 In
this section of the site we have aimed to cover problems and illnesseswe believe to be the most frequent in the older person.
Don’t
forget if you don’t find it under this section try our search
facility as it may be under a different section.
If the illness/condition you require information on is not on this
site then please fill out a feedback
form telling us what it is you would like to see added.
The
majority of people in Great Britain are living longer, which of
course is great news. But as the well-known saying goes it is ‘quality
not quantity’ that makes the difference. I am sure we all agree, we don’t want to reach a good old age
yet be unable to enjoy ourselves because of illness.
Exercise
and diet
For
some people getting old means lazing around on the sofa in front
of the TV. However,
after the age of 45 many people will begin to gain weight, so it
is very important to stay physically active. Regular exercise helps reduce the effects of osteoporosis and arthritis.
Exercise such as brisk walking, jogging and keep fit can help keep
your bones strong. You should try and take exercise three times
a week for approximately half an hour. Be careful not to over exercise
as you may end up doing yourself more damage. If you haven't exercised
for a while you should speak to your doctor about ways to get started.
You can also try the following to keep you active:
-
Try
walking up stairs instead of using the lift or escalator.
-
Take
up gardening, raking leaves etc.
-
Get off the bus a stop
earlier and walk the distance.
-
Wash
the windows.
-
Walk
the dog, if you haven't got a pet consider getting one.
-
Take
grandchildren to the park for a walk.
-
Take
up a new activity like dancing, swimming or yoga.
It is also very important that if you smoke
you now give up, it is never too late to stop. Click
here to read our page about smoking. Ensure
you maintain a healthy diet, to help reduce your risk of heart disease
and cancer. For more information on what a healthy balanced diet
consists of click
here.
Health awareness
By
the age of 65, you should have your eyesight checked regularly,
NHS sight tests are free to people over 60 every 2 years. You should
also visit
your doctor at least once a year to have your blood pressure and
hearing checked, even if you are in good health.
Women
should continue to practice breast awareness and check their breasts
every month for lumps. A routine X-ray, known as a mammogram is
available on the NHS for women aged between 50 and 64 by invitation,
at three-yearly intervals. Women over 64 are not automatically invited
for screening but screening is available on request.
Men
should look out for possible symptoms of prostate problems such
as, difficulty or pain when urinating or needing to urinate more
frequently, especially at night. By the time men reach their 70's,
40 per cent will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
If
you are over 75 years old make sure you visit your doctor or local
pharmacist once a year, for a flu jab. The best time to be immunized
is late September. If you are under 75 but have any of the following,
you should also have the flu jab : - chronic respiratory disease,
including asthma and bronchitis,
chronic heart
disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes,
low immunity due to disease or cancer treatment. However, if you
don't fall into any of these categories and would like the flu jab
you should speak to your doctor.
When
you reach retirement age you may find you have a lot of free time
so why not take up a new hobby such as learning an instrument or
taking a further education course. Make time to pamper yourself
and visit a beauty clinic or the hairdressers. It
is important to keep your mind active as you get older and you can
do this by playing cards, writing letters or by doing crosswords. Also why not get in touch with all those people you
have lost touch with over the years.
We
at Home Health UK believe everyone should take an active role in
leading a healthy lifestyle.
It is not only the person who is suffering from illness that needs
to know about the condition, but also those caring for them. |
