Sleep, Socializing, Stress Control Crucial for Health, Says Neurologist

Neurologist Conrado Estol asserts that daily habits like adequate sleep, maintaining social connections, and managing stress are as vital for long-term health as routine medical check-ups. He critiques the current healthcare model, which often focuses on treating illnesses after they manifest, and calls for a stronger culture of prevention. Estol argues that the system needs to move beyond merely diagnosing and treating pathologies to actively preventing them before they emerge.

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The problem is that correct preventive medicine is not practiced; instead, we move towards restorative medicine.

"The problem is that correct preventive medicine is not practiced; instead, we move towards restorative medicine," Estol stated. He highlighted that many individuals live with controllable risk factors, citing high blood pressure, which affects one in three people and is a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, and dementia. He noted that similar risks are associated with cholesterol levels.

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One in three people has high blood pressure. And hypertension is the number one killer on the planet, because it causes heart attacks, strokes, and dementia. The same thing happens with cholesterol.

Estol also pointed out a contradiction between the public's increasing focus on physical appearance and the deterioration of fundamental lifestyle habits. He observed that social media fuels constant comparison, leading to increased anxiety, while essential health practices are neglected. "Sleeping the necessary hours, controlling stress, meditating, socializing, eating real food, exercising, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption are habits that have an enormous impact on health," he emphasized.

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Sleeping the necessary hours, controlling stress, meditating, socializing, eating real food, exercising, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption are habits that have an enormous impact on health.

According to Estol, these healthy habits must be established much earlier in life, as longevity is built over decades. He stressed the importance of not only increasing life expectancy but also extending healthy life expectancy, thereby prolonging periods of youth and healthy adulthood. While global life expectancy is around 79 years, healthy life expectancy often hovers around 65, meaning many people spend over a decade managing preventable illnesses or limitations.

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Everyone talks about life expectancy, but we also have to push for health expectancy, that is, prolonging healthy youth and adulthood.