Preventative Medicine and Healthy Living for Senior Citizens
Senior citizens of the society are regarded as the most significant groups of members for whom both preventive medicines and healthy living are much effective. It has been found to be proven from older days to that of recent days that “prevention is better than cure”. Preventative medicines are responsible for preventing any cause of diseases whereas it is supposed to be curing the disease. On the other hand, healthy living represents the natural measures and procedures required to be followed and maintained by these people.
Preventive medicines can be referred to as a set of measures or practices that is carried out for preventing disease occurrence in senior citizens whereas it also promotes health. In this regard, some of the procedures can be stated as screening of blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, diabetes, autism, hearing, screening of vision, and so on. Healthy living has become one of the significant factors for all senior citizens. It is due to the higher range of diseased people seen within the society (Ghany et al. 2018). There are severe diseases that occur because of increasing junk food consumption and due to poor eating habits. Healthy lifestyles among senior citizens with preventive measures and medicines can stir them to clear out several diseases easily before being attacked.
Preventive medication needs preventive care, which includes three major types as primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention involves reducing the risk factors before the occurrence of any injury or disease as policies imposed on purchasing tobacco for both the youth and senior citizens. Youth tobacco consumption will also affect senior citizens when these people are around them. Secondary prevention involves detecting the disease before the issue or the problem becomes more serious such as measuring blood pressure. On the contrary, tertiary prevention involves preventing major complications of those diseases including physical therapy or post-stroke rehabilitation. These preventive measures are beneficial for the senior citizens whereas breast cancer screening, colorectal cancer screening and diabetes screening are mainly done, as these diseases are common within them.
In terms of making lives healthy, these people are required to follow some healthy lifestyle measures along with preventive medications. Some of the measures can be stated in the following:
Balanced diet– In every meal, a proper diet consisting of minerals, vitamins, and other significant nutrients is found to be essential for the body and mind.
Health checkups frequently– Keeping track of the health records is going to show the faults and improvements conducted within the body of the senior citizens. It contains the benefits of detecting life-threatening issues, increasing life span as well as getting acquaintance through innovative medical technologies (Sutipan & Intarakamhang, 2017).
Ensuring appropriate rest and sleep– Improper sleep and rest might hamper the health conditions more severely; however, it is suggested to sleep from 7 to 9 hours per night to keep both physical and mental health intact.
Physical activities– Getting indulged in games, yoga, exercises, and other physical activities will help these old people to be physically fit and improve mental health as well.
Socializing more– Social interactions are important for senior citizens to keep both mind and body fit and out from every kind of stress. Sharing views and talking with others helps in lowering down the tension and stress.
Senior citizens face the problem of not being cured with medications properly for which both of these options are strictly applicable. Both preventive medication and healthy lifestyles are required to keep the mind and body fresh. This in turn reduces the level of stress among these old people and increases more energy within themselves.