If you want to live longer, it is recommended to change your lifestyle and habits
The growing trend towards longevity encourages us to go beyond traditional approaches. Social networks are abuzz with advice on how to prolong life, from superfoods to supplements that promise eternal youth. Nonetheless, as industry expert Gitana Lapinskaitė points out, there is no single magic pill.
“Currently, we are experiencing the longest lifespan in human history, with a clear increase in the length and quality of life. However, to attain longevity, it is not enough to live a long life – we also need quality. In order to achieve this, we must first pay attention to our habits and adjust them,” says Gitana Lapinskaitė, Head of the Longevity Programme at Medical SPA Eglės sanatorija, who has been working with longevity products and solutions for over 10 years.
Additionally, she says that longevity is usually only thought about at an older age; young people are less concerned with quality of life.
“You can’t be angry with young people because, at a young age, it seems like you will live forever. Actually, I have met young people who didn’t even know their blood pressure, and when measured, it was much too high. Older people are more interested in changing their lifestyle because they already have experience and know more about quality of life,” says Lapinskaitė.
The longevity expert adds that, despite not considering their lifespan, young people are already exhausted, which puts them at risk of burning out in a few years.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint
According to her, the longevity trend is driven not only by the growing awareness, but also by medical advancements. Over the past two decades, a greater amount of knowledge has been acquired about extending a person’s lifespan than in the past 100 years.
“We now have a much better understanding of what processes are going on in the human body, as well as why and how people are affected by their environment and lifestyle. Early diagnosis of diseases and innovative treatment methods have a significant impact on life expectancy,” states Lapinskaitė.
Unfortunately, there is no single effective method for achieving longevity — no magic diet or drink, no exercise that extends life.
“It has to be a comprehensive approach to your health and well-being, a conscious choice of life direction. Sleep, nutrition, physical activity and rest are key. Ultimately, if we want a better result in our lives, we have to start living differently, because doing the same thing will not end well. That means not only do we need quality rest and a balanced diet, but we also need to move, exercise, and maintain a healthy balance between work and rest. In fact, we need to do this all the time, because the journey to longevity is not a short-distance sprint,” explains Lapinskaitė.
In January of next year, Medical SPA Eglės sanatorija will launch Longevity, a new treatment programme dedicated to extending one’s lifespan. It will include NAD, body composition tests, glucose monitoring, medical consultations, therapeutic treatments, a nutritional supplement package and much more.
“It is always better to do preventive maintenance rather than put out fires, in this case treating illnesses caused by inappropriate lifestyles or health problems. A well-rested person feels better and has more energy to perform and overcome everyday tasks. Today, we live in a time of constant rushing and running; thus, the first thing to do is to take care of yourself,” asserts Lapinskaitė.
She points out that many people take comfort in the fact they will live a quality life at some point in the future, but get stuck in a vicious circle: “Life’s goals don’t end with raised children, the houses you build, or the trees you plant, life has to go on after that. When postponing a quality life until later, we need to realise that if we don’t do anything now, we may not live to see a healthy old age.”