Aging can be a wonderful thing, for most people. With age comes wisdom, experience, and the joy of having a life well-lived. Over many years people can develop friendships and relationships that last a lifetime will providing benefits many times that. Some people choose to live in one area for the rest of their life, while others travel around to exotic locales and never sleep in the same bed month to month. Age truly is just a number, and how much life you put into it is the quality we give to it.
But with age comes the scientific reality that as time passes, people’s bodies degrade and have special needs associated with them. There are many age-related health concerns that society gives attention to, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. But there are many more that are extremely common, yet rarely receive the light of day. Skin problems, muscle soreness, and dental concerns are easily more common than the hyped concerns we commonly see. Fortunately, they’re easy to guard against and are not nearly as tragic to ignore.
In this article we’ll address some of the most common age-related health concerns that people experience, with reminders on how to avoid them. This can involve having a better diet, putting on sunscreen, or simply getting more sleep. While there’s no way to completely avoid aging, there are ways to avoid the impact of it falling squarely on your shoulders. You do have the power to live a healthy life in a multitude of ways. The sooner you start, the easier it is and the sooner you’ll reap the benefits.
Living In A Clean Environment
One of the easiest things you can do to avoid various age-related health concerns is to simply live in a clean environment. One person’s definition of “clean” may differ from another, but there are some basics that pretty much everyone can agree on that will help you out along the way.
A cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind, in many respects. It can also lead to pests, insects, and unwanted visitors in your house. Remember to clean up trash, keep the inside of your house tidy whenever possible, and have regular inspections from a pest exterminator in order to make sure that you’re living in a clean environment with as little outside contagions as possible. We’re not saying to live in a bubble and make everything sterile, but there is a basic level of cleanliness that will drastically improve your health.
If you’re not a fan of cleaning, but want to prevent age-related health concerns (like ingesting mold or developing dust allergies), make sure you have some good cleaning supplies on hand. If you’re not a fan of conventional cleaning supplies, don’t worry. There is more than a fair share of “organic” and “natural” cleaning supplies out there on the market to satisfy anyone. These are made with ingredients that still get the job done, but are less caustic and harmful should someone in your family accidentally ingest them.
Checking Up On Things
As you age, the incidence of age-related health concerns obviously goes up. What may not be so obvious is your willingness and need to continue to receive regular checkups from a medical doctor, or whoever is providing your health care. Dental, mental, and physical health all combine together in old age and must be treated as a holistic entity for optimum functioning.
Talking to therapist, seeing a dentist, and getting regular checkups from your doctor are all easy ways to prevent age-related health concerns before they become big problems. You should always be talking to specialists and practitioners that take your concerns seriously and want to help instead of dismissing you. Many health professionals will also work with you to create a budget or financial plan so that it is affordable.
There are maintenance routines that everyone adheres to in order to simply be aware that their body is still optimally functioning. Instead of paying or for expensive hearing loss treatment down the road, getting your hearing tested every so often can pay dividends. Vision may be the same, and getting this checked at the DMV every time you renew your license is not often enough. Be sure to contact your doctor about the best schedule for you.
Chiropractic treatment can also stave off some age-related health concerns. While you should never neglect your back, posture, or spine if something is truly wrong, seeing a chiropractor can be a quick way to check up on your back health before you are referred to someone else. This can also be a natural and effective treatment for minor disorders that don’t require surgery.
Have Some Skin In The Game
The sun is a wonderful thing until you get too much of it. We’ve all experienced sunburn, red skin, and skin problems at some point in our life. But one of the age-related health concerns that doesn’t get a lot of media attention is the various skin problems that can occur as you age. It’s important to take care of your skin, because it is both the largest organ on your body and the first line of defense should something try to invade you (such as a virus or bacteria).
If you don’t want to pay a visit to a skin care treatment center for cancer or other issues, you should practice good skin maintenance. This means simple things like limiting your sun exposure, wearing sunscreen, and staying hydrated. While there are many creams, salves, and lotions that you can put on your skin for a variety of ailments, none will do as well as simply avoiding these issues in the first place.
Natural Remedies For Age-Old Concerns
Sometimes there are age-related health concerns that seem to bother us on a chronic basis, without ever seeming to go away. If you’ve ever had a chronic health condition, you know that over time expenses can add up without ever seemingly taking care of the problem. In this case, you might be wondering if there are any “natural” remedies that are just as effective without the premium “non natural” cost. Indeed, they are if you only know where to look for them.
Stress is a day to day battle that most people deal with. Whether it comes from their jobs, lifestyle, or relationships, many people are dealing with stress and are constantly trying to find ways to release it without letting go of their comfortable routines or possessions. If you’ve never heard of aromatherapy, then you’re in for a treat.
Aromatherapy is a type of therapy that is based on utilizing aromatic materials, including essential oils, and other aroma compounds, with claims for improving psychological or physical well-being. There are different types of diffusers you can buy at the grocery store or alternative health markets that will help diffuse the aroma in your space. Scents like lavender, lemon, and pine can be calming to people and immensely help them de-stress. Figure out what types work for you because this could be a great quick way to get rid of some of the stress associated with age-related health concerns.
Don’t Forget The Pearly Whites
While you may have brushed your teeth, flossed, and had no problems as a child, as you age your teeth will start to degrade. Unless you’re really interested in trying to schedule same day dental care for a chipped tooth or cavity, it’s best to practice preventative medicine and know about the potential for these problems before they occur.
Your dentist will be able to properly address your age-related health concerns and recommend specific toothbrushes, toothpaste, and brushing routines specific to your age. They may be able to tell you certain foods or activities to look out for and avoid. While you may not like the advice or how it runs counter to your lifestyle, it is probably for the best.
If you’ve never enjoyed how your teeth look, once you get older is the perfect time to engage in the services of an adult orthodontist. Unlike adolescence or youth when having braces/dental work could be potentially embarrassing, as an adult, you have much more control over the situation. You can also decide when you go in and how much to spend. There are a variety of different orthodontic products available today on the market for you to choose from, and you no longer necessarily have to get traditional braces.
If you select the correct orthodontist, you may also kill two birds with one stone. Remember that all orthodontists are trained dentists, but only 5% of dentists are also orthodontists. Your orthodontist will be able to give a wide variety of dental advice as well, even though they are technically treating cosmetic issues.
Sore Muscles, Exercise and More
One of the more common age-related health concerns is sore muscles after exercising. While you should always consult your regular physician with any concerns about your muscles or exercise routine, you can notice that it gets more difficult to exercise and takes longer to recover with age. Luckily, health and nutritional science keeps advancing year after year to the point that things have gotten pretty interesting. There are all sorts of remedies available now that were not available to your grandparents or even parents.
One of the more fascinating products on the market today is CBD, which stands for cannabidiol. It is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant and is known for its anti-inflammatory (and possible healing/restorative) properties. There are CBD muscle rubs available on the market right now that you do not need a prescription for and can try at your leisure. It is perhaps not a cure-all, but definitely an interesting tool to have in your health arsenal.
CBD has been shown to have other interesting properties for exercise as well. It has the possibility to relieve pain almost as good as conventional analgesics, as well as speed up the healing process for muscles that are repairing themselves. It holds a lot of promise for boosting mental clarity and mood as well. Be sure to consult with a doctor or health specialist to learn more about CBD before jumping right in.
Another way to guard against age-related health concerns when it comes to exercise is to integrate a stretching routine. By properly stretching and working your muscles before you vigorously engage them, you can help guard against tearing or overexerting your muscles. This can go a long way toward having to get surgery or require the services of a specialist. It is certainly less expensive in the long run as well.
Surgery and Other Medical Concerns
Unfortunately, surgery and other medical procedures can become a part of age-related health concerns. At a certain point, body parts get worn out and people become tired of trying to maintain them. The cartilage of a knee or movement of a joint becomes inhibited and can no longer take physical therapy. In many cases, it must be replaced with an artificial equivalent. This can make you feel like a bionic person, but it is certainly better than walking around with pain and limbs that no longer work.
Your regular healthcare provider should be able to provide a quality recommendation to surgically address any age-related health concerns. If not, then you’ll certainly want to query and have meetings with a couple of healthcare facilities before you make your final decision. After all, you are trusting someone with a knife to cut you open.
Later in life, people may also opt for cosmetic surgery to change their appearance. While this isn’t technically necessary for health, it is part of addressing the mental well being of a person, which is an age-related health concern. If you’ve never liked the way your nose has looked and now have the power to change it, you are the only one that can make that decision. Just be sure that before you select a qualified face lift doctor, you check out the reviews and qualifications of each.
Cosmetic surgery, in particular, can have many problems associated with it, and you don’t want to have to consult a personal injury lawyer on top of dealing with other health concerns. This is not something you want to use coupons on or go strictly by word of mouth, there are standards and practices that must be upheld for the procedures to be safe, just like regular surgeons.
Remember To Release Stress and Practice Gratitude
At the end of the day, there is only so much you can do about age-related health concerns. While you may try to take care of yourself as best as possible, it may never be enough and you might still develop debilitating conditions with time. It is simply the way of the world and nobody’s fault. Try as best as you can, things might simply not go your way.
In times like this, it can be important to learn to let go of stress and practice gratitude for the things you do have in life. Because even if your health is slipping, there is always something to look forward to and enjoy. You only have to be vigilant enough to look for it and want to embrace it in our vast, mysterious world.