Over 1.5 billion people worldwide have anemia, a chronic iron deficiency that’s especially common among older people. Health risks and aging are often discussed as going hand in hand, and although you do become more at risk for certain ailments as you age, it doesn’t mean your quality of life should deteriorate. Enjoying your retirement despite your health concerns or conditions is not only possible, it can be really simple! It just amounts to looking after your health and paying attention to warning signs.
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Anemia: How To Identify It And What To Do
Anemia is one of the most common chronic health conditions among the elderly, and luckily, it’s one that most people don’t need a prescription to help. If you frequently feel tired or lethargic, get dizzy easily, find it hard to concentrate, or have trouble sleeping, anemia might be the cause – but that doesn’t mean you should get potentially dangerous iron injections, or immediately seek medical alternatives. There are lifestyle changes you can make to help cope with low iron.
Your diet has a huge impact on your body’s nutrition, so if you have low iron, try adding at least one high-iron meal per week to your diet. High-iron foods include soy beans, lentils, mussels, oysters, and more, so you aren’t condemning yourself to a boring meal by eating high-iron foods. Aerobic exercise also helps you cope with anemia, delivering red blood cells to muscle tissue faster and helping your circulation. Diversifying your diet and doing a little exercise don’t have to be chores – try going for a leisurely walk a few times a week, and take some risks in the kitchen. You can add spice to your life by following these steps.
Arthritis, Joint Pain, And Your Retirement
Another common age-related condition is arthritis, which comes in many forms, but often describes the breaking down of cartilage within your joints. As the cartilage frays, the bones rub together, causing inflammation and joint pain and often affecting other areas of your body, especially your back. Arthritis, while not curable, is treatable, and there are actions you can take to lessen your arthritic pain. Perhaps surprisingly, regular exercise is crucial for people with arthritis.
Moderate aerobic and range-of-motion exercise, done a few times per week, can not only increase the flexibility of your joints, it can strengthen them and improve your overall health and quality of life. Stretching your arms over your head – or doing similar flexibility exercises for the joints that have arthritis – lessens the stress your body places on the joints and allows them to move in a way more like their original movement. Doing these exercises can take as little as 10 minutes a day, and shouldn’t take away from your retirement: by contrast, it should mean you’re able to enjoy doing more instead of resting your joints.
The health concerns that come with aging are by no means trivial, and if you have concerns, you should see your doctor. But your quality of life isn’t just about what the doctor ordered, it’s how you can live your life to the fullest, even (and especially) in retirement. Small changes to your diet and daily routine can have a big impact on your physical health, meaning you feel better and are able to do more. Remember, your health and happiness are the most important things. Enjoy retirement!