Sophie Okolo, MPH

Start keeping track

If you want to make sure that you’re living in good health then, first of all, you need to know what that actually means. One of the best and most recent advances in medical technology is wearable medical devices that let you measure things like your daily activity, your heart rate, and some that even test your blood sugar levels and blood pressure throughout the day. That way, if there are any signs that something isn’t working optimally, the tech can let you know and you can take that to the doctor to more quickly take care of it.

Keep moving

One of the most important things to do as we get older is to make sure that we always get enough physical activity throughout the day. “Use it or lose it” is very much true when it comes to our physical fitness. It becomes easier for us to lose our range of motion and to develop new pains if we don’t take care to stretch, get a little cardio, and keep the muscles that support important parts like our lower back. Trying a senior yoga class can be a great way to get back into moving around if you have dropped the habit lately.

Ensuring proper nutrition

A lot of people find that not only do they eat less as they get older, but they also tend to rely on fewer meal options, instead sticking with a few easy-to-make favorites. Of course, that’s not the case for everyone but, if it is how you do it, then it might be time to make a change. For instance, you can look into a senior nutrition program that is designed to meet all of your needs as conveniently as possible. You can have all the food you need to be delivered straight to your door so you don’t even need to think about it.

Getting checked up

If you’re not already getting an annual physical, then now might be the time to make an appointment with your doctor and ensure that you’re making it a part of your yearly health routine from now on. However, there are also other health screening tests that you should be making throughout the years. We’re more prone to chronic conditions as we get older so things like eye tests, hearing exams, and bone density tests can be crucial in making sure that no new problems crop up out of nowhere.

Stay in touch

It’s not just our physical health that we should be keeping an eye on as we get older. Our mental health becomes just as important as the risk of isolation and its associated disorders become a greater threat. Not only can loneliness lead to depression, anxiety, and the development of phobias, but it can even contribute to a greater risk of dementia. As such, it’s important to make sure you find opportunities to socialize. There’s no denying it can be difficult to find those opportunities right now, but finding online hobby groups can help you stay in touch with a wider circle of friends.

Be more mindful of illness

To make sure that you protect yourself as best as possible, then you should try paying more attention to not just your own health, but the health of those around you, as well. Older people tend to experience worse effects from getting sick and younger people around you might not be entirely cognizant of that. Flus and other viruses can be much more dangerous as we get older. Getting vaccinated can help but, even then, it’s important to make sure that you’re preventing what illness you can by avoiding other people who are sick.