Looking After Your Health As You Age

The health and wellness industry is currently booming in the United Kingdom (UK) and everyone wants a piece of the action. From plant-based diets to HIIT training, the country’s population has become increasingly engaged in fitness and self-care which can only be seen as a positive step. Looking after yourself at any age is important to living a long and happy life, even more so the older you get.

In 2017, the Office for National Statistics published that the UK has an ageing population with 18% of individuals aged 65 and over. Births continue to outnumber deaths and in 2016 there were 285 people aged 65 and over for every 1,000 people aged 16 to 64 years. As lifespans con-tinue to grow, so does the importance of looking after your health as you age.

Keeping active and eating a healthy diet are conscious decisions that can be taken on a daily ba-sis, but there are some routine checks that should be scheduled into your diary to make sure eve-rything’s ticking along smoothly. A few areas to keep an eye on are as follows:

Vision

Your vision will inevitably get worse as you get older, this is mainly due to the lens inside your eye becoming less flexible. Flexibility within the lens allows your eye to change focus and be-comes hindered the more you age. Eye tests should be carried out at least every two years to en-sure your sight stays in the best condition possible. Not only that, eye tests can actually identify a number of other health conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes.

Hearing

Many factors in life can contribute to age-related hearing loss, from family history, exposure to loud noises and even smoking, so it’s important to keep on top of your ear health as you age. Try and get your ears tested at least once a year to see if they’re getting worse and consider whether a hearing aid could help you if you’re struggling. Dedicated companies, such as Imperialhearing.com, can offer fittings, servicing and after care in the UK for multiple hearing devices.

Blood Pressure

Structural changes and stiffness in the arteries tend to occur as you age which results in an in-crease in blood pressure. Heightened cardiovascular risk means you are more susceptible to the weakening of blood vessels, blood clots and even stroke so it is really important to check this regularly. If you have no issues with it currently it’s still wise to visit your doctor every year, or even check your levels at home. Blood pressure monitors are available to purchase if you want to keep a closer eye on it at home.

Annual Screenings

As you get older, you’ll be requested to attend more annual screenings by the NHS and it is highly advised to attend. Mammogram and cancer screenings are not necessarily required on an annual basis when you’re younger but are essential routine checks after a certain age. Keep on top of appointments and contact your doctor if you haven’t had one in a while.