.

A major heart attack will have you watching your blood pressure a little closer while certain normal activities take a different angle. Surviving a heart attack means a change all ‘round. It’s not asking your friends to ask you to believe in yourself; it’s more of you asking them to believe in themselves, who believe in you. A little too much concern over a heart attack can … believe it or not, be smothering.

Being the one to face the change, you have to realize that it is a shock that you’ve just come from. It helps if family is there to talk about it, but only if you really want to.

If you smoke tobacco or cigarettes, then it’s time to stop, if you haven’t already. The greasy foods have to be held several weeks after one another. Check-ups after surviving a heart attack is going to be the new routine.

Unfortunately, many people have a 50% chance of getting struck with another heart attack within 12 months, should they choose not to change their lifestyle or habits.

Your home life will change too --- having lived through a traumatic physiological / psychological experience, your family has experienced the scare too --- they’ll tend to be more refrained, and rightfully so --- a bad argument can end horribly, when it’s been just weeks from the original heart attack.

You need to reaffirm with your family that you’ve just been through a major ordeal that you won’t want to go through with again. The family, in turn, should be a little more giving to the whims of the patient, while keeping a tight lid on things that are prohibited.

Basically, life after surviving a heart attack is a challenging one, but take it as a warning sign to change your health habits.

What Cardiovascular Diseases Will I Be Prone To?

Often, there are no symptoms of the underlying disease of the blood vessels; a heart attack or stroke may be the first warning signs of cardiovascular diseases.

How scary does cardiovascular disease have to be, for a heart attack to be a warning sign? Cardiovascular diseases are absolutely terrifying. Cardiovascular diseases may develop from years of tobacco use, an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity --- combine that with your 40s and you become a volatile cardiovascular disease surprise.

According to the World Health Organization, “Over 80% of cardiovascular disease deaths take place in low-and middle-income countries and occur almost equally in men and women. Cardiovascular disease risk of women is high particularly after menopause.”

Here are the top three causes, and what cardiovascular disease you may expect from them.

Tobacco User/ Smoker – At first you’d be surprised to find this at the top of the cardiovascular disease list, because for one, you’d expect cigarettes to harm your lungs, not your heart, and for two, it isn’t immediately obvious to people that smoking is bad for the blood.

There’s the carbon monoxide --- it interferes with the transportation of oxygen, and less oxygen means a higher potential for cardiovascular disease. There’s nicotine too --- it decreases the amount of good cholesterol which makes fat become deposited on the walls of an artery. If you’re a long-time smoker, you’re at risk of a stroke or a heart attack.

Unhealthy Diet – An unhealthy diet gives you the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The heart and the blood vessels stop working properly if an unhealthy diet leaves a build up of fat deposits on the inside lining of the blood vessels. These fat deposits cause the blood vessels to become narrow, thereby blocking off the blood flow.

Of the cardiovascular diseases that may get someone with an unhealthy diet, a stroke is most likely. Someone who experiences a mini-stroke while being overweight still has a potential for full recovery, but it would involve losing weight to prevent further cardiovascular disease.

Physical Inactivity – Currently there are studies being performed linking physical inactivity to cardiovascular disease. It’s not a direct result of the sedentary lifestyle, but it would still affect you indirectly. Long bouts of physically inactive bodies might develop arterial stiffness, and for the body to develop a resistance to insulin. It has also been found that cases of these happen to people in their 40s.

The metabolic dysfunction that follows is closely-tied to cardiovascular disease. No doubt, there is an increasing need for regular physical activity while you’re young, since the metabolic dysfunction only develops after years of inactivity. A heart attack or a stroke’s risk is high among people living highly inactive lifestyles.

My Battle Against Alzheimer's!

Imagine that you have a favorite book; when it was new, the edges were still sharp, the pages, crisp from the publisher --- imagine that you read that book at least once a year. Over the next few years, the once-crisp pages become crumpled, some get soaked, some get torn --- now how would you like to know the ending, not knowing how you got there?

That’s what Alzheimer’s is like --- you get to miss some of the best parts of the book --- you miss part of the story because the page just wasn’t there.

Now imagine that you give the book a plastic cover. Picture yourself carefully opening the pages, gently enough to not leave a bend in the spine. Would all those pages still be missing if you did?

Now that I’m older (I’m in my 40’s) my daily battle revolves around staving off serious diseases, (and Alzheimer’s is just what I’m most petrified of) while everyone says that life starts at 40. Not that it doesn’t, it’s just that its both for enjoying myself and a time to help myself.

Here are my battle plans; my strategies on fighting Alzheimer’s … and winning.

Communication – Let your family know that you’re concerned about your personal health. Talk to your family --- this will help you realize who you’re really doing all this for. Leave notes to remind them to remind you to take your medicine/supplements.

Exercise, but do only what you can – So you think that getting into exercise is what’ll make you healthy? Yes and no. If you’re just beginning, you should start off small and not hit the big heavy weights when you can’t. Do stretches before you exercise. Have someone close by should anything happen to you. Over-exerting yourself would only lead to more muscle wear-and-tear, plus it burns off liquids that your body might need during the day.

Eat right – By that I mean going after what you love eating the best. Of course, you’d still have to look at your blood pressure. Before taking that first, big,<p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 459px; height: 359px;" alt="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/barnabebarbaracon/1066730_40980898.jpg" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/barnabebarbaracon/1066730_40980898.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Imagine that you have a favorite book; when it was new, the edges were still sharp, the pages, crisp from the publisher --- imagine that you read that book at least once a year.<span style=""> </span>Over the next few years, the once-crisp pages become crumpled, some get soaked, some get torn --- now how would you like to know the ending, not knowing how you got there?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That’s what Alzheimer’s is like --- you get to miss some of the best parts of the book --- you miss part of the story because the page just wasn’t there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now imagine that you give the book a plastic cover.<span style=""> </span>Picture yourself carefully opening the pages, gently enough to not leave a bend in the spine.<span style=""> </span>Would all those pages still be missing if you did?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now that I’m older (I’m in my 40’s) my daily battle revolves around staving off serious diseases, (and Alzheimer’s is just what I’m most petrified of) while everyone says that life starts at 40.<span style=""> </span>Not that it doesn’t, it’s just that its both for enjoying myself and a time to help myself.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here are my battle plans; my strategies on fighting Alzheimer’s … and winning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Communication – Let your family know that you’re concerned about your personal health.<span style=""> </span>Talk to your family --- this will help you realize who you’re really doing all this for.<span style=""> </span>Leave notes to remind them to remind you to take your medicine/supplements.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Exercise, but do only what you can – So you think that getting into exercise is what’ll make you healthy?<span style=""> </span>Yes and no.<span style=""> </span>If you’re just beginning, you should start off small and not hit the big heavy weights when you can’t.<span style=""> </span>Do stretches before you exercise.<span style=""> </span>Have someone close by should anything happen to you.<span style=""> </span>Over-exerting yourself would only lead to more muscle wear-and-tear, plus it burns off liquids that your body might need during the day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eat right – By that I mean going after what you love eating the best.<span style=""> </span>Of course, you’d still have to look at your blood pressure.<span style=""> </span>Before taking that first, big, juicy bite off that quad-stacker burger, ask yourself, “will this be bad for my blood pressure?”<span style=""> </span>Also, eat some of them fruits and vegetables a little more.<span style=""> </span>They aren’t that bad, plus, food with Vitamin C and E can boost brainpower.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tease your brain everyday – Solve a crossword puzzle, solve a riddle, read a book, watch a subtitled movie, listen to music or writing are good brain exercises.<span style=""> </span>These mediums are therapeutic, and helps you get more sleep, relieve tension and erase uneasiness within yourself.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://over40andfighting.com/illnessesalzheimer.asp">Take this test to know if you have Alzheimer's. My top score is 14!</a><br /></p>

My Midlife Health Concerns

In my 40s, I find that the more I try to fend off my midlife health concerns from the world; the biggest fears come from me instead. Not that I’m not careful about my personal health, it’s that I’m not entirely the “super-health-lifestyle” guy.

I’m trying my best to keep track of what my body takes in on a daily basis. I find that all the worrying about health only serves to make me even more worried about the threats my midlife health concerns couldn’t predict. So I trimmed down the list of concerns:

Regular Check-Ups – Before, medical check-ups were things to be taken for granted --- I mean, if you don’t feel sick, there’s no reason to go for a test, right? Unfortunately, some of the more deadly midlife health concerns are the quiet ones, the ones you wouldn’t see coming; the ones you don’t expect. You may live a health-oriented lifestyle, but you have to admit your age --- you may be sick and not know it yet.

Preventive Meds – It is absolutely crucial, that, after those check-ups, you find out if there’s any sort of preventive measure to be taken. This includes preventive medicine like statins, aspirin, ACE inhibitors, etc – and you better remember to take ‘em.

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – If you’re a smoker, make it a point to stop now. If you’ve quit smoking entirely, there’s still the issue of second-hand smoke --- it’s even worse than if you’ve had the cigarette --- avoid smoking areas at all cost, not for the temptation, but to shield you from all the burnt poison that you might inhale.

Diet and Exercise – Set up a diet and follow it religiously --- if you can, exercise at least 3-5 times a week --- these activities are healthily tedious, but doing so proves to be a much cheaper alternative to being hospitalized. Both of them work by preventing obesity and/or diabetes, some of the very real culprits behind your midlife health concerns.

Risk Factors – Get informed. Talk to your family about your health concerns, and they may do the studies for you. Not only will this lead to a healthier lifestyle for you, it also encourages an even healthier lifestyle for the rest of your family. Know what’s right for you and cut down on your possible risk factors.

There you have it --- some of my weekly midlife health concerns --- because sometimes, we all need a little reminding from time-to-time.