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7 Ways to Stay Healthy as You Get Older

by Derrick
healthy aging male runner

It is the dream of most people to live as long as you possibly can, but as you get older it is inevitable that your body will start to break down in a few ways. You may not have the drive and energy as you once did when you were younger, but that does not mean that you can’t live a healthy life anymore. There are many things that you can do to stay healthy as you age, and you don’t have to alter your life in any significant ways to implement them. 

1. Be Social

Humans need social interaction, but it always seems a lot harder for seniors to get out there and make new friends. As you get older, people tend to move away or become more focused on other parts of their lives, so you can lose touch with people if you aren’t careful. But you don’t have to give up on making friends just because you have reached a certain age. If you want to make friends when you are a senior, you should join a club or a community group to meet new people in your area. Most towns will have activities run by the community that are just for seniors, so you can meet people that are around your age and bond over the love of a shared activity. If you make some new friends, then you will be less likely to feel lonely as you get older and you will be able to get some more social interaction each day. So if you want to stay happy and healthy for longer, you need to be more social. 

2. Exercise Regularly

If you want to stay healthy for years to come, you need to start exercising regularly. As you get older, it may be more difficult for you to do some of the things that you used to do when you were younger, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on exercising altogether. There are many things you can do as a senior, even if you have a disability or an injury that can stop you from being active. If you want to get active as a senior, you should try things like aerobics, swimming or even walking. You want to get some exercise without over-exerting yourself. Seniors who are more active each day are more likely to have better mental and physical health than those who don’t. You can improve things like bone density, cardiorespiratory health, muscle strength and improve joint strength from regular exercise, which will make you feel healthier and stronger for longer.  

3. Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is very important at any age, but it is very important that you get enough sleep as you get older. This is because sleep helps your body to regenerate overnight so that you feel more rested and energised the next day. As you get older, you may be more prone to developing conditions that can affect the sleep that you get each night like sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that affects your breathing while you sleep and it can even make you stop breathing while you are unconscious.

Also, if left untreated, sleep apnea can cause serious conditions like high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and other problems. Thankfully, there are a range of treatments that you can explore for this condition such as different oral appliances and CPAP therapy. Sleep apnea specialists like those at CPAP Direct can help you to find a mask and machine to suit your individual needs so that you can sleep soundly each night, without the effect of certain health problems. 

4. Eat the Right Foods

Everyone knows that if you want to be healthy, you have to eat the right foods. However, as we get older we tend to become a bit more relaxed with what we choose to put into our bodies and it can make us very sick. Seniors need to start eating nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and lean proteins in order to keep their guts and their bodies happy. You need to limit foods that are high in calories and try to stick to more natural or whole foods as opposed to processed foods that contain harmful additives.

You also need to think about your fiber intake as you get older as well. Fiber is an important part of your diet, no matter what age you are but it is especially important for seniors because they tend to have more digestive issues than people who are younger. Incorporating foods that are high in fiber into your diet like nuts, seeds, lentils and beans will help you to feel healthier for longer, and you will have fewer problems with your stomach and digestive system if you try to eat healthier. See food and nutrition guidelines for more information.

5. Change Your Lifestyle Habits

It is not always enough to eat the right foods and to exercise every day, especially if you have certain lifestyle habits that can prevent you from staying healthy. Things like alcohol, cigarettes and other harmful substances can be hard to shake if you are a life-time user, but they are the first things that you need to get rid of if you are going to live long and remain healthy as a senior. It is okay to have the occasional drink here or there, but you really need to limit your consumption of these things in your everyday life if you want to stay as healthy as possible.

If it is too hard to go cold turkey, try limiting your consumption and slowly backing off on any harmful substances. If you can’t do it by yourself, try getting some friends and family members to help you to quit. It can be hard to change these lifestyle habits after years of consuming harmful substances, but if you know what and who you are quitting for, it can be worth it to keep going and pushing through the pain. 

6. Try to Relax

It is important to take the time you need to relax, no matter what age you are, but especially so as you get older. You don’t want to stress yourself out and exacerbate any health conditions that you may have, so it is important to try and remain calm and relax after a long day. Most people like to slow down once they get to a certain age because they don’t always have the energy to keep going like they once did. However, not everyone has the luxury of slowing down their schedule once they get older, and you may have to work or care for your family even when you are a senior.

Thankfully, there are things that you can do in the evening when you get home each night that can make a difference to your overall demeanor and make you feel more relaxed when you have things to do.

For example, some people like to meditate when they feel stressed because they feel it calms them down, whereas other people like to take naps throughout the day so that they can feel more relaxed after a long day of work. So whatever you like to do to relax, you need to invest some time and money each day into relaxation so that you remain stress-free.

Even learning some new relaxation techniques can be exactly what you need to feel more relaxed each day. Relaxation is a very important part of keeping fit and healthy as you get older, so it is important to take at least an hour or so a day to check in with yourself and just calm down. 

7. Visit Your Doctor

Once you get to a certain age, you should be checking in with your doctor regularly, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions or issues that can make you sick. It is normal to experience some decline in your health as you get older, but if you keep on top of any problems that you encounter, you will limit your chances of getting very sick. Having a good relationship with your doctor is crucial when you get older because they will be able to help you when you fall ill and they will give you the tools that you need to stay healthier for longer. So whether you need help with your diet, need medication for a problem that you may be having or you are feeling down and need to speak to a professional, you doctor should always be your first point of contact. So make sure you are having regular checkups as you get older.

Stay Healthy as You Age

It can be hard to stay healthy as you get older but if you want to live your life to the fullest for as long as you can, you need to stay fit and well. It can be difficult to get yourself into a good routine and do everything right all the time, but the results are worth the effort! So if you want to have a long and happy life, you need to keep as physically and mentally fit as you can be for as long as possible. 

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