The ‘Must Things’ You Need to Get Checked Out as You Get Older
You need to know three things about getting old. First, your glasses keep on missing. Next, guacamole is the new dish. Lastly, you need to get checked once every two years or as recommended by your doctor. As much as you want to age like a fine wine, your body changes, and it’s inevitable. Here are the things you need to get checked out when you get older.
Bone Health
Believe it or not, your bones change when you get older. The size of your bones shrinks in size; that’s why elderly people look shorter. No worries about that; it is common when you age. Your bones are a bit rigid, and you are not as strong as before but don’t falter; you can still keep up with life. 1
In a much-relaxed way, though. Since your bones are weak, accidents may happen. You should have yourself checked with your doctor if you have osteoporosis. Get yourself screened through a bone screening test. It is recommended to have your bone screened every two years.
Also, to ensure that you have strong bones, exercise regularly to maintain your balance and prevent you from falling. Examples of weight-bearing exercises are walking, walking up the stairs, and lifting something. This improves your strength and balance. Also, to make your bones stronger, add calcium and Vitamin D to your diet.
Your Vision
True fact: your eyesight changes when you age, unfortunate but true. You might notice that it’s blurry to read your favorite magazine now, unlike last year. You can have your eye checked with the eye doctor. The test that you will take is called dilated eye exam.
Your eye doctor will recommend you for a dilated eye exam every two years or every year if you have a known illness such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Use glasses that protect you from UV rays, and take medications as prescribed. Glaucoma and cataracts are some of the known eye diseases of the elderly. When you are outdoors, use sunglasses to protect your eyes.
Hearing
Your hearing changes through age too. Like if you have a friend who says, “It looks like it’s going to rain”. Then maybe your other friend would reply, “I’d rather have a sandwich!” Go talk to your doctor if you replied, “I’ll get the next train!”
According to studies, it is common for ages 65-74 years old to have hearing loss. This can be due to some factors that contribute to hearing loss. Some are noise, heredity, and age. 2
If the hearing is difficult for you, you should be honest and tell them about it. Get yourself an incredible hearing aid after your doctor has prescribed it for you.
Cognitive Function
Your brain changes when you age, anatomically and cognitively speaking. Your brain shrinks. This includes forgetting other people’s names or having difficulty multitasking. Some conditions develop when you age — known as cognitive impairment. One test called Mini-cog involves a recall test and the clock drawing, among other tests.
Visit your doctor when you are having difficulties remembering things. You ask the same question repeatedly. In addition, you ask your doctor about your cognitive health when it is difficult for you to remember your daily routine and difficulty in following directions.
You can deal with your forgetfulness by eating healthy food, learning new things, exercising, enjoying going with friends, and quitting smoking. These are some ways to achieve a healthy brain. Some medications have a side effect that affects your brain. Talk to your doctor if your medications interfere with your brain function.
Your Heart
The heart vessels stiffen as you age. This results in your heart working hard to pump blood throughout the body. Even when you are at rest, it still pumps hard, causing your blood pressure to rise.
Here are some tips that you can do to minimize the risk of developing heart disease. First, enjoy your walking or any moderate activity. Then get enough sleep, eat healthy, live healthy, relax and manage stress, and don’t smoke.
If you feel dizzy, experience chest discomfort or your feet are often swelling, and you may have high blood pressure. These are symptoms that your heart is having difficulty pumping your blood. Visit your doctor and get yourself checked for your cholesterol level. Other than cholesterol checks, your doctor may order blood glucose, exercise stress tests, and other tests.
Digestive System
Your digestive system also changes when you grow old. It’s either you need to go to the bathroom often or not. For some reason, many older people get constipated. You might not know the reason why.
Call your doctor if you are having trouble pooping. Reasons for calling would be, that there is blood on your poop, stomach pains, and you lose weight without trying. To deal with constipation, eat healthily, move a lot, and drink enough fluid. If you have an urge for a bowel movement, don’t ignore it.
Some people needed to undergo digestive system tests. This is also called endoscopy. The doctor uses a little camera that will check how your digestive system looks. Remember, it is best to always be on the lookout when you are getting old.
Your Blood
You go to the hospital because you feel fatigued, confused, low energy, or delirious. The doctor will have your blood checked if you have troubles with some part of your body. Doctors order blood tests to check your thyroid level, kidney function, and electrolyte level.
You can request a copy of your laboratory results so you can keep them as your record for future reference. Keep in mind that blood tests ordered by your doctor can help you check out your body.
Get Yourself Checked Now!
You have a unique body. You get to experience your body a little bit differently from anyone. However, call your doctor if you have shortness of breath, dizziness, and headache. Getting yourself checked regularly doesn’t mean that you are aging too fast. You are being careful to still enjoy your life with the people close to your heart.
References:
1 National Library of Medicine – MedlinePlus / Aging changes in the bones – muscles – joints
2 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders | Age-Related Hearing Loss
