Growing older is a normal phenomenon, whereas the requirement to pay special attention to one’s health increases with age. Despite the fact that most senior citizens conform to healthy living, some behaviours seep in and lessen their quality of living. Therefore, gauging and setting off the aforementioned detrimental behaviors is not only significant to one’s health and functionality but to well-being in general too. Here are seven harmful habits for seniors that should be avoided to ensure a healthier and happier life.
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Leading a Sedentary Lifestyle
In the case of frail elderly population, one of the worst behaviors that they indulge in is a lack of physical activity. Lack of exercise poses many dangers to human health; resulting in increased cases of obesity, cardiac issues, diabetes and weaker muscles. Physical activity plays an important role in improving or even maintaining functional ability or flexibility of the muscles.
Solution: This exercise can be done in form of at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise incorporated into daily activities. This can be plain walking, swimming, Yoga, or even light weights training. Structured social activities like dance classes or any group exercises are also beneficial for both, physical and social health.
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Poor Nutrition
Inadequate diet is another bad practice that can negatively influence the health of a senior person. All such junk foods and other foods high in sugars and unhealthy fats can cause health complications such and high blood pressure, heart diseases, and diabetes among others. Further, poor consumption of the nutrients may lead to compromise of immune system and reduced energy.
Solution: Concentration of the food intake that is full of fruits and vegetables, lean meat, whole grain, and healthy fat. One should also ensure that they take a lot of water during the day in order to flush out toxins from the system. Speaking to a nutritionist can assist in developing a nutrition plan for a person based on his/her health status.
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Neglecting Mental Health
One cannot supercede the other, since both aspects are significant for older individuals –the mental and the physical health. Failure to take care of mental health may cause one to develop depression, anxiety, and deterioration of memory among others. Lack of interaction with other people and absence of intellectual occupation is considered to be the cause of poor mental health among elderly population.
Solution: Engage socially by attending to the social relationships such as family, friends and other community affiliations. Participate challenging games like cross word, reading newspapers, magazines or any other means of learning. In case of need refer to a mental health care giver for more help.
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Ignoring Regular Health Check-ups
This is especially true for elderly patients who fail to attend frequent health check-ups resulting to mish mash of their health complications. Check-ups and trips to the hospital are important to detect sicknesses early enough and treated.
Solution: Urgo regular check up with the health care practitioners and adhere to the advised appointments for hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, and cancer. Another important thing is to monitor vaccination and preventive measures.
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Poor Sleep Habits
Sleep is particularly crucial in maintaining good health and it is a well-documented fact that many elderly persons have sleeping disorders. Conditions such as insomnia, sleep apnoea and restless leg syndrome can hamper ones sleep as well as cause factors such as fatigue, irritable and weakness immunity.
Solution: Bank on sleeping by retiring to bed and ending waking at the same time every day. Settle an appropriate sleeping environment, do not take coffee and spicy foods before going to bed and also use some exercises like meditation to enhance good sleep.
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Polypharmacy/prodrugs or Misuse of Drugs
Due to the complexity of the disease and overburdened healthcare systems, many seniors are using multiple medications which inevitably lead to the risk of overmedication or improper usage. Risk of adverse reactions and deterioration of health are likely to occur if one takes numerous drugs or does not adhere to the correct dosage.
Solution: Consult a healthcare provider to assess the need for the medications and the correct way of taking them on a frequent basis. One is advised to use a pill organizer and set reminders so as to be able to take these medications as advised. Understand the possible drug interactions as well as possible side effects that occur in body.
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Smoking And; Dangerous and reckless use of alcohol
Such vices as smoking and taking alcohol in large proportions are very dangerous to the elderly. Tobacco in any form increases the risk of developing certain diseases in the lungs, cardiac illnesses, and several cancers; alcohol in large quantities negatively impacts the liver, increases blood pressure, and contributes to loss of memory or dementia.
Solution: Go for medical help when attempting to stop smoking and moderation when taking alcohol. There are a lot of available options such as groups of people with similar issues, professional help and medications to avoid such habits. It is possible to lead a smoke-free and moderate alcohol lifestyle, which in turn boosts vitality or general health.
Conclusion
The following evil practices should be discouraged among senior citizens to boost their life span and improve their quality of life. The major change that can be made is that it is never too late to effect change and all the small changes can amount to big healthy lifestyle alterations. Advising the elderly to engage in exercises, eat balanced diets, ensure mental health, go for check-ups, ensure enough sleep, use drugs rightly, and avoid cigarettes and too much alcohol can lead to a healthier and happier life.
Through eradicating these vice activities, the elder people will be able to lead healthy and happier productive years in their old age. Thus, it is crucial that again caregivers, other relatives, and seniors themselves actively participate in the process of altering these behaviors. Thus, united, we should make every effort to guarantee a high quality of life for all seniors and relieve them of the obligations that contribute to negative habits.
