02/09/2024
As September rolls around, most of us get the uncanny Back to School urge to get stuff done. Perhaps it’s ingrained in us from our youth. Or maybe it’s just some newfound motivation after a summer spent lying by the pool. The beginning of Autumn also brings us a chance to take a moment and consider our health as we age. Healthy Aging Month has been recognised in September for over 2 decades, giving us an opportunity to encourage one another to take control of our health and make positive changes to help us live long and happy lives.
Many of us have been told repeatedly – Act your age. But where’s the fun in that? We believe it’s important to act the age you feel. In other words, act how you want to feel, not how old you are. Taking a positive outlook on aging is the first step to success. A more positive approach allows you to work with your body, not against it, to make the lifestyle changes that will benefit you in the years to come. Here are some things you can do to help you age with grace and vitality:
- Reduce your alcohol intake – the safest amount of alcohol is none. However, if you are going to have the odd drink, make sure it’s in moderation.
- Stop smoking – smoking has serious consequences on many aspects of your health. One of the best things you can do for future you is quit.
- Improve your diet – make sure you are eating a balanced diet, rich in whole foods, while limiting your intake of processed foods.
- Get moving – exercise has been proven to have many beneficial effects on your physical and mental well-being. Get out for a walk. Go for a swim. Whatever suits you best. Just make sure you take the first step!
- Stay social – Its important to get out of the house and socialise. No one likes to be lonely, but it can also have negative effects on your health. Whether you join a club or simply visit your loved ones more regularly, be sure to get out and about.
- Keep your mind sharp – your brain is a muscle, and benefits from a workout the same way your body does. Crosswords, Wordsearches and Sudoku are great ways to keep your brain active.
Listen To Your Body
It’s also important to pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you. If you’re tired, take a break. Thirsty? Drink some water. But it goes beyond this too. Our bodies often give us subtle hints that somethings not quite right. These signs can be easy to miss though. That’s why we believe preventative health testing is essential for improving health.
Unfortunately, neglecting regular health management can have noticeable impacts. According to research by Age UK, nearly 1/3 of people over 50 observed a decline in their health over the past year alone. This statistic highlights the critical need for routine health assessments to detect and address potential health issues before they escalate.
Our Contribution to Healthy Aging
As part of our commitment to a healthier future, Randox Health has partnered with the NHS to provide NHS health checks to residents living in Doncaster, Sandwell and Hampshire district councils between the ages of 40-74 years old who do not have any of the following:
- heart disease
- chronic kidney disease
- diabetes
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- atrial fibrillation
- transient ischaemic attack
- inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia)
- heart failure
- peripheral arterial disease
- stroke
- currently being prescribed statins to lower cholesterol
- previous checks have found that you have a 20% or higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years
If you have any of the conditions above, your healthcare provider will recommend the necessary health checks you require. However, if you do not have any of these conditions and meet the other criteria, you’ll be eligible for an NHS health check with Randox Health.
The assessment typically lasts between 20 and 30 minutes and generally includes the following procedures:
- Measuring your height and weight
- Measuring your waist circumference
- Conducting a blood pressure test
- Performing a cholesterol test, and potentially a blood sugar level test.
You will also be asked to answer questions regarding your health, which include:
- Whether any close relatives have suffered from any medical conditions
- Your smoking habits, including frequency
- Your alcohol consumption
- The extent of your physical activity
- Your age, gender, and ethnicity will be documented.
To check your eligibility and book your health test, click the link below that is relevant to your area:
Doncaster: https://nhshcdoncaster.randox.com/
Sandwell: https://nhshealthcheck.randox.com/
Hampshire: https://nhshchampshire.randox.com
While these tests cover the basics, if you’ve reached us here, you’re interested in a more comprehensive assessment of your health. We offer a range of health tests to ensure you have access to the health data you need to encourage healthy aging through knowingly making simple changes to help improve your healthspan and longevity.
Everyman | Everywoman
As you get on in life, taking a holistic approach to your health is key. Randox Health’s test packages offer detailed insights across a range of health markers, ensuring a thorough understanding of your health.
The Everyman | Everywoman health tests provide a comprehensive overview of your overall health through extensive blood analysis. These tests are designed to measure up to 150 health data points, covering crucial areas such as heart health, liver function, kidney function, thyroid health, and nutritional status. This test aims to identify potential health risks and areas for improvement early on, allowing for timely intervention and personalised health management – perfect for healthy aging by making sure you’re at your best as you age.
The Everyman | Everywoman tests also include assessments for diabetes, iron levels, infection markers, and hormone levels, offering a thorough insight into your body’s current state. With the Everyman | Everywoman you get repeat testing up to 12 months after your initial assessment, helping you to monitor changes over time and to adjust your health strategies accordingly. These tests are particularly valuable for their ability to track and manage long-term health, ensuring you can make informed decisions to maintain and improve your well-being.
Want to look a little deeper?
While covering the basics is important, as you get older, there are some aspects of your health that call for more attention than they did before. We offer a range of tests and packages to help you get the information you need to stay healthy and potentially prevent serious illness. Let’s take a look at a few of the tests you should consider when encouraging healthy aging:
Genetic Cancer Risk Testing
Our genetic cancer testing identifies potential genetic predispositions to various cancers, including breast, ovarian, prostate, colorectal and thyroid cancer, empowering you with knowledge to take preventive actions early. This proactive approach can significantly alter your health trajectory, providing peace of mind and tailored strategies for cancer prevention. To learn more about, or book your comprehensive genetic cancer risk test, visit our Genetic Cancer Risk store page or If you’d like some more information on genetic cancer testing, you can find it on our World Cancer Day blog.
Advanced PSA Test
For men, maintaining prostate health is crucial. Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50 and your risk increases as you get older. Our Advanced PSA test [https://randoxhealth.com/en-GB/in-clinic/advanced-psa] is not just a standard PSA test; it combines the traditional PSA measure with a novel Prostate Cancer Risk score. This dual approach allows for a more accurate assessment of your risk of prostate cancer, facilitating timely and effective preventative strategies.
Bone Health
Maintaining strong bones is vital as you age, to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and related fractures. Our comprehensive bone health assessments, included in the Everyman|Everywoman and Signature packages, measure key markers that can indicate bone density issues. This allows for early intervention with lifestyle changes or treatments to strengthen bone health.
We are also now offering the Osentia Test, an at-home test which measures your bone health from a simple fingernail or toenail sample. By assessing the state of the protein framework, Osentia provides valuable information about the bone’s resilience and ability to recover from impacts. This approach offers insights beyond what bone mineral density (BMD) and traditional risk factors can provide, potentially identifying individuals at risk for fractures even when their BMD appears normal, all from a single nail clipping.
Neurological Markers
Understanding and monitoring neurological health is essential, especially as the risk of neurodegenerative diseases increases with age. In addition to all the markers included in our Everyman|Everywoman packages, our Signature panels include crucial markers such as D-Dimer, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), Glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTPi), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase A (NDKA), and Parkinson Disease Protein 7 (PARK7). These markers can help detect early signs of neurological damage or inflammation, guiding proactive measures to protect brain health. If you’d like to know more about neurological biomarkers, check out our blog: Mapping the Mind.
Conclusions
Embracing Healthy Aging Month this September offers a brilliant opportunity to reinvigorate our commitment to longevity and well-being. As the Back to School season inspires a fresh start, let’s channel that enthusiasm into enhancing our health practices.
With Randox Health’s comprehensive health tests, you are not just reacting to health issues but proactively managing your well-being. These assessments are designed to provide a deep understanding of your health, enabling you to make informed decisions that enhance your quality of life and extend your healthy years.
Whether you are checking your eligibility for an NHS health check or diving deeper with our extensive range of tests, remember that taking charge of your health is a lifelong journey that requires continuous learning and adaptation.
Let September be the start of a healthier, vibrant chapter in your life, armed with the knowledge and support that Randox Health offers. Join us in making healthy aging not just a goal, but a joyful and rewarding part of our daily lives.