Four Helpful Health Tips Can Add Years To Your Life
By Paul Larson
MILLBRAE – It’s good knowing that so many of you who’ve seen my past articles have also been giving me a lot of positive feedback and nice comments. Every day I come across somebody who tells me that they’ve liked what I’ve written. Thanks everyone for taking a look. I know some assume that the topics here always relate to funeral planning, cremations, burials, etc., but I really just write on what ever is on my mind when I sit down at my computer. It’s just a way for me to say “hi” to everyone who comes across these articles, and at the same time to give a brief nod to the “CHAPEL OF THE HIGHLANDS”. It seems a little nicer by using this space to say something instead of just placing a static advertisement that most everyone passes over anyway.
This time I’ve gathered together a few helpful health tips I found on the internet at WebMD.com. These simple and effective recommendations relate to men in their 60’s and up, but are good advice for anyone:
1. Use it or lose it. As you age, it’s important to pay attention to cognitive function and to make the effort to stay mentally alert and stimulated. That means keeping your brain busy. Read, do crossword puzzles, socialize, try new hobbies. (Maybe it’s finally time to learn French!)
2. Strength training: It’s never too late to start. At 65, you may think the heaviest thing you should lift is the remote. Not true. We inevitably lose bone mass and flexibility with age. But regular strength training (with an OK from your doctor, of course) can keep you on your toes, prevent muscles from wasting away, and help you avoid falls and other accidents. The American Association of Retired Persons reports that studies have shown that men in their 60s and 70s who strength train regularly have muscles that look and perform as well as inactive men in their 20s and 30s.
3. There’s still time to quit! If you’ve been trying for years to kick a heart-unhealthy habit such as smoking or drinking to excess, don’t figure that the damage has already been done. It has — but you can repair or avoid some of it if you quit now. Studies have shown that people who stop smoking at age 65 add almost two years to their lives, cutting their risk of heart disease and lung cancer.
4. Don’t forget key screening tests. You’ll probably hear a lot about flu shots, but don’t forget the pneumonia shot, which you should get at age 65. Stay in touch with your doctor to keep up with regular cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes testing, and have a colonoscopy every 10 years.
My advice: Some “health tips” forwarded to you via email by friends can be misleading, and finding accurate information is vital. WebMD is a reputable website…but don’t just rely on health info you find on the internet. Consult with your doctor for a correct health routine appropriate for you.
If you ever wish to discuss cremation, funeral matters or want to make preplanning arrangements please feel free to call me and my staff at the CHAPEL OF THE HIGHLANDS in Millbrae at (650) 588-5116 and we will be happy to guide you in a fair and helpful manner. For more info you may also visit us on the internet at: www.chapelofthehighlands.com
