Aging is a common phenomenon, and you have to face it one way or the other. Every living thing on this planet has to grow, reproduce and turn old. Growing old is a different phase of life and comes with several life changes and ailments.
As you age, you will feel less energetic, and uncomplicated tasks may seem difficult to you. Moreover, your body deteriorates with time, decreasing its potential and bringing about several diseases like cancer.
Aging causes your mental health to decrease, just like your physical stamina. You may feel depressed or moody from time to time. However, it is entirely normal, and several seniors complain of or encounter a mental disorder in their old age.
According to American Psychological Association, aging produces several changes in the body that affect a person’s mental health and increase their chances of depression.
To maintain the quality of life, you can guard your mental and physical health in your senior years to live a happy and healthy life. If you are curious to know how you can boost your physical and mental health as you grow old, keep reading.
- Seek help:
Aging is a continuous process that gradually slows down your mental and physical systems. Several minute changes inside your body alter the chemicals in your brain and your hormones, predisposing you to several diseases.
Moreover, since energy levels decrease with age, you may require help performing daily activities, managing your health, job, and retirement. Since you become more vulnerable to diseases and infections, you might need help with treatments and recovery.
In such cases, do not hesitate to ask for assistance from family, friends, and even organizations.
For instance, if you are a retired veteran suffering from mesothelioma, seek help from the mesothelioma veterans center in your state to assist you with physical, mental, and financial issues.
- Focus on your diet:
Paying attention to what you eat is the secret to a healthy life. According to the National Institute of Aging, eating a well-balanced diet like a Mediterranean DASH Intervention for a Neurogenerative delay (MIND) diet can help reduce the risk of neurodegeneration, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Moreover, as aging increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, a healthy eating pattern, can minimize these risks. Older adults can boost their health through proper meal prepping. For example, choosing foods with less salt, added or processed sugars, and saturated fats.
Furthermore, they can always add healthy lean protein like salmon, dairy, beans, or soy to maintain protein content. Eating fortified foods, adding precut veggies and fruits, consuming essential vitamins, and keeping yourself hydrated are important additions to your life.
- Set a sleep routine:
A healthy body calls for a healthy mind. For a healthy mind to work perfectly, sleep is a crucial element. Moreover, fulfilling your sleep requirements is beneficial for your mind and body. During sleep, your body repairs itself and recovers you from any mental or physical demands of the day.
According to NIH, older people experience a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, depression, diabetes, and obesity due to poor sleep quality. Sleeping a good 7-9 hours is very healthy for your brain and body. It helps deter away these diseases while enhancing your quality of life.
Hence, devising a suitable sleep pattern can help tackle insomnia or poor sleep conditions in old age.
- Exercise frequently:
Staying active in your old age is an excellent way to stay physically and mentally fit. Exercise improves blood circulation to the brain and other organs, making you feel energized and rejuvenated.
According to Mayo Clinic, exercise helps to secrete ‘’happy chemicals’’ that improve your mood and takes your mind off negative thoughts. Moreover, it provides a sense of calmness and peace and alleviates disease symptoms.
Exercise enhances strength, muscle coordination, and balance and minimizes weight gain. According to NCBI, exercise can prevent heart ailments, osteoporosis, eight types of cancer, stroke, and diabetes. For more updates, visit: https://www.unfoldedmagzine.com/
- Go for regular checkups:
Aging increases the risk for many diseases; however, regular checkups and screening can assist in appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Older individuals must schedule visits with their health care professional to check for underlying conditions.
According to Web MD, annual checkups can help you learn if you’re at risk, find any disease before time, make you an educated health consumer, save money, control your chronic condition and coordinate your care.
Several senior citizens can opt for hospital visits at home, depending on their condition. Moreover, government services like Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans administration also offer regular checkup services to individuals 65 or older.
Perform your favorite activities:
Life is not just about resting and exercising when it comes to old age. Aging can make you slow or less energetic, but you can still make time to enjoy the things you like. It will create a sense of enrichment, lower stress, and refine your mood.
You can join a dance or yoga class, play puzzle games, attend a class and learn something. Moreover, continuing your religious and spiritual practices, enjoying arts, attending events, and communicating with other senior members of the community can make you feel happy, healthy, and connected.
Conclusion:
Senior citizens require special attention and care; however, aging is not always illness and deranged mental or physical function. You can still enjoy bounties of life if you start an early follow-up of healthy habits. Therefore, compliance with healthy habits can assist you in aging well and contribute to your mental and physical wellbeing.
