Preventative wellness is a growing necessity for adults as they enter retirement age and beyond. Taking care of your body and mind is something that everyone must account for, but older adults must take particular stock in these all-important preventative measures in order to remain in tip-top shape for the long haul.
Covid-19 tests provide an unparalleled mental health boost.
This is particularly important as the global community continues to push back against ballooning Covid-19 infections. These years will go down in history as some of the most trying in our collective memory and for good reason. Covid-19 has claimed far too many lives in the United States and all around the world, and it has contributed to much more mental strain in the personal lives of virtually everyone. It’s tough to combat the dizzying variety of symptoms of this viral infection (blood clots, chest pain, immune system breakdown, fatigue, tenderness, neck pain, headaches, and nausea, for instance) but we must prevail against these viruses in order to take back control of life itself.
Covid-19 is directly responsible for much sickness and anguish, but the virus contributes to a unique uncertainty about the future that is deeply rooted in the minds of those who have contracted these viruses and those who haven’t alike. Researchers have found that Covid-19 test practices and government responses to the pandemic have a direct correlation with depression and other mental health considerations. So keeping yourself upbeat and positive is of the utmost importance during this public health crisis.
Expanded Covid-19 testing is going a long way to calming the world’s collective nerves, but in order to take advantage of this benefit, you must commit to getting tested for yourself. Finding a local test site isn’t difficult, and the Covid-19 test itself is fairly straightforward and painless. The use of your local test site can go a long way to pacifying your fears surrounding this tense time and it’s a great place to start when it comes to self-care.
Getting out for exercise is crucial to ongoing wellness.
Studies have shown that time spent outdoors can dramatically improve your mood and reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and stress. Exercise, in general, is a panacea for many of the issues – both mental and physical – that we often develop as time goes on and we begin to settle for a less active lifestyle.
Remaining in motion is good for the body and soul, and exercise is a core part of this choice. However, older adults should always be cautious when it comes to common gym injuries or pain in the feet, legs, or back after a day out at the park. Workouts are a key component in maintaining a strong physical body as well as a peaceful mind, but injuries during a workout or through overuse can set you back with months of physical therapy and recovery workout necessities.
Coupled with medication to combat pain, inflammation, sores, or long-term tendon damage, the process of recovering from the pain and swelling of a runner’s injury or a workout mishap can cost you dearly when it comes to your health. Seeing a physical therapist after an injury or numbness during a squats workout or runner’s issue is the best way to survive close contact with the inflammation and pain that might otherwise see you sidelined for weeks or longer.
Protect your heart muscle.
Your heart muscle is perhaps the most important component of your overall health. Yet heart failure due to myocarditis, arrhythmia, or cardiomyopathy can result in sudden death or a dramatically altered lifestyle. Researchers know the symptoms of myocarditis (fatigue, shortness of breath, especially after a workout, chest pain, inflammation-related discomfort, etc.), but they can’t yet put their fingers on why otherwise healthy adults often develop the heart failure that comes along with a myocarditis diagnosis.
The severity of myocarditis can’t be overstated. Without warning, myocarditis can result in sudden death, and treatment plans and medical advice from your health care provider are often difficult to create which makes the diagnosis all the more life-threatening. Myocarditis research has come a long way but adults must still take steps to ensure that they are thinking about their heart health above many other concerns. Myocarditis can be devastating for a family, so make sure you speak with your health care provider about heart-healthy choices, and as soon as any discomfort, shortness of breath or chest pain begins to occur in order to better your chances of a complete recovery.
Think about your surgical and long-term care needs.
Older adults are often faced with more surgical requirements than the younger generations. Many find that continuum of care services and lifestyle boosting surgical procedures are a great way to improve upon the quality of life without the invasive incisions or hospitalizations that used to come along with these types of care options. Continuum of care has always revolved around maintaining a healthy lifestyle and integrating past successes with your health care provider into new solutions as problems arise. It’s also being used to combat homelessness in many U.S. cities.
Medical care is often sparse for those battling homelessness and the elderly patients who have to choose between the relative comfort of their homes and a lengthy appointment at their medical care facility for common injuries after physical activity or generalized discomfort. With a range of modern continuum of care options, this choice doesn’t have to be a difficult one.
As well, many older adults have lived with knee problems, rotator cuff tears, or spine or neck pain for many years. consulting with your doctor about the potential for intervention options to improve your mobility and stretching capacity is a great way to care for your health and your future. Reading up on the surgical procedure and recovery time is an important step to this process as well (see this cervical neck surgery recovery guide for more).
Taking care of yourself often can feel as if it’s getting harder as you age. But it doesn’t have to be a losing battle. Make sure you are tackling these areas for a fuller lifestyle.
