The older a person gets, the more he realizes that the most important condition for a happy life is health. How to stay healthy after 60 years? How to be happy and healthy in old age?
Well, let's remember together the formula of health. What factors does it depend on? It turns out that 20% of it is determined by the environment, 20% depends on hereditary factors, 8% is due to the level of medical development. And the remaining 52% depends on the lifestyle we lead. This means that we can manage our health, and a lot depends on our lifestyle, habits, daily regimen, diet and other factors.
In this article, I would like to highlight 5 things you should never do to achieve optimal health after age 60.
1. Allowing yourself to become too lonely
Loneliness isn't just harmful – it can break down crucial body systems. Studies have shown that loneliness can increase the risk of dementia in older people by 50%. And brain health isn't the only threat… Loneliness triggers a stress response in the body, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system. What's more, loneliness increases the risk of premature death by 14%, and It's almost as significant as unfavorable social status and twice as dangerous as obesity.
Socialization is important at any age, and after age 60, it becomes one of the key factors affecting quality of life. Try to socialize regularly with friends and family, join interest groups or volunteer.
2. Not monitoring your blood pressure
High blood pressure is very common in people over 60 and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney failure, and a growing body of research suggests it may increase the risk of dementia in later life.
As such, blood pressure readings are one of the most important sets of numbers to know (and check regularly).
According to the study, people aged 60 and older who have their blood pressure intensively monitored and receive appropriate treatment have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, death and cognitive impairment.
3. Missing a vaccination
As people age, their immune systems become less effective in protecting them from disease, so they become more susceptible to contact infections, recovery becomes more difficult, and sometimes even life-threatening complications can occur.
The best way to protect people after age 60 from serious infections is through vaccination.
Older adults should be immunized against three common but dangerous diseases in particular: influenza, pneumococcal disease, and shingles. Tetanus and diphtheria immunizations are also recommended for the elderly.
Make sure you get all the recommended vaccines to avoid health problems.
4. Giving up regular exercise
As we age, most of us become less active at the very moment when our bodies demand more movement from us. It turns out that after age 60, you can literally "run away" from many diseases with regular exercise, which improves muscle tone, reduces bone loss, improves memory, speeds up metabolism and improves sleep.
Regular physical activity is also good training of the cardiovascular system, preventing heart attacks and strokes – one of the most dangerous diseases of old age.
You can increase your physical activity by walking, running, cycling, physical therapy exercises, swimming, etc.
5. Not paying proper attention to hydration
At any age or stage of life, the body depends on water, so it's no surprise that hydration is a key factor in maintaining health and wellness.
In people over the age of 60, the need for hydration is critical. Here are 3 reasons to support this claim:
- As we age, the amount of water in the body decreases. There are studies proving that between the ages of 20 and 80, water loss can be as high as 6 liters. This loss should be compensated for by more frequent fluid intake, but older people usually do not do this.
- Older people lose more water with urine than younger people. Over time, organ function deteriorates, and in the case of the kidneys, this is reflected in the fact that we lose more water when we urinate.
- The older we get, the less thirsty we feel. Older people experience thirst much later than normal, so they don't drink enough water.
When you become dehydrated, your metabolism stops working properly and slows down, putting you at a very high risk for health problems.
Improving hydration levels in people over 60 reduces their worries about potential health problems and improves their quality of life.
As you can see, the rules of a healthy lifestyle after 60 are clear, simple and on the surface.
Try to maintain the quality of your life and health – and then age will not be a barrier to your happiness!