Post contributed by Dom Brickley.

As you get older, you experience slightly more problems with your health than you did when you were younger. It’s a part of life. However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to help ensure a healthier and happier future as you get older. Whilst we may not be able to control mother nature and stop the process of aging (yet), there’s a lot you can do to ensure that you live a more enjoyable life even as you enter old age. Here are some health aspects that you really need to start considering if you want to ensure that you have a happier future.

Your body.
One of the most important health aspects to monitor as you get older is your body. When you’re young, it seems that your body remains in relatively good shape no matter how you treat it; you might have been able to eat as much you wanted and exercise as little as you wanted, but that changes as you get older. Obviously, you should look after your body no matter how old you are, but it becomes more important to do so as you get older. You need to think about your diet, first of all. Starting a food diary might help you to keep track of what you’re eating whilst you try to fix your existing diet. You need to make sure that you’re getting all the carbohydrates, protein, and other sustenance that you need whilst avoiding too much junk. This isn’t just about your weight but the health of your heart and your mind.

Of course, sorting out your diet is only the first part of improving the health of your body. You need to think about exercise too, as hard as that might be once you get older. Okay, you might not be able to run as fast as you could when you were a teenager, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important to get your body moving. It’s not about intense workouts or getting a toned and muscular body; it’s about keeping yourself physically active. Again, weight is only part of the equation. Regular physical exercise will help to keep your heart healthy and avoid high blood pressure whilst also improving your mental health.

Your senses.
Your senses are going to fade as you get older. It’s irritating, but it’s something that everybody experiences. In fact, many people need eyewear to correct poor vision even in their younger years, so you’re lucky if these problems have only started to affect you in later life. One of the biggest things you need to monitor is your hearing. It’s so easy to counteract bad hearing by turning up the volume on the TV, but this can actually damage your eardrums further. You should do some research on hearing aids because you don’t want to cause further problems. You can learn more here about hearing aid fittings. Remember to see a professional if any of your senses start to fail so that you can prevent any further damage.

Your mind.
The final aspect of your health to consider as you get older is the most important: your mind. As we age, our brains aren’t quite as effective as they used to be. It’s harder to remember things, and you might be a little slower on the ball than you were in your youth. However, there’s a lot you can do to keep your brain working to the fullest of its potential. It’s all about keeping your mind active, much in the same way as your body. Socializing with friends and family will help to keep your brain working, as will playing with pets; keep yourself happy, and this will keep you healthy.