The "golden years" aren't called that for nothing. People often think of their 60s, 70s, and beyond as a time when they won't have as many responsibilities and will have more time to pursue their passions and interests. They see it as a time of self-fulfillment and meaningful engagement with the world.

But illness and problems are more likely to affect our health as we get older (many of which are avoidable). In this post, we'll talk about how to keep your health in good shape as you get older. It's never too early or too late to start making changes that will make your health better as you get older. This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

Normal Signs of Getting Older

This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

Some changes to our bodies and abilities are unavoidable as we get older, but taking care of your health at every age can help you live a long and healthy life. And knowing about the common changes that come with getting older can help us all take steps to stay healthy:

As bones age, they tend to lose mass and density, which makes them more fragile. This can also hurt the bones in your back and make you stand hunched over.

When plaque builds up in the heart's arteries, they get stiffer and make it harder for blood to get to and from the heart. This can cause high blood pressure. Blood vessels also start to lose their elasticity, which makes blood flow slow and makes you feel cold.

As time goes on, the tendons and ligaments start to get weaker and lose their flexibility. This makes the joints stiff.

As the lens gets thicker and stiffer and the eye takes longer to respond to light, eyesight starts to get worse.

Some seniors may have trouble hearing high pitches if they are exposed to loud noises for a long time, and this is a direct result of getting older. Because of these things, it may be hard for seniors to understand what people are saying.

Less blood going to the kidneys and weaker abdominal muscles can make it hard to control the bladder, which can cause urine to leak out.

As we get older, the levels of hormones in our bodies, like estrogen and testosterone, naturally go down. This can make our libido go down.

Because of these changes, older people are more likely to have certain health problems, such as:

Getting a broken bone or osteoporosis

Having a heart attack or getting a heart-related illness; tearing a tendon or ligament; or getting arthritis.

Blindness or a very bad vision problem.

Going deaf or losing a lot of hearing is a bad thing.

Getting a disease like Alzheimer's or dementia that affects your brain,

This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

Tips on how to age well

This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

The body will change as a natural part of getting older. But seniors can reduce some of the more serious health risks that come with getting older by taking preventive steps (and it's never too early or too late to start!). Here are some good ways to age: This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

Eating well is important.

A healthy diet is made up of many different kinds of foods that give us energy and the right amounts of nutrients. Make sure you eat fruits, vegetables, grains, sources of protein, and healthy fats every day. Limit foods that are highly processed and those that have a lot of added sugar or salt. And don't forget to drink lots of water!

The Mediterranean diet is one of the diets that doctors recommend the most. It is based on the traditional foods of Greece, Italy, and other places along the Mediterranean Sea. It has a lot of foods that come from plants, like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, and seeds. The main source of added fat is olive oil, which is good for your heart. There is a small amount of fish, seafood, and poultry. And there is less red meat and processed food.

-Taking prescribed medicines and supplements

Make sure to take your medications exactly as your doctor or nurse tells you to. If your doctor thinks that you aren't getting enough of a vitamin or other nutrient from your diet, they may also suggest supplements. Before you start taking a supplement or make a big change to the way you eat, talk to your doctor about how it might affect you and how it fits in with your health goals. This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

-Cutting down on drinking and smoking

If you smoke, you are much more likely to get many types of cancer and other serious, life-threatening heart and lung diseases. Talk to your doctor about how to stop smoking cigarettes or vaping. It's never too late to stop smoking or vaping and feel better about your health.

A moderate amount of alcohol per day, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is one serving for women and two servings for men. (A serving of alcohol is 12 ounces of beer with 5% alcohol, 5 ounces of wine with 12% alcohol, and 1.5 ounces of spirits with 40% alcohol.)

Drinking more than that is considered excessive and can cause health problems like certain cancers, pancreatitis, sudden death if you have heart disease, and damage to your heart muscle.

As we get older, we are more likely to get sick, so it's best to limit our use of these products that greatly raise our chances of getting sick.

Keeping busy and working out regularly

Regular exercise can help your bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments stay strong so you can keep doing the things you want to do. Regular exercise can help older people keep their balance and agility for longer, which can prevent dangerous falls and put off mobility problems. Exercise doesn't have to be hard to be effective. Walking, simple strength training, and simple yoga are all good examples. This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

Getting enough sleep This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

Getting a good night's sleep has many benefits, such as balancing your mood, making your brain and memory work better, and repairing your cells. Is sleep escaping you? There could be a health reason. This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

+ Staying in touch with family and friends

This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

Connecting with people you care about can keep you from feeling lonely and alone, which is good for your mood and mental health.

This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

Doing something important every day. This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

As we get older, as change speeds up and losses pile up, it can be harder to feel like we have a purpose in life. But studies show that this is one of the most important things for seniors' physical and mental health. (Find out how to keep your sense of meaning, purpose, and mental health as you get older.) This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

+ Talking to your primary care doctor in an open and honest way.

This entry was made public on August 1, 2010.

As you get older, it's important to set up regular checkups and screenings, since different times in your life bring different health risks. You can talk to your doctor about any worries you might have and ask any questions you might have about your health and well-being during these regular visits. Checkups on a regular basis can help you avoid serious health problems and live longer. (Find out more about what to expect at your yearly checkup.)

And it doesn't have to be hard to make an appointment for a regular checkup! At Carbon Health, we work hard to make sure that making appointments is easy and that all of your health information, including information about ongoing care, is in one place where you can find it.

You can get the Carbon Health app right now, or you can visit our website to learn more.