Old age puts the body at higher risk of digestive health issues and conditions. As seniors, you may feel the slow down of many bodily functions, including your digestive system. It just might not be working as effectively and quickly as once it was. The reason is, with repeated usage the tissues are more likely to be worn out and the rate of new cell production is comparatively lower.
You are not alone in this. Close to 40% of seniors globally face one or more age related digestive problems each year. The gastrointestinal tract ages with the rest of our body parts. They are totally annoying, but the happy news is that with simple lifestyle changes and tips you can prevent things like acid reflux, indigestion, heartburn, constipation, etc. Medicines, poor diet, inactivity and even gravity to some extent can take their toll and contribute to poor digestive health
Multiple Medications. Eating a lot of medicines can have adverse effects on your digestion. Therefore, it is necessary for seniors to carefully analyse their medications on a yearly basis with their healthcare professional about their side effects on digestive health. Overuse of medicines may cause gastrointestinal issues like nausea, constipation and diarrhea.
Inactivity and Dehydration. Any form of activity which makes your blood pump faster can aid in faster bodily metabolism, which includes digestion. Inactivity slows down your body and
Gravity. Due to gravity and other factors, the diaphragm sinks causing heartburns and acid reflux. Medications helps, but surgery is needed in extreme cases
Chronic diseases. Some seniors might face chronic digestion problems due to various factors like hereditary, diet and lifestyle. They usually need to be take proper care to minimise their ill-effect on the body
Steps for better digestion as you age
1) Stay Hydrated
Maintaining the right amount of hydration in the body is important for digestion. Fluids such as orange juice with pulp helps ease constipation. Fiber and liquids go hand in hand to make a healthy digestive combo by softening stools so the food can easily pass through the digestive tract. Remember to drink enough water each day well ahead and after meal times. Not all liquids are healthy. Liquids like tea and coffee can actually have adverse effects and can cause digestion issues.
2) Healthy diet
The importance of eating a healthy diet plays the most crucial factor in digestion. Eating a healthy diet not only aids in digestion, but also for the overall health of your body. Strive to maintain a healthy weight. Overeating can make your digestive system work harder causing heartburn symptoms and leading to indigestion. Keep meals in appropriate sizes and calories and eat at fixed and regular intervals.
3) Be Physically Active
One of the best habits for a healthy digestion system for seniors is being physically active. Aerobic exercises like walking, biking,swimming can help improve your circulation and overall fitness. Being active helps you maintain constant weight and keep the digestive system in healthy shape as well. Even a simple exercise can aid in improving the rate of food digestion in the body
4) Avoid harmful foods.
Some foods have harmful effects on digestion for some seniors. For example, for some seniors eating products with gluten can cause worse stomach problems. For others, it could be dairy products. Know which products suit and do not suit your digestion and cut down on those which are bad for you. Get tested for food allergies and food sensitivities can help you give more details about your body
5) Say no to stress
Do you know that excess stress causes an increase in gastric acid in our body which leads to heartburn and indigestion? As we age, our responsibilities and our stress levels can increase. Being stressed can cause a series of other problems in the body having a domino effect on the digestion. Best way to reduce stress is to include doing things you love and relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation also help. Remember to get enough sleep each night.
6) Take care of Oral Health
Healthy digestion begins with better oral health. Oral health is important as you age because you rely on the teeth to chew and break down your food into smaller portions for easy digestion. Older people might have more indigestion because they can not chew the food well due to the lack of teeth. Brushing and flossing daily can help you promote a healthier mouth leading to healthy digestion
7) Talk to a doctor
Finally, even after all these steps and precautions you still seem to have continuous digestive problems, it is highly recommended to speak with your health care provider and take a complete checkup of your overall health. Being honest and open to your doctor and following rigimently to their advice can help you lead a better life. Senior citizen health care is important to lead a happy and healthy life.
As said, old age puts the body at higher risk of digestive health problems and various other conditions. But with these seven steps, you can be sure to lead a healthier life with better digestion and lower indigestion problems as you age.
Author: Team 60Plus India
Keywords used : Digestion, Digestive health for seniors, Factors of digestive problem, Steps for better digestion in seniors
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