Health experts highlight key physical changes to monitor after age 40

Reaching age 40 marks a significant period for reviewing health habits and prioritizing preventive care to detect silent or progressive diseases. Experts note that hormonal, metabolic, renal, and reproductive issues may change during this phase.

One critical area of concern involves persistent mouth or throat lesions. Dr. Débora Vianna, a head and neck surgeon, warns that lesions remaining for more than two weeks must be investigated. She notes that the profile of oral and oropharyngeal cancer has shifted; it is no longer exclusively linked to smoking, as the presence of HPV has changed patient demographics. Early evaluation is essential to distinguish benign changes from suspicious lesions, and prevention includes HPV vaccination and regular oral health monitoring.