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Keeping Healthy: Avoiding Risky Behaviors

Summary & Participants

Aging is inevitable, but risky behaviors can put you at risk for disease and disability. Avoiding them can keep you on the path of healthy living. Tune in as Dr. Michael Roizen talks about how these behaviors impact the aging process.

Medically Reviewed On: July 04, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: We all want to age gracefully and maintain a healthy body. But to do this, discipline is key and avoiding risky behaviors is essential.

MICHAEL ROIZEN, MD: A risky behavior is anything that increases your risk of a disabling disease or death. So there are some obvious things: driving too fast, driving while intoxicated, unprotected sex or frequent non-mutually monogamous sex, drinking too much. One could even say that a risky behavior is eating too much saturated fat or not doing physical activities. So you can go the full range.

ANNOUNCER: Another dangerous habit is cigarette smoking.

MICHAEL ROIZEN, MD: What's predictable with tobacco is it ages your arteries. When we say "ages your arteries" that means heart disease, stroke, memory loss, most impotence and decay in orgasm quality, and even wrinkling of the skin.

ANNOUNCER: Although one drink can provide some healthy benefits, drinking too much alcohol can be hazardous to your health.

MICHAEL ROIZEN, MD: When you get to over three drinks a day, you're aging yourself. Not only do you damage to your cells of your brain, your neurons of your brain, but you also expose yourself to a lot of other risky behaviors.

ANNOUNCER: Making sure that you are practicing responsible sexual behavior is crucial.

MICHAEL ROIZEN, MD: Sexually transmitted diseases are socioeconomically equal-opportunity infection. And everyone is at risk for it. So that's why it is responsible to use condoms wisely and every time.

ANNOUNCER: Once hooked on a high-risk behavior it's not easy to stop. But there are steps that can lead you in the right direction.

MICHAEL ROIZEN, MD: I think it's very tough to quit any of the high-risk behaviors without a social support structure and without a serious plan.

ANNOUNCER: Aging is inevitable, but if you want to hold on to your youth, be good to your body and curb risky behaviors.