With the progression of age, health and happiness start declining. According to a WHO health survey done in the year 2010, it was found that a majority of elderly suffered from health issues both mental and physical. Medical geriatric experts have come to a conclusion that social engagement and regular exercise can have good outcomes on the health of elderly people. Let us analyse the causes in this regard and discuss the solutions.
To commence, lack of fitness is demonstrated over a time-period. Sedentary lifestyle, improper food intake and careless habits contribute to ill health. With time, these bad habits along with a genetic predisposition result in the manifestation of diseases like Diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular diseases, Atherosclerosis, Hypertension and bone mineral diseases.
A solution to 90 percent of the old age acquired diseases can be achieved by maintaining a balanced diet with low salt, sugar and fat intake, and a regular exercise. Along with these precautions, a regular medical checkup after 45 years of age should be compulsory and parameters of the healthy body (body weight, blood pressure, blood sugar level, etc. ) Should be kept in check.
In addition, mental health also takes a toll on the elderly. Old aged people mingle less and are ignored by their family most of the times. Other family members have a busy lifestyle and their interaction with the elders of the house is non-existent. On many occasions, the elderly are sent to old age homes and proper follow up is not kept. This leads to a depletion of self worth and result in deteriorating mental health which manifests as depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders.
Several researches prove that the use of brain capacity in old age improves the neuronal circuits and brain games prevent the development of dementia. Similarly, psychiatrists propose that having familiar people around, talking to loved ones, engaging in conversations and participating in social endeavours enhances the perception of one's self worth which promotes a general mental well being.
For example, a model regarding this theory was presented a few years ago, where old age homes were combined with day care centres. A promising improvement in the happiness of the elderly was observed when they interacted with the youngsters. On a government level, such initiatives can be started. Awareness programs and elderly classes for yoga and low intensity workouts can be conducted on a small or large scale by social centres. However, it is pivotal to understand that these changes must be initiated on an individual level first among families and added support should be provided to the elderly people to maintain their health and fitness.
To recapitulate, the above given ideas prove that health and fitness is paramount, especially for the elderly and it can be achieved by a plethora of ways. Though these changes can be achieved over time, these are essential for a fit body and a peaceful mind.
With the progression of
age
,
health
and happiness
start
declining. According to a WHO
health
survey done in the year 2010, it
was found
that a majority of
elderly
suffered from
health
issues both
mental
and physical. Medical geriatric experts have
come
to a conclusion that social engagement and regular exercise can have
good
outcomes on the
health
of
elderly
people
.
Let
us
analyse
the causes in this regard and discuss the solutions.
To commence, lack of fitness
is demonstrated
over a time-period. Sedentary lifestyle, improper food intake and careless habits contribute to ill
health
. With time, these
bad
habits along with a genetic predisposition result in the manifestation of diseases like Diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular diseases, Atherosclerosis, Hypertension and bone mineral diseases.
A solution to 90 percent of the
old
age
acquired diseases can
be achieved
by maintaining a balanced diet with low salt, sugar and
fat
intake, and a regular exercise. Along with these precautions, a regular medical checkup after 45 years of
age
should be compulsory and parameters of the healthy body (body weight, blood pressure, blood sugar level, etc.
)
Should be
kept
in
check
.
In addition
,
mental
health
also
takes a toll on the
elderly
.
Old
aged
people
mingle less and are
ignored
by their family
most of the times
. Other family members have a busy lifestyle and their interaction with the elders of the
house
is non-existent. On
many
occasions, the
elderly
are
sent
to
old
age
homes and proper follow up is not
kept
. This leads to a depletion of
self worth
and result in deteriorating
mental
health
which manifests as depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders.
Several researches prove that the
use
of brain capacity in
old
age
improves
the neuronal circuits and brain games
prevent
the development of dementia.
Similarly
, psychiatrists propose that having familiar
people
around, talking to
loved
ones, engaging in conversations and participating in social
endeavours
enhances the perception of one's
self worth
which promotes a general
mental
well being
.
For example
, a model regarding this theory
was presented
a few years ago, where
old
age
homes
were combined
with day care
centres
. A promising improvement in the happiness of the
elderly
was observed
when they interacted with the youngsters. On a
government
level, such initiatives can be
started
. Awareness programs and
elderly
classes for yoga and low intensity workouts can
be conducted
on a
small
or large scale by social
centres
.
However
, it is pivotal to understand that these
changes
must
be initiated
on an individual level
first
among families and
added
support should
be provided
to the
elderly
people
to maintain their
health
and fitness.
To recapitulate, the above
given
ideas
prove that
health
and fitness is paramount,
especially
for the
elderly
and it can
be achieved
by a plethora of ways. Though these
changes
can
be achieved
over time, these are essential for a fit body and a peaceful mind.