Addiction medicine specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky, host of Lifetime’s “Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew,” discusses overlooked aging risks, from muscle loss to cellular health, and ways to sustain wellness.
In your opinion, what things are everyday people neglecting in their wellness routines that have the most negative impacts on aging?
Muscle loss has a larger impact on longevity than almost anything else. As we age, falls become a significant issue. People forget that skeletal muscle is an organ system that helps reduce some of the metabolic problems associated with aging. So, resistance training is an intervention in your well-being and health that needs attention immediately.
What advice do you have for people who are navigating changes in their bodies over time and want to prioritize wellness at every life stage?
You must educate yourself about interventions that are important as we age. Of course, alcohol and tobacco are major contributors to medical problems and accelerated aging.
By the same token, it’s critical to make sure your blood pressure is well controlled and that any issues of insulin resistance are addressed. It’s also important to keep up with cancer screenings. The new year is a good time to be sure you are up to date. Early detection makes a tremendous difference for certain cancers, such as prostate, ovary, breast, colon, skin, uterus, and cervical cancers.
Finally, women should discuss with their physician the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy. Don’t overlook testosterone; that hormone is important for women as well, and it is often overlooked.
Why is cellular health important, and what can aging Americans do to prioritize it?
Cellular health is health. Our body is made up of trillions of cells. The health of cells cannot be distinguished from the health of the organism. The emergent properties of cells result in physiology, and physiology can become pathological, which then typically feeds back to damage cells. Take, for instance, high blood pressure. Essentially, hypertension is often a miscommunication between the heart and kidneys that results in higher blood pressure. That elevated pressure can then, among several other things, damage the cells that line our arteries, called endothelium.
What is the hardest part about integrating new wellness routines into daily life, and what has worked for you to overcome these challenges?
Any change is hard. Most of us do not appreciate how difficult it is. You have to contemplate a change, plan the change, and then make the change. In my experience, the most difficult part about change is sustaining it. Initiating change is tough, so it’s always important not to set initial goals so high that you set yourself up for failure.
