As you age, health issues typically come with the territory. However, there are steps you can take to mitigate their effects. This read will focus on the topic an important social trend is the continuing concern for health habits in retirement.
1. Staying Sober
An important social trend is the continuing concern for health degrading habits such as drinking alcohol or using other drugs in old age. The reason for this is several negative effects accompany such habits. Making a choice to stop using drugs or alcohol can be difficult if you’re battling with addiction. However, you can achieve sobriety, and the benefits are worth the effort.
The first and maybe most significant health benefit of staying sober is the lower risk of developing chronic illnesses in old age. Alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cirrhosis, heart disease, cancer, and stroke. You can avoid these dangerous, possibly fatal illnesses by quitting drinking.
Maintaining a healthy weight is another fantastic health benefit of sobriety in retirement. Most alcoholic beverages are full of empty calories, making it easy to put on weight if you’re not careful. Staying sober means, you won’t consume these extra calories, lowering your risk of gaining unhealthy weight and becoming obese.
Those who drink heavily or struggle with addiction tend to report mental health issues at higher rates than those who don’t, and the effects are even more severe in old age. Giving up the bottle can help you regain control of your mental health, improving your mood and lowering your anxiety levels. Sobriety will also make you more aware of your emotions.
It’s easy to avoid or numb some feelings when you’re drunk. However, you can recognize and process emotions more healthily when you’re sober. With improved mental awareness, you can better navigate challenging emotions and manage mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Alcohol use can also negatively impact the quantity and quality of your sleep. Drinking alcohol may induce insomnia by upsetting your regular sleep cycle. Deciding to put away the bottle will improve your sleeping habits, allowing you to get more restful, longer sleep. This will, in turn, boost your energy levels throughout the day and your ability to focus.
Alcohol consumption can inhibit and obscure personality traits that contribute to your unique identity. People who enter long-term sobriety after a drug use problem frequently discover or rediscover themselves. Being able to rewind, refocus, and figure out who you are is a great gift in old age.
Most people realize they’re more reserved sober than they were when they were drunk. If you’re suffering from an addiction, seek help from a drug addiction treatment center.
2. Caring for Your Teeth
An important social trend is the continuing concern for health of teeth in seniors. As you age, taking good care of your gums and teeth can help you avoid issues such as tooth loss, toothaches, and cavities. A healthy mouth will also allow you to eat well and enjoy your favorite meal. If you have a medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes, or if you’re on medication that might affect your oral health, taking care of your teeth is even more important.
If you’ve always taken good care of your teeth, you already know the most basic rule: brush and floss twice daily. While these two fundamental guidelines are still crucial as you get older, you might need to make some adjustments
Consider the fact that your teeth have seen considerable wear and tear over the years and require a milder approach. Additionally, plaque is significantly harder to remove and accumulates more quickly after the age of 50. Simply put, you can’t expect to proceed with oral care in the same manner that you always have.
One of the best tips for taking care of your teeth in old age is to get an electric toothbrush if you haven’t already. This type of toothbrush includes a built-in timer to ensure you brush for the recommended length of time and will clean all those hard-to-reach areas better. Additionally, an electric toothbrush is more comfortable to hold, which is particularly helpful if you have joint or arthritis pain.
Whether you’re using an electric or a conventional toothbrush, always use a soft-bristle-brush. You should also avoid being heavy-handed. Instead, use slow and delicate motions.
You might need to adjust your strategy if you’re used to using mouthwash multiple times daily. While mouthwash is an effective way of preventing plaque buildup and cavities, it may also cause dry mouth by upsetting the pH balance in your mouth.
Since dry mouth issues are common in older adults, you should be cautious about overusing mouthwash. Just one rinse before bed is enough. It would help if you also used an alcohol-free option. If you have crooked or misaligned teeth, you can seek braces treatments. If the issue stems from a bacterial infection, you may benefit from root canal treatment. Consult your dentist to determine which one will be the most effective.
3. Helping Family Babysit and Petsit
An important social trend is the continuing concern for health and how helping your family babysit and petsit can help. If you’re looking for extra motivation to spend time with your grandchildren, consider that it could help you live longer. A growing body of evidence suggests that grandparents who watch a grandchild a few times a week live longer. So parents of small children may rest assured that both their parents and their children benefit from spending time together.
In fact, time spent with grandkids can lower the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease due to the effects of babysitting on mental health. The US National Library of Medicine found that among postmenopausal women of the same age, those who spend at least one day a week caring for their grandchildren had a better cognitive function. It also reduces the risk of developing other cognitive disorders.
Another notable benefit of helping family babysit is the financial savings they’ll enjoy. According to a 2016 Care.com research, the average annual cost of childcare for newborns and toddlers is $10,468 and $9,733, respectively. The childcare website also found that one in three households spends over 20% of their annual income on childcare.
20% of families also had fewer children due to the cost, such as newborn medical care. 40% of parents reported that the cost caused tension in their relationships. You can ask your kids for an occasional dinner out or lawn maintenance. The same benefits apply to watching over pets and taking them to animal doctors.
4. Caring for an Animal
An important social trend is the continuing concern for health and how caring for an animal can help. Things can get quite lonely as you get older. As family and friends relocate or die, it only gets harder and harder to leave the house and take part in activities you enjoy. However, there’s one source of companionship and comfort that offers several benefits for seniors: pets.
Taking care of a living being is known to give life meaning and helps establish a pattern that adds structure to your days. Both people’s and animals’ physical and emotional well-being can benefit from that shared bond. More than three-quarters of pet owners believe their animals lessen their stress, and almost as many claim that having a pet gives them a sense of purpose, according to research by Cigna Healthcare.
Pets are wonderful friends, but they also help their owners develop connections with new people and potentially establish a social support network, which offers some health benefits. Being a pet owner is the third most common way people meet other people, according to research by Cigna Healthcare. Additionally, getting to know people in their neighborhood was 60% more likely for pet owners than non-pet owners. A stroll through the park with your dog is a great way to start a conversation. Look up various veterinary resources in your area to help you give your pet the best care.
5. Protecting Your Vision
An important social trend is the continuing concern for health and why protecting your vision is important. Unfortunately, as you age, you’ll likely start having issues with your vision. The best and most effective way to protect your eyes is to get them examined. Routine eye tests from reputable eye care doctors will make it easier for opticians to identify any issues with your vision.
Through an eye exam, they can identify signs of conditions like cataracts and glaucoma. It’s interesting to note that they can also identify general health problems like diabetes and hypertension, which require prompt health care. An eye test can also reveal if you need glasses and for what purpose.
For instance, while some individuals just need glasses for reading, others may need them for watching TV or driving. If you wear glasses, an eye exam will determine whether the lenses are still effective. This will lower the likelihood of falls and trips and improve your overall quality of life.
Not only is getting enough sleep important for your general health and well-being, but it also affects your eyes. Your eyes are continually lubricated while you’re asleep, removing any smoke or dust gathered over the day. Your eyes may get red, puffy, and dry from not getting enough sleep. Additionally, they could become more sensitive to light or hazy and itchy, which might get worse if you touch your eyes.
Compared to when you were 20 years old, your eyes require three times as much light at 60, according to NCBI. In light of this, you should ensure that your home has adequate electric lighting and you’re not straining your eyes too much or running the risk of falling or tripping.
You should also increase the amount of natural light that enters your home. Maintaining clean windows and fully drawn curtains throughout the day can help you achieve this. Add flexible table lamps if you want to read or work at home. Adding lighting at the top and bottom of the stairs is also a good idea.
6. Engaging in Spinal Health
An important social trend is the continuing concern for health and why you need to engage in spinal health. Aging holds different meanings for different people, but older persons today are more active and have higher expectations for their lives than ever before. Most young men and women have hobbies like traveling, hiking, riding motorcycles, and other activities on their bucket lists. However, most of these activities require one to be in optimal shape.
A healthy spine is essential for preserving a high quality of life, vitality, and enthusiasm for the journey ahead. Here are some suggestions to help you maintain the healthiest possible condition for your spine and back.
Sitting more casually, using a computer, and being sedentary can cause the spine to become misaligned. When walking, try to keep your back in a neutral position. When you’re sitting, avoid slouching and consider investing in an ergonomic computer chair. Whether standing, sitting, or moving, keep your back in place by tucking in your pelvis.
You should also invest in supportive footwear. Consider purchasing orthotic shoes, either a shoe that offers support at the arch or ones specially made for your feet and physical condition. If you’re already experiencing back pains, consider using chiropractic services.
7. Smiling More Often
In most teeth-whitening advertisements on TV and in magazines, you’ll see gorgeous young people smiling and laughing. It’s often not clear who can and can’t whiten their teeth. You’ll be happy to know it’s never too late to get back your youthful smile. Even if you’re in your 80s, you can still visit your cosmetic dentist for teeth whitening.
You can choose from a few different forms of teeth-whitening procedures. One alternative is using a teeth whitening kit that can be obtained online or at a drugstore. This kit typically includes a bleaching agent you apply to the teeth using a brush.
Another choice is to whiten your teeth at a dentist’s office. Other treatments are available, such as in-office fluoride application and steam cleaning or laser teeth whitening, which employs a powerful light and bleaching solution delivered directly to the teeth. While it may seem trivial, an important social trend is a continuing concern for health and why smiling more often can help.
Everyone experiences some form of health issue as they age; there’s no escaping that. Luckily, there are steps you can take to mitigate their effects on your overall quality of life. This read explores the topic of an important social trend is the continuing concern for health habits in retirement.
