As you age it is important to keep a close eye on your health. Kidney and bladder problems, dementia and cardiovascular illnesses are all common as we age. However, many of these illnesses can be prevented or postponed with good, healthy habits. This will stop you from having to rely on medication for longer. Many long-term medications can cause problems, for example, Xarelto was a common medication used to prevent blood clots and strokes, those of which are particularly common in older people. The blood thinner has now been recalled after causing bleeding. If you have been affected by this then you should find a lawyer near you. For example, Xarelto lawyer Chicago.
Whether you have been told that you need to take more care of your health, you have a family history of ill health or you are just becoming more aware of your age, here are some tips for staying healthy.
Exercise
Just 30 minutes of light exercise five days a week is enough to prevent a range of age-related illnesses. It should make you a little warm and out of breath if you need to split it into three 10-minute blocks. It will reduce the risk of bowel and breast cancer. It will also keep you fit and mobile which will mean that you can stay independent for longer as you age. It can even improve your mood and sleep. You can read more about the benefits of exercise as you age here.
Brain exercise
As you age you are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia. These degenerative diseases can be postponed by healthy habits. When you learn something new you create new synapses in your brain. This helps to keep it healthy. Consider learning a new language or a musical instrument. Or simply download some brain training apps to your phone. You can read more about keeping your brain young here.
You should also consider meditating. Our brain is a muscle and needs rest. You may think that you get this when you sleep, however, your mind is very active when you’re asleep. You can find plenty of guided meditations on YouTube. That being said, plenty of sleep is also important for a healthy mind.
Take care in the sun
Sun exposure is the number one cause of skin cancer. Stay out of the sun or cover-up. Use a high factor sun cream that protects against UVA and UVB rays and wear a hat to keep the sun off your head. You should also wear good quality sunglasses to protect your eyes and prevent cataracts. You should also completely avoid sunbeds.
Watch what you eat and drink
You should watch what you eat and drink at any age. However, this becomes even more important as we age. A healthy diet can prevent several types of cancer and high cholesterol.
If you find yourself struggling to meet your nutritional needs from your diet or have issues with nutrient absorption, taking multivitamin supplements can be a great alternative to make sure you’re receiving the proper nutrients your body needs.
Quit smoking
If you want to be conscious about your health and you smoke, then it is time to quit. Not only can it lead to many cancers it may also make it harder for you to exercise and do other things that are good for your health.
