What to do, why and when
Being proactive means being healthier and happier. And it could even save your life.
1.1 Small adjustments. Big gains.
Even small changes can make a significant difference to your health, improve your quality-of-life – and how well you feel – and prevent problems. For those problems that can’t be prevented, being proactive will enable early detection and treatment, which usually means reduced severity and a quicker recovery from illness.
It may require some adjustments to what you eat (Diet and Nutrition); your physical activity (Exercise); and the way you manage a few other aspects of your life (Other priorities for good health).
The type, and extent, of these adjustments will depend upon your age and current health, so there are dedicated sections that deal with what you can expect, and what proactive steps need to be taken, for each age group:
1.2 You may feel healthy now but how long will it last?
Is there a storm on the horizon, or beyond?
Some serious health problems can lie dormant without any early warning signs that ring alarm bells. Damage accumulates silently over decades without obvious symptoms before crossing a threshold when it takes hold, usually from middle-age onwards. For example, diabetes; heart disease and hypertension. These, and others, are explained in section 8.1 Silent but serious.
Less serious problems also accumulate
There are also many less serious health problems that affect people as they age that can be traced back to lifestyle choices made earlier in life. This is often because people feel healthy and ignore the fact that good current health does not mean good future health. As a result, a lot of people remain reactive and fail to take the steps that are needed to build resilience.
1.3 How to predict and “future-proof” your health
(1) Certain aspects of your current health can be tested at home so you can find out what your future health has in store for you: Forewarned is forearmed (below).
(2). The tests include suggestions about proactive steps to improve your future health: Proactive steps for good health (below).
(3). Even when health problems develop silently, there are often early warning signs that we need to recognise so early action can be taken: Early warning signs (below).
(1) Forewarned is forearmed
Predictors of future health
Predicting future health, well-being and quality-of-life is not crystal ball gazing
There are some strong predictors of future health that can be tested at home at no cost.
This is not crystal ball gazing. The tests – physical, mental and emotional – are based on medical research and population studies.
Other tests – blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc – need to be arranged by your doctor and can be bulk billed.
These are also helpful for predicting future health, but they are not the only check-ups that are necessary to identify potential problems, some of which can be fatal – see below: What you don’t know can kill you.
The relevant tests and what your results mean for your future can be found in Appendix A of your age group page:
(2) Proactive steps to “future‑proof” your health
Understanding what your future health has in store for you is especially useful when it helps you make improvements. The good news is that you usually can.
The proactive steps that are likely to be of the most benefit for you will depend on your test results and are also explained in Appendix A of your age group page.
When you decide what to do – which may simply be building on healthy habits you already have – it’s important to write it down: Your proactive health plan.
When you begin, don’t overdo it – sustainable improvements come from steady progress, not trying to overhaul everything at once: One step at a time.
(3) Early warning signs and check-ups
Although some major health problems fall into the category of “Silent but serious”, many have early warning signs. There is a long list of these in section 7 Early warning signs.
For example, breathlessness is often dismissed as being “out of condition” or “unfit” but it can be a sign of more serious health problems, including heart disease, lung disease or anaemia.
Hearing loss is often excused as “just ageing” and ignored. But even mild hearing loss doubles the risk of dementia over time.
Tiredness is also commonly ignored. People tell themselves that it is just a by-product of a busy life, but it can be caused by sleep apnoea, which is very common – studies indicate that over 50% of people above the age of 50 may have it. The danger of not getting tested is that, if it goes undiagnosed, it can increase the risk of some serious health consequences such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.
Check-ups – what you don’t know can kill you
Most people don’t know that it is possible for arteries to become blocked even when a normal blood test indicates that everything is within safe limits, including cholesterol. The first sign can be a heart attack, and it can sometimes be fatal.
A slow buildup of plaque in the arteries can be caused by lifestyle factors, such as lack of exercise, smoking, etc; or genetic factors, such as Lipoprotein(a) – not just cholesterol.
Although the risk starts in the mid-30s, it becomes significant from the mid-40s and increases sharply from the mid-50s: Heart disease.
Plaque is like rust in a pipe
1.4 The benefits of proactive health
The benefits of adopting the proactive health practices explained in this Guide are formidable, and it’s not difficult to do, as discussed in Healthy people have better habits.
| What it benefits | How it benefits |
| Ageing and quality-of-life | A good quality of life can be sustained for longer |
| Brain health | Positivity, clarity of thought and memory improvement |
| Cost | Better health means lower medical expenses |
| Happiness | More enjoyment and life satisfaction |
| How you feel | More vitality, energy and “feeling good” |
| Mobility | Flexibility and ease of movement retained for longer |
| Immunity | Less likelihood of contracting a range of illnesses |
| Injury | Exercise and stretching reduces the likelihood of injury |
| Well-being | More balance, harmony and wellness; less anxiety |
1.5 Your brain, mindfulness and proactive health
Better physical health supports good brain health (Better brain health) and good brain health supports better physical health (The brain’s role in good health).
The brain’s influence is usually at a subconscious level, but you do have some conscious control. For example, you can teach yourself to become a Positive thinker. You can also use “mindfulness” to become more alert; to think more clearly; to focus better on the task at hand; and to improve your situational awareness – Mindfulness.
1.6 Health and happiness
Studies show a direct correlation between health and happiness: “Health is the Secret to Happiness” on Psychology Today’s website. This works two ways – being healthy contributes to being happy, and being happy contributes to good health: Harvard Health Publishing.
Of course, being happy means different things to different people. For some it means experiencing pleasure or enjoyment. For others it means contentment or emotional well-being. Others need purpose and meaning in their life, so they have a sense of fulfilment or satisfaction.
Proactive health is important for all these different ‘types of happiness’.
Social engagement, relationships and how we are treated by others are also important for our health and happiness: Social engagement and relationships
1.7 Ageing well
Some people maintain a very good quality-of-life well into their later years – they remain healthy, physically robust and mentally sharp; they retain their mobility, vitality and feel good, sometimes great.
Others are not so lucky. Some become frail and lose their independence, often far too young. But … is it “luck”?
Genetics plays a role, although the difference is more often the result of lifestyle choices made many years earlier. Knowing more about proactive health will help you make the right choices.
The key to ageing well
When researching the key to ageing well, it became clear that there was no need for a specific section on ageing in the Proactive Health Guide. This is because what is needed to age well is exactly what is needed for proactive health – adopting and sustaining the health practices suggested for each age group: 20s; 30s; 40s; 50s; 60s; 70s; 80s and 90s.
It’s also helpful to know what your future health has in store for you. There are ways of predicting this (as explained above: Forewarned is forearmed) so steps can be taken today to address any issues that may arise in years to come.
To age well it is also necessary to get the right medical advice.
1.8 Medical advice and this Guide
Getting the right medical advice means choosing the right medical practitioner and knowing the right questions to ask to ensure all relevant information is provided, not just by your GP but by any specialist you are referred to.
It may surprise you how often this does not happen – What doctors don’t tell you:
- many doctors are reactive – they only deal with the problem at hand and don’t provide proactive advice;
- patients are not always told the full story about what is likely to happen as a result of an illness or treatment or following an operation;
- the full risks of an operation or a course of medication are not always explained.
The Proactive Health Guide provides general health information based on population studies and publicly available research. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For advice tailored for you personally, please consult a qualified health professional.