It seems like that the older you get, the more pain you are in. Many of the aches and pains that seniors experience on a day-to-day basis will become very run of the mill. However, some seniors will begin to experience much more significant pain. According to research, chronic pain is something that is experienced by between 75 and 85 percent of seniors in care facilities and roughly 50 percent of the elderly who live independently at home. Sadly, chronic pain is undertreated and can lead to a number of health problems, such as anxiety, decreased mobility, sleep deprivation and social isolation. With that being said, it is important for seniors to take measures into their own hands to help manage their pain.
1. Start Practicing Yoga.
Some elderly individuals believe that they are simply too old for practicing yoga. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth. There is nothing wrong with senior citizens doing yoga. In fact, it is recommended, as yoga can helps the elderly improve their balance, strength and agility. However, according to WebMD, there may be certain poses that are more senior-friendly, such as the tree pose.
2. Begin Meditating.
Research has shown that meditation has the ability to alleviate chronic pain. In fact, the study showed that there was a reduction of about 40 percent in the intensity of the pain in the individuals who participating in meditation when compared to those who did not. Keep in mind that meditation is not a cure for the pain, but it can definitely help reduce some of the pain that you are experiencing.
3. Watch What You Eat.
Believe it or not, there are certain foods that you can eat that can help your body better manage chronic pain. In some cases, science says that certain foods can help alleviate the pain at comparable levels to or possibly even better than medicine. Some foods that you should consider incorporating into your diet include cherries, salmon, onions and soy. Make sure that you speak to your health care provider before adding these foods to your diet to ensure they don't aggravate any existing health conditions or interact with any of your current medications.
By making an effort to reduce your pain, you may be doing just what you need to improve your overall quality of life. If you're in pain and your own remedies aren't doing the trick, don't be ashamed to reach out to a health care professional who can find the exact culprit of the pain and develop an effective pain management and treatment plan for you. Continue reading more about it here.
Share16 March 2016
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