Aging is inevitable, but the way we understand it is often wrong. Most people think that aging is just due to wrinkles, gray hair or genetic factors.
However, according to Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, a cardiologist and functional medicine specialist with more than 20 years of experience (working at Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, California, USA), the heart is the place that reflects the real age of a person, not the face.
Dr. Bhojraj says there are three things that most people misunderstand about the aging process. He emphasized that correct awareness will help each person be more proactive in maintaining health and prolonging life.
First, aging is not just about genetics or wrinkles. After two decades of research on cardiology, the doctor affirmed: Your real age is reflected in your heart and it is worth mentioning that most people are making their hearts age faster without you knowing it.
Second, your heart speaks out your real age long before your face can change. Stress, lack of sleep, a diet high in sugar and saturated fat all damage blood vessels, causing the aging process of cells and arteries to occur earlier.
Third, the problem is not what you eat occasionally, but in seemingly healthy but maintained incorrect habits.
Exercising too much, dieting too much or abusing functional foods can cause the body to fall into a state of stress, accelerating the process of cell degradation.
To live longer and healthy, Dr. Bhojraj recommends that people maintain a scientific and stable habit. Sharing the same view, Dr. Jeremy London, a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon with more than 25 years of experience ( practicing in Savannah, Georgia, USA), also emphasized five habits that help prolong life:
- Exercise regularly.
Eat healthy, limit sugar and processed foods.
- Get enough sleep and recover energy properly.
- Maintain active social relationships.
- Regularly steam or use heat therapy to improve circulation.
(The article is for reference only, not a replacement for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor if you have health questions).
