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Health & Fitness

Healthy Aging Month – hmmm. What does that mean?

Aging? Me? I don’t know how I got this age. Age is only a number. You are as old as you feel. These are some of the things I hear from patients. We are living longer than most generations before us. It is wrecking havoc with social security, and Medicare. We weren’t supposed to live this long. Some of us are more physically active than most of our grandparents and parents. Some of us exercise regularly and eat healthy. I have friends who have become vegetarians to help control some of their health issues. Some have become vegetarians due to convictions. How are we supposed to age in a healthy way? What choices am I supposed to make to live a longer more productive life? Do I have to turn my life upside down and suddenly decide to exercise every day? Do I have to watch what I eat? Personally, I find it hard to change my lifestyle. It is hard to “go against” years of habits. I don’t want to say bad habits, because all habits are not bad. It is so easy to “put my head in the sand” and ignore the signs of aging. “What signs of aging?” I say to myself. I recognize that others my age look older. I realize friends of my son are married and have children. I realize that I some of my friends are retired, or retiring soon. But, me? No, I am chugging along my merry way. Until the other day. My husband who I fit with hearing aids several years ago said to me: “Would you please have someone on your staff test your hearing.” Me? Not hearing? How could that be? I am “always preaching” that everyone should have their hearing tested by age 50. It is a good idea to have that record in one’s medical record. It is a good idea to monitor one’s hearing if you are diabetic. It is a good idea to have one’s hearing tested if there are family members who have hearing loss. But, have I followed my own advice? No. I promise I will make an appointment to have my hearing tested. I know it doesn’t hurt, and I know my insurance will pay for it. I will let you know.

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