As we age, our bodies change (both negatively and positively), but we can still age well if we take healthy measures.
It’s never too late to make a healthy lifestyle change. The key is starting, sticking to a routine, and never giving up.
Here are five things to take care of before it’s too late.
Be more active
Physical activity is healthy for all ages (unless otherwise mentioned by your doctor).
According to MayoClinic, exercise controls weight. It also combats health conditions and diseases, such as stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, many types of cancer, and more.
You don’t have to run a marathon to be more active, although you can—moving more throughout the day can help, as can implementing a walking or exercise routine.
Improve your diet
Eating healthier isn’t only about losing weight, although that’s important. It’s also essential for improving your heart health and reducing the risk of disease.
What we put in our bodies plays a big role in how we look, feel, and age. Improving your diet (no matter your age) is essential to age well.
Limit alcohol and stop smoking
While everything in moderation is an OK motto to live by and can apply to alcohol consumption, eliminating smoking is essential for aging well.
If you stop smoking, you’ll see the advantages almost immediately. According to the American Lung Association, your heart rate drops to a normal level 20 minutes after smoking. After 12 to 24 hours, the risk of heart attack is significantly reduced. Two weeks to three months after smoking, the risk of having a heart attack drops and lung function starts to improve. More benefits continue to flood in after that.
Limiting your alcohol consumption can help you lose weight, give you more energy, and lead to better long-term health as it reduces the risk of developing cancer, liver/heart disease, and can lower blood pressure.
Depending on your drinking and smoking habits, elimination or cutting back can also save you money.
Save money
Money is one of the main reasons why people stress and having money saved up for a worst-case scenario can give you peace of mind, as well as to relieve stress in a worst-case scenario since you’ll have money to pay for procedures, medication, etc.
There are, of course, other ways to come up with money in a worst-case scenario, such as a viatical settlement (visit http://americanlifefund.com for more information and to see if you qualify). A viatical settlement is the sale of an existing life insurance policy for more than its surrender value but less than its death benefit. The money you receive can be used for medical bills, treatments, living expenses, and more.
Since money is a top reason for stress in America, saving money as early as possible might help you reduce stress and set you up for the future.
Educate yourself
Not everyone knows what sugar does to the body. Not everyone knows how much an exercise routine can help. Going to the doctor on a routine basis is important and doctors can fill us in on questions and concerns we might have, but it’s important to ask those questions and to also educate ourselves.
There are solutions out there. For example, people who have recently fallen or have a chronic condition resulting in mobility issues can pick out a handicap bathroom design that’s tailored to them and have it installed in their homes. These designs will ensure accessibility is a top priority, something people might not have known without educating themselves.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with an illness or you’re trying to reduce the risk, educating yourself will ensure you take the appropriate steps.
