What Not to do When You Want to Achieve Healthy Aging

Some people thrive on lists of things to do. Here is a list of things not to do when you want to achieve healthy aging. The list includes lifestyle habits, activities and coping mechanisms.

Things You Should Not Do if You Expect to Live to 100:

* Avoid all contact with healthcare professionals

* Chain smoke several packs of cigarettes a day

* Have multiple sex partners and forget to take precautions like wearing condoms

* Ignore body signs like pain, discolorations and loss of mobility

* Eat like there is no such thing as obesity or moderation

* Forget to take your vitamins and mineral supplements, or better yet throw the bottles out

* Sit around all day doing absolutely nothing of value

* Avoid all human contact and never marry or form other lasting human attachments

* Inactivity slowly destroys our body systems, so ignore this information and remain a couch potato, you look good in rolls of fat and stretched out clothing

* Crave what is unnatural and chemically altered

* Throw away all home exercise equipment, you never use them anyways and avoid all exercise programs and fitness clubs like the plague

* Live life large by participating in risky activities like bungee jumping, racing cars, and rodeo riding.

The sure way to not live a long and healthy life is to ignore healthy habits like eating nutritious meals, healthy snacks, and taking dietary supplements. When you live for the moment that may be all you have. Planning for your future ensures that you have the chance to have one. Avoiding unnecessary physical risk and unhealthy exposure to disease and injury gives you the chance to have a healthy body that can continue to function as it was intended. Listening to the signals your body gives you concerning how it is functioning assures that you receive medical, dental or mental healthcare in time to prevent serious complications. Exercise is your friend and contributes to the healthy conditioning and function ability of your body. Abstaining from sex or having only one sexual partner assures that you will have the ability to avoid many of the sexually transmitted diseases that can shorten your lifespan. Understanding your family health history can aid you in taking preventative measures that will lower your risk for these diseases. Keeping your annual health screenings can help you to detect the early signs of any diseases that you are at risk for based on your family history. Make sure that your healthcare team is well aware of what these family risk factors are. You can live a long life if you practice healthy habits like bodily cleanliness, avoiding excessive eating, stay away from social drugs, tobacco products and alcohol.

One important issue that all of us must be aware of is our ability to understand and monitor our body. Our body gives us many clues as to how it is functioning. Pain, discoloration, swelling, loss of function; these are all warning signs that our body uses to communicate with us so that we can address these needs and restore our body to health. Ignoring these signs can lead to disease, or further injury. Our mental health is closely related to our physical health, so be sure to seek help if stress becomes overwhelming or we notice signs of depression in others or ourselves.

Avoiding the Breaks of Retirement (and Osteoporosis)

Osteoporosis is not just an old person's disease; however, it is no secret that primarily women in their retirement years are most often diagnosed. Men can get this bone thinning disease as well. As you get older, your bones do tend to weaken and thin although osteoporosis is not the normal progression. The problem is that many people do not take precautions before this disease develops.

It is important to note that the reason many women develop osteoporosis is because menopause robs them of the estrogen that helps protect the bones from becoming brittle. That is not the sole cause though. These are some additional factors that weigh in when diagnosing osteoporosis:

1. A lifetime of low calcium intake contributes to weak bones as does a vitamin D definciency.
2. White and Asian races are the primary ones that dominate the world of osteoporosis.
3. Bad vices like alcohol addiction and smoking contribute to this disease.
4. A genetic history of osteoporosis makes a person more likely to develop it too.
5. Chronic illnesses, diseases and even medications can cause osteoporosis.

Retirees take note: osteoporosis does not normally present any symptoms. Most people don't know they have it until they break a bone. Cartilage wears down and bones weaken to the point where even a vertebra might collapse. Perhaps the one indication is a gradual loss of height which most people would not recognize.

Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis

Even before you head to the golden years of retirement, you should be taking precautions. However, if you haven't really thought about it and a recent bone density test shows that you are in the beginning stages of this disease, there is plenty that you can do to halt its progression in its tracks. Regular doctor check-ups and screenings are important as are a healthy diet and some type of physical activity every day. These things will also protect you in other areas of your life as well.

* Exercise - Thirty minutes per day is optimal. Weight and strength training are great for preventing osteoporosis as well as exercises that promote better balance. Yoga, walking, Pilates and even dancing are healthy for you.
* A diet rich in vitamin D and calcium are important. Milk, dark leafy veggies, yogurt, soy products, certain fish like salmon and low fat dairy are all great sources. Of course, supplements may also be needed to get the correct daily allotment.
* Yearly screenings for bone density are important, especially after age 50. And if you started menopause early, the screenings should start even sooner.
* Make your home more secure and remove potential hazards that could cause you to fall. Add handrails, secure carpeting, add skid proof mats to the shower and tub and tucking away cords all help. Having good lighting in your home can also help you see obstacles in your path.

The bottom line is that a life of clean living is the best preventative measure there is against suffering from osteoporosis in retirement. However, with proper doctor's care and preventative measures, you can halt this disease in its tracks.