What do you do to stay healthy? Are you someone that likes to exercise 30 minutes every day or are you more of a health food person? When it comes to staving off illness and staying in tip-top shape, every little effort helps in keeping your immune system strong and fighting fit. Elderly populations and high-risk chronically ill groups stand to benefit the most from a consistently healthy lifestyle, as a lapse in such can lead to a deteriorating immune system, poor emotional health, liver failure, deteriorating heart health and more. Below is a simple list on everyday habits you can do to boost your physical and emotional health, alongside tips on choosing a health plan that reflects your individual needs.
Heart Health
Did you know that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in American adults? An estimated 84% of people over the age of 65 will die from heart disease, making this one of the most prevalent and debilitating diseases in the United State. There are many things you can do to encourage a healthier heart, such as consuming your daily recommended amount of fiber (21 grams for older women, 30 grams for older men), exercising throughout the week, getting consistent rest and reducing chronic stress in your day-to-day life. Yoga, jogging and artistic hobbies such as gardening or painting have been known to significantly reduce stress’ wear and tear.
Immune System
Your immune system works night and day to fight off viruses and bacteria, but it can’t everything by itself. One of the most commonly known ways to boost your immune system is to consume two servings of fruit and vegetables per day alongside the recommended six to eight glasses of water — your nasal passages, lungs and liver all need to consistently flush out toxins to keep themselves healthy, after all, and regular water intake is the simplest way to do it. Yearly vaccinations are necessary to update your body’s immune system and better help it fight off the flu, pneumonia and additional diseases that may be unique to your location.
Mental Illness
Your mental health can affect your physical health over time, increasing your stress patterns and leaving you at risk for heart disease, chronic sickness and persistent side-effects like reduced sleep patterns and concentration issues. One in seven Baby Boomers are being treated for depression, the highest rate among American adults, and other conditions such as PTSD and anxiety disorder are among the most common in younger populations. Depending on your needs, you may need to attend therapy sessions or take medication to curb your symptoms. Healthy life habits can reduce the severity of your condition and increase your quality of life.
Unhealthy Habits
Likewise, there are unhealthy life habits that can slowly wear down your heart health and leave you at higher risk for debilitating sickness and chronic illness. Smoking can cause lung disease and heart disease over the span of multiple years, with short-term effects including shortness of breath and dependency. While most older adults have quit regular smoking, over 8% of elderly adults were still smoking consistently in 2010 according to a study conducted by ‘The State of Aging and Health in America’. Additional unhealthy habits include alcoholism, poor sleep patterns and not consuming enough of your daily recommended five food groups.
Choosing A Health Plan
Your life insurance plan is carefully crafted to reflect your day-to-day needs on top of chronic illness and additional surgeries. These can be further altered through health care expenses such as Medigap, with policies including emergency healthcare services and coverage when you travel outside the United States. Although prescription drug coverage used to be part of the plan, this has since been changed in recent models. Only 2% of Americans over the age of 65 aren’t covered by insurance, thanks to Medicare expanding its policy. Next time you get a check-up, ask your nurse or doctor how you can further supplement your life insurance policy and keep your health going strong.
