When people take the first steps toward improving their health, I often hear them say, “I want to feel better,” “I want more energy,” or “I want to lose weight.”
These are important and meaningful goals. Through my work as a nurse and functional nutritionist, I support clients by exploring how nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, and other lifestyle factors can influence how they feel and function every day.
However, when we look at health from a broader, long-term perspective, another important concept comes into focus: healthspan.
I feel that there is considerable confusion surrounding health and aging. Two terms that are increasingly used in these conversations are lifespan and healthspan. Although they are related, they describe different aspects of our lives.
Lifespan refers to the number of years we live. It is primarily concerned with longevity and survival. Naturally, many of us want to live as long as possible, but the question remains: what will those additional years look and feel like?
Healthspan, on the other hand, refers to the length of time we live in good health and with a high degree of function. It includes our vitality, physical abilities, mental clarity, emotional wellbeing, independence and overall quality of life.
In other words, lifespan asks, “How long might I live?” Healthspan asks, “How well might I live?”
Understanding this distinction is important because it is possible to extend lifespan without extending the years we spend feeling well. The goal, therefore, is not simply to add years to life, but to add life to those years.
Our genes undoubtedly influence our health but they don’t dictate all of it, this often comes as a surprise to my clients. Genes can contribute to our predisposition to conditions such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
However, genes are only part of the story. Research suggests that genetic factors account for approximately 20–30% of the variation in human longevity, while environmental, social and lifestyle factors also play a significant role.[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih][pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
This does not mean that we can control every aspect of our health, nor are we suggesting that illness is someone’s fault. I feel that it reminds us that our health is shaped by a complex interaction between our biology and the environment in which we live.
So, as we move through midlife and beyond, the cumulative effects of our experiences and habits become increasingly important. Nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress, social connection, alcohol use, smoking and exposure to environmental factors can all influence our health over time.
I often work with clients who are living with chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colitis or elevated cholesterol. Some assume that receiving a diagnosis automatically means they are now “unhealthy” or that there is nothing more they can do.
I believe we need a more compassionate and constructive narrative.
A diagnosis is important information, but it does not define a person’s entire health story. It can be an invitation to understand what is happening in the body, identify opportunities for support and work alongside appropriate medical care to improve health and quality of life.
Many chronic conditions develop gradually, through the interaction of multiple factors, mentioned above, over time. The body will compensate and adapt for years before symptoms become noticeable or laboratory results reach a diagnostic threshold, which is often when my clients reach out. This is one reason why a new diagnosis can feel sudden, even though the underlying changes may have been developing for some time.
Looking “upstream” means asking broader questions:
• How are we nourishing ourselves?
• Are we sleeping and recovering adequately?
• How are we managing stress?
• What types of movement are realistic and sustainable?
• Are there environmental, emotional or social factors affecting our wellbeing?
• What medical support and monitoring are needed?
I use these questions not replace diagnosis or treatment. Instead, they can complement conventional medical care by helping us understand the wider context of our health, so clients realise the impact they can have.
I like to use the term response-ability: the ability to respond to our health with awareness, support and purposeful action.
This is not the same as blaming ourselves for illness. Health is never entirely within one person’s control, and not every condition can be prevented or reversed through lifestyle changes. Some illnesses have strong genetic, infectious, autoimmune or environmental components.
Response-ability means recognizing that, even when we cannot change everything, there may still be meaningful steps we can take. These might include improving the quality of our nutrition, building strength, prioritizing sleep, managing stress, staying connected with others, attending medical appointments and taking prescribed treatments as directed.
Small, consistent actions can be more powerful and sustainable than pursuing perfection. The objective is not to create another source of pressure, but to build a supportive foundation for wellbeing.
The conversation around aging often focuses on living longer. That is understandable, but it is only one part of the picture.
A more complete approach asks how we can preserve our energy, mobility, cognition, independence and enjoyment of life for as long as possible. Healthspan gives us a framework for thinking about those priorities.
While we cannot predict exactly how long we will live, we can make informed choices that support our health today and may influence how we experience the years ahead. By combining medical care with personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies, we can move beyond simply counting the years—and begin focusing on the quality of the life we are living within them.
Our goal should not be perfection, nor should it be blame. It should be informed, compassionate and consistent participation in our own health, with the guidance and support we need along the way.
For more content from Susan, check out Life Nuggets on YouTube, and send your nutrition questions to susan@susanalsembach.com.
Photo: iStock
