{"id":1703,"date":"2016-06-10T14:50:42","date_gmt":"2016-06-10T14:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/?p=1703"},"modified":"2016-06-10T14:50:42","modified_gmt":"2016-06-10T14:50:42","slug":"how-to-enjoy-a-happy-healthy-older-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/how-to-enjoy-a-happy-healthy-older-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How to enjoy a happy, healthy older life"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all know that, as we get older in life, our bodies aren\u2019t quite what they used to be. We\u2019re a lot more vulnerable and require a good deal more care. However, that\u2019s not to say that you can age healthily and happily. Whether you\u2019re an older adult or looking into health considerations for one you know, there are a few things to remember. In this article, we\u2019re going to be looking at the basics of providing a healthy, happy life for older adults.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Healthy<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO SOURCE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Digestion<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the changes that starts to happen more noticeably as we age is the changes in our digestion. Problems such as constipation and indigestion seem to arise all the more easily. Particularly in relation to certain foods. Naturally, the <\/span>change that needs to be made<\/span><\/a> here is mostly a dietary one. Staying hydrated throughout the day is a necessary process for keeping the body able to digest more easily and making stool easier to pass. Greasy, spicy and rich foods are to be avoided, since they prove more likely to cause bad bouts of indigestion. Maintaining a healthy weight plays a part, too. As we grow older, it becomes harder to shed that weight, so portion control is needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caring for your bones<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the parts of the body that grows a lot more vulnerable with age is our bones. Particularly in women, but not uniquely, the risk of osteoporosis only continues to grow. This can lead to complications like breakages and fractures. Particularly around the joints. Not only is an intake of calcium and regular checkups relating to your bones important. It\u2019s also important we start to look at the risks of <\/span>osteoporosis<\/span><\/a>. Particularly, the risk of falling. A fall can do more than hurt you, it can severely limit your mobility. So go for eye checks to make sure your depth perception is alright. If you\u2019re finding it harder to balance, work on your muscle strength and use tools to help you move more stably.<\/span><\/p>\n

Making a health home<\/b><\/p>\n

Changes often need to be made at home to prevent illness and injury, as well. As we\u2019re no longer as spry as we perhaps used to be, it may be a good idea to add some mobility enhancers in the home. This might be as simple as a shower seat or a handrail to help you sit down or get up. Making the home less of a risk of getting sick s important, too. For example, <\/span>air pollution<\/span><\/a> is a big contributor to illness, so monitor and control it in the home. You also want to keep hand sanitizer available in each room to stop the spread of germs. Particularly in flu season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Deciding If you need assistance<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a decision that everyone needs to take seriously as some point as they age. As mobility decreases, or certain conditions make it difficult to be completely independent, you might not want to go it alone. Naturally, a lot of people might feel embarrassed or reluctant to rely on the help of someone else. Especially if they\u2019re thinking about the burden they might be to their family members. Often, it can be easier for everyone to rely on someone who has more experience in the matter. Especially if there are health risks, such as diabetes or SBS in play.<\/span> https:\/\/www.homeassist.us\/skilled-nursing\/<\/span><\/a> shows some situations in which it might be best to get a nurse. To rely on someone more qualified rather than a family member.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exercise<\/b><\/p>\n

We have mentioned the physical effects that aging can have on us. Particularly in regards to mobility and independence. However, you don\u2019t have to submit to these possibilities. If you have no health conditions that would stop you from doing so, you should get into an exercise routine. Maintaining your health is more important than ever and there\u2019s no age where getting some exercise isn\u2019t a good idea. <\/span>Depending on your age and physical considerations<\/span><\/a>, there are a whole range of different exercise programs that can help you keep healthy. Aerobic activity, like brisk walking, can help you maintain your weight. Muscle strengthening activities, like yoga and using weights, help you keep your range of mobility for longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Breaking bad habits<\/b><\/p>\n

There are some bad habits we can easily carry with us across a lifetime. Having a drink on the weekend or smoking regularly are some of the most common ones. It can be easy to think that you\u2019ve got this far without serious issue, so what\u2019s to worry about? However, the risk of harmful effects from these kinds of habits don\u2019t go away the older you get. Rather, the health effects they have on you only get worse. They make it harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle.<\/span> http:\/\/www.webmd.com\/balance\/features\/3-easy-steps-to-breaking-bad-habits<\/span><\/a> recommends making a conscious effort, complete with jotting down your progress. The more attention and effort you put into it, the more likely you are to keep it up. Particularly with smoking, the benefits for your lung capacity will be easy to see quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting out there<\/b><\/p>\n

Of course, no matter what age, your mental and emotional health matter as much as the physical. In fact, taking care of them can go hand-in-hand. Particularly if you\u2019re walking with a buddy or visiting a yoga class. It\u2019s important that we make sure we get our fill of social interaction, no matter what age we are. In fact, research has shown that being more socially active actually slows down the negative health effects of sleeping. Our mind plays a huge role in controlling our body chemistry and how we experience pain and discomfort. <\/span>Being social<\/span><\/a> is just a part of making the mind a healthier place. This, in turn, can work wonders on the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the last point noted, it\u2019s not only the medical side of your life you need to take care of. As we age, we need to remember that life is about being happy and fulfilled. Make sure you\u2019re able to do that for as long as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all know that, as we get older in life, our bodies aren\u2019t quite what they used to be. We\u2019re a lot more vulnerable and require a good deal more care. However, that\u2019s not to say that you can age healthily and happily. Whether you\u2019re an older adult or looking into health considerations for one you know, there are a few things to remember. In this article, we\u2019re going to be looking at the basics of providing a healthy, happy life for older adults.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,35],"tags":[943,949,19,919,20],"class_list":["post-1703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness-2","category-wellness-2","tag-aging","tag-aging-process","tag-health","tag-healthcare","tag-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1703"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1705,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1703\/revisions\/1705"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}