How Do I Improve My Health Expectancy?
Jan 14, 2025
If you want to bolster your long-term well-being, your health expectancy is where it’s at. Unlike life expectancy, which estimates your longevity, your health expectancy focuses on how long you’re able to avoid age-related chronic diseases and disabilities. Also known as your health span, it centers on thriving versus surviving.
Our experts at Kane Health in Silicon Valley, Redwood City, and the San Francisco Bay area of California offer programs to dramatically improve your health and well-being for years to come.
Here’s a look at practical and effective ways to improve your health expectancy.
Physical activity is one of the most important ways to increase your health expectancy. A study showed that daily exercise supports an 80-90% reduced risk for serious conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Routine workouts were also associated with a 33% lower risk for cancer.
Exercise is linked with positive brain function and emotional well-being. Physical activity lowers stress hormones in the brain, leading to more positive moods.
Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderately intense or 75 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity per week. Examples include jogging, hiking, biking, and swimming.
Don’t forget strength training. Engage in exercises that strengthen major muscle groups at least twice per week. Smart options include weight lifting, pilates, and bodyweight exercises, like pushups, crunches, and planks.
Eating primarily nutrient-dense foods can improve your health expectancy. People who live in the Blue Zones (populations with lengthy lifespans and a low incidence of chronic disease) eat diets consisting of about 90% plants. To benefit from a plant-based diet, focus on colorful vegetables and fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
Getting enough omega-3 fats, prevalent in oily fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, is linked with reduced inflammation and arthritis pain. That’s important, given that arthritis accounts for many age-related mobility challenges. Omega-3s also promote positive heart health.
To benefit from omega-3s, the Arthritis Foundation recommends eating 3-6 ounces of fish, such as tuna, salmon, or sardines, each week.
Just as you take your car in for tune-ups to keep it going strong, you should take yourself in for professional assessments and support. This will take the guesswork out of increasing your health expectancy and make way for positive results. Our programs at Kane Health are customized to suit your unique needs and preferences.
Our Essentials Program provides a good option if you want a solid baseline of care. It includes a diagnostic assessment and proactive treatments like acoustic wave therapy and microdosed medications to boost your overall health.
Our Holistic Concierge Program is an in-depth annual wellness plan that features a broader assortment of innovative treatments to optimize your brain, body, and sexual health. You’ll receive frequent assessments throughout the year to stay on track.
To learn more about improving your health expectancy or get individualized support, call our office or request an appointment through our website today.