Flu shots, immunizations, and exercise programs are all simple ways of taking care of yourself. It never ceases to amaze me that a lot of seniors still refuse immunizations because they think they will “get sicker from the shots than from the disease.” It stands to reason that these are the same people who use age as an excuse for not exercising.
Your health is important, but sometimes you are bombarded with so much information that it is hard to narrow it down to the basics. What do you really need to do to take the best possible care of yourself? Judith Graham (Los Angeles Times: January 18, 2010) summed it up with some easy to understand tips for you to think about. These tips are nothing new, but the last time you heard them you probably didn’t think you were old enough to pay attention.
The most important recommendation is to stay active. Yes, this means exercising. Physical activity is more powerful than any medication. Never expect a pill to provide the ultimate cure. My mother and older sisters did not believe in exercising. I never thought of them as being particularly old, but awhile ago I started noticing that they were looking smaller and frailer (overnight it seemed). This was a few years ago. I decided right then and there that I wasn’t going to let that happen to me. Frailty often leads to impairment and loss of independence and that in itself should serve as an incentive to get off the couch.
Much of the frailty that accompanies aging can be saved off by increasing physical activity. I think that the idea of exercising is easier nowadays. In the old days (10-20 years ago) women didn’t exercise or participate in sports because it wasn’t ladylike. We have been fighting that battle every since.
What about those flu shots? Staying well is imperative. Yes, you should get a flu shot every fall and be vaccinated against pneumonia once after you turn 65. Doctors now are also recommending a vaccination against shingles once after age 60 and a tetanus booster every 10 years.
Take precautions against falling. Talk with your doctor and follow his/her recommendations about fall prevention.
Be careful about all of those pills in your cabinet. Your doctor needs to know every prescription, over-the-counter, supplement and vitamin that you are taking. Review that with your list annually. Follow recommendations for calcium and vitamin D supplements and be screened for osteoporosis.
See your doctor regularly. Get your hearing, vision and blood pressure checked out every year, and stay regular with dental care. Be faithful about periodic health screenings to find illnesses early enough to do something about them.
Focusing on the nutritional aspect of eating is more important than dieting and worrying about a few extra pounds. You should be getting most of your nutrients from well balanced meals rather than from supplements.
Take control of your life. Concentrate on ways to maintain your health and you will be rewarded with a stronger body. For seniors, being fit and healthy means being able to see and hear, being able to walk without assistance, and maintaining independence in your daily life.
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