As we get older, it’s only natural that our body will begin to break down. It might not be something you want to think about, but it’s reality nonetheless and it’s something we’ll all have to face at some point in our lives.
Right now, you might need hearing aids in Southern California or another community because your hearing is beginning to fail. Or maybe you regularly need to magnify your prescription glasses to make reading and distance vision much easier. Or you could have a host of other common health concerns that need care and attention.
Not only should senior citizens go for regular routine health checkups, but they also need to pay close attention to nutrition and fitness for older adults. So, as you can see routine health checkups are definitely a major concern. We’ll share other reasons why this is so important and fill you in on the pertinent details below.
Reason #1: Dealing with Chronic Recurring Aches and Pains
Unfortunately, older people have a tendency to experience more aches and pains as they continue to age. Again, our bodies begin to break down due to wear and tear over time.
Some conditions can be incredibly painful and when they are chronic they can make life very difficult. Instead of spending so much of your time suffering and trying to manage the pain on your own, you should regularly meet with your doctor to find out how he or she can help.
In many cases, your doctor will be able to prescribe pain medication to help you deal with your unwanted physical ailments. This pain medication is often powerful so you’ll require a prescription from a qualified physician. But this powerful medication is also important because you’ll be able to move a lot easier, fuel heck of a lot more comfortable, and potentially even sleep better because the aches and pains aren’t keeping you up at night.
Reason #2: Maintaining Your Independence as a Senior Citizen
One of the biggest concerns that senior citizens face is maintaining their independence as they age. At some point, if they do not maintain adequate health and cognitive function, they may need to get some form of assistance. Or even worse, they may need to move into a nursing home in order to receive full-time care.
On the other hand, getting regular routine health checkups as you get older will help you maintain excellent health and cognitive ability. By staying on top of your health and keeping abreast of everything that’s going on, your life and your ability to take care of yourself will certainly last much longer.
So, if you are unable to get to the doctor by yourself, make sure you contact a loved one to bring you to your appointments. Your friend or family member can help you lead a healthy and long life by graciously helping you and you will definitely reap the benefits by maintaining excellent health and an all-around sense of well-being.
Reason #3: Regular Blood Tests
Senior citizens need to have their blood checked regularly for mineral and vitamin deficiencies, anemia, and high cholesterol levels. By getting these check-ups regularly, seniors will be able to continue to maintain excellent health.
As an example, if an older person discovers that they have high cholesterol levels, the doctor could either prescribe medication, or switch up the current medication they’re taking, or change the dosage, or make other recommendations to help improve these numbers. But without regular blood tests, the doctor will not know about the problem and won’t be able to offer valid solutions.
Remember, regular blood tests are necessary for maintaining excellent health. So visit your doctor for a checkup at least every six months, but three months would even be better.
Final Thoughts
Clearly, regular health checkups are vital for senior citizens. Not only will they help them maintain their current level of health, but these checkups are going to help doctors discover potential problems and provide valuable solutions to fix them. Please, if you’re a senior citizen just do yourself a favor and routinely meet with your general practitioner two or more times a year to maintain excellent health and well-being for the rest of your days.