One thing that we can’t escape is the fact that we’re all going to age over time. While you’re healthy and feel great during your younger years, the disease risk starts to pile up as you age. Due to the diseases and disadvantages that sometimes happen at an older age, many people start to fear aging as they reach a certain age. If you’re finding yourself in this situation, then read on as we discuss ways to get over the anxiousness that comes with age, and help you feel better about your age.
Why Do People Fear Aging?
If you’ve done some research on aging, then you might have heard the term FOGO before. It means “Fear Of Getting Older” and it’s something that affects a lot of people. Depending on how severe your fear of aging is, it might even be classified as gerontophobia.
There are different reasons why people have a fear of aging. You’ll need to keep your own situation in mind, however. This is because the reasons are not always the same for every individual.
The degeneration that comes with aging is a very common reason for people to start experiencing anxiety as they become older. It’s known that with age, your body starts to lose muscle mass and becomes weaker. Hormones also change, which can bring about other changes too.
Research also suggests that some health conditions are much more common among older individuals than the younger population. Some of these conditions include pain, osteoarthritis, diabetes, dementia, depression, and cataracts. Vision and hearing problems are also more common among the aging population.
How Can You Live Happy And Healthy As A Senior?
Whether you’re in your 30s or already reached the age of 50, it’s never too late to ensure you are able to live a healthy and happy life once you become a senior citizen. The earlier you start to take care of yourself, the healthier you’ll be at an older age.
We are going to take a look at a couple of tips that you should keep in mind to prepare for a better life in the future.
Why It’s So Important To Live Healthily
There are a couple of things to consider if you want to feel better about aging and even your current age. However, Your overall health is one of the most important factors to remember. Taking better care of yourself could help to extend your longevity – which gives you more years to enjoy with your loved ones.
Living healthy encompasses several different things. Combined, these aspects help to reduce your risk of becoming ill, reduce the chances of chronic diseases, and ensure you do not struggle with poor mobility.
Some of the things that you should consider when it comes to living healthily:
- Your nutrient intake is crucial. Make sure you get enough vitamins and minerals, as well as good fats, and quality sources of carbohydrates in your diet. This helps your cells to function properly. A high nutritional intake also creates a strong immune system that fights off pathogens.
- Keep check of your carbohydrate intake. Eating too many carbs, especially simple carbs, can cause frequent spikes in your blood sugar levels. This can cause your body to become resistant to insulin and lead to a risk of diabetes. Too much carbs also increases your weight and can lead to obesity – something that will put you at a further risk of complications over time.
- Exercise is something that many people tend to put off. Maybe you tell yourself “I’ll start tomorrow”, but when tomorrow comes, it just leads to a delay again. Over time, your body starts to lose muscle mass – but with a good exercise program, you can slow this down and maintain a healthy level of muscle in your body. It’s also a great way to prevent fat from accumulating in your body.
These basic lifestyle habits are not the only actionable steps you can take to feel better and age healthier. It’s important to look at any “bad” habits that you’re practicing. If you’re a smoker, consider giving up – there’s no need to go cold turkey, but set a date and slowly start to reduce how much you smoke. With alcohol consumption, it’s important to practice moderation if you prefer to have a drink now and then. This can help to reduce the effect that alcohol can have on your liver, kidneys, and other parts of your body.
Taking care of your mental health is also important. If you notice signs of depression or anxiety, make sure you take the time to see a therapist. There are also some cases where you may need to use certain medications, such as antidepressants, to improve your mental state. These drugs can significantly improve your mood and help you better cope with factors that are causing you to feel depressed.
As you become older, getting regular checkups at your doctor becomes more important too. Try to get a health checkup at least once per year. It’s a good idea to find a trustworthy doctor and you feel comfortable with. Your doctor can monitor factors like your blood pressure, heart health, cholesterol levels, and your blood sugar.
When the healthcare provider notices abnormal changes in any of the regular tests they perform, they may want to rule out potential causes. This can often lead to an early diagnosis of certain diseases – and the earlier treatment is initiated, the better the outcome in the majority of cases.
Bottom Line
Whether you have gerontophobia or simply feel a bit stressed about old age, know that you are not alone. Many people fear aging, but there is no need to. As you grow older, you may experience some aches and even new diseases, but taking action early in your life can significantly improve your quality of life later on. Take the notes we shared in this article into account to help you feel calmer and happier as you venture into a new era of your life.