5 Tips to Help Reduce Inflammation in Seniors
5 Tips to Help Reduce Inflammation in Seniors
As our bodies age, the risk of inflammation increases due to the slow “wearing out” process of the body and cells. There are many different things that can cause inflammation. It can lead to painful swelling, redness and irritation, and if left unchecked, can become a chronic health issue that affects the immune system and can leave you hospitalized.
Fortunately, there are several ways to naturally combat this process, such as a low sodium diet, regular exercise, a routine sleep schedule, the use of CBD and lowering stressful and anxiety filled situations. Many of these solutions may seem hard or nearly impossible, but this article will break down what you can do in each situation to help reduce inflammation.
1. Alter Your Diet
One of the quickest ways to begin reducing inflammation in the body is to alter your diet. You do not have to completely change your diet, but cutting down on your sodium intake is a key factor. There are also certain foods and drinks that can help reduce the inflammation process such as; nuts, fish, fruits, vegetables and even coffee! Cutting down on sodium rich foods, such as processed food and fast foods, is obviously beneficial to your health, but it will also improve your quality of life and help prevent diseases from occurring.
2. Regular Exercise
Another way to help reduce inflammation throughout the whole body is exercise. Many seniors stop exercising because they are concerned about the possibility of injury and want to avoid undue risk. However, just simply going on a short walk daily can be enough exercise, and it can also re-train your body to stay limber and active, which will also help prevent injury and inflammation.
If you are unable to walk, working out your arms and legs can be just as beneficial to the body. Lifting weights is also another great workout to help reduce any inflammation you might have, and can be done from the comfort of your home. If you live at a facility of any kind, the best way to get your work out in, is to work with the therapist so they can help you establish a daily routine.
3. Reduce Stress and Anxiety
It seems like everyone is always recommending that you reduce your stress levels for better overall health, but this advice is repeated for a good reason. Stress and anxiety can not only cause inflammation, but it can also harm your whole body. Reducing it may help in your overall daily lifestyle. Prolonged stress will lead to high levels of cortisol which can irritate both the inflammatory and immune response to your body. As the body heals, inflammation becomes a response to stress.
Having high stress in your life will cause the inflammation in your body to worsen as it is prolonged. There are many different ways to cope with stress that will in turn reduce your inflammation. Consider trying meditation, going for daily walks, trying pet therapy, reading inspirational books, or exploring somewhere new with a friend. Getting outdoors and staying active is a huge factor in reducing stress, with the added benefit of reducing your risk of prolonged inflammation.
4. Try Natural Supplements
There has been a great deal of research lately into the effectiveness and positive benefits of using natural supplements to cure common ailments. Our ancestors used plants found in nature medicinally for thousands of years, and now researchers are beginning to see the validity of their claims.
For inflammation, CBD is specifically recommended for its usefulness in combatting swelling and pain, as well as stress and anxiety (win-win!). CBD can come in many different varieties, but the most helpful with reducing inflammation is using the Coconut oils, creams or lotions. Because it is simply made from the hemp plant and produced naturally with only trace amounts of THC, the CBD products from Sunsoil will not induce a high, but will help you address any health concerns you may have regarding inflammation.
However, you should always consult your doctor before trying any natural supplement to ensure that there are no medication interactions.
5. Get Enough Sleep
It may not seem like it, but Sleep can also be a major cause of inflammation in seniors. As one of the biggest and least known factors of inflammation, sleep is often undervalued but can have major impacts on overall health and well-being.
Inflammation is often increased with individuals who have sleep-related disorders such as; insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep and not feeling well-rested), sleep apnea (snoring loudly and feeling tired even after a full night's sleep), and restless legs syndrome (a nearly irresistible urge to move the legs while laying down).
The best way to voice your concerns of the possibility that you may have one of these disorders is to speak with your local physician. There are many ways to help cope with these disorders such as; waking up at the same time each day, eliminating alcohol and stimulants like nicotine or caffeine, limiting naps, exercising regularly, limiting activities in bed, not eating or drinking right before going to bed, and making your sleeping environment comfortable, maintaining a healthy weight, participating in yoga or regular exercising, sleep positioning, using a humidifier, taking warm baths and having massages, applying warm or cool packs, keeping up with regular hygiene, and establishing a daily exercise routine.
Coincidentally, many of these sleep solutions overlap with solutions to reduce inflammation, so they can be taken as a general guide for seniors to do the best thing for their bodies.
Thank You to Our Guest Blog Writer:
Mollie Wilson
Freelance Writer
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