None of us enjoy getting older and especially don’t care to look like we’re getting older.  There are a few things we can do to fight aging, or at least postpone it!

1. Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke if at all possible.  Smoking is a bad habit and can result in a multitude of diseases, including cancer, heart disease and lung disease.  Tobacco can stain your fingers and give you bad breath.  Regularly breathing in second-hand smoke can raise the risk of heart disease by 30 percent and can increase the risk of lung disease by 25 percent.  Smoking is just a bad, nasty habit.
2. Make some time to play and relax.  People who work long hours are more likely to develop high blood pressure.  The risk of a heart attack triples in those people who don’t take a break from work-related stress and fatigue.  Do yourself a favor and just get up and walk around for a few minutes every couple of hours.  Walk outside, if you can, and breathe in some fresh air.
3. Avoid fried foods and soda pop.  As good as they taste, they are still bad for you.  Fried foods and soda pop (with sugar or without) can make you more susceptible to weight gain.  They can also lead to a condition known as chronic inflammation that makes your body age.
4. Try to wear a hat and sunglasses when you are outside.  The sun may feel nice and warm, but the ultra-violet rays of the sun can cause cataracts and macular degeneration which can eventually lead to blindness.
5. Get your annual health screenings.  Get regular check-ups for cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugars.  Also get your annual mammograms and pap smears if you are a woman and get annual prostate exams if you are a man.  Beginning at age 50, both men and women should have regular screenings for colon cancer.

These 5 suggestions can help you avoid aging and help your doctor find any early indications of cancer or heart disease.  They don’t take a lot of your time and the benefits will pay off in the long run.

Source by Donna Cope