Promoting Health and Preventing Chronic Diseases

Posted by Scott Cantin in Nutrition Tips, Senior Health | 0 comments

Many Americans live with one or more chronic diseases that require ongoing medical management. While chronic diseases, like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, can be found in all age groups, the prevalence of these and other chronic conditions is much higher among seniors. Even seniors who do not have a chronic illness are at a greater risk of developing one than younger adults. But by regularly following a few simple tips, you or your elderly loved one can significantly reduce that risk and live a full daily life.

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise is critical not only to lowering your risk of developing a chronic disease, but also to maintaining high levels of mobility throughout your life. And while the possibility of getting started daunts many Americans, exercise doesn’t require fancy equipment or an expensive gym membership. Regular movement is key. Your routine can start with walking at a speed and distance you feel comfortable with. Weight training is also a good addition as we lose muscle mass with age, which can make us more susceptible to osteoporosis.

Exercise is essential to reducing your risk of developing chronic diseases regardless of age. Make sure to consult your doctor before starting an exercise regimen. And it’s often helpful to do them with someone, such as a friend, family member, or experienced caregiver. Exercising in tandem can help minimize your risk of injury, help you stick to your regimen, and inspire you to push yourself harder than you would have otherwise.

Eat a Proper Diet

Nutrition is also vital to staving off chronic diseases. In fact, many chronic diseases stem from poor nutrition, such as stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Excess consumption of processed foods, complex carbohydrates, and sugars can greatly increase your risk, as can carrying extra weight as you age. But regularly eating a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and carbohydrates can keep you healthy.

Further, combining proper nutrition with exercise is vital if you’re looking to shed extra pounds or stay slim. In most cases, exercise won’t do it alone. Proper nutrition is also vital to getting quality sleep, which is another way to keep chronic diseases at bay.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

We often sacrifice sleep when we’re overcommitted, stressed out, or even having a good time. Worse, many of us have developed bad habits that degrade our sleep quality. These habits include using electronics until we fall asleep, sleeping at irregular intervals, sleeping fewer hours than needed, napping excessively, and using stimulants too close to bedtime.

While we overlook sleep, consistent nightly sleep is a core healthy living component. Poor sleep quality is a substantial risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, chronic decline, and dementia, among other conditions.

Reduce Alcohol and Avoid Tobacco Consumption

The older you get, the larger an effect alcohol has on your overall health. Not only will you likely feel its effects more quickly, but it will take longer for your body to metabolize. Moreover, it’s strongly correlated with several chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and many types of cancer, among others. And if you already have mobility issues, excessive alcoholic consumption can increase your risk of slips and falls.

Tobacco and tobacco products are a strong risk factor for developing certain kinds of cancer at any age. If you’re still smoking the occasional cigarette or two, it’s best to cut out tobacco products entirely. That includes vaping as well.

Seek Professional Help

Whether you’re in relatively good shape or already managing a chronic condition, it’s best to seek professional help. Professional help means regular check-ups with your primary care physician (and specialists as needed) to ensure everything is in order. If you’re struggling with depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition, regularly seeing a therapist can help as well. Moreover, no matter what health conditions you’re managing, it’s best to do so with the aid of qualified caregiver services in Miami.

Senior care is a crucial component of chronic disease prevention. A qualified and experienced caregiver can help support your dietary and nutrition plans, help with housekeeping tasks you now find challenging and ensure you’re able to visit medical professionals as needed. Research has shown that adults of all ages who are physically and emotionally isolated from others suffer worse health outcomes than others. Caregivers can help you travel to visit friends and loved ones in your community and provide companionship to you as well.

With Florida’s dense population of retirees, senior care in Miami is a robust industry. But not all caregiver services in Miami are created equal. When it comes to your care or that of your loved one, you want an agency that employs highly trained and personable caregivers with experience dealing with individuals with chronic conditions. You want an agency that provides flexible service, ranging from a few hours a week of light housekeeping to 24-7 in-home care services in Miami. And you want an agency that puts your or your loved one’s health first.

Learn more about the Advancare advantage. Contact us today to discuss your caregiving needs.