Virily Editor
Senior citizens are always saying things to younger people like ‘Don’t get old; it sucks.’ Of course, aging is something that is inevitable. As much as we might dread it, we will all go through it. The best we can do to make it easier on ourselves is to be prepared. Here are some of the worst things about aging and what you can do to make it a bit easier on yourself.
Nursing Homes
Something that most people worry about as they age is that they will be moved out of their homes by their children and put into a nursing home. Nursing homes and other forms of elder care facilities are meant to look after senior citizens, making them more comfortable as they age. However, as reported by the Nursing Home Law Center, nursing homes have a lot of issues, especially when it comes to things like abuse and neglect. It is estimated that 1 in 3 senior citizens are abused in nursing homes, so it is no wonder that so many people dread the idea of being moved into one.
If you want to avoid spending your golden years in a nursing home, you should do all that you can to maintain your health. Exercise regularly, getting at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise daily, and dedicating at least three days a week to muscle strength training. This regular exercise can help to prevent your body from declining as much as you age, allowing you to look after yourself for longer. Additionally, you should try to prioritize your health by eating a well-balanced diet. Making dietary choices to maintain a healthy immune system can help to lower your risk for many common health conditions and keep you from needing specialized care as you age.
Hormonal Changes
As we age, our bodies go through plenty of unpleasant hormonal changes. You might start feeling more stressed, more fatigued, sweatier, and more bloated. You might also notice that you gain weight and put on fat a lot easier than before, especially in the belly area. This is because, as you age, your metabolism slows down.
As women age, they inevitably go through menopause. Through this process, you could experience symptoms like hot flashes, mood changes, problems with bladder control, and trouble maintaining a regular sleep schedule. On average, these symptoms can last four to five years, but some people report them lasting as long as ten years. It is said that getting regular exercise, consistent sleep, and maintaining a healthy diet can help to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are something that is as inevitable as aging itself. Wrinkles occur as we age because our skin becomes more fragile and loses its natural elasticity and the fatty layers beneath our skin begin to diminish, making it appear looser and creating more pronounced crevices and lines. Additionally, our skin produces fewer oils as we age, making it drier and causing it to appear more wrinkled.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to prioritize the health of your skin and lessen the appearance of wrinkles, including:
- Limiting sun exposure: The light from the sun contains harmful UV rays that can damage your skin and cause premature aging. To protect your skin, you should try to limit your sun exposure, seeking shade as much as possible and using protective closing and accessories to protect yourself, like sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. Additionally, you should use a broad spectrum, high SPF sunscreen and reapply it regularly to shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays.
- Quitting smoking: Smoking can greatly accelerate the aging process, causing deep wrinkles in your skin. Quitting smoking can halt this accelerated aging process.
- Stay well-hydrated: Wrinkles are in part caused by the decrease in skin elasticity. Skin elasticity can be supported through proper hydration.
- Eating healthy: Eating foods that are high in refined carbohydrates and sugar can cause accelerated aging, while healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables are said to combat the damage that leads to premature aging of the skin.
- Avoid repetitive facial expressions: Making a facial expression causes the muscles underneath the epidermis to contract. If these muscles contract repeatedly over the years, they will begin to form permanent wrinkles in your skin. This is how people end up with features like crow’s feet or smile lines. Try to avoid repetitive expressions by reducing things like squinting. Be sure you are wearing the appropriate prescription glasses and using sunglasses when it is especially bright.
- Moisturize regularly: As you age your skin produces less oil and dries out easier, causing it to become more wrinkled. To trap moisture in your skin and keep a youthful glow, you should apply moisturizer daily.
Senior citizens are always saying things to younger people like ‘Don’t get old; it sucks.’ Of course, aging is something that is inevitable. As much as we might dread it, we will all go through it. The best we can do to make it easier on ourselves is to be prepared. Here are some of the worst things about aging and what you can do to make it a bit easier on yourself.
Nursing Homes
Something that most people worry about as they age is that they will be moved out of their homes by their children and put into a nursing home. Nursing homes and other forms of elder care facilities are meant to look after senior citizens, making them more comfortable as they age. However, as reported by the Nursing Home Law Center, nursing homes have a lot of issues, especially when it comes to things like abuse and neglect. It is estimated that 1 in 3 senior citizens are abused in nursing homes, so it is no wonder that so many people dread the idea of being moved into one.
If you want to avoid spending your golden years in a nursing home, you should do all that you can to maintain your health. Exercise regularly, getting at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise daily, and dedicating at least three days a week to muscle strength training. This regular exercise can help to prevent your body from declining as much as you age, allowing you to look after yourself for longer. Additionally, you should try to prioritize your health by eating a well-balanced diet. Making dietary choices to maintain a healthy immune system can help to lower your risk for many common health conditions and keep you from needing specialized care as you age.
Hormonal Changes
As we age, our bodies go through plenty of unpleasant hormonal changes. You might start feeling more stressed, more fatigued, sweatier, and more bloated. You might also notice that you gain weight and put on fat a lot easier than before, especially in the belly area. This is because, as you age, your metabolism slows down.
As women age, they inevitably go through menopause. Through this process, you could experience symptoms like hot flashes, mood changes, problems with bladder control, and trouble maintaining a regular sleep schedule. On average, these symptoms can last four to five years, but some people report them lasting as long as ten years. It is said that getting regular exercise, consistent sleep, and maintaining a healthy diet can help to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are something that is as inevitable as aging itself. Wrinkles occur as we age because our skin becomes more fragile and loses its natural elasticity and the fatty layers beneath our skin begin to diminish, making it appear looser and creating more pronounced crevices and lines. Additionally, our skin produces fewer oils as we age, making it drier and causing it to appear more wrinkled.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to prioritize the health of your skin and lessen the appearance of wrinkles, including:
- Limiting sun exposure: The light from the sun contains harmful UV rays that can damage your skin and cause premature aging. To protect your skin, you should try to limit your sun exposure, seeking shade as much as possible and using protective closing and accessories to protect yourself, like sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. Additionally, you should use a broad spectrum, high SPF sunscreen and reapply it regularly to shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays.
- Quitting smoking: Smoking can greatly accelerate the aging process, causing deep wrinkles in your skin. Quitting smoking can halt this accelerated aging process.
- Stay well-hydrated: Wrinkles are in part caused by the decrease in skin elasticity. Skin elasticity can be supported through proper hydration.
- Eating healthy: Eating foods that are high in refined carbohydrates and sugar can cause accelerated aging, while healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables are said to combat the damage that leads to premature aging of the skin.
- Avoid repetitive facial expressions: Making a facial expression causes the muscles underneath the epidermis to contract. If these muscles contract repeatedly over the years, they will begin to form permanent wrinkles in your skin. This is how people end up with features like crow’s feet or smile lines. Try to avoid repetitive expressions by reducing things like squinting. Be sure you are wearing the appropriate prescription glasses and using sunglasses when it is especially bright.
- Moisturize regularly: As you age your skin produces less oil and dries out easier, causing it to become more wrinkled. To trap moisture in your skin and keep a youthful glow, you should apply moisturizer daily.
