Age-Proof Your Health
by Adelina Espat for MD Anderson Cancer Center
Life changes with every decade - from starting a career and family in your 20s and 30s to work-life balance, and saving for retirement in your 40s, 50s and 60s. And, as life changes so does your body.
Just as you set personal and work-related milestones, you also should set health goals for every stage of life. And, we've created a plan to help guide you along the way.
"Practicing these healthy behaviors is important for all women, regardless of age," says Therese Bevers, M.D., medical director of MD Anderson's Cancer Prevention Center. "So take note of all of these tips - even the ones directed toward women older or younger than you."
Your 20s
Avoid exposure to HPV. The human papilloma virus, or HPV, is most common among young women in their late teens and early 20s. High-risk strains of HPV are present in more than 99% of cervical cancer cases.
Your best bet to reduce the risk of HPV infection is to:
Limit your number of sexual partners
Consistently practice protected sex
Get the HPV vaccine if you're younger than age 26
Say 'no' to tanning salons. Tanning bed use significantly ups your odds of getting melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer), according to research. Using tanning beds regularly when you're under 30 increases your risk of skin cancer by 75%.
Other ways to limit sun exposure is to:
Avoid direct exposure to the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Routinely use sunscreen when you're outdoors
Keep reading...
Photo courtsey of Benjamin J. DeLong
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