Senior citizens must give complete attention to their health. This should be our foremost priority. Only when we remain healthy can we continue to do meaningful work and live independently. Ideally, many healthy habits should begin at a younger age, but that phase of life has already passed for most of us. At this stage of life, it becomes even more important to think carefully about what we should do to maintain our health and vitality.
If we remain healthy, we will not become a burden on our family members. Many retirees wish to continue working in some capacity so that they can earn a little personal income and maintain their self-respect without depending on others. Others may want to devote their time to social service, pursue hobbies, or travel across the country and abroad. All this is possible only if we remain physically and mentally fit.
Nowadays, we receive countless messages on WhatsApp about how senior citizens can stay healthy. Most of us probably read these messages, but how many of us actually follow the advice or try to change our lifestyle accordingly is difficult to say. Generally, these messages recommend yoga, exercise, breathing techniques, or other simple practices that are unlikely to cause any harm. Still, we should always use our own judgment and experience before adopting any suggestion. Whenever necessary, consulting a medical expert is always advisable.
Particular caution should be exercised when a message recommends medicines or remedies for a specific illness. Most of these messages are simply forwarded from one person to another. Very few may have actually been tried by the sender. While the younger generation often relies entirely on allopathic medicine, many elderly people still have great faith in naturopathy, Ayurveda, and homeopathy. Even today, we frequently use ingredients available in our kitchens to treat minor ailments. Perhaps after a few decades, these traditional remedies may survive only as stories, because the younger generation has far less faith in household cures.
We were discussing health-related messages. A few days ago, I received one especially meant for elderly people. It mentioned four common complaints that many seniors experience with advancing age:
- Choking while eating
- Neck pain
- Leg cramps
- Tingling sensation in the legs
The writer suggested some self-help tips that senior citizens could try before rushing to a doctor.
Choking While Eating
The message advised that one should simply raise both hands above the head. According to the suggestion, this helps the food move down naturally through the throat.
Neck Pain
Sometimes we wake up in the morning with pain in the neck, often because of using the wrong pillow. In such cases, the suggestion was to lift the legs slightly and rotate the feet clockwise and anticlockwise while stretching the toes.
Leg Cramps
If there is cramp in the left leg, raise the right hand upward. If the cramp is in the right leg, raise the left hand. The message claimed that relief could come immediately.
Tingling Sensation
If there is tingling in the left leg, rotate the right arm vigorously. If the tingling is in the right leg, rotate the left arm strongly.
These are simple techniques that are unlikely to cause any harm. However, if relief does not come quickly, one should immediately consult a qualified doctor or specialist.
We receive such health-related messages almost every day. We should neither blindly follow them nor completely ignore them. Instead, we must use our wisdom and judgment to decide what may be useful for us and what should be avoided. After all, our ultimate goal is only one — to remain healthy.
Television channels too provide a great deal of health-related information in the early morning hours. We should make full use of such resources to keep ourselves fit and active.
Today, online yoga and exercise services are also easily available on mobile phones. One only needs to subscribe and follow the instructions at a fixed time through the mobile phone or television screen. An added advantage of online sessions is that even when you are traveling or staying outside your city, your daily routine remains uninterrupted.
Stay healthy, stay happy, stay cheerful — and above all, stay meaningfully busy.
Author
The author is the founder of the Never Say Retire mission. In order to achieve this goal, he also runs this website and his Facebook group Never Say Retire Forum has Hundreds and Thousands of members today.
