Geriatric Health Points

Enjoying the golden years takes few steps of planning from many aspects in life. Maintaining health, however, is a critical part of planning a healthy and happy retirement. In this article, I will outline a plan that one can follow to maintain a good health during retirement and to make the golden years happier. 1) Heart disease remains number one in terms of prevalence and outcomes on one’s health in men and women. So, it is the number one priority to mitigate the risk of heart disease and to get a jump start on a good heart check up to ensure the heart is strong with no coronary blockage or valve blockage or leaks. Eat a healthy diet: Low fat and low carb diet. Avoid salt. Get a blood pressure check and treatment. Prevent and or treat diabetes . Take aspirin daily. Take fish oil daily. Ensure normal level vitamin D. Exercise gently (biking and swimming are good for cardiovascular fitness and have low impact on your joints). Avoid smoking and drinking. 2) Prevent strokes; Avoid salt. Keep normal weight. Treat high blood pressure. Take aspirin daily. Get your carotids checked. Make sure your heart rhythm is regular with no atrial fibrillation. 3) Prevent cancer: Get your colon check. get a mammogram and pap test (for women). Get a prostate check (men) Quit smoking. Quit drinking. Control diabetes . Lose weight. 4) Avoid arthritis, hip and knee injuries: Many people in the older age have arthritis from back and disc problems to hip and knee joint disease. This is from overuse, wear and tear and abuse over the years. Many people work in lifting, pushing and pulling heavy loads. Many people have sort of self inflicted injuries from sports, jobs, accidents, etc. Prevention becomes a key; Avoid harsh and rough sports. Avoid jobs that involve heavy lifting, pushing and pulling. 5) Maintain muscular strength. Elderly people are more susceptible to certain injuries, in particular, rotator cuff tear and atrophy in the leg muscles. It is a common place to see patient walk in the hospital with pneumonia and come out sitting in a wheel chair unable to stand or walk for weeks and months. It is important to follow an exercise regimen to strengthen the quads and the muscles of the lower extremities and maintain health readiness to withstand and fight an intervening illness. Strengthen your shoulder muscles by lifting small weights above your shoulder levels. 6) Maintain your mind and intellect. Studying, learning a new subject, hobbies, puzzles, social life and general health exercise helps maintain higher level of intellect. 7) Get routine physical exams and check up with your doctor and ask him or her about the best possible way for you to get Bette and stay healthier.

Joseph Kousa, MD, Prevention in Geriatrics, June, 2011