{"id":280034,"date":"2022-07-12T02:57:35","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T21:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nagalandpost.com\/?p=280034"},"modified":"2022-07-12T02:57:36","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T21:27:36","slug":"ways-to-fight-the-aging-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/2022\/07\/12\/ways-to-fight-the-aging-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Ways to fight the aging process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Little Aches and Pains<br>Whether it\u2019s an old injury that keeps flaring up or the start of arthritis, you\u2019re more likely to feel a few aches more often as you age. Regular movement can ease pain and make your joints more flexible. Try low-impact exercises like swimming, yoga, and tai-chi. Heating pads or ice packs can help, too. If those don\u2019t give you enough relief, talk to your doctor about over-the-counter or prescription medicines, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).<br>Wrinkles<br>These show up as your skin gets thinner, drier, and less elastic. But some things can make them worse, like smoking and ultraviolet rays from the sun or a tanning bed. To ease these signs of aging, protect your skin from the sun, and if you smoke, quit. Some skin products, like moisturizers or prescription retinoids, might make wrinkles less noticeable. But you\u2019ll need to give them time to work &#8212; most need 6 weeks to 3 months to show results. A dermatologist can help you know what would work best for you.<br>Dry Skin<br>Sun protection and quitting smoking will help this problem, too. So will watching how much alcohol you drink &#8212; it can dehydrate you. It\u2019s a good idea to keep showers or baths to less than 10 minutes and to use warm water instead of hot. Then put a heavy, oil-based moisturizer all over your body right away.<br>Loss of Muscle<br>Many people lose strength and endurance as they get older, but the reason isn\u2019t really about the aging process. Many people just stop working key muscles. The phrase \u201cuse it or lose it\u201d applies here, so see if you can start weight training to build up your strength. Regular exercise, like walking, gardening, or swimming, can help, too. Aim for at least 30 minutes a day &#8212; you can split it into two 15-minute sessions if that works better for you.<br>Sleep Changes<br>Your need for shut-eye doesn\u2019t change as you age, but your ability to get it can. Older people tend to have a harder time falling asleep, have shorter stretches of deep sleep, and wake up more often in the middle of the night. Coffee and alcohol can cause those issues, so cutting back on those can help. And it\u2019s important to keep health conditions that can affect your sleep, like high blood pressure or GERD, under control. Talk with your doctor if you often have trouble sleeping.<br>Memory Glitches<br>They might feel alarming, but they\u2019re part of the normal aging process. Your brain changes as you get older, which can affect how well you remember things. You may need to lean on a few tricks, like keeping lists, following a routine, and putting items in a set place. But some habits also help you keep your memory sharp. For example, being around friends and family often has been shown to boost your brain power. Regular exercise and eating healthy foods are key, too.<br>Weight Gain<br>As you get older, you don\u2019t burn calories like you used to. But you can counter that slower metabolism by being more active and watching what and how much you eat. Make fruits, vegetables, and leaner protein key parts of your diet. Also, limit sugar and foods that are high in saturated fat. And keep an eye on portion sizes.<br>Changes in Your Sex Life<br>Erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, and other conditions that become more likely with age can make sex a challenge. Talk with your partner about how you\u2019re feeling and if you want to try different ways to be intimate. Over-the-counter products like vaginal lubricants can help some issues. You can also ask your doctor if there are medications you should try. But keeping yourself healthy overall will help, too. Exercise boosts blood flow and sex hormones, and it helps you feel good about yourself.<br>Peeing More Often<br>Your bladder and pelvic muscles get weaker with age. Other health problems, like an enlarged prostate, can make the issue worse. Strengthen the area with Kegel exercises &#8212; squeeze your muscles as if you\u2019re trying to hold in urine &#8212; 10 to 15 times, three times a day. Your diet makes a difference, too. Get plenty of fiber, and limit sugary, carbonated drinks and caffeine. If you\u2019re having trouble with holding urine, leaking, a sudden, urgent need to pee, or pain when you go, see your doctor.<br>Being in a Rut<br>It\u2019s easy to get bored if you fall into a predictable routine, especially if it doesn\u2019t change much for years. To shake things up and keep your mind engaged, try breaking out of your daily schedule. Take some time to do something you like or learn a new skill. If you\u2019re retired, you might think about getting a part-time job or some temporary work. It can boost your mental health and your bottom line at the same time.<br>Feeling Lonely<br>Whether your kids move out or you retire from your job, you may spend more time around fewer people as you age. To avoid feeling isolated, make it part of your daily routine to talk with friends, family, and neighbors. Volunteer for a charity or a faith-based group. Simply writing a letter can give your social life a boost. A pet can be good for companionship, too &#8212; a daily dog walk is good exercise and a chance to meet people.<br>Stay on Top of Your Health<br>Most older adults have at least one health problem, like heart disease or diabetes. If you do, it\u2019s important to go for regular checkups, keep your prescriptions filled, and follow all your doctor\u2019s instructions. Checkups are key even if you don\u2019t have a health condition so you can spot any issues early and get tips for staying healthy. <em><strong>(Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Little Aches and PainsWhether it\u2019s an old injury that keeps flaring up or the start of arthritis, you\u2019re more likely to feel a few aches more often as you age. Regular movement can ease pain and make your joints more flexible. Try low-impact exercises like swimming, yoga, and tai-chi. Heating pads or ice packs can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":280086,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[688],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-280034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-infotainment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=280034"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280034\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=280034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=280034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=280034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}