Getting older doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll automatically suffer from many health conditions. While having them as we age is common, that doesn’t need to happen as long as you stay healthy even in old age. With that said, how exactly do you stay healthy as you approach your twilight years? Well, you’re in luck because this article will discuss some healthy habits you must adopt during your older years. Let’s start.
Eat Healthy
Maintaining a healthy diet is essential at any age. Even if your digestive system slows down with age, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to eat a balanced diet anymore. This is the time you should take a closer look at what you eat and consider eating more healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc.
Of course, it’s not just about food but hydration as well. People tend to feel thirst as their age advances, so older people are usually prone to dehydration. As an older adult, you should increase your water intake as much as possible.
Stay Active
Even with an aging body, your physical fitness still matters a lot. As you get older, it’s easier to find excuses why you don’t want to exercise. However, it’s a necessary part of being healthy as an older adult, so you should stay physically fit. Luckily for you, there are a lot of exercises out there that are not too intense for people your age. That said, no matter your physical fitness, you should try at least one of these exercises:
- Swimming
- Tai Chi
- Walking
- Muscle Training
And don’t forget, we’re not just talking about physical fitness here; we also want you to be mentally active. As an older adult, you tend to have a lot of time on your hands, so you should fill it up with new hobbies that you find interesting, like painting, reading, drawing, etc. It’s a good time to reignite your passion if you have a hobby that you miss doing.
Maintain Strong Bones
Most of us don’t think about our bones until one of them breaks. Older adults commonly have this problem, especially those not physically active during their younger years. However, that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost.
Even if you were not physically active during your younger years, it’s still not too late to take care of your bones and slow down bone loss. From drinking the right brand of milk to bone density exercises, you can still take care of your bone health even at an advanced age.
Stay Socially Active
Making numerous efforts to stay in touch with your friends and family can do wonders during your twilight years. Experts suggest that people 60 and above who regularly communicate and meet up with their friends and loved ones usually have positive moods and fewer negative feelings, which is important for people of advanced age. If you don’t have an active social life, it might be time to do something about that.
Maybe it’s time for you to reconnect with your old friends and estranged family. Not only that, but you can also start coming to hobby groups and doing fun group activities with people your age. There are a lot of kinds of groups you can be social with, like your church group, gym friends, alumni groups, etc.
Be Consistent with Your Doctor Appointments
Regular checkups with your doctor, dentist, eye doctor, and other health specialists allow you to catch health conditions early on and treat them before they become a bigger threat. If you have chronic health conditions, it’s always a good habit to keep up with your medications and not miss a single appointment with your healthcare providers. This way, your doctors can make appropriate changes to your medications and treatment, like suggesting new bone health exercises or determining your viagra dosage by weight.
Always Have a Good Night’s Sleep
Experts recommend that people 65 and above sleep seven to eight hours every night. Of course, this can vary based on circumstance. Also, as an older adult, you can usually feel sleepy during the early evening and wake up early the next day.
If that concerns you, then you have nothing to worry about since as long as you get the recommended hours of sleep, then you’re fine. However, if you’re experiencing chronic or acute insomnia, you might want to visit your doctor and talk about your sleep problems. Insomnia is common for older adults, but thankfully, you and your doctor can work together to solve that problem.
Final Words
Older adults need to be more vigilant about their health and lifestyle. Thankfully, the habits discussed above are good habits you should adopt to stay healthy and have more time with your family and friends. Even at an advanced age, it’s never too late to care for your health.