Aging Well
Joanne Neweduk
H
ow often have you heard or perhaps uttered yourself…
“My knee hurts, I’m getting old.” “My back hurts, I’m getting old.” “I have diabetes, I’m getting old.” “I’m getting fat, I must be old."
Growing older has become the convenient scapegoat for all sorts of ailment but the reality is that there is a difference between aging and illness. Yes, as you grow older, you are more susceptible to certain conditions but lifestyle, and undo wear and tear, are more often to blame than aging alone. Let’s look at how aging and illness are different and why it is important to understand these differences. 36 // Community Now!
Aging, refers to the inevitable physical and mental changes that will happen to everyone as they grow older albeit at different rates. “Illness" (representing a wide range of conditions) only happens to certain people. Age being only one contributing factor, while lifestyle usually being the major one. Why is it important to know? Well, if you understand what is natural verses what is illness, you can seek proper treatment for yourself and loved ones. You can make lifestyle changes like improved: exercise, eating, stress management, and positive thought actions in order to take charge of your health,
