If you have had your blood pressure taken, cholesterol checked, taken a cholesterol lowering drug, had a mammogram or taken hormone replacement in the form of oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone or thyroid medication, you have experienced anti-ageing medicine. This form of medicine is based on the early detection, prevention and reversal of age related diseases. Approximately 90% of all adult illnesses are due to the degenerative processes of ageing... These include heart disease, stroke, most cancers, adult onset diabetes, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, auto immune disease, glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease.
With early detection and appropriate intervention, many of these diseases can be prevented, cured or at least halted.
Anti-ageing medicine is a new medical specialty and employs extensive therapies and treatments in the preventative health field far beyond just checking blood pressure and cholesterol or performing a mammogram.
Physicians practicing anti ageing medicine seek to enhance the quality of life as well as the quantity, limiting the period of illness and disability towards the end of a persons life. Anti ageing medicine encompasses lifestyle changes (diet and exercise),bio identical hormone replacement therapy, antioxidants and vitamin supplementation. Many of the degenerative diseases of today such as Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are preventable, even reversible with proper modification of lifestyle, nutrition and medication.
One of the aims of anti ageing medicine is to monitor potential illnesses or conditions and treat them before they occur. Most of the advances made in the field of medicine today have been in the early detection and prevention of conditions such as cancer, stroke, heart disease and diabetes.