Top 10 Immune System Boosters For Seniors In Houston
5. Learn To Manage Stress
Uncontrolled stress can have a detrimental impact on your health and wellbeing. Stress is known to affect the body’s ability to fight infections and inflammation; another reason you should learn to keep it in check. Engaging in physical and enjoyable activities provides an even better way to manage stress. Some of the practical activities for stress management include yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, Tai Chi, and dancing. Listening to soothing music might also help drown the stressors away. Having a good support system (the company of family and friends) can also help seniors manage stress.
6. Connect With Others
Isolation can lead to depression and loneliness hence not good for your health. Finding ways to stay connected with friends and family, however, gives you a sense of living, hence recommended for all seniors. Start taking advantage of technology and start texting or calling your loved ones. FaceTime, Zoom, and Skype are handy tools you could use to stay connected with those you love.
7. Get Enough Rest/Sleep
Sleep is essential for good health and a strong immune system. Lack of sleep, on the other hand, makes it hard for the immune system to respond to inflammation and infections, hence an increased risk of getting sick. Many chronic conditions, such as depression, obesity, heart diseases, and diabetes, have been linked to lack of sleep and other sleep disorders.
Many seniors, however, suffer from insomnia, something they might have little control over. Nevertheless, encouraging your aging parent to stay active, limiting their caffeine intake, and even sticking to a regular sleep schedule can help beat insomnia for good. Seek professional help if none of these seems to work.
8. Drink Lots Of Water/Fluids
Water plays many roles in the human body. Some of these include flushing out body waste and enabling the body to absorb minerals and nutrients. Health experts, however, believe that our sense of thirst declines as we get older, one of the reasons many will go for hours, or even days before they can start feeling thirsty. You, however, should drink at least 8 glasses of water every day to stay healthy and prevent dehydration. You can avoid dehydration by:
- Drinking a glass of water moments before and after having a meal.
- Mix water with low-fat soup, low-fat milk, and even caffeine-free tea.
- Have a water close-by for sipping.
9. Quit Or Reduce Your Alcohol Intake
Unknown to many, heavy alcohol intake dehydrates your body at an alarming rate. This leaves the immune system weaker than before, hence an increased risk of infections. Quitting, or limiting your alcohol intake to only a bottle per day is however recommended. Just be sure to drink lots of water once done.
10. Quit Smoking
Smoking is harmful to your lungs and other parts of the body. It also weakens your body’s ability to respond to flu, colds, and other disease-causing microbes. Smoking also increases the risk of contracting other terminal conditions, including diabetes, respiratory problems, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Quitting is the only viable option from this.
Assisting Hands is a home care company that focuses on delivering exceptional service to all, and especially our clients. Our desire is to provide seniors and others in need of assistive care in the comfort of their homes. Visit our blog for more exciting articles about senior care in Houston. Call us or contact Assisting Hands Houston today with any questions you might have! Missed the first issue of this article? Click here!
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