Healthy Aging Is Possible with Some Lifestyle Changes
Aging can be difficult for one’s health for several reasons. However, healthy aging is possible with some lifestyle changes. September is Healthy Aging Month, the perfect time to learn ways to maintain your health as you grow older.
Healthy habits to adopt include:
Physical activity
Physical activity can help prevent and manage health conditions common in older adults, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and obesity. Aerobic exercises, like swimming, walking, dancing and cycling are good low impact exercises suitable for older adults. This means that they put less pressure on your joints while slowly getting your heart rate up.
Healthy diet
A balanced diet can lower the risk of chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. A good diet guide is the Mediterranean diet, which includes lots of fruits, vegetables, fish and healthy fats.
Brain exercises
Research shows that exercising your brain can improve memory. Brain exercises like puzzles, including Sudoku and crossword puzzles, are good ways to keep your brain stimulated and sharp. You can also challenge yourself by learning a new language or skill.
Unhealthy habits to leave behind include:
Smoking
Quitting smoking is an important step to your overall health. It reduces the risk of cancer, as well as heart disease and stroke. Although quitting smoking at an older age does not erase the damage of smoking over a long period of time, the risk of a heart attack drops sharply one to two years after quitting smoking, along with many other immediate and long-term health benefits.
Irregular doctor visits
As you age, it becomes increasingly important to have regular health screenings and checkups. Your doctor can best assess your needs and what lifestyle changes will most benefit you.