What's Happening?

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

NEED HELP? QUESTIONS@FIA.ORG.ZA

become A FIA member TODAY
member login

Health through the decades: Maximise each milestone

ARTICLE BY

  • Medihelp

SHARE THIS POST

Ever heard the saying that age is just a number? Many 80-year-olds still possess the physical and mental stamina of a 30-year-old because they recognised the value of their personal well-being early on. As our biological clock ticks on, our bodies and minds change. Luckily, there are various practical steps we can and should take to make the most of every age milestone.

Teenage Years

What happens?

The teenage years are a rollercoaster. Besides significant growth spurts, girls start menstruating, boys’ voices break, hair appears, girls’ hips widen, and boys’ shoulders broaden. Hormonal changes can lead to mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and sometimes even depression.

Five things to do:

  • Accept yourself
  • Eat healthily and get enough sleep
  • Exercise
  • Establish a healthy routine
  • Preventive care:
    • General preventive care (eyes, teeth, check-ups, etc)
    • Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine

Twenties

What happens?

The lifestyle choices we make in this decade can drastically impact our health in later years. Students and young professionals often don’t prioritise their health, spending long hours studying or working, with little time for physical activity or healthy food. These five things play a key role in our twenties: body mass index (BMI), alcohol intake, smoking, eating habits, and physical activity.

Five things to do:

  • Learn to cook
  • Find the right career
  • Drink less and exercise more
  • Choose the right medical cover
  • Preventive care:
    • Check-ups for eyes, teeth, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol
    • Tests for sexually transmitted diseases
    • Breast and testicular self-checks

Thirties

What happens?

In your thirties, stability in your personal and professional life increases. Focusing on long-term health becomes more important, especially if you have a family history of disease. Evaluate your medical aid plan annually and begin financial planning for your retirement and dependents.

As our wrinkles increase, our metabolism slows, muscle mass decreases, and energy levels may drop. Muscle mass decreases by 3-8% per year and heart rate by 5-10% per year. Fertility and the ability to concentrate also decline in our late thirties.

Men should watch their weight, make sure they get enough sleep, and control stress levels since all these factors affect testosterone levels. Women should stay hydrated and decrease salt intake to reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Stress can also lead to mental and physical health issues if not managed properly.

Five things to do:

  • Invest in effective nutrition plans
  • Get regular exercise
  • Build meaningful relationships
  • Focus on finances
  • Preventive care from your twenties plus:
    • Cervical cancer tests
    • Immunisations for your children
    • New skills to keep your brain sharp

Forties

What happens?

Forty brings noticeable physical and emotional changes. You may be more susceptible to health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, bladder infections, kidney stones, osteoarthritis, depression, and anxiety. Hormonal changes play a bigger role, especially for women approaching menopause. Decreased testosterone levels in men lead to reduced muscle mass, energy, and libido.

Stress is significant, as you might be at the peak of your career with more responsibilities. It’s important to manage stress and proactively manage your health with regular check-ups, healthy eating habits, and physical activity.

Five things to do:

  • Eat for energy
  • Move for a better you
  • Ensure adequate sleep
  • Relax
  • Preventive care from your thirties plus:
    • Mammograms
    • Pap smears
    • Prostate exams
    • Colonoscopy

Fifties

What happens?

Retirement looms in our fifties. But the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, also significantly increases. Bone density and muscle strength, on the other hand, decrease and the risk of fractures becomes a concern. Women experience menopause with symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, and changes in sleep patterns and mood. Men experience further decreases in muscle mass, energy levels, and libido.

Exercise and a healthy diet are crucial to manage these changes. Managing stress through relaxation techniques and healthy habits is also vital for overall well-being.

Five things to do:

  • Choose foods rich in calcium and vitamin D
  • Stay active for joint and muscle health
  • Prioritise mental health
  • Maintain good sleep habits
  • Preventive care from your forties plus:
    • ECG or stress tests
    • Bone density tests
    • Eye tests
    • Cancer skin checks
    • Blood pressure and cholesterol tests

Sixties and Beyond

What happens?

Your sixties and beyond are a time for renewal, rest, and perhaps travel. However, your health and well-being need more attention. Physical strength and endurance decline, making regular physical activity essential. Diet plays a crucial role, and it’s important to choose nutrient-rich foods.

You should especially not neglect your mental health. Isolation from friends and family can be an issue, especially if you no longer work full-time. Engage in social activities and focus on cognitive health. Activities that stimulate the brain, like reading, games, and learning new skills, can help keep your mind sharp.

Five things to do:

  • Enrich your body with nutrition
  • Stay fit and active
  • Promote mental and emotional well-being
  • Keep your brain busy
  • Preventive care from your fifties plus:
    • Regular eye and hearing tests
    • Annual test to detect any decline in cognitive abilities

Maximise each decade by prioritising your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Through preventive care and the right lifestyle choices, you can lead a long, happy, and healthy life. Remember, age is just a number!

Visit Medihelp’s website here.

Subscriber Terms and Conditions

  1. APPLICATION OF TERMS
    • These terms and conditions (“Subscriber Terms”) apply to the subscription by any qualifying member of the South African Underwriting Managers Association NPC (“SAUMA”) to the services and benefits offered by FIA Services (Pty) Ltd (“FIA Services”) under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement (“Subscription”).

  2. NATURE OF SUBSCRIPTION
    • A Subscription under this arrangement:
      • does not constitute membership of FIA NPC;
      • does not confer any voting rights or governance participation in FIA NPC; and
      • is governed solely by the contractual relationship between the Subscriber and FIA Services.

  1. ELIGIBILITY
    • To qualify for the Subscription, the applicant must, at the time of application, be a current paid-up member of SAUMA.
    • FIA Services will verify the applicant’s SAUMA membership status with SAUMA prior to activation, and may re-verify such status periodically.
    • If a Subscriber ceases to be a paid-up member of SAUMA, the Subscription will correspondingly be terminated.
    • Applicants are required to authorise FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA as part of the application process.

  1. SERVICES
    • The Subscription entitles the Subscriber to the following benefits:
      • Complimentary access to the FIA CPD Platform;
      • Complimentary access to the FIA Insight Magazine (digital edition);
      • Advertising opportunities on FIA platforms at a discounted rate of 15% (fifteen percent) off the prevailing published rates; and
      • Invitations to attend FIA Technical Webinars annually.
    • FIA Services reserves the right to update, vary or substitute the Services from time to time, provided that the overall value and nature of the benefits remain materially the same.

  1. FEES AND PAYMENT
    • The monthly subscription fee is R260.00 (two hundred and sixty rand) for up to seven registered individuals (Key Individuals and Representatives), and R36.00 (thirty-six rand) per additional registered individual thereafter, excluding VAT.
    • The Subscriber shall provide FIA Services with the required details of each individual to be registered under the Subscription for the purposes of activation and billing.
    • All fees are exclusive of VAT, which shall be charged at the prevailing statutory rate.
    • Subscription fees are reviewed annually in March and may be adjusted with effect from 1 April.
    • Any changes to the Subscription, including but not limited to the number of Representatives and Key Individuals registered under the Subscription, may only be effected once annually during the annual review period in March of each year, with such changes taking effect from 1 April.
    • Subscription fees shall be billed monthly in arrears, unless the Subscriber elects an annual billing cycle at the time of application.
    • The Subscriber shall ensure that all billing information (including contact details, authorised signatories and bank account details) is kept accurate and up to date.
    • Non-payment of subscription fees may result in suspension of access to the Services until such fees are brought up to date.
    • The Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that all subscription fees payable under these Subscriber Terms may be collected by way of debit order, which shall be processed by the holding company, FIA NPC (The Financial Intermediary Association of South Africa), on behalf of FIA Services. Payment to FIA NPC shall be deemed to constitute valid and sufficient discharge of the Subscriber’s payment obligations to FIA Services under these Subscriber Terms.

  1. ONBOARDING
    • Onboarding will be conducted as a Subscription with FIA Services under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement.
    • Onboarding will not confer FIA NPC membership status or any associated rights.
    • Onboarding is conditional on confirmation of the Subscriber’s current SAUMA membership at the time of application

  1. DATA PROTECTION
    • FIA Services will process all personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) as set out in our POPIA policies.
    • By subscribing, the Subscriber authorises FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA and to process personal information for the purposes of fulfilling the Subscription.

  1. TERMINATION
    • The Subscriber may terminate the Subscription by giving FIA Services one calendar month’s written notice.
    • FIA Services may terminate the Subscription on one calendar month’s written notice, or immediately if the Subscriber breaches these Subscriber Terms and fails to remedy such breach within 14 (fourteen) days of receiving written notice.
    • Termination of the SAUMA–FIA Services affiliation agreement shall not automatically terminate these Subscriber Terms.
    • Termination by the Subscriber shall not relieve the Subscriber of liability for any subscription fees accrued up to the effective date of termination.
    • FIA Services may suspend or terminate the Subscription with immediate effect in the event of non-payment of fees by the Subscriber.

  1. GENERAL
    • These Subscriber Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Any disputes arising under these Subscriber Terms shall be dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions contained in the FIA NPC membership terms and conditions, as modified to reflect that the contractual relationship is with FIA Services.
    • Any notices required under these Subscriber Terms may be validly delivered by email to the addresses provided in the Subscriber’s application form, and such notices shall be deemed received on the day of transmission if sent during business hours.
    • The Subscriber may not assign, cede or transfer any of its rights or obligations under these Subscriber Terms without the prior written consent of FIA Services.
    • No variation of these Subscriber Terms shall be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed by both FIA Services and the Subscriber.