A natural and beautiful part of life is the privilege of getting older. It happens to those of us who are the luckiest and sometimes, aging is so gradual that we barely notice – until we do. One day, your favorite jeans don’t fit and your knees snap, crackle and pop when you stand up.
Growing older is definitely not a bad thing, but it does come with life changes that remind us to take much better care of our health. That may mean paying more attention to things like diabetes care, heart health and maintaining an active and productive lifestyle. Getting older isn’t just about the gray hair or the wrinkles you spot. It’s about how your mind, body and energy levels evolve. Here are some common signs you’re getting older that you need to pay attention to.
1. You need more recovery time. When you were younger, a late night was easy to bounce back from. That’s not the case anymore and it’s a sure-fire way to see that you’re getting older. Muscles may feel sore, you may need more rest after a busy day and you might find that a night out with friends is just not as easy to come back from as it once was. This doesn’t mean that you can’t be active; it just means that your body benefits from a little extra care.
2. You notice there are metabolism changes. Many people find it easier to gain weight – hence the jeans – and much harder to lose it as they get older. Muscle mass also tends to decrease if you’re not staying active like you used to. To counter this, regular physical exercise can and will help and strength training especially works to build and maintain muscle and boost your metabolism.
3. Your vision or your hearing starts to shift. It’s common for your eyesight to change over time, but did you know your hearing does it, too? You might need brighter lights, stronger glasses or hearing aids and if that’s the case, these signs need monitoring. Regular hearing and eye exams can and will catch the issues as they happen but wearing the right glasses and hearing aids also helps.
4. You’re less flexible than you used to be. Do you remember the time you could do a bridge on your back? Or cartwheel down a hill and feel fab for it? That changes as you get older and gentle exercise can help you to feel stronger and help you to maintain that flexibility. Sure, you may not be handstanding by the wall anymore but you can still get your body feeling more flexible.
5. You’re paying more attention to the doctor. As you get older, it becomes more important to stay on top of routine screenings and medical visits. Regular checkups help to catch early signs of issues like high blood pressure and cholesterol changes. Preventive care allows you to manage your health before your health manages you. It’s not about worrying, but staying informed and taking small steps to protect your body and your health.
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