Navigating the ageing process in a modern world by Dr Arisha Sharif (MBBS)
Optimal Wellbeing- A journey through life
Remember the days when life felt like an endless world of possibilities? Our bodies were not just vessels but expressions of our youthful exuberance and zest for life. During this part of our lives we are able to recover quicker from stress to the body, are free from age-related aches and pains, have less stressors and enjoy a sharper, focused mind.
However, as time goes on the natural process of ageing occurs. As we live longer, we are prone to age-related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and wear-and-tear damage to joints leading to arthritis. Wear-and-tear damage can cause chronic pain and fatigue, which can make it difficult to manage our daily activities with the same ease as before.
Despite going through the natural process of ageing, the pressures of the modern world continue to weigh on our lives. With retirement age in the UK continuing to rise and workplace stresses increasing, this can have a detrimental effect on health and well-being. In 2023, one study found 76% of employees experienced moderate-to-high stress levels and that finances were a leading cause of stress. Research shows that enduring stress for long-periods of time can affect memory and cognition, making it more difficult to focus on other aspects of life outside of work.
Due to life expectancy increasing, the modern world carries other responsibilities, such as caring for ageing parents, who may have a range of different health needs. As cost-of-living increases, young adults live at home with their parents for longer. These added responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming and lead to stress, especially when combined with your own, new, health needs that have occurred since becoming older and ageing.
Why does stress affect the body? Stress is a huge contributing factor to ageing. It causes inflammation to cells, which leads to numerous conditions that effect our overall health. Studies have found that stress is one of the most common causes of constant fatigue. Fatigue can then lead onto negatively affecting work performance, family life and social relationships. Experiencing fatigue can double the likelihood of experiencing depression, reducing the positive outlook on life, and causing feelings of hopelessness.
Although the wear-and-tear of age and challenges of modern-day living cannot always be changed, there are ways we can manage our own personal well-being to reduce stress, improve our health and ultimately lessen the strain on our body. The following simple measures can have a confounding effect on physical and mental health.
Regular exercise has a substantial positive effect in slowing down ageing and keeping up cardiac and respiratory health. It also has other health benefits, such as reducing the risk of chronic disease and early death. Exercise not only provides excellent physical health benefits, but just as importantly improves mental health as studies have shown it improves mood and self-esteem. It can also be used as a great outlet for stress, reducing those feelings of fatigue and poor memory and cognition. Exercises such as swimming puts less strain on joints and has even been found to improve joint pain and stiffness.
Good nutrition goes hand in hand with regular exercise when it comes to combating the effects of ageing. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, antioxidants and healthy fats can reduce the risk of cardiovascular conditions, protect the brain from ageing and promote overall better health and well-being. Getting the right nutrients into our body reduces fatigue and gives us better, sustained energy levels that can be used to manage the different aspects of our busy lives.
For further advice on how to improve your physical or mental health through exercise and dietr, please visit the NHS website or speak to your GP.
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