Preventative Health Tips for Seniors

Seniors are faced daily with a number of health concerns. Fortunately, there are preventative health tips that every senior can use. With a few adjustments and a healthy lifestyle, it is possible to prevent illnesses and still live a satisfying life. Here are a few tips that seniors can use to prevent illness.

1. See a physician regularly. The best kind of treatment is no treatment at all. Seeing a physician regularly will help to catch a potential health problem before it really starts.

2. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Some glasses may be substituted with tea, coffee, or juices (4).

3. Eat more fiber. A fiber rich diet helps improve colon functionality, reduces the risk of certain illnesses (such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer), and may help lower cholesterol. Fiber rich foods include grainy breads, fresh fruit, and legumes (2).

4. Exercise. It is never too late to start some sort of fitness regimen. Walking and swimming are both relatively low impact exercises that can prevent injury and illness (2).

5. Remain mentally stimulated with puzzles and reading.

6. It's time to address depression. Almost 7 million seniors suffer from depression (1). Depression can lead to other health problems and mise

7. Prevent falls. Falls can cause injury and disability (2). To prevent falls, always hold onto the handrail while going up or down stairs, keep floors clear of objects that may cause tripping, and make sure surfaces are slip resistant (5).

8. Cease smoking. The dangers of smoking have been well known for years. A number of diseases related to the heart and lungs are significantly more likely in smokers. One study even indicates that smoking may increase the risk of blindness in the elderly (3).

9. Cease or cut back significantly on drinking. For individuals over the age of 65, one drink a day is the recommended limit. Alcohol should also not be mixed with certain types of medication (6).

10. Increase calcium intake. Osteoporosis is a major concern for seniors. People over the age of 51 should be consuming 1200 mg of calcium a day. Many dairy products contain plenty of calcium, but talk to your doctor if you feel that a calcium supplement needs to be added to your daily intake (4).

It is very important for seniors to practice preventative health measures. It is much more expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to treat health problems than it is to prevent them.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Healthy Aging: Improving and Extending Quality of Life Among Older Americans." 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/aging.htm

2. FamilyDoctor.org. "Good Health Habits at 60 and Beyond." April 2008. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/seniors/staying/799.printerview.html\

3. MedResource Inc. "Study: Smoking increases risk of blindness in elderly." 2009. http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=3586&channel_id=10&relation_id=30075

4. Ngai, Rachel. "Nutritional Tips for Aging." November 2003. http://www.aging.ca.gov/aaa/guidance/Nutrition_Best_Practices/Nutrition_Education/health_tips_for_seniors.pdf

5. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "Older Consumers Safety Checklist." http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/705.pdf

6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. "As You Age...A Guide to Aging, Medicines, and Alcohol." 2004. http://asyouage.samhsa.gov/media/asyouage/asyouagebrochure01.pdf