If wine gets better with age, so can you. Aging is not a happy process we all know, but, it can be made less stressful by maintaining physical and mental discipline from the start or while you are capable.Life is not about living longer but about healthier and happier. If you think getting old means only diseases, discomforts, and medicines, then you are wrong. Getting old is about gaining more wisdom and patience. It is true that you can't prevent the sprouting of gray hair or lines on your face forever, but, you can avoid the snap, crackle, and pop noises of aging joints. Before that, let's understand why aging hurts?
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Woman having knee pain in medical office[/caption]As we grow older, each and every part of our body undergoes changes too. From our skin, bones, organs, ligaments to tendons, each change their track of behavior with time. They slow down, become less flexible, stiff, and painful for several reasons. The wear and tear due to the constant usage of our body parts, lead to aches, sores, and pains. Here's a list of common discomforts one can develop as one age.
● Arthritis - Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid, Osteoporosis, etc.
● Muscle cramps and stiffness
● Joint pain, inflammation, and restricted mobility
● Cardiovascular diseases
● Diabetes, High blood pressure,
● Dementia
● Cataract
● Digestive issues
● Dental and hearing problems
Thankfully, all the bumps in the road that might occur in your life ahead can be avoided with some contingency plans which we are going to discuss below.
1. Learn to cope with change. Aging is a natural process. Prepare yourself to accept the changes in your body. Don't stress out. Plan out things you can do as you age.
2. Get active. If you still are neglecting physical activity simply by saying 'from tomorrow,' then remember, tomorrow never comes. Start today.
3. Walk a minimum of 30 minutes every day to lower your risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even cancer as well as to boost your self-esteem, improve your sleep, keep bones and muscles strong, and to control your weight.
4. Have an ergonomic set up at work. Take breaks. Maintain proper posture and stretch now and then to avoid joint stiffness and aches, which can even make you immobile later if not taken care of at an early stage.
5. Workout regularly. Practice muscle strengthening exercises focusing on each joint like back, knees, arm, etc.
6. Eat and sleep well. Junk foods and late-night sleep may not affect you now but can take a toll on your health later. So, have a nutritious diet and make sure you sleep on time and for 8 hours minimum.
7. Stay hydrated all the time. Dehydration can lead to joint fatigue and pain. Hence, make a habit of drinking an adequate amount of water daily.
8. Give up bad habits like smoking, drinking alcohol, etc. as they are not only the contributors to joint pain but can cause other health issues as well.
9. Give your body enough supplements. As we age, our body does need more of some vitamins and minerals than before like, Calcium - to keep bones strong, Vitamin D - which is necessary for joints and is available for free from the sunlight, Vitamin B12 - which can be obtained from fortified cereals or a supplement, and Vitamin B6 - which keeps the red blood cells strong to carry oxygen throughout your body. You can find a natural source for all of these or take supplements if necessary.
10. Listen to your body. Don't neglect yourself. Conduct regular check-ups with your doctor and take the necessary tests to monitor the functioning of your body.
Conclusion Most of the aches and pains that we start experiencing as we age are due to physical inactivity, an improper diet, less amount of sleep, repetitive abuse of our joints, etc. which we only can prevent from developing. Keep handy and useelectrotherapy devices to ease and treat any joint pain that arises and hinder your daily activities, to stay pain-free later.