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Most people only start tracking their health risk factors as they age. But evidence shows again and again that it’s the early signs of trouble that you should be concerned about.
As people age, it seems natural that their health declines. For many people, this is when they start seeing their doctor early. You may even start tracking your own health once you reach this stage. But evidence shows again and again that this is too late to make effective changes. A high number of health problems are related to activities and health choices in your earlier years. In fact, certain health risk factors are detectable decades before disease steps in. So, the real question is when you should start health tracking for best effects.
There are several diseases and conditions that seem related to getting older. These are a serious health threat for this age group and can severely impact lifestyle and longevity. Some of the most common health conditions related to older people are:
About 92 percent of seniors have one of these conditions and 77 percent have two. In fact, these conditions are so strongly linked to aging that you might ignore them until later in life. But this could be a very dangerous mistake. Because many health problems in later life have their roots in your youth.
Inflammation is a natural process that your body uses to rid itself of disease, irritants, and pollutants. However, when there’s too much inflammation or it becomes chronic, it can cause problems. There’s a growing body of knowledge on the dangers of inflammation. It’s been linked to heart disease, stroke, immune diseases, and metabolic syndrome. And now studies are showing that it’s a problem that starts in your youth. This means that you may have health risk markers of diseases or health problems decades before the effects make themselves known.
A recent study examined 106,120 conscripts to the Swedish army. They were between 16 and 20 years of age with no existing medical issues. They underwent a range of medical tests as part of their conscription. This including the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which is the rate at which red blood cells settle in a test tube. This is a nonspecific marker of inflammation. The faster the cells sink, the greater the amount of inflammation someone has in their body.
The participants were followed for 35 years and there were 4,835 deaths in that time. Surprisingly, a strong link was found between high ESR scores and an increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease or cancer. This link was not found between ESR and other causes of death like accidents or falls. This suggests that inflammation in early life is linked to early mortality.
A secondary study confirmed these findings. Participants with an elevated ESR in this study had a 63 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer 30 years later. Further research is needed to fully understand the links between inflammation and these health concerns. But there are still implications from these studies for your health today.
Teenagers aren’t likely to change their lifestyle because they might get cancer in a few decades. However, this is still important information. The first step to solving a problem is to understand it. So, the more that medical researchers know about the dangers of inflammation, the more they can help people avoid it. These studies also suggest that health risk management needs to start early. It’s too late to lower inflammation levels when you’re already in your later years. You need to start much earlier. This is the best way to get real health benefits from your efforts.
If you’re concerned about a health risk, try using HomeLab to keep track of your condition and any preventative measures you take. And if you see signs of a significant problem, you should check with your doctor as soon as possible.
Tags: health risk
