No matter how old you are, you should take care of your body and avoid getting sick.
But if you are 65 or older, even a simple illness like the flu or a cold can get worse and cause problems. This includes infections like pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infections, and sinus infections that happen after the first one. If you have asthma or diabetes, for example, a respiratory illness can make these conditions worse.
Because of this, it’s important to make healthy choices to boost your immune system and lower your risk of getting sick. you can content for ndis service providers perth for old people.
If you follow these nine tips, you’ll be healthy all year.
1. Move around
Physical activity is good for your immune system. Your body is better able to fight inflammation and infections the more you move.
The thing you do doesn’t have to be hard work. Exercises with low impact are also good for you.
You could try biking, walking, swimming, or aerobics with low impact. If you can, work out for 20 to 30 minutes a day at a moderate level of intensity to reach the recommended total of 150 minutes a week. Also, lift weights or do yoga to strengthen your muscles.
Change your workout plan until you find what works best for you.
2. Take any supplements you need
Some supplements help keep your immune system in good shape. Before taking a supplement, you should always check with your doctor to make sure it’s safe, especially if you’re already taking a prescription drug. They might suggest calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12 as supplements.
3. Eat healthy foods.
Fruits, vegetables, and lean meats help boost your immune system and protect you from viruses and bacteria that can make you sick. Antioxidants can be found in fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants keep your body healthy by keeping your cells from getting hurt.
You should also try to eat less sugary and fatty foods, which can make your body inflamed and weaken your immune system.
Also, limit how much alcohol you drink. Ask your doctor how much alcohol you can safely drink per day or per week.
4. Clean your hands often
Another great way to stay healthy all year round is to wash your hands often. Viruses can live for up to 24 hours on a surface. If you touch a surface with a virus, get your hands dirty, and then touch your face, you could get sick.
Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Don’t use your hands to touch your nose, face, or mouth.
If you can’t wash your hands, you can also use antibacterial hand sanitizer to protect yourself. Also, clean the surfaces in and around your home and workplace often.
5. Figure out how to deal with stress
Stress that lasts for a long time makes your body make more of the stress hormone cortisol. Too much cortisol can mess up the way your body works, including how your immune system works.
To reduce stress, do more physical activity, get a lot of sleep, set realistic goals for yourself, and try new things that are relaxing and fun.
6. Get a lot of sleep
Not only can sleep help you feel less stressed, but it also helps your body fix itself. Because of this, getting enough sleep can make your immune system stronger. This makes it easier for your body to fight off viruses.
As you get older, sleep is also important because it can help you remember things and pay attention. Try to sleep at least seven and a half to nine hours each night.
Talk to your doctor about why you can’t sleep to find out what’s going on. Some things that can cause insomnia are not doing enough during the day and getting too much caffeine. Or, it could be a sign of a health problem like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.
7. Take steps to avoid getting sick.
Getting vaccinations once a year is another way to stay healthy all year. Talk to your doctor about getting a high-dose or adjuvant flu vaccine if you are 65 or older.
In the United States, flu season is from October to May. The vaccine takes about two weeks to work, and it cuts the risk of getting the flu by 40 to 60%. Trusted Source when the strains in the vaccine match the strains that are going around.
Every year, the flu virus changes, so you should get a flu shot every year. You can also talk to your doctor about getting a pneumococcal vaccine to protect against pneumonia and meningitis.
8. Set up annual checkups
Getting a checkup once a year can also help keep you healthy. If you worry about your health, you should always talk to your doctor.
Diabetes and high blood pressure, for example, can be missed. With regular checkups, your doctor will be able to spot any problems early. If you get help early, you might avoid problems in the long run.
Also, if you have any signs of a cold or flu, you should see a doctor right away. Adults over the age of 65 can have complications from the flu virus. As people get older, their immune systems get weaker, making it harder to fight off viruses.
If you go to the doctor within the first 48 hours of getting flu symptoms, they can give you an antiviral drug that will make your symptoms less severe and last less long.
9. Don’t hang out with sick people.
Another way to stay healthy all year is to stay away from people who are sick. This is easy to say but hard to do. But if there is a flu outbreak in your area, try to avoid people who are sick and stay away from crowded places until things get better.
If you have to go outside, wear a face mask to protect yourself. If you are taking care of someone who has the flu, you should wear a mask and gloves and wash your hands often.