By Christine Cheng, R.Ph.
I’ve been working in our pharmacy for over 20 years and many of my patients have watched me grow up…and in turn, I have watched many of my patients grow older and develop health concerns. The predominant “advice” I hear is, “Don’t get old!”, which is inevitable. I figure the best way to grow old is to do it as healthily as possible. Here are a few basic thoughts as to how:
1) Stay hydrated! Drinking water is the best way to stay hydrate: no hidden sugars that could affect the health of our teeth or blood sugar control; no caffeine that could act as a diuretic. Water makes up about 60% of the human body and about 90% of our blood. It helps our kidneys function optimally, lubricates our joints, plumps up our skin (which means reduced look of wrinkles!), allows our digestive systems to work optimally (e.g., part of the solution for those with constipation), helps cushion the brain, spinal cord, and nervous tissues, helps regulate body temperature and blood pressure…and these are just to name a few benefits! There is no standardized amount of how much water we should drink. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re feeling thirsty, your body is already dehydrated and you need to drink more water!
2) Eat a balanced diet. The easiest way is to imagine each plate divided into 4 sections: fill 2 of those sections up with fruits and vegetables, 1 section with a lean protein, and 1 with whole grains. As you may have read in our other articles, we encourage eating the colours of the rainbow to help you get the most diverse sources of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals as possible. A healthy diet can help with weight management as well as management of chronic health conditions such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes.
3) Take your medications and/or supplements as prescribed. Doctors would not prescribe a medication they did not believe was necessary. For example, if you have been prescribed a blood pressure medication, make sure you take it. Not managing your blood pressure can put you at risk of other conditions such as stroke, kidney failure and eye problems. You would not want to end up taking multiple medications for multiple conditions! If you are not sure why the doctor has prescribed something, ask for clarification. Same principle applies to vitamins and/or minerals that are suggested to you by your healthcare professional.
4) Get outside if you can. Whether it be for a leisurely stroll around your block, walking your dog to the park, or going for a jog, getting outside has benefits beyond physical health. Just being outside in nature can have a positive effect on your mental health.
5) Know when to ask for help. This applies to so many facets of life, but I will focus on the health aspect. If you are not feeling well, get checked out. Do not wait until things are really bad and do not rely on “Dr Google” to give you a diagnosis. If you need a place to start, come talk to your pharmacist. We may be able to tell you whether your health concern is something you can treat yourself or whether it is time to get your physician involved.
There is no denying that we are all getting older with each passing day. My hope is that we can stay as healthy as possible so that we truly can enjoy the “Golden Years”.
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Find them on Instagram and Facebook! Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore.
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