There are countless reasons to exercise no matter how old you are, but seniors should be giving it the most focus. Not only does it keep your heart fit, so you are at less risk of serious conditions, but it also helps mental health in a variety of ways, like through the release of endorphins and improving cognitive capacity. Even doing simple things like daily home chores or gardening can go a long way.

 

You should also consider joining an exercise group. Not only will it give you a great group of friends, but it will also make it easier to stay consistent with your goals. It is always easier to exercise when you’re doing it with friends.

 

 

Older bodies have less muscle mass, and slower metabolism, meaning seniors don’t need to eat as much. As a consequence, you may not be getting as many nutrients as you need. Ensure that you are primarily eating foods that are high in nutrients. Just because you need fewer calories does not mean you need less nutrition.

 

 

Being at a healthy weight as an adult is important to minimize the risks of many health problems. As a senior, the importance is magnified. It is much harder and strenuous to make a substantial change of weight when you’re older than it is when you’re younger. By being proactive and maintaining a healthy weight throughout your life, you won’t need to play catch up and go through the exertion later on.

 

A third of the adult population of the United States has high blood pressure, and half of those don’t have it under control. As mentioned before, diet and exercise will go a long way to helping with this, but you should also be monitoring it from home anyway. Sometimes you can be doing everything right and still have problems, so you should be proactive and keep an eye on it. You can get a good blood pressure monitor for under $100, and your insurance may likely cover it. Seek out a doctor if you are consistently experiencing high blood pressure.

 

 

It might seem as seniors sleep a lot more than younger people, the amount of deep sleep they’re getting can be much less. Monitor your sleep schedule to ensure that there aren’t problems like constantly waking up in the middle of the night. Make sure that you are getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. Not getting enough sleep is one of the easiest ways to quickly degrade your heart’s health.

 

 

Matthew Bussard is a financial services broker offering support to Medicare users in Rhode Island. He is passionate about creating a

difference in his clients’ lives by helping them enroll in Medicare with professionalism and care. Mr. Bussard volunteers with Medicare recipients at Oak Street Health Clinics, providing efficient, continual guidance to clients every step of the way. Matthew also participates in various charitable activities, including The Hunger Project, the MDRT Foundation, local clean-ups, and little league coaching. He donates to local charities and makes a difference in his community in every way possible.