So often when someone gets older, they wait to get sick and then seek care when they do become ill. There is nothing wrong with this approach, but it is incomplete. As you get older, it is also important to focus on disease prevention. In other words, you should take steps to better care for yourself and to help prevent health problems down the road. Here are a few types of therapies to consider for enhanced, longer-lasting senior wellness.
Dietary Counseling
As you get older, your nutritional needs change. The diet that suited you well when you were in your 30s or 40s may not satisfy all of your needs now. It's wise to meet with a dietitian or nutritionist who has experience working with seniors. They can tell you what foods you should be eating more often, whether you need to add supplements to your routine, and whether there are foods that you should avoid. The sooner you start eating a balanced diet that truly meets your needs, the lower your risk of chronic diseases will be.
Chiropractic Care
If you're not already seeing a chiropractor routinely, this is a good time to start. Chiropractic adjustments do more than prevent back pain. They ensure your spine is properly aligned so you do not place more weight on one foot than the other. This will help prevent you from tipping and falling. It may also help ease muscle pain and tension so you can stay more physically active as you age. And staying active is a huge factor in staying well as an older adult.
Sleep Analysis
A lot of older adults do not sleep as well as they should or could. You may have sleep apnea. Or, you may have bouts of insomnia. Rather than continuing to struggle, consider seeing a sleep specialist. They can analyze your sleep, figure out what is keeping you awake, and recommend treatments or medications that can help you get better sleep. Getting better sleep will serve you well as you age. It will reduce your risk of infectious diseases, ensure you recover properly from physical activity, and help keep you mentally sharp.
As you grow older, your wellness and health needs change. If you take a preventative approach, you can ward off a lot of issues from the start. Consider seeing a chiropractor, working with a dietitian, and scheduling a sleep analysis appointment soon.
For more information about senior wellness, contact a doctor.
Share24 April 2023
My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.