Your health is essential at any age, even more so for seniors; wrinkles aren’t the only thing you’ll need to worry about. You want the best and fullest life possible. Small lifestyle changes can drastically improve your quality of life.
Many hearing loss causes include aging and chronic exposure to loud noises. There are ways to protect your hearing health regardless of your age. For example, avoid loud noises for longer periods and wear hearing protection.
Most people are afraid of getting old. But it does not have to be scary. Here are some tips to help you age like a fine wine rather than milk.
Chapter Overview
Keep An Active Lifestyle
Did you know an active lifestyle can improve your brain health? That means it could ward off illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, which affect the aging brain.
In addition to keeping your brain healthy, exercise can increase dopamine and serotonin levels in the body. These hormones play a crucial role in mental health.
Serotonin is known as the happy hormone, lifting your mood and keeping your spirits high. Dopamine is known as the feel-good hormone, creating feelings of rewards, motivation, and productivity.
The benefits of exercise are also noticeable physically. Studies have proven that physical exercise lowers your risk of heart disease and diabetes, all while boosting your immune system.
Healthy Diet
With age, your digestive system may slow down, and healthy eating becomes more important than ever before. This means that incorporating vitamins and minerals into your diet will keep your gut healthy.
Fiber is known to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and many fruits contain this essential nutrient. Although a healthy diet does not mean you can’t have any spoils.
Dark chocolate has many nutrients that are essential to your health. While dark chocolate can be considered a treat, it does contain high levels of antioxidants.
A fruit or vegetable resembling an organ is said to provide benefits to the particular organs it looks like or shares many characteristics with.
Put Your Health First
It’s so important to keep in mind your health should always come first, be it mental or physical. Regular check-ups with your doctor, optometrist, and dentist are a must.
Regular health visits will pick up any issues before they become problems. That means that your doctor will be able to advise and treat any illness in the early stages. Your biannual appointment will ensure you receive all the screenings you need as frequently as you need.
Self-love is unarguably essential for everyone. Your doctor will be on your side, keeping you in tip-top shape. Geriatricians are doctors who specialize in the care and treatment of the elderly.
Keep In Touch With Friends
Humans are social creatures by design. Because of this, we are more likely to become depressed when we lack social connections.
Keeping in touch with friends and family or even making new friends has been shown to increase oxytocin levels in the body. Healthy relationships will give a natural boost to all the happy hormones coursing through your body.
This cocktail of hormones will reduce your stress levels while boosting your emotional intelligence. Hugs from our loved ones are proven to boost your pleasure levels immediately. They say the perfect hug lasts between five and ten seconds.
According to some studies, hugging for 20 seconds lowers blood pressure and the stress hormone norepinephrine. The science behind it shows that hugs will radically improve your quality of life.
Healthy Sleeping Habits
Sleep is an essential function, allowing your body to reset and heal. The benefits of a good night’s sleep include better focus and memory, the ability to repair any damage your body receives during the day and a more effective immune system that prevents diseases.
Sleep takes place in four stages (Stage 1, NREM, Stage 2, NREM, and Stage 3 NREM and REM) and repeats cyclically throughout the night. Experts recommend about eight hours of sleep nightly for people over the age of 65.
The right amount of sleep is necessary for proper cognitive and behavioral functions. Sleep deprivation has been linked to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and poor mental health.
Aging healthy is not as complicated as you might believe. Simple steps and small changes can be the difference between living and being alive. A healthy and active lifestyle becomes imperative as we grow older since we are more susceptible to certain illnesses such as the flu. You can take steps to prevent chronic health disorders, such as diabetes and heart disease.