OCR Text |
Show cuapimsiiniimiiimig Iimttepesit ' ' ' Good habits can help adults stay healthy as they age by JACKIE A. SMITH Utah Department of Health Practicing good health habits is just as important for older adults as it is for young people. While aging is a natural process we must all go through, growing older does not need to mean poor health. There are many preventitive measures older adults can follow to avoid injury and improve their overall health status. Below are some recommendations in four major areas of concern for older adults. Accidents and injury Many accidents can be prevented by maintaining mental and physical health and conditioning and by cultivating good safety habits. To prevent falls, you should illuminate all stairways and provide light switches at both the bottom and . the top. Be sure both sides of the stairways have sturdy handrails, remove throw rugs that tend to slide and use grab bars on bathroom walls and nonskid mats or strips in the bathtub. To prevent motor vehicle accidents, acci-dents, try to drive fewer miles and drive less at night, during rush hours and in the winter. You should exercise caution in using public transportation. Diet and nutrition Most people gain weight more easily as they grow older, but they need the same amounts of most nutrients (vitamins, minerals and protein) as younger people. Talk with your doctor about your eating habits, especially if you have any illnesses that might require changes in what or how much you eat. Also, you should eat a well-balanced well-balanced diet that provides vitamins, protein, and carbohydrates. Such a' diet will be rich in fresh vegetables (especially leafy greens), fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, beans and or meat and whole grains. Eating these kinds of foods will help reduce the amount of fat and salt in the diet. Exercise and physical fitness Anyone who has been inactive for many years should see a doctor before starting an exercise program. When starting an exercise program pro-gram it is important to start slowly and progress gradually. Start with . short periods of about five to 10 minutes twice a week. Then build up slowly, adding no more than a few minutes each week until you can exercise 15 to 30 minutes, three to four times a week. Be sure to include a warm-up and cool-down period with each exercise session. Drug use and abuse People over65 make up 11 percent of the population of the United States , ; yet they take 25 percent of ' prescription drugs sold in this country. To prevent problems, only take the amount of drug prescribed by your -doctor and follow the dosage schedule as closely as possible. Never take drugs from a friend or relative. Also, your doctor should be told about past problems with drugs. When your doctor prescribes a drug, be sure to mention all other medications currently in use. Old medicines should be discarded, discard-ed, and when starting a new drug you should ask the doctor or pharmacist about side effects that may occur, special rules for storage, and which foods or beverages, if any, , .r you should avoid. Take the time to add a few preventive measures to your life. You'll be healthier and more likely to enjoy life and do the things you really want to do. |