Whether young or old, it is essential to maintain optimal physical and mental health. However, once you reach 50, anything from a simple flu to an allergic reaction can lead to unnecessary complications—and it’s best to stay clear of that.
According to the World Health Organization, being healthy doesn’t just mean staying clear of disease and maintaining complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Unfortunately, many people focus on the physical aspect of health and are surprised to find themselves still falling ill.
Plenty of times, it’s not what you don’t do but what you’re routinely practicing that damages your health. However, as you keep reading, don’t berate yourself if some of these habits resonate with you because your body can still adapt to a new environment. And while implementing certain lifestyle habits may be more challenging than others, they aren’t impossible.
However, to bring forth the necessary changes, identifying your unhealthy habits is the first step toward a preventive healthcare approach. And to help you recognize these, we enlist six practices you must drop as soon as possible.
1. Skipping routine checkups
While religiously attending all your routine checkups is vital regardless of age, skipping even one can have consequences as you grow older. This is because as your body ages, it starts losing the ability to recuperate faster.
Many times, chronic illnesses manifest at a later age, especially when you’ve had exposure to harmful substances like asbestos. In such cases, patients may develop mesothelioma, a rare cancer with generally poor prognosis. However, if you get routine checkups done, it’ll be easier to detect it early. Moreover, this proactive approach makes it easier to file a mesothelioma lawsuit and possibly receive compensation for medical expenses.
2. Avoiding fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibers. They’re likely to make you feel less tired, even after a long day, since they’re rich in nutrients good for the body. An aging body constantly repairs and replaces damaged cells, requiring proper nutrient intake to replenish itself. Including an adequate amount of this food group in your everyday meals can significantly affect your bone health, immunity, and disease prevention.
Additionally, research shows that regularly eating fruits can significantly reduce your chances of developing age-related health issues like eye diseases or cognitive decline. Incorporate a variety of choices in the form of salads, soups, or smoothies to diversify your palette and make the meal even more enjoyable.
3. Excessive sodium intake
Cardiovascular health concerns, mainly high blood pressure, are more prevalent with increasing age. Lifestyle habits like excessive sodium intake can increase this risk since it directly contributes to diseases like stroke, heart attack, and obesity. People who regularly consume high salt should be careful and reduce this eating habit as quickly as possible.
Besides heart diseases, high sodium intake can cause severe renal complications affecting the kidney and associated organs. As our body ages, kidneys become less efficient in removing excess waste, such as sodium. In these circumstances, fluid retention begins within the body, straining the cardiovascular system and affecting other normal functions.
Osteoporosis, another prevalent health concern among older adults, can also be due to high sodium intake, which promotes calcium excretion through urine. In severe cases, it can lead to bone fractures and immobility, making it impossible to recover from it fully.
4. Sedentary lifestyle
Regular physical activities and exercise are significant in maintaining cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of chronic illnesses. Although every individual, young or old, must avoid a sedentary lifestyle as much as possible, this becomes especially necessary after hitting 50. You can engage in any exercise, such as cycling, walking, jogging, swimming, or even yoga. Getting a gym membership or inviting your friends to join you in these exercises can also make it fun and motivate you to stay regular.
Physical fitness at an older age is also vital since your metabolism tends to slow. Therefore, to avoid fat accumulation and pave the way for all sorts of diseases and illnesses, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle and adopting an active one is an efficient approach.
5. Irregular sleeping patterns
Sleep cycles and how many hours of sound sleep you need can vary from one individual to the next. However, it’s essential to recognize that your sleeping patterns will shift naturally as you grow older, with a change in the circadian rhythm. If you don’t give your body the proper rest it requires, you might disrupt the normal production of hormones crucial for maintaining your overall well-being. From appetite, mood, immune responses, and even metabolism—all body functions can drastically change if your sleeping patterns remain irregular.
Many older adults force their bodies to stay awake despite feeling exhausted because they remember staying up late as young adults. However, to maintain a healthy and strong body, you must maintain a consistent bedtime and stick to proper sleep routines for a more fulfilling life.
6. Ignoring oral hygiene
One of the primary health concerns the older generation starts facing is usually related to oral health. But maintaining good oral hygiene is vital to ensure you don’t meet any painful oral health issues like tooth decay, gum disease, or tooth loss. Failure to brush your teeth regularly, floss, and use mouthwash can aggravate these problems even more, making it difficult to chew. As a result, your dietary intake gets impacted, causing nutritional deficiency and making the overall body fall into a weakened state.
Conclusion
While you can do nothing to prevent aging, you can prepare your body to fight whatever comes your way. Equipping your body with the appropriate tools and assets right from the beginning can give it the perfect head start for a proactive approach to ensure your well-being.
