GLOBAL HEALTH AGING

You might think it’s a bit of a minefield to navigate your way through the world of health and wellbeing. There have been so many stories, news articles, and guidance on what is good for you and what isn’t. This also happens to change regularly, for instance, one-minute red wine is bad for you then the next it’s good to have a glass a day. Take a look below for some essential points to focus on when it comes to your health. 

What You Eat

One of the first things you may think about when someone mentions being healthy is your diet. This isn’t just as simple as the foods you are consuming. There is a lot to someone’s diet and what it consists of is also important. If you tend to eat a lot of junk food, then you will probably be short on a lot of the vital vitamins and nutrients that you need to function and thrive. If you consume a healthy balanced diet, you will get all these required nutrients from the food. If you are short on iron for example, then upping your intake of green vegetables should help with this. 

How Much You Move

Exercise and making sure you get moving is key to your body. If you don’t use the muscles in your body then these will get stiff and can actually shorten. If you spend a lot of time sitting down then the muscles in your calves can shorten and lead to problems with your lower legs and feet. This can happen quite a lot if you work sitting down, so in an office environment for example. Ensure you incorporate at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise into your daily routine, this can be anything that gets your heart rate up. 

Enough Sleep

Sleep is so important for your body and mind. You may not realize this, but a lot is happening while you sleep. Your brain is busy sending important messages to different parts of your body that may need repairing. Sleeping also gives you the chance to refuel ready for the next day. If you don’t get enough sleep, you can find yourself feeling irritable and grumpy. You should be aiming to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. As well as the number of hours you sleep, you need to make sure that it is good quality sleep. If you are feeling even more exhausted and not at all well-rested when you wake up, then there may be an underlying problem causing you sleep disturbances. 

Mental Health

This one can often be overlooked, as an out of sight out of mind kind of scenario. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, if not more so. Without this, you wouldn’t be able to get out of bed each day and get through work and socialize. Lockdowns through the covid-19 pandemic posed a huge threat to people’s mental health. If this affected you, then it is important you get back on your horse and arrange to see your friends once more. Meeting up with friends and keeping your social circle alive can benefit your mental health, making you feel much better and cutting your risk of developing dementia in half. 

Attending Checkups

Throughout your lifetime you may experience different conditions and ailments that set you back. If this is the case, then you should visit your doctor to make sure there are no underlying problems causing you to feel unwell. Your doctor will invite you for an annual review, this happens around the same time each year. This is a great way for your doctor to give you the once-over to ensure there are no issues lurking under the surface that you are unaware of. 

Along with these, it is important you attend regular optician appointments. You only get one set of eyes, so it is important you look after them. Opticians can spot problems with your eyes long before you can and long before it could become a serious issue. If they see something that could pose a threat, macular degeneration for example, then you will be referred to a suitable ophthalmologist who will help you deal with this. 

Lifestyle Choices

Finally, your lifestyle choices can have a serious impact on your health and wellbeing. If you consume a lot of alcohol, drugs, or you smoke then you are heightening your risk of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. You don’t have to quit altogether as it is healthy to have something to enjoy. However, cutting back will also cut back your risk of the above-mentioned problems setting you back.