How to Remain Healthy as You Age - Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle

Read on to know how to maintain a healthy lifestyle for elderly individuals

1. Don't be a Couch Potato

Physical activity is key to healthy living. Being physically active improves your body’s immunity. It also improves your mood by releasing endorphins that make you happy. Exercising regularly helps prevent and manage diseases like heart problems, diabetes, high BP, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.

Do not do strenuous exercises every day. Try brisk walking, swimming, cycling or low-impact aerobic exercises and muscle-strengthening exercises. Do this for at least 30 minutes for five days a week.

2. Stay Connected with Your People

Studies have proven that loneliness can lead to depression, weight gain or dementia. Interacting with your friends and familycan help to keep you happy. People with an active social life experience lesser negative feelings, more positive moods, and better levels of physical activity.

A healthy lifestyle for elderly should include social connections. Reconnect with old school or college mates or go on trips with your family. Join groups like those of the gym, walking, bird-watching, religious groups, or volunteer groups.

3. Eat a Healthy, Balanced Diet

What you eat plays a key role in maintaining good health as you age. Your ageing body cannot handle deep-fried snacks and processed foods.

The digestive system slows as you age and the digestive tract muscles get stiffer and less efficient.

Tips for healthy eating:

● Eat a healthy, balanced diet that contains fresh fruits, coloured vegetables, whole-grains, cereals, and unsalted seeds and nuts.

● Have Vitamin-D and calcium fortified foods so your bones remain strong as you age.

● Drink water throughout the day.

● Avoid fried snacks and processed food. Go for boiled, grilled options.

● Eat fibre-rich foods or roughage like legumes, seeds, nuts, and salads with fresh fruits and veggies.

● Check with your doctor and take vitamin supplements if necessary.

4. Go for Check-ups Regularly

To maintain good health as you age, go for regular medical check-ups to make sure your heart, muscles, eyes, ears, bones, teeth, etc. are in good working condition. Early detection of health problems will help you get treatment at the right time and manage them better.

5. Don't Skip Your Meds

As you age, avoid self-medication. Take all your prescribed medication regularly and on time. Skipping them can worsen your health problems. Review your medication periodically with your healthcare provider to find out if all your prescriptions are needed.

If remembering when to take which medicines is a problem, get organised with a weekly or day-wise pill-box.

6. Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Studies show that the mortality rate increases as you drink more alcoholic beverages. Excessive drinking damages your liver and causes cancer. Limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day to maintain good health.

7. Smoking is an Absolute No-no

Smoking damages every organ in your body. The risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer, and lung disease will go down as soon as you quit smoking. So, it is never too late to quit smoking, as your body starts to heal within 20 minutes after you quit. Quitting cigarettes will help you remain healthy and live longer.

8. Get Adequate Sleep

Sleep is important for your body to rest and repair itself. Your DNA and tissues get repaired when you sleep. Your breathing and heartbeats slow down so that your body systems can rest while you sleep. Lack of sleep reduces your immunity, memory power, and ability to concentrate. So, try and get at least seven hours of sleep each night.

9. Dental Hygiene is Important

Good dental hygiene not only keeps your teeth and mouth healthy; it also helps you manage inflammatory diseases like heart problems and diabetes. Brush twice a day with a soft toothbrush, floss regularly, and keep your dentures clean.

10. Discuss Changes in Sexual Function with Your Doctor

As you age, you may experience sexual dysfunction or changes in libido. Speak to your doctor about this and meet a therapist along with your partner if necessary. Find new ways for emotional and physical intimacy with your partner.

11. Don't Ignore Warning Signs

Elderly people often ignore or dismiss warning signs as minor aches and pains or wait until it is too late to visit a doctor. Fatigue or swelling may not be due to ageing, but due to a medical issue that requires immediate treatment. Consult a doctor if you experience any of these warning signs:

● Chest pain

● Constant fatigue

● Depression

● Loss of balance

● Swelling or bruises when you have not been injured

● Blurred vision

● Breathing difficulties

● Sudden weight loss

● Delayed healing