The 2019 American Community Survey shows over 17 million veterans live in the United States. As a veteran, you have served the United States to the best of your ability and are now enjoying your well-earned retirement. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle should always be a priority, especially after retiring from active work life.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle enhances your overall health and peace of mind. Regularly engaging in healthy activities can help you live a longer and happier life. In addition, engaging in healthy activities can help you create a routine that keeps you mentally and physically stable after retirement. Despite all the benefits of maintaining fitness, it can be hard to do it, so here are some tips to help you with that.
Focus on mental health
Your mental and physical health are a package deal. You cannot have one without the other. If you struggle with depression or PTSD, common among war veterans, it can be challenging to deal with life and its curve balls and stay physically fit. So get professional help by speaking with a therapist.
Test for mesothelioma
Since construction and military equipment may contain trace amounts of asbestos, you risk developing mesothelioma- a rare and fatal type of cancer. Therefore, see a doctor and get yourself screened. In the event of a positive diagnosis, organizations like the Mesothelioma Veterans Center will help you cover for medical treatment. This way, you’ll be able to improve the quality of your remaining life.
Meditate
Meditation has several health benefits, and it takes a few minutes a day to reap them. So get a mediation mat and watch some videos online to get started. You can even join a group for a more interactive and disciplined experience. Research shows meditation provides the following benefits:
- Stress reduction
- Anxiety reduction
- Enhances emotional health
- Improves self-awareness
- Increases attention span
- Enhances memory
- Generates positive thoughts
- Enhances sleep quality
- Helps with pain
- Improves blood pressure
Eat healthy food
Nutrition is key to enhancing your overall health. It will help if you consume a well-balanced diet that includes protein, healthy carbs, and healthy fats. In addition, you should learn as much as you can about nutrition. Understanding nutrition will help you maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic illnesses at bay.
Furthermore, it would be best to prepare a weekly meal plan to avoid indulging in foods that do more harm than good. It would also take the extra stress off. Also, avoid drinks with alcohol and sugar and try drinking water as much as possible. This way, you will maintain a healthy weight and feel better.
According to the CDC, the benefits of healthy eating habits are:
- Living longer
- Keeps eyes, teeth, and skin healthy
- Enhances immunity
- It supports the muscles and bones
- Lowers risks of heart disease, type II diabetes, and even some cancers
- It supports the digestive system
- It helps maintain a healthy weight
Exercise
Regular exercise is crucial in all stages of life. Veterans need to prevent them from getting used to a sedentary lifestyle. According to the National Institute of Health, physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and avoid severe chronic health problems.
In addition, exercise also helps with depression. According to Harvard Medical School, exercise can help fight depression. Harvard Medical School also reports that people with depression have a smaller hippocampus, a region in our brain that regulates our mood. Exercise can help you support nerve cell growth and improve nerve cell connections in the hippocampus. In consequence, you will feel much happier.
You do not have to do high-intensity exercise either. Low-intensity training consistently maintained over time is the game-changer in this scenario.
Go for regular health checkups.
No one likes going to the dentist. However, your risk for cavities increases as you age, and taking risks is no longer an option. In addition, research has shown that your overall health is directly related to oral health.
Severe health conditions like cardiovascular disease or diabetes can correlate with mouth infections. So, see your dentist regularly to maintain your oral health. To gain additional insight on the topic, it would help if you read the American Dental Association’s article on oral health concerns for senior citizens. Lastly, you should brush and floss regularly.
In addition to regularly visiting your dentist, you should also regularly see a general physician. High blood pressure or diabetes, among other conditions, can go undetected. Therefore, make regular appointments with your doctors so that they can diagnose any problems early on. Early treatment for health conditions can help you avoid long-term problems.
In addition, see your doctor immediately if you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms. According to Healthline, the flu can complicate things in people over 65 because your immune system loses its strength as you age, making it harder for your body to fight the virus. It would be best if you saw your doctor within the first 48 hours your symptoms start to show so that you can get the proper medicine required to fight the virus.
Conclusion
As a military veteran, you have spent your entire protecting your country. Now that you’ve retired, it is time you take care of yourself. The tips mentioned above can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle that will keep you physically active so that you can live your life to the fullest.
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