How Old Are You Really?

 
Everyone wants to age gracefully, but many of us will develop chronic conditions such as heart disease, adult-onset diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol that may negatively impact life expectancy as well as quality of life. Health promotion, illness prevention and appropriate treatment interventions are essential to living a longer and healthier life.

 

Chronological Age versus Biological Age

Chronological age is measured in calendar years and inevitability increases as time passes. Biological age is determined by how poorly or well your body functions based on diagnostic test result calculations. Therefore, if your biological age is higher than your chronological age, your body is functioning at what is expected for someone who is older than you, and interventions should be recommended. Biological aging is influenced by your genetic make-up, lifestyle behaviors and environment. Calculating your biological age enables your VitalLife healthcare professional to analyze and manage your risk for future illness.

 

How Do We Calculate Biological Age?

A conventional health check-up screens for the presence or absence of disease. However, chronic diseases do not happen overnight; they develop over time. To determine your biological age, our VitalLife healthcare professionals complete a more comprehensive screening process to identify risk factor markers that are associated with illness development and overall health. Risk markers include but are not limited to:
 

• Hormone levels. Hormones act as messengers in the body telling organs how to perform. Specific hormones are responsible for regulating everything from mood and emotional stability, weight gain or loss, energy levels, bone integrity, skin appearance, hair growth, kidney function, response to stress and libido.

 

• Inflammation. The elevated presence of inflammatory markers acts as warning sign that your body is not functioning effectively. When inflammatory markers are combined with a physical assessment and additional diagnostic tests, a healthcare provider is able to narrow down the underlying cause of the elevation. Elevation of inflammatory markers is associated with coronary artery disease, arthritis and a compromised immune system, increasing the likelihood of becoming sick after contact with bacteria or viruses.

 

• Fitness evaluation. Grip strength, core body strength, flexibility, agility level (reaction time), balance, oxygen delivery to tissues and organs are evaluated.

 

• Body fat composition. The percentage and location of body fat can predispose you to coronary heart disease.

 

• Lipid levels. Elevated lipid levels are a risk factor for coronary artery disease and stroke.

 

• Cancer markers.

 

• Blood pressure.

 

• Lifestyle evaluation. Assessment of smoking history, exercise patterns and eating habits.

 
At VitalLife, our goal is to provide services that support your journey to optimal health so you look and feel your best. Call us at 02 066 8899 to schedule your appointment for a Comprehensive Biological Age assessment.