Yours Australia — Issue 97 2017

40

GOOD TO KNOW

28

STAY AWAY

FROM THE KNIFE

Avoid doing anything irreversible to

your body, warns Dr Agus. Not only

will you have to recover from surgery,

which puts strain on your body but

29

H

Gum disease not only causes

bad breath but it’s also linked to heart

disease, strokes and diabetes. Brush

for two minutes twice a day using

an electric toothbrush, floss or use

interdental brushes, and see your

dentist or hygienist as often as they

recommend, says Dr Nigel Carter,

dentist and chief executive of the

Oral Health Foundation. “There’s

no point living into your eighties

if you’ve got no teeth to eat with,”

Dr Agus adds.

30

SEE YOUR GP

• AND GET
  ALL YOUR JABS
  Treat aches, pains and illnesses
  quickly to avoid them becoming
  chronic, Dr Agus advises. And keep
  up to date with your vaccinations,
  including the annual flu shot. He
  also recommends getting your
  cholesterol checked, as well as your
  CRP (C-reactive protein, a measure
  of inflammation in the body), CMP
  (comprehensive metabolic panel,
  a measure of liver and kidney
  function) and haemoglobin A1c
  (your average blood-sugar level).

Right – it’s time to take
stock of your foot health, as foot
problems can lead to knee, hip and
back pain. Cut your toenails regularly,
wash, dry and moisturise your feet and
only wear comfortable shoes; no high
heels, according to Dr Agus. Doing
exercise such as the Alexander
Technique (a method that works to
change movement habits) and
Pilates can build up foot
strength.

31

TRY TO

BE AN

EARLY BIRD

As you get older your metabolism

begins to slow down. If you exercise

earlier in the day you’ll elevate it for

longer, Dr Argus says. “If you exercise

before dinner you will

end up going to bed

on a stomach full of

undigested food and

your metabolism

will plummet.”

32

STAND UP

STRAIGHT!

The bent silhouette of an elderly

person is only occasionally the result

of spine disease – more often it’s due

to poor posture earlier in life. Take up

Pilates and never look at your phone

as you walk. For every 2.5cm your

head shifts from your body’s central

vertical line, it increases the weight

your neck muscles have to hold by

4.5kg. “If you do it for long enough,

your head will be permanently poking

forward like a tortoise,” Dr Gray says.

Exercising shouldn’t be

painful but it should be

uncomfortable for maximum

results, according to Dr Agus.

“Do yoga and Pilates because

you find them difficult, not

because you find them

easy,” he says.

The physiological

changes that happen to the

body at this age cause loss

of muscle, reduction in bone

quality and a decrease in

maximal oxygen uptake.

Recovery will take longer

• just go with it.

FITNESS

33

27

34

BODY, FACE&HAIR

cont nue

whichputs strain onyour body,but

it’s impossibletoknowhow your

cosmetic surgery will age.

BRUSHYOUR TEETH