PREVENTION OF UNFITNESS AND DISEASES GENERALLY

Prevention of diseases generally

•    By far the commonest type of illness in old age is iatrogenic-doctor induced. Many old people are on medication that greatly handicaps them in all kinds of physical and psychological ways.

•     Stop smoking cigarettes. However late you stop it reduces your chances of getting lung cancer and improves your breathing, your senses of taste and smell, and your appetite.

•     Control your weight. Eat sensibly to prevent obesity.

•     Keep active and involved with other people.

•     Keep physically fit.

Screening measures that are definitely worth taking.

•     Have your blood pressure taken at least once every two years.

•     If you are a woman, have a mammogram done every year in your fifties.

•     If you are a woman, have a cervical smear done at age 50, 55 and 60.

•     Have a tetanus immunization every ten years and ‘flu immunization every year.

Screening measures that are probably worth taking.

•     Have a stool sample examined yearly for blood so that any colon cancer is picked up     early.

•     Have your hearing and eyesight tested yearly.

•     Look after your feet.

•     Visit your dentist once a year.

•     Treat pressure sores and eczema.

•     Have your blood tested for anaemia every two years.

Screening measures that can be useful but are not of first importance

•     Have your eyes tested for glaucoma.

•     Have a rectal examination once a year for rectal cancer.

•     Undergo screening for depression.

•     Undergo screening for mental functioning generally.

•     Have blood tests for reduced thyroid function every five years.

Screening measures of no proven value

•     Routine electrocardiograms.

•     Routine blood tests.

•     Routine barium enemas or me

•     Routine urine analysis.

Prevention of unfitness

All four aspects of fitness – stamina strength, suppleness and skill-can be improved with advantage in old age. As well as actually being fitter many old people feel so much be when carrying out such a fitness programme. Here are some useful hints.

•     Check with your doctor that you have no physical illness or disability that would make a     fitness programme unsuitable or dangerous.

•     Bear in mind that the dictum ‘use it or lose it’ applies at any age but especially in old age.

•     Continue with a sport or activity that used to give you pleasure when younger, or take up     a new activity. Swimming, yoga, keep-fit, music and movement, and gentle aerobics are     all good, as walking and gardening.

•     Find out about your local leisure centers, adult education classes, and so on.

•     If you get ill or have to go into hospital remember that fitness takes longer to return the     older you are. A few days’ inactivity can take several weeks to overcome.

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