Staying Well: Tips for Your All-Around Health
What if someone told you that a simple lifestyle change,
like changing your diet or your exercise routine could boost your health in a
big way? Would you give it a try? Of course you would! Keep reading below to
learn about several easy ways you can improve your whole health; that includes
body, mind and soul!
Taking care of your overall wellness includes taking care of
your personal protection. If you are currently living independently with no
form of at-home safety, you could be putting yourself in serious danger. Should
you encounter a serious fall, a home fire or even a home invasion and you are
unable to get help, what would you do? The experts at Life Alert have asked the
very same thing and answered that question with the invention of their medical
alert system. Life Alert’s medical alert
system comes with an emergency button that you wear as a pendant around your
neck or on the wrist - and in the event of a life threatening emergency, push
the emergency button and help will be sent fast, 24/7. With Life Alert you will never have to worry
about your personal protection. If you really want to take care of your body,
mind and soul, get Life Alert Protection today!
Health Magazine[1]
has enlisted the help of ChenMed’s Jessica Chen, MD, an internal medicine
specialist who focuses on seniors to share her tips to help you improve your
whole health. Read below to get your healthy on!
Let's get physical
"Start low and go slow," says Dr. Chen. You don't
have to run a marathon or even walk a mile to make an impact on your physical
health. Walk a block every day or park a little further away from the grocery
store entrance than you're used to. Set small goals and slowly increase them
over time. Need a little help getting started? Grab a workout buddy. Research
shows that exercising with a pal makes it easier to get up and moving, and
feels like less of a task and is more enjoyable. If you live in a cooler
climate or just want to take your exercise indoors, you've got options.
"Many Medicare Advantage plans now offer fitness programs," says Dr.
Chen. These fitness programs may offer access to gyms and exercise classes
across the country. It all depends on which plan you choose. Having a fitness
benefit as part of your health plan can save you money. Do you have a chronic
condition? Don't sweat it. "Even just a little bit of exercise can really
improve arthritis, diabetes, and blood pressure," says Dr. Chen. You
should always talk with your doctor before exercising to see what's right for
you.
Play games to take
care of your brain
Exercising your mind can help slow down the progress of
memory problems. Dr. Chen recommends crossword puzzles or Sudoku. Reading and
simple games increase the activity of your brain, which can be effective in
keeping your mind sharp. Consider taking a class in something you've always
wanted to learn, like painting, photography, or gardening, to challenge your
brain. You'll meet new people, which is an added bonus for your social health.
Chat it up with
friends and loved ones
Did you know depression and heart disease go hand in hand?
That's where your social health comes in. Though often overlooked, your social
health thrives when you're around friends and family. Whether it's giving your
old high school friend a call to catch up or gardening with your grandchildren,
make a point of getting out there and surrounding yourself with positive
people. Dr. Chen recommends engaging in a faith-based organization or
volunteering at a community center. "Find something you're passionate
about," she says. "If you can connect with a social group or have
strong family support that makes a huge difference."
Connecting the
whole you
Physical, mental, and social health are all connected.
They're critical parts that make up the whole you. It's not easy making
lifestyle changes. It can take many tries and fails, but don't give up. So how
do you find that motivation? Find a reason to improve your health, and then go
for it. Whether it's watching your grandkids graduate, losing an extra five
pounds, or improving balance to help prevent against falls, Dr. Chen says
finding your reason is the key to success.
Tap into your
Medicare Advantage plan for support
"With Original Medicare, you don't get the extra
benefits around health and wellness that you can get with Medicare
Advantage," says Dr. Chen. "You can get extra health and wellness
benefits, vision and dental coverage, and much more." Talk to your doctor
and do your research to ensure you're on the right track to the health benefits
you need to support your whole health. Here are 5 questions to ask the doctor
about finding the right Medicare plan for you.
With just a little positive change in your routine, you can
make a huge difference in your long term health. But, even with the healthiest
of bodies, personal protection is still a necessity. Maybe you’ve avoided it
because you’ve pictured a senior care program that would disrupt your
independent lifestyle, but with Life Alert Protection, you won’t have to
sacrifice your independence. Simply sip on their lightweight, waterproof
emergency pendant and in the event of a life threatening emergency, push the
button on your pendant and summon an emergency medical response fast, 24/7.
Your health and well-being are dependent on your safety; get Life Alert today!
Call 1-800-513-2934 for a free Life Alert brochure.
Works Cited:
1.
Capomaccio, Amy. “Whole Health for Seniors:
Staying Physically, Mentally, and Socially Well.” Health Magazine. 5 October 2018. <https://www.health.com/healthy-for-life/whole-health-seniors-staying-physically-mentally-socially-well/ >.