Top 8 tips for staying healthy year-round.
The #1 Tip is to Get active
Physical activity is a must for senior men and women. In fact, exercise is an immune system booster. In fact, the more you move around, the stronger one’s immune system will respond. Exercise is giving your body an immune system boost. In addition, this will help to fight off inflammation and other infections.
Your daily exercise doesn’t have to be really very strenuous. There are many kinds of low impact exercises that will get the job done.
For example, a nice walk through the neighborhood. Other examples, riding a biking, swimming as well as a low impact aerobics class. . Try this, a moderate intensity exercise for about 15 to 25 minutes every day. The goal, achieve the CDC recommended total of 150 minutes a week. In addition, try to strengthen muscles and bones with lifting light weights. Finally, doing yoga is a great way to go. To sum up, find a exercise routine that feels best for you.
2. Vitamins and supplements as necessary
Many of the off the shelve supplements have been shown to support a healthy immune system. As always, before taking a y vitamins as well as any supplement, , be sure to ask your doctor to make sure it is safe. Furthermore, when taking any kind prescription medication., seniors must be careful. For example, some of the recommended supplements they may recommend include calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12. These can lead to negative interactions .
Take supplements or multivitamins as instructed to boost your immune system. For vitamins and supplements to work well, they must be taken as directed. A Smart pill box with alarm will Help. Med-Q Pill box with alarm is a perfect in-home medication reminder.
Seniors should have a diet filled with fruits and vegetables,. In additions all meats should be and lean meats. Thus another way to give your immune system some help.. Again, to protect against harmful bacteria and viruses that may make you sick. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants will protect your cells from damage as well as , generally aiding in keeping one’s body healthy.
You should also limit your consumption of sugar. Sugar can lead to inflammation and disease. Excessive fatty foods can also trigger inflammation . Thus, in lower your immune system effectiveness.
In addition, watch your intake of alcohol. Ask your health care professional about safe amounts of alcohol to drink every week.
4. Wash your hands ALOT
It may sound simple. Wash your hands. Again, washing your hands on a regular basis is one of the very best way stay healthy year-round. Fact, certain viruses care able to live on surfaces for a full day (Up to 24 hours). It’s possible to become ill if you touch a virus-covered surface for as little as 10 20 seconds. Be sure to try not to touch the face, nose, and mouth with your hands.
You need to use antibacterial hand sanitizer if you can’t scrub your hands. Also, disinfecting hard surfaces around your home is smart.
5. Manage your Stress
If you are experiencing chronic stress you are in trouble. Stress will raise the body’s production of the stress hormone cortisol.
Cortisol as nature’s built-in alarm system. It’s your body’s main stress hormone. It works with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation, and fear.
Too much cortisol will often mess-with functions in your body. The biggest impact will be in your immune system.
Seniors need to reduce stress. First of all, , get plenty of physical activity. Second, be sure to get plenty of sleep. Third, remember to create very reasonable expectations for yourself. Finally, just relax and do some enjoyable activities.
6. Get Plenty of Sleep
It is a fact, quality sleep will reduce your levels of . Thus, sleep is when and how the human body repairs itself. For this reason, getting a proper sleep is important for your immune system. An adequate, 7-9 hours per day. To illustrate, this will surely create a superiors immune system. Again, this makes it much easier for your body to fight off viruses.
Sleep is also important as you get older because it can improve memory and concentration. Aim for at least seven and a half to nine hours of sleep per night.
If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor to find the underlying cause. Causes of insomnia can include inactivity during the day and too much caffeine. Or it can be a sign of a medical condition like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.
7. Take steps to prevent infections
Getting annual vaccinations is another way to stay healthy throughout the year. If you’re age 65 and older, talk to your doctor about getting a high-dose or adjuvant flu vaccine.
Flu season is between October and May in the United States. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to be effective, and it reduces the risk of the flu by 40 to 60 percentTrusted Source when the vaccine strains match the circulating strains.
The flu virus changes each year, so you should get the vaccine yearly. You can also talk to your doctor about getting pneumococcal vaccines to protect against pneumonia and meningitis.
8. Schedule annual physicals
Scheduling a yearly checkup can also keep you healthy. Always speak with your doctor if you have concerns about your health.
Conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can go undetected. Regular physical examinations will enable your doctor to diagnose any problems early. Getting early treatment may prevent long-term complications.
Also, if you have any cold or flu symptoms, see your doctor immediately. The flu virus can lead to complications in adults over the age of 65. The immune system weakens with age, making it harder to fight off the virus.
If you see a doctor within the first 48 hours of flu symptoms, they can prescribe an antiviral to reduce the severity and length of symptoms.
9. Avoid contact with people who are sick
Another way to protect yourself year-round is to avoid being close to people who are sick. This is easier said than done. But if there’s a flu outbreak in your area, limit contact with people who aren’t feeling well and avoid crowded areas until conditions improve.
If you must go out, protect yourself by wearing a face mask. If you’re caring for someone with the flu, wear a face mask and gloves, and wash your hands frequently.
The flu and other viruses can be dangerous as you become older. You can’t prevent all illnesses, but taking a proactive approach can strengthen your immune system.
A strong immune system can keep you healthier and make you less susceptible to illnesses throughout the year.
No matter what your age is, it’s crucial that one takes care of their bodies to help prevent illness. Hence, Seniors Staying Healthy is a goal to achieve.