Don't Dismiss Common Health Problems as "Just Getting Old"
Got unexplained back or neck pain? Do you get sick frequently...or take longer than it should to recover? Do you feel like you just don't bounce back the way you used to?
Like many people, you've probably said something along the lines of, "I'm just getting old"...or... "I'm not as young as I used to be"...or..."It sucks getting old."
Don't worry. You're not the only one. The belief that pain, disease (or "dis-ease"), fatigue, and other health problems are a natural part of the aging process is one that seems to easily catch on and spread.
We all just accept that this is how things go...and that we just need to deal with it.
Genetics Are Not a Guarantee
But aging isn't a disease. Nor is aging a guarantee that we're going to fall apart as time goes on.
It's true, genetics play a significant role in our health as we grow older. But a genetic predisposition isn't a guarantee that we're going to have to face these and other issues at some point in life.
Genetics simply indicate what is likely to occur if and when we allow any of the major forms of stress (physical, nutritional, environmental, psychological, etc.) to take over.
When Stress Becomes Chronic...Dis-ease is Not Far Behind
If we take the right steps to manage our physical and emotional wellbeing, then the likelihood of falling victim to dis-ease is greatly reduced.
Yes, we all know that exercise and a healthy diet are the foundation for better health. But that doesn't mean that we always put that knowledge into practice.
Just like we know that living within our means and saving for the future are essential to creating long-term financial security. But how many of us are setting aside the money we need to live well in our later years? Many aren't.
The point is that it's not enough to simply know what the right things to do are (Is knowledge really power?). It's the consistent application of those things that we already know that makes the difference.
But back to aging.
Adopting the “I'm just getting old” mindset causes you to overlook the strategies you can use to enhance your quality of life in your later years.
The health challenges you’re facing today are more than likely a cumulative result of the choices you've made and the actions you’ve taken up until this very moment.
Dr. Jeffrey Bland summarizes this point when he says that "Seventy-five percent of an individual's health after age 40 is dependent upon what the person has done to his or her genes, not the genes themselves."
Dis-ease doesn't just pop up out of nowhere. It develops over time. It's up to us to do our best to inhibit that development as best we can.
Growing older is a natural part of the life cycle. Don’t fight it...embrace it.
More importantly, do everything you can to make the most of it. Be grateful that you get to go through the aging process. Not everyone does.
You have an opportunity each day to reflect on the decisions you're making that impact your wellbeing now and in the future. Recognizing this simple fact opens up new doors of possibility for a longer and more vital aging experience.
Images:
- By Annca; via Pixabay; Used under CC0.
- By Pixabay (File:Dna-163466.jpg) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons; Modified.