20 Health Mistakes You Need to Stop Making Before You Turn 40

Nixing bad habits now can help you live a healthier life down the road.

Turn your health around

by Karen Pallarito
Want look and feel young into your 40s and beyond? Now's the time to hit the refresh button.

"When you're in your 20s and 30s, you have forever"—or so you think, explains Heather Provino, CEO of the workplace wellness company Provant Health Solutions Inc., in East Greenwich, R.I.

But health and lifestyle errors can sneak up on you in midlife and, next thing you know, a routine checkup finds your blood pressure's up or your blood sugar's out of whack.

"If you're not using 40 as that check-in point and that turnout time, those issues will start compounding," leading to chronic conditions, like heart disease and diabetes, says Provino, an exercise physiologist and sports psychologist.

Here are some common mishaps and tips to get you back on track.

Being addicted to your mobile phone

Are digital devices making us sick? A 2011 Harvard review links prolonged television viewing with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. More recently, researchers at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston found that blue light—the kind emitted by tablets, cell phone, e-readers and other devices—disrupts the body's natural circadian rhythms, making it harder to get a good night's rest.

"We're creating a generation of sedentary behavior that wasn't natural, say, even 20 years ago," Provino cautions.

Tip: Take a 10-minute standing break every hour that you're using your screens.

Not making sleep a priority

Like your cell phone, your body and brain need time to reboot and recharge. Adults 18 to 64 require about 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Skimping on shuteye does a number to your health, including raising your risk of hypertension, stroke, and obesity. It may also be a factor in depression, and there's evidence that being sleep deprived promotes biological aging, making you look older than you are.

Tip: Create a relaxing bedtime ritual—no cell phones in bed, please—with these 7 tips for your best sleep ever.

Failing to floss

A good flossing regimen sweeps away sticky, germy plaque that can build up on teeth and under the gum line like cement. If you don't get rid of it, it can ruin your smile. Gum disease typically appears when people are in their 30s or 40s, and men are more likely develop it than women, says the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Studies also suggest that diseased gums may be harbinger of heart problems.

Tip: If stringing floss around your pearly whites is a nuisance, try one of the many "interdental" picks, sticks, brushes, or water flossers on the market.

Skipping meals

Daytime fasting may seem like the perfect dieting hack. Wrong: You're more likely to overeat or splurge on junk food later in the day. Over time, missing meals can muck with your metabolism, setting you up for type 2 diabetes. Nearly two-thirds of adults with diabetes get diagnosed between ages 40 and 64.

Tip: Katharine Taber, MD, a board-certified gynecologist and director of the Women's Wellness Center at LifeBridge Health, based in Baltimore, urges patients to kick off the day with a healthy breakfast. "A, it helps with weight loss; B it gives you more energy and concentration throughout the day," she says.

 

Ignoring health warning signs

A wincing pain? A peculiar discharge? When your body offers clues that something's amiss, pay attention. Identifying health problems as early as possible often makes them more treatable. "The number of women who won't tell you they found a breast lump is astounding," Dr. Taber says."They just want to know if you (the OB/GYN) feel it." Many patients are afraid, embarrassed, or think they may be wrong, she explains.

Tip: Prepare a list of questions and concerns to share with your doctor before your visit.

Sneaking a cigarette (or two)

Attention tobacco cheaters: If you're stealing away for a smoke, you're a smoker, and that raises your risk for heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and other nasty conditions. Snuffing out your cigarette habit before age 40 slashes the chance of premature death from smoking-related diseases by 90%. Quitting in your mid-40s to early 50s lowers your risk by two-thirds. In other words, you can reverse much of the damage to your body.

Tip: Visit Smokefree.gov for advice and free resources on breaking the nicotine addiction.

Eating too much sodium

Sodium has a stealthy way of holing up in people's diets even when they're not tipping the saltshaker. It's in bread, processed meats, soup, cheese, sauces and dressings, among other staples. Most people consume more sodium than their bodies require. The daily recommended max is about half a teaspoon. Too much of it can cause hypertension, a major cause of heart attack and stroke.

Tip: Read packaged food labels carefully and stay under 2,300 mg a day (1,500 if you have high blood pressure).

Being dehydrated all the time

Water nourishes every cell and organ in your body, including your skin. It's even more important to stay properly hydrated as you age because older adults may lose some of their sense of thirst. Indulging in a morning cup of joe or afternoon soda-pop counts toward your daily water intake, but straight-up water is better because it's caffeine- and sugar-free.

Tip: If you pee is dark yellow, it may be a sign that you need to boost your H2O intake. (It should be clear or light yellow).

Avoiding dairy products

Women who shirk dairy to shave calories from their diets or ward off gas and bloating aren't doing their skeletons any favors. "Calcium intake in the 20s and 30s is really, really important for preservation of bone health," says Lisa Larkin, MD, director of the University of Cincinnati Women's Health Center. "Peak bone mass is achieved at about age 30, and it starts to decline after that," she says.

Tip: If you're not consuming 1,000 mg of calcium a day through various food sources, consider taking a calcium supplement, Dr. Larkin advises.

Lying to your doctor

People lie, and doctors know it. In one survey, 77% of health professionals said at least one in four patients omit facts or lie about their health; 28% believe half or more withhold the truth. Since health issues become more prevalent as we age, even little white lies may pose a danger to your health.

Tip: Come clean: "Physicians can only address what they know about," says Dr. Larkin.

Skipping the weight room

A well-rounded exercise regimen wouldn't be complete without strength training. It can help you tone muscle, boost metabolism, and build strong bones. Research shows it improves flexibility, balance, and aerobic capacity, too. These fitness benefits become even more crucial as we age. Roughly half of all women 50 and older suffer hip, wrist, or spine fractures in their lifetime, but bone-building strength exercises can lower the risk of brittle-bone disease.

Tip: Incorporate free weights, weight machines, elastic bands, or resistance training using your own body weight (think push-ups and squats) into your fitness routine.

Not having sex

With young children and work obligations, sex often gets pushed aside in your 30s. But as the kids get older, sex should move back up your priority list, notes Dr. Taber. Maintaining a healthy sex life, even as you enter middle age, is an important part of intimacy. "It's harder to reinstitute a healthy sex life once you're neglected it," she says.

Tip: Talk to your doctor if sexual intercourse is uncomfortable—there are treatments available, adds Dr. Larkin. You should also read up on these 10 ways to deal with painful sex.

Sunbathing

Laying out in the sun or using tanning beds exposes skin to damaging ultraviolet radiation that prematurely ages the skin and greatly boosts skin cancer risk, including melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease. Using sunscreen and protective clothing can help. "It doesn't erase the damage from the past, but it's protective going forward, just like stopping smoking," says Ronald Brancaccio, MD, director of The Skin Institute of New York and clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine.

Tip: Crave a sun-kissed glow? Fake it by applying a cosmetic bronzer. Here's how to do it in four steps  .

Sipping sweet drinks

You probably already know that drinking soda and other sugary beverages is a surefire way to pack on pounds. But if you think you're doing the right thing by swapping sugar-sweetened soft drinks for artificially sweetened versions, think again. The latest research suggests drinking diet soda is associated with weight gain, insulin resistance, and diabetes. A Tufts University study found women who drink cola—diet or regular—had lower bone mineral density. "You're actually pulling nutrients out of the body," says Monique Richard, RDN, owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, in Johnson City, Tenn. (Here's a rundown of all the reasons you need to ditch diet soda.)

Tip: Follow this guide to squash your soda habit for good.

Eating too much processed food

Grabbing a bag of chips before hitting the gym is not the optimal way to fuel your body. Over time, all that sugar, fat, and sodium—the secret to making processed foods tasty—can do a number on your waistline and your health. Replacing a diet packed with microwave meals, snacks, and processed meats with whole grains, fresh produce, and lean meats is the way to go. "It's very convenient to go through a drive-through, but it's also pretty convenient to boil some water and put it in some oatmeal," Richard reasons.

Tip: Pack your fridge and pantry with the 20 foods you should always have in your kitchen.

Bingeing on alcohol

Most of us know that consuming excessive amounts of alcohol is toxic to the body. "It's dehydrating, and it's a process that your body can't get over as quickly, especially as you get older," Richard says. Moderation is the key: no more than one drink per day for women and two for men.

Tip: One serving means a 5-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or a shot of distilled spirits. Here's how to pour a perfect serving of wine  .

Failing to discuss family health history

Like it or not, your genes matter. If, in your 30s, your physician doesn't know there's a history of breast or ovarian cancer in your family, she may not order the appropriate screening and surveillance tests to help identify problems early on, when they're more treatable.

Tip: Learn your family's medical history and share it at your next appointment. "That will impact recommendations from your physician," Dr. Larkin says.

Not making time for preventive care

Women in their 30s "don't really take the time to take care of themselves, and so stuff gets missed," says Dr. Larkin. So, if you're not monitoring your cholesterol, you could be setting yourself up for heart disease in your 40s and 50s. And if you're putting off annual pelvic exams, routine pap tests, and clinical breast exams, you could be missing early signs of cancer.

Tip: Taking preventive measures as a young adult can make a huge difference in your wellbeing as you get older. Stay on top of the 19 medical tests everyone needs.

Skipping recommended vaccines

Kids aren't the only ones who need their shots. A half-dozen or so immunizations and boosters—including vaccines that protect against influenza and chicken pox—are recommended for adults. Many others may be appropriate depending on a person's risk factors and vaccine history. About 50,000 adults die every year from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Tip: Getting vaccinated protects yourself and reduces your risk of getting sick and spreading the disease to others.