Telomere is like the body’s life clock. It is the end part of a chromosome. For those who do not know, please be aware that telomeres can shorten according to cell degeneration. Saying this, for those who want to slow aging, you must keep a close eye on your telomeres.
“Doctor Friend” Dr. Kobkulya Jungprasertsri, Director of the Premier Life Center for Anti-Aging Medicine, Phyathai 2 Hospital has shared some knowledge and advice to avoid telomere shortening. Everyone, from birth, has telomeres or life length approximately the same, about 10,000 base pairs (bp). As we age, telomeres divide cells and gradually shorten by about 25 to 51 base pairs (bp) per year.
But do not be complacent that telomeres only decrease with age because, in fact, telomeres can shorten faster due to individual lifestyle factors. Research from Harvard University found that compared to non-smokers, smokers’ life length shortens by 7.4 years. For obese people, it shortens by 8.8 years, and the biggest factor is “stress.”
Stress can reduce life length by up to 10 years. The more risk factors we have in life, the faster telomeres shorten, causing us to age faster. Besides those who want to slow aging needing to prevent telomere shortening, others should also pay attention because excessive shortening increases the risk of hypertension, diabetes, cancer, or osteoporosis due to cell degeneration.
Therefore, avoid risk factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, get enough rest, pay attention to nutritious food, exercise, and importantly, avoid stress and live happily. This way, we can have a longer life span. Knowing this, let’s take care of our telomeres or life length.
Everyone can take care of their health and know their life length by “telomere length testing,” which can be done by blood test without fasting or by collecting tissue and saliva samples from the cheek. After the results are out, doctors will advise and help plan health care tailored to each individual for internal body restoration, extending cell life, reducing the risk of serious diseases, and also slowing aging.
Dr. Kobkulya Jungprasertsri
Director of the Premier Life Center for Anti-Aging Medicine
Phyathai 2 Hospital
