health in my 70's and beyond

With the wisdom we’ve gained from life, our retirement years should be a happy and carefree time. At this stage, our health and mobility is our most important asset, so we need to look after it.

HEALTH AWARENESS IN MY 70’s

Health in our 70s and beyond is about looking after our minds and bodies so we can keep enjoying a happy and independent life. Some of the most common ailments we get as a result of getting older stem from weakened bones and a weakened immune system. Common ailments we need to be aware of include:

  • Worsening vision and hearing
  • Injuries from falls
  • Colds or flu turning into pneumonia
  • Loneliness
  • Forgetfulness or confusion
  • Arthritis and joint pain
  • Strokes and heart issues
  • Bowel health and waterworks problems
  • Reduced sex drive

70’s health check

If you’re lucky enough not to have any ailments that you need to see a doctor for, you should still get a check-up every year. These are some of the topics you might want to discuss whenever you see your doctor:

  • Incontinence
  • Hydration
  • Insomnia and broken sleep
  • Arthritis
  • Waterworks and bowel movements
  • Heart and kidney health
  • Depression and outlook
  • Weight and fitness
  • Osteoporosis and bone strength

STEPS TO BETTER HEALTH IN OUR 70’s

There’s a lot we can do to boost our immune systems, stay sharp, prevent injuries, and reduce our risks of heart disease, strokes and cancers. Take a look at what you can do.

70's check-ups schedule

Abdominal ultrasound 5 years
Blood pressure 2 years
Blood tests & urinalysis 3 years
Bone health 3 years
Chest health 2-3 years
Colon health Yearly
Partial colorectal exam Yearly
Complete colorectal exam 10 years
Eye health 2-3 years
Flu shot Yearly
Mental health Regularly
Oral health Yearly
Physical exam Yearly
Prostate health 2 years
STIs Regularly
Skin self exam 1-2 months
Testicle self exam yearly
Testosterone ask your doctor
Tetanus & diphtheria booster 10 years

WHAT CAN I DO?

We need to keep our hearts in top condition. A brisk walk most days will give our heart, lungs and legs a work out. Keeping active also helps keep our bones strong, warding off osteoporosis, and our joints working. If you’re missing the routine of work, having a regular exercise routine can help. We need to work all our muscles and do a little load bearing exercise to stay strong and protect our hips and shoulders, so activities like lawn mowing and gardening are great. Get as much exercise as you feel comfortable with, but pay attention to aches and pains which might be warning you if you’re overdoing it.

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Food is fuel. It’s good for us to eat plenty of fresh vegetables and a variety of foods each day. The more fresh food we have, the more vitamins and minerals we are feeding our body and immune system. Eating foods high in calcium and vitamin D, like tinned fish, dairy, and eggs, helps keep our bones strong. Retirement can also be a great time to learn and experiment in the kitchen.

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As we age, our bodies naturally hold onto less water, and we don’t feel thirsty like we used to. Our kidneys also become less able to process toxins, so more water gets expelled when we pee. As a result, we get dehydrated more easily, which can give us headaches, tired spells, shallow breath, and is terrible for our liver, kidney and heart health. So we have to make sure we drink plenty of water every day, even if we’re not feeling thirsty.

The best way for us to keep our brains sharp is to keep using them. We need to keep challenging our brains to help keep Alzheimer’s at bay. Learning new things, watching TED talks online, making stuff, meeting new people, reading, playing games, and doing puzzles are all good for this. Find something you enjoy.

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Most of us really look forward to not having to get up and go to work when we retire, and then struggle a bit staying motivated when the time comes. To help ward of DEPRESSION and mental health issues, it is good for us to have a purpose, a reason to get up in the morning. Setting goals can help. You might want to keep working, plan a trip, try some volunteer work, or start a project

As we age, we typically end up on some kind of daily medication. This, along with our aches and pains, can disturb our sleep. If you’re having trouble getting to sleep or sleeping through the night, there’s a lot you can try. We’ve got some helpful tips on our sleep better page, and you may want to talk to your doctor about it.

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