Healthy Aging in Adults

Aging is a part of life, but there are ways to help ensure that you or your loved one can live a longer, healthier life.

Three Tips to Healthy Aging:

1. Get moving. Regular exercise, especially in older adults, can help boost heart health, maintain a healthy body weight, keep joints flexible and healthy, and improve balance. Older adults should aim to get at least two and a half hours of aerobic exercise per week and do muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week. Try dancing, aquatics, gardening, tennis, golf or yoga for fun ways to exercise.
2. Have healthy food habits. Vitamins and nutrients are important in aging bodies, and certain diets are believed to help slow cognitive decline and prevent heart disease. The Mediterranean diet, which focuses on fish, olive oil, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables and whole grain consumption, can help both brain and heart health. Leafy greens like spinach and kale have also been linked to a slower mental decline. Hydration is important too; properly hydrated adults have been shown to have less incidents of heart and lung disease. Typically, women should aim to drink six to nine cups of water each day, and men eight to 12.
3. Stay social and stay positive. Maintaining a busy social life as you age can help you feel connected and engaged, boost your mood, reduce your sense of loneliness and isolation, and improve your mental and overall health. Elders who participate in volunteer work or other recreational activities are also less likely to develop physical, cognitive and mental or emotional problems. Viewing aging in a positive light has also shown to have better impacts on mental and physical health.

Keeping up to date with screenings and doctor’s appointments is also an important part of aging. Visiting your primary care physician annually is a great way to make sure that you’re keeping your health in check.

Covenant Health has primary care providers throughout East Tennessee ready to provide healthy aging advice to you or your loved one. Visit CovenantHealth.com/Our-Services/Primary-Care to find a doctor or call 865-541-4500.