This morning, my 72-year-old body woke up to lower back pain, sciatica, and a pair of ankles threatening collapse with each step. My first thought was ‘how unfair’ before I reminded myself that I could work around these problems, as I always do.
One thing I’ve noticed about these minor ailments is that they come and go. They can be a hindrance one day, and the next, a non-issue. It helps to keep that reality in mind when I’m exercising for relief.
Naturally, there are more serious challenges and pitfalls with aging, and an easy fix for these is not always achievable, but most seniors I know tend to roll with the punches, and this is probably the best strategy to overcome any situation.
The trick, I’ve learned, is to keep investing in solutions that can help to bring about wellness in mind, body and spirit.
Arthritis
I feel it in my fingers and my toes, and daily stretches and exercise, along with the adjustments I made to my lifestyle and diet seem to help keep the pain at bay.
Actually, I like the look of my hands, arthritic nodules and all, and because they served me so well over the years, pampering them with lotions, hot paraffin wax treatments and healing stretches is the least I can do.
Sometimes an appointment with a physiotherapist is beneficial for tweaks to my regular routine of stretches. The added bonus is that physiotherapy can usually provide instant relief.
Brain Fog
Who among us hasn’t lost their train of thought when in conversation with someone? It’s not a problem that’s unique to seniors, although there’s no denying that it occurs more frequently as we get older.
There are many ways for seniors to keep their memory sharp. A healthy lifestyle and balanced diet are helpful here as well. But equally important are social interactions, regular physical activities, reading for pleasure and stimulation and getting enough sleep.
Adding the best brain foods to your meals can help to protect your memory and cognition. Not only that, but brain-healthy foods like omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and walnuts, and antioxidants like berries, broccoli and pumpkin seeds, can significantly lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Dry Eye Syndrome
I can manage dryness issues with my skin, nose, mouth and lips well enough, but I find dry eye to be the most annoying. It’s a chronic condition that occurs when your eyes no longer produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly.
I started experiencing dry eye over 20 years ago. It can feel as though you have a grain of sand scratching the surface of the eye at random times of the day or night, and who needs that?
Unfortunately, I seemed to have an allergic reaction to all the popular over-the-counter products, until I finally started using preservatives-free Hylo drops, which provided instant relief without the side effects.
More recently, I’ve found that the more affordable BioTru eye drops, also preservatives-free, are just as effective, especially for at night. As with the Hylo product, BioTru comes in a practical pump dispenser for less spillage with applications.
Fluctuating thyroid issue
Two years ago, I was diagnosed with ‘borderline’ hypothyroidism, and it was suggested that a prescription for Levothyroxine could help lower and regulate my thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
While researching this therapy, I stumbled on a CBC News report from 2019 about an international panel of doctors warning against treating mild thyroid issues with Levothyroxine, a hormone which was apparently the most dispensed medication in Canada in 2017.
Those findings prompted me to find a way out of my hypothyroid problem by making a few additional changes to my daily regime, starting with taking two B12 vitamins, eating one Brazil nut each morning to boost thyroid function, and loading up on more foods with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
In just a few months, I managed to lower my TSH level from 6.6 to 5.0, and that number is now at 4.1 as of my most recent blood test. This confirms, at least in my mind, that I must be on the right track.
Good Food to Stay Healthy
Obesity, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure are all conditions that can be linked to poor nutrition; however, many experts now claim that it is possible for people to eat their way out of these conditions.
Michael Greger, M.D., and Founder of NutritionFacts.org is one of those experts. His latest book is How Not to Age, and as with his previous books How Not to Die and How Not to Diet, it is laden with more evidence-based nutrition facts to give us all ample food for thought.
Weight Maintenance
Risk of weight gain is the reason I avoid prescribed medications. I gained 67 pounds on estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) when I was in my forties, and I had to wean myself off that drug before the weight could come off. I switched to natural and holistic options for relief of my menopausal symptoms, and those worked out well, until one day I realized that a better diet was all I really needed.
Ozempic and Wegovy were not options for me when I started on my weight loss journey in 2001. Besides, I didn’t have diabetes. I lost the weight I gained on ERT by sticking to healthy foods and exercising more, and 18 months later, I was finally able to recognize my face in the mirror.
I have maintained this weight loss to this day, but only because I have continued to work at it daily.
Embracing Aging
We don’t have to become exiles because we’re older. In fact, social and familial interactions can play an important role in any senior’s enjoyment of life.
But, if socializing regularly and entertaining people in your own home is not your thing, there are many other activities that can keep you busy, like gardening, cooking a delightful meal, reading to fill your mind, going to a concert or a movie, walking in your neighbourhood where you can always meet people for non-committal quick greetings and chats, and interacting with people who work where you shop can be rather pleasant.
If you do most of these things every day, you will welcome downtime in the evening to watch a movie (much better than watching the news lately), phone, text or email a friend, or listen to relaxing music to soothe your soul.
Rescue or foster a senior dog or cat if you think you would enjoy quiet company. You won’t find a more grateful pet to share cuddles with, and if you choose a dog, regular walks would become part of your everyday routine, and give you another opportunity to socialize with other dog owners.
Volunteering is another type of social interaction you might find rewarding. You can offer your services to organizations involved in charities you support, and you can commit to do as much as you would like on days that suit you best.
Navigating the aging chapter of our lives takes effort to get it right. For me, the ability to do what I want, when I want, is the ultimate freedom.
I hope to be able to maintain my health, mobility and independence for many years to come. These, together with an ongoing willingness to learn, should provide me with my best chance to age gracefully.
Lise Cloutier-Steele is an Ottawa writer and the author of There’s No Place Like Home: A guide to help caregivers manage the long-term care experience, available from www.ottawacaregiver.com.
