Retiring Into Better Health

Despite best efforts not to get sick, many of us still catch colds, flu, and other viruses. Today, some of the virulent flu strains can really knock you out for a good week or more. Yet, since our fellow human beings are the virus carriers, catching illnesses seems hard to avoid.

Still, there are always people who seem to be perpetually healthy, never falling sick. While this is likely more perception than reality, there are definitely people whose health is more robust. Even if good genes play a role, there are also many preventive and immune-boosting habits that can boost resistance to viruses.

Retirement is a great opportunity to ensure that your health improves, in part by implementing and/or reinforcing these habits. Although it often feels like stress is what keeps you going, stress actually plays havoc with your body, physically, emotionally and psychologically (muscle stress and fatigue, sleep disorders, and headaches being fairly common manifestations).

Picking up and maintaining the following habits are vital to healthy bodies and minds, and carry long-term benefits. Retiring to 55 and older communities in Delaware or elsewhere can make a big difference in enabling and supporting these habits.

Be Active and Sweaty

One of the most important habits to develop is regular exercise. This should involve both a regimen of preparatory and moderate activities like stretching, walking, and low-impact sports like golf. It should also involve some reasonably intense activity too, which causes your body to sweat. Sweating is a method for the body to cleanse itself of toxins and other bodily pollutants, so regular sweating will make a big difference in keeping your body “clean.”

Daily exercise will give your immune system a serious boost. There are lots of great opportunities for physical activity at 55 plus Delaware communities, as well as a community with whom to exercise.

Stay Connected and Make New Connections

A strong social life is vital to good health, engaging activity, and feeling positive. People who are vitally active are more likely to be healthy. So, whatever you like to do, and whatever social networks may result, they together will play a vital role in keeping you healthy.

Get Proper Rest

This may seem obvious, but a lot of people believe they can stay healthy on little sleep. In fact, people who sleep less than seven hours a night are more likely to come down sick.

Take Preventive Measures

Keeping germs and other damaging elements away from your body is critical for good health. Such practices as regular hand washing, flu-shots, and not smoking will make a big difference in keeping your body at its best. You should also know that flu vaccine may also help lower your risk of heart attack, stroke failure, or other cardiac events in the year following the shot.

Especially if you are living in a community where most, if not all residents are practicing such preventive measures, you probably have a better chance of staying healthy yourself.

Source

Grandparents.com