When I was a kid, I always said “I will live to be100 years old.” But when I was a kid, I was not aware of all the different illnesses that can happen. I actually was not aware of the actual work needed to maintain good health. Today, there are still many people living life without the thought of taking care of their body. Yes, life is about having fun and living in the moment. But what happens when you are younger will eventually catch up to you. It’s important to take care of your body in this month of Healthy Aging Awareness and all the months that follow.
As a kid, most of us loved to eat a fast food kid’s meal that included a toy. At this age, our digestive system better suits these unhealthy options. Rarely would you ever hear of a kid having high blood pressure from eating the salt in these foods. Now as an adult, you may eat fast food and start running to the bathroom following an unsettled system. Then you go to the Doctor and learn you now have high blood pressure and are borderline diabetic from the bad food choices.
As kids, almost all of us spent time outdoors being very active running, riding bicycles, etc. Usually as we get older, between work, family, and other responsibilities there is limited time and energy to do these things. With limited movement, there’s more of a chance of achy muscles and stiff bones. Also, the wear and tear from childhood can catch up and can be a cause for some physical ailments.
As a kid, many of us had the common colds and other viral/bacterial infections that led to Doctor’s visits. When we are adults, sometimes we hold off scheduling medical appointments due to timing or lack of access to proper care. This can lead to late diagnoses and other delays in basic healthcare.
I wrote this post not to make you feel bad about your habits and decisions. It is to bring awareness. Some of the decisions made regarding our body as a kid can’t necessarily be the same as when you’re an adult if you want to be healthy as you age. We all have different circumstances in life that affects our decisions regarding our health, but it’s all about doing the best you can. Try to be more conscious of your diet, mental/cognitive health, and physical health. Balance is the key. All things done is moderation is better than not trying to do anything at all. Do you best because I would like to see us all live to the age ‘100.’