Seniors Site

Exercising is truly a fun activity to do. Aside from that, it has many great benefits for the body. For one, it helps the body relieve itself of harmful toxins trapped inside by way of sweating. In terms of digestion, I find that it keeps constipation at bay and for some reason, it aids in everyday bowel movement which is a great news for many seniors who have been having trouble in this area. Also, one good reason to exercise is knowing you will feel great afterwards.

Feeling great is only half of the story. When you see aesthetic results finally manifesting right before your eyes, there’s a tendency to work out more or train more to boost your progress. Oftentimes, these good intentions can quickly turn into a disaster especially if you find yourself quite addicted to exercising. It’s no joke, and it really can happen. While training your body to be physically active is good for you, doing it in excess can also do you harm.

Take note that overtraining is not limited to gym-goers only, it can occur in just about any sports as long as you are pushing your body over its comfortable limits. Doubly harmful is going from sedentary lifestyle to an all-out war in making your body fit, taken into consideration is your age, of course. In fact, it is highly advisable for seniors to train under a very watchful eye of a certified fitness instructor each and everytime to avoid straining the body too much. Remember that your body is no longer an oiled machine and it needs time to adjust when introduced to a new lifestyle. Not only that, it also needs to recuperate and get itself together after stressing it no matter how much training you did that day.

Some of the warning signs which will indicate if you are training too much are low energy levels, exhaustion, loss of appetite, depressions and sleeping difficulties. Infections can also occur frequently if the body is experiencing overtraining. If you find yourself having these symptoms, you might want to take it slow by readjusting your fitness program and consulting your doctor about the problems at hand. Or, you can find another fitness activity which suits your body more.

There are two areas in which overtraining can occur. One is too much exertion and another is not having enough breaks in between training. Having to train 4 to 5 times a week makes a lot of difference than training every single day. Exercising should make you feel good, both physically and mentally and it should never feel as if punishing yourself will yield greater results. Adapting a proper mindset will help you get in-tuned with your body all the more.

It was always said that the key to healthier, longer lives is diet. Not the lose-your-fats kind of diet but the well-balanced one since seniors are not anymore encouraged to do—or even attempt—drastic diet alterations. What we must aim at is not only losing a couple of pounds (if we’re overweight) but maintaining a healthy body so that it can ward off potentially fatal diseases easily. A proper mindset can help you achieve this goal.

In a way, it’s like preparing your body for a battle. You must properly nourish it so it will be strong enough to withstand trial and tribulations. Just imagine if these so-called “lifestyle diseases” caught you at your most vulnerable time i.e tired, beaten and hungry. You could just imagine how much damage it can inflict upon you. Please do remember that most lifestyle diseases are irreversible, so as much as possible, do stay away from it and never let it anywhere near you!

So now you know why crash dieting is never an option for you, nor diet pills and what-not. It’s unhealthy, not to mention very risky. Risk is no longer a luxury we can afford so better stay at the safer side than traverse your way without knowing what’s there for you. Although, there seemed to be so many issues to consider when going through the diet route which makes it all the more tempting to go the other way, the good news is, it can be done even in your own simple ways. No signature diet, no counting calories, just your basic, everyday-kind-of-life diet that is realistic enough to be easily remembered! Here are your daily diet tips for a healthier you:

·    Drink plenty of water. Lots and lots of it! Colored, flavored and anything in between are not counted anymore, just pure, clean drinking water counts. The easiest way to do this is to carry a water jug with you all the time and drink even if you are not that thirsty. Consider this as your body’s mechanical oil; keeps everything else in you in moving condition!
·    Never skip a meal, especially breakfast. Breakfast is what keeps you energized all throughout the day. A hearty breakfast won’t hurt you but as the day progresses, try to gradually lessen it so you won’t have any trouble sleeping at night.
·    Adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D. They go hand-in-hand. I heard somewhere that you even have to drink your milk in the morning out there under the sun to experience full effect although it was not proven, of course. But indeed, vitamin D is what helps bones to absorb calcium so you really need these two to save your bones.
·    Do without fats and sugar. Fats is what makes your cholesterol go high and sugar makes you prone to diabetes.
·    Go for fiber-rich foods. It fills the stomach well but keeps everything else you’ve eaten moving downward and out.

Aging brings inevitable problems to a person. A senior may experience more health problems than his or her aging neighbor while the neighbor may have been going through a lot emotionally nowadays. A senior can be bothered by health problems or mental problems—or worst, both. Unfortunately, it really happens even if we take certain precautionary measures to avoid them. It seems that as we age, these problems will come up no matter what. Of course, the number of problems that will occur can vary widely, depending on how good you managed to skip or delay them during your lifetime. This also includes your genes since hereditary factors play a very significant role in one’s aging.

According to a survey conducted to a group of people aging 65 and beyond, problems of old age come in two forms. One is emotionally and two is physically. Experts believe that these two are actually intertwined, which means, if one area is suffering, the other might also be taking the same blow. Here are some examples of emotional problems senior must have encountered once or twice during old age:

·    Insecurity. Lack of security in seniors could come from their current financial status or the sudden loss of upper hand within the family.
·    Critical judgment. Most seniors tend to be hypercritical especially towards the younger generation. Seniors cannot be blamed though, after all they have been through.
·    A nagging feeling that somehow you’ve failed. When we’re done criticizing others, we now turn to ourselves.
·    Stopped setting goals. When faced with the reality that the end might come nearer than expected, we see no use for long-term goals and instead we get stuck in the past.
·    Culture shock. Seniors often find themselves quite disturbed with what has been happening around them thus the feeling of being alienated from their surroundings.
·    Knowing all the answers and yet no one bothered to ask. Feeling useless is often a discomforting feeling for seniors.

Aside from these troubling emotional problems for seniors, there are marked physical changes that they need to contend with. Of course, as we age, so does our bodies. Like machines, every part has an expiry date. This is when your body parts start to show signs of wear and tear. Some of the most common health problems for seniors are:

·    Hypertension.
·    Eye and Ear problems.
·    Heart problems.
·    Impaired mental capacity.
·    Your reproductive organs.
·    Hormonal problems.
·    Digestive system.
·    Sleeping patterns.

Like stated earlier, most problems of old age are related to one another. It is best to find the connection between each of them to know the root cause of your problem. This way, it will be easier to find the perfect solution to help you overcome the problem.

Contrary to popular notion, seniors do have sex lives too. Nowadays, many seniors are enjoying close, intimate encounters with their partners, never minding their sexual limitations—things that are beyond their control. The good news is, these sexual problems can be discussed with your healthcare providers and they can be helped—even treated—when assisted early on. An active sex life during your senior years can be achieved, especially if you’re all out in pursuing it. In fact, studies show that sexual satisfaction does not diminish with age but is rather hindered by age-related health conditions.

Certain physical changes come with the aging process. Your sexual functions, together with your reproductive system are the firsts to go. No matter how much you want to engage in sexual activities—since desire can still be felt—sometimes, the body may not react the same way as it used to be. Older women may feel their vaginas literally shrinking while men must have been experiencing erectile dysfunction every now and then. Lubrication is also a problem for senior women. Unfortunately, this condition can have a tremendous effect in sexual contacts women may have. Vaginal dryness can bring discomfort and sometimes pain, making it hard for the sufferer to enjoy sex. Sexual problems are mostly caused by age-related conditions such as:

·    Medication
·    Disabilities
·    Illnesses

Heart attack, being a condition that limits the use of excessive emotions, can make a person doubtful during sexual encounters for fear of triggering the condition or making the matter worse. Furthermore, women who underwent surgeries especially those within their genital areas are more careful when it comes to sex—to a point wherein they avoid doing it as much as possible. For one, a woman who recently underwent mastectomy is prone to feeling undesirable and less feminine. If the partner is not sensitive enough of the sufferer’s feelings, it may even leave an emotional dent in the relationship.

Aside from erectile dysfunction, one of the most common culprits that affects a man’s ability to have a healthy sex life is his medication. Some maintenance medications that are taken by older men are known to decrease sexual desire and worsen erectile dysfunction. Common drugs that are known to have this side effect are those prescribed for blood pressure, antidepressants, and even antihistamines.

For seniors who worry about their declining sexual activities, you should know that sex takes two aspects in a person. One aspect is emotional while the other half is physical. If one aspect is not up for it, chances are, it won’t work or in other words, it won’t be as satisfying as it should be. Nurture these two areas while you can and there will be no stopping you from having sex, even at any age.

When we get older, one of the most common questions that we may have is how to live longer and healthier. As seniors, we know that it is always proper nutrition and exercise so as soon as we recognize the signs of aging, we quickly jump into the “health wagon”, hoping that it’s not too late for us. What we don’t know is that prevention starts earlier than we ever expected and people who actually grow older than a hundred are living healthy since birth.

Knowing this for a fact should teach us not to expect too much especially if we start treating ourselves right a little too late. On the other hand, it’s better late than never right? Plus, healthy changes in your lifestyle can never hurt you.

According to a study conducted to a group of senior men, age is not the only factor that affects longevity. Among the top 5 affecting factors in one’s health, particularly that of an aging man, are:  smoking, diabetes, weight, blood pressure and exercise. These health factors increase the risk of dying early tremendously. This study also concluded that those who survived are living well despite any diseases they may have right now. This only shows that even if seniors are plagued with illnesses, their healthy lifestyle doesn’t need to stop but it has to be maintained all throughout.

Smoking is one of the best-known killers of all time and it becomes doubly harmful for seniors. Its direct effects are fatal enough but long term use has its own set of side-effects that can seriously impair a man. It can reduce bone density exposing you to fractures. Quitting the smoking habit can be your best choice, so far and quitting it early is definitely a plus. Read more about this study in this post:    5 Easy Steps to Living Long and Well.

It is also recommended by healthcare providers for seniors to maintain an adequate weight by eating healthy and exercising as much as possible. Along with aging comes the tendency of the digestive system to slow down making it harder for the body to remove toxins. To combat this condition, digestion-friendly foods should be introduced. Fiber should be included in a senior’s diet since it aids in healthy digestion and removal of waste. Hydration is also important in maintaining a healthy body.

Overall, keeping all aspects of your life active is your best weapon in maintaining a healthy, longer life. This involves physical, social, emotional and spiritual. Start early so the body can adjust well even before it shows signs of aging.

If you are a caregiver or you have been living with a senior for quite sometime now, are you sure your senior is healthy and not on the verge of malnutrition? Sometimes seniors tend to forget about how important good nutrition is for them and just eat whenever they feel the need to, unfortunately when a senior is experiencing too much pain or is suffering emotionally, the last thing on their minds would be eating and nutrition. It now depends on their housemates to monitor their nutrition more than ever.

There are many varying factors why seniors may have overlooked their health. It can be due to the fact that some seniors live alone thus they don’t see the need to cook real food and opt to dine elsewhere. It can also be due to digestive problems which limit food choices for older adults while others find it hard to keep up with food preparation due to mobility problems. These reasons alone can tell you how vulnerable seniors are to malnutrition. Below are signs you need to look for when you are in doubt about your senior’s health:

·    Loss of appetite. When trying to determine whether your senior is eating right, don’t just ask them because if they were not, they won’t know the difference. Try spending time with the beloved senior and dine with them. Notice their appetite when served with their favorite foods as well as their reaction when invited to dine out.
·    Sudden weight loss. Drastic weight loss in a span of 3 months is not at all normal. Weight loss can be a sign of many different health conditions, emotional and otherwise. Consult a doctor immediately when you see this sign.
·    When visiting a senior, check their pantry and refrigerator just to have an idea what they have been eating these days. Check expiration dates and for spoiled foods. Throw away items that may endanger the senior’s health when mistakenly eaten and do the honors to replenish their stock with nutritional foods.
·    A dead-giveaway of malnutrition is the skin, particularly its tone. It should have healthy and hydrated look to it.
·    Positive disposition. Sudden change in the senior’s outlook in life can signify of something that others should be alarmed of. When a happy person suddenly turned lethargic and withdrawn, it’s about time you interfere.
·    Seniors with mental problems are often nutrition-neglected so do the best you can by making sure your senior gets everything his or her body needs.
·    The medications they take can also affect the way they taste foods, often making them lose appetite and do without eating altogether. When you notice this effect, discuss this with their doctor at once.

Along with aging comes physical changes that most of the time, seniors find them embarrassing to handle. Unfortunately, no matter how much we loath these changes which signify advance age, they will come. For seniors, it seems that the only thing we can do for this inevitable predicament is to delay them as much as possible, face them when they come and just make the most out of these changes. In other words, if we like to stay “likeable”, we must do damage control when the need be.

One of these physical changes that seniors suffer is dental problems. Although dental problems are not an imminent danger to one’s health, it can bring about embarrassing situations if not taken cared for beforehand. Also, it is most important for seniors to keep in touch with their dentist especially as they age further. This is because many mouth problems may indicate other underlying health problems that can be more serious and threatening to our health.

If the only thing that’s been hindering you to visit your doctor today is the fear that he or she may pull all of your damaged teeth out, then fret no more. Today, every dentist worldwide goes for restoration as they possibly could because they know all too well how a toothless grin can affect one’s self-esteem. Needless to say, a senior should not hesitate to go to his or her dentist to get the mouth job done. Here are some few good reasons why you need to see a dentist today:

·    It is common for seniors to suffer dry mouth or xerostomia. Seniors should be aware that dry mouth can cause tooth loss and other oral problems like sores, sore throat and gum disease. Dentists say that the number one contributing factor of dry mouth in older adults is the medication they take.
·    Receding gums is closely related with your weakening bones. When your jaw bones shrinks, the gums follow suit. Furthermore, gum diseases especially when they are left untreated for years now, can encourage your gums to recede in a much faster phase. This can lead to tooth loss and root decay.
·    Tooth discoloration or darkening teeth on the other hand is more of a lifestyle condition which can worsen overtime. To stay away from tooth discoloration, experts advice seniors to avoid beverages that can darken your teeth such as coffee and tea. Smoking also induces tooth discoloration.
·    Gum diseases are usually caused by our own oral hygiene. If it had been poor then your gums are now prone to gum diseases that proved to be very troublesome when they manifest. Plaques for one, can cause tooth loss to affected seniors.

Taking the first step in exercising is quite hard. Not only it seemed daunting, but also it can be challenging for an aging body such as ours. But once you get hooked on it, there’s no stopping you. When you think getting started is hard, wait until somebody points out those exercise hazards you’ve been taking unconsciously.

I would like to think that exercising is a constant challenge for the body. In this day and age, it seems that nobody is getting an adequate load of physical work hence the need to really go out of your way just to satisfy your body’s needs. Also, upon observation, I find that the body indeed memorizes your everyday physical demands such as when you hop on the bus, your body will instruct one-by-one all those involved parts of your body to complete the task. Notice how your right or left hand automatically reaches out for the bars to support your body when climbing, or how your left or right foot automatically steps up the ladder. These “automatic” actions are your body’s most comfortable movement and sadly, exercising is not because you don’t do it everyday unless you’re an athlete or exercising is a way of life for you.

It is highly recommended for seniors to train under the watchful eyes of a certified fitness instructor, no matter how proud you are of your capabilities. Everyday, the fitness world undergoes evolution and new equipments are introduced for the market to test. It only goes to say that new equipments pose new challenges as well and if there’s no one to keep an eye on you while you train, you’ll only increase your risk of being injured by these machines. Here are some points you need to consider while exercising:

·    Be very weary of new and complicated machines. When a new equipment comes in, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to use them at once. Give it some time and observe how people use it. When trying it out for the first time, be sure that your physical instructor is right there beside you.
·    Cardios are intense and it can be very challenging to a weary body. When a routine is making your body unable to support its weight, then might as well stop while you can. Cardio is done to make the heart go faster and so does your body’s metabolism rate, overdoing it will defeat the purpose all together.
·    Maintain a proper form when exercising. Many have fallen in this unavoidable trap just because longtime gym-going fellows think they already have perfected their forms while in reality their bodies only adjusted to the demand but never adapted the proper form. Lifting too much weight which your body finds it impossible to accommodate will only result to irreversible injuries. Lift only that is proper for your body.
·    Targeting your abdominals when you already have back problems is serious. Instead go for exercises that strengthen the whole core, namely the sides, back, and abdominals. Crunches are too strenuous for your back, opt for other alternatives instead.
·    Always remember to do warm-ups and cool-downs before and after doing routines.

Are you having trouble with your legs when trying not to move or when relaxing? Do normal day-to-day activities like sleeping and sitting still giving you problems most of the time? Do you experience unpleasant sensation, more like there’s crawling, creeping and burning feeling inside your entire leg but for sure it’s not cramps? Then you might be experiencing RLS or restless leg syndrome.

You would know that it is indeed a restless leg syndrome if these sensations manifest only when your legs are kept immobile for quite sometime. These sensations will only demonstrate when the leg starts to relax and would only go away when you move your entire leg such as jiggling and shaking. Unfortunately, the relief is temporary as it will only go back when you try to relax once more. In other words, a senior can only keep them at bay if they will not stop moving for longer periods of time which proves to be impossible especially when trying to sleep or traveling long distances. It was also believed to be worse in nighttime and better in daytime. Furthermore, it can also occur in different parts of the body especially the arms.

Although restless leg syndrome is mostly associated with seniors, younger adults—even kids—experience them too but it seems that this condition progresses as the years go by so ultimately, symptoms and frequency intensify as we grow older. RLS in itself is not an immediate health risk but it can severely affect a senior’s life since suffering from this condition will prevent sleep from happening. Lack of sleep will cause daytime drowsiness and impaired concentration—all of which are very hazardous to seniors’ life.

Evidently, there is no known cause for restless leg syndrome but experts believe that this is a nervous system disorder which affects the neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters process the brain signals and control muscle movement. It also acts as the middle man for your brain and skin that when the skin experiences a sensation, it will process the sensation into a message which the brain would then understand. Aside from this basic fact about restless leg syndrome, other suspected causes are:  Iron deficiency, hereditary, diabetes and too much alcohol in the blood. It was also noted to be present in the last trimester of pregnancy when a woman’s body is in a lot of stress.

As of this moment, healthcare providers have no recommended preventive measure for seniors suffering from RLS. Furthermore, there is no discovered cure yet. However, some lifestyle adjustments are highly recommended for RLS sufferers such as:

·    Seek massage therapy options available for you. This is done to help you relax and encourage good blood circulation.
·    Regular exercise also help in overall muscle stimulation so it only goes to say that engaging in one will be very beneficial for seniors.
·    It was noted that when the patient cuts back on caffeine intake, the condition improves although the link is not yet established. This noted improvement was also seen when known aggravators such as alcohol and nicotine were not introduced into the system for days.
·    Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to alleviate the symptoms. Take them when needed.

Building a strong relationship with your own personal doctor is important since your life depends on this person. Like any other relationship there is, it requires two individuals working in harmony to achieve a successful relationship so it should not depend entirely on the doctor. There are things you need to do to ensure that your relationship with your doctor would be something that is built based on trust and respect and quite frankly, finding a good doctor that fits your needs is quite hard. The best possible way to find your perfect fit is to start looking early in life. This person should be, most preferably, someone who has been working with your health for quite sometime now.

If you’re able to maintain a good relationship with your doctor, it would be much easier for him to see warning signs upon checkups. His concern is most apparent and you’ll feel secured with each and every decision he is about to make regarding your health. These are some ways to enhance your relationship with your doctor today:

·    Don’t forget an appointment. Your doctor is a very busy person and making him wait for you is a very insensitive thing to do. Remember to schedule a regular checkup once a year so that your doctor is updated with your current heath status, preferably on or before your birthday, just so you won’t forget it.
·    Communication is very important. You must be very comfortable talking to your doctor and letting him know your fears. When your doctor feels this, he would develop a much stronger bind with you.
·    Don’t be afraid to ask questions if there is something you don’t fully understand. Asking questions is different from questioning his ability to decide what’s best for you so there’s no need to be afraid if your intention is the former.
·    When there is something that needs to be addressed immediately, usually the good doctor will give you an ample time to decide. Use this time wisely by doing your own research and listing down any questions you may have regarding the issue at hand. When the time has come for both of you to meet again, don’t forget to ask the good doctor of the questions you may have.
·    It is not uncommon to find a doctor that doesn’t exactly fit your needs. It may be your gut feel kicking in or the way the doctor is handling you isn’t exactly your idea of patient-doctor relationship. Whatever the reasons may be, it is important that you feel at-ease when seeing your doctor and it is not bad to find your perfect fit, so don’t hesitate to see another one if you deem fit.
·    It won’t kill a patient if he takes time to be kind. A simple “how’s your day?” would do good for anyone especially for your tired doctor. Always remember that these doctors are people too and they get tired and pressured every single day.
·    Extend appreciation for a job well done. Everyone needs to be acknowledged even if it is their job to care for people. Sometimes, doing something is not always for the money but for the friendships he or she is able to make while doing what he does best.