Medical experts have traditionally defined health as the absence of disease, but we now know that you can do a lot more to improve your health than simply avoiding disease. Broadly speaking, health influences that can be categorized as a chance (the factors that you can’t change, such as your genes) and choice (those that you can, such as your diet).

The “chance” factors are the environment in which you live (the air and water quality as well as the availability of food and medical care, the pace of society and so on) and your genetic make-up (your likelihood of developing certain illness and the strength and longevity of your organs). There is no doubt that long lived parents produce long lived children. If both parents live over the age of 70 then their children are twice as likely as the general population to reach 90 or 100. Genetics, however, can also lead to health problems, including inherited disorders and a propensity to develop certain illness or diseases. Unfortunately, you can’t change the genes you were born with (at least not yet!), but being aware of your family’s medical history can alert you to illness, such as heart disease, to which you maybe prone. You can then take appropriate actions to reduce your risks and safeguard your health. For example, you can lower your risk of heart disease by healthy eating, exercise and taking steps to lower high blood pressures.

“Choice” factors are the ones that only you can change, such as your diet, exercise routine and the care you take of your body- that is, your whole lifestyle. We help you to make the right decisions for your all-round health, detailing the steps you can take towards a happier, healthier you.