| People of long ago lived well in their years. They | | | | disorders. Recent studies, however, show that |
| get as old as a hundred years or even longer. | | | | Americans are living longer and healthier |
| Adam died at age 930, Noah 950, Abraham 175, | | | | nowadays. Reason for this are the technological |
| Isaac 180, with Methuselah being the oldest | | | | advancement in medicines such as the new |
| character in the bible to die at 969. Some sectors | | | | medical screening tests which can often detect |
| believe that longer life expectancy can be | | | | diseases and potentially serious health conditions in |
| attributed to factors such as food, environment | | | | their early, treatable stages. Some of these tests |
| and lifestyle. A long time ago, most food were | | | | include Blood Pressure Check, High Cholesterol |
| not processed and were consumed in its natural | | | | Screening, Blood Sugar Test. |
| state. Naturally, people are healthier due to the | | | | Blood Pressure Check |
| absence of chemicals and preservatives which can | | | | Blood pressure refers to the arterial pressure that |
| cause a lot of the modern day illnesses prevalent | | | | takes blood away from the heart. Blood pressure |
| today. The environment was also free from | | | | tends to rise as people age. However, high blood |
| harmful pollutants brought about by | | | | pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of |
| industrialization. And lifestyles then were simple | | | | the risk factors for heart stroke, heart attacks, |
| enough not to cause too much stress and | | | | heart failure, arterial aneurysms, and chronic renal |
| anxiety. | | | | failure. It kills the heart, brain, eyes and kidneys. |
| But today's modern world is far from the olden | | | | Don't let hypertension sneak up on you. Get your |
| days where life is like a breeze of fresh air. And | | | | blood pressure checked by your doctor at least |
| no matter how much people try to bring back the | | | | once a year. |
| old ways, we can only get so far. People can go | | | | Cholesterol Screening |
| on a diet of natural foods, a healthy lifestyle of | | | | Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance the body |
| fitness without the vices such as smoking, drinking | | | | uses to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and |
| alcohol, and the like. But what about the | | | | the bile acids that help to digest fat. But it takes |
| environment? This is a different story. People can | | | | only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to |
| engage in tree-planting projects, in campaigns | | | | meet these needs. Too much cholesterol in the |
| against pollution, recycling solutions, etc. It can | | | | bloodstream or high cholesterol levels are a risk |
| minimize the harmful effects of worldwide | | | | factor for heart disease and stroke. This is why it |
| biological pollution or the green-house effect, but | | | | is important to measure the cholesterol levels at |
| as the world continues to evolve and develop, | | | | least once every 5 years and more frequently if |
| progress will continue to destroy the ecosystem, | | | | you are at higher risk. |
| the atmosphere, and its natural resources. The | | | | Blood Sugar Test |
| depletion of the ozone layer has long been | | | | Blood Sugar Test determines how well your body |
| recognized as a threat to human health and the | | | | can process sugar or glucose. It also diagnoses |
| environment. Global warming caused by the | | | | diabetes which can destroy your health, leading to |
| carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles are | | | | heart disease, kidney failure and blindness when |
| also the reason for a lot of respiratory diseases | | | | left untreated. Diabetes is a potentially |
| that has caused, directly and indirectly, the deaths | | | | life-threatening condition which can be managed if |
| of thousands. Although there are very few people | | | | detected in its early stage. Get a blood sugar test |
| who still live up to more than a hundred years old, | | | | at least once every 3 years. |
| such as Cuban Benito Martinez who died at 126 | | | | Taking these medical tests and physical check ups |
| on October 2006, life expectancy has dramatically | | | | do not guarantee a longer life but it will surely help |
| dropped down to 80 on the average. | | | | improve one's health to visit your health care |
| The fast-paced lifestyle brought about by | | | | providers in a regular visit. It is advice to practice |
| advancements in technology has produced | | | | a healthy and active lifestyle to prevent acquiring |
| physical, emotional, and psychological conditions | | | | serious medical conditions which can shorten one's |
| such as stroke, depression, stress and anxiety | | | | life expectancy. |