Do not fall for the myth that growing older automatically means you are not going to feel good anymore. It is true that aging involves physical changes but it does not have to mean discomfort and disability. While not all illnesses or pain is avoidable, many of the physical challenges associated with aging can be overcome or reduced by exercising, eating right and taking care of yourself.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START!
No matter how old you are or how unhealthy you have been in the past, caring for your body has tons of benefits that will help you stay active, sharpen your memory, boost your immune system, manage health problems and increase your energy. In fact, adults who take up exercising later in life, often show greater physical and mental improvements than their younger counterparts.
These are some tips to keep you active and boost your vitality:
Exercise:
A recent study found that exercise is the topmost contributor to longevity, adding extra years to your life even if you do not start exercising until your senior years. Exercise helps you maintain your strength and agility, increases vitality, improves sleep, gives your mental health a boost and can even help diminish chronic pain. Exercise also has a profound effect on the brain, helping to prevent memory loss, cognitive decline, and other conditions.
Before your beginning exercising as senior citizens/elderly person:
- Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.
- Find out if there are any health conditions or medications you take that may affect the type of exercise you should choose.
- Find an activity that motivates you to continue. You may want to exercise with groups like in a sport class.
- Start slowly. If you are new to exercising, a few minutes a day puts you well on the way towards building a healthy habit. Slowly increase the time and intensity to avoid injury.
- Walking is a wonderful way to start exercising. It does not require any equipment or experience and you can do it anywhere.
Morayo Eboh is An experienced Nurse with over 15 years of practice in Emergency and General Nursing. Read more…