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Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Seniors
Healthy living can help you age well and maintain your mental agility, physical strength, and overall vitality. It's never too late to begin taking better care of yourself. We offer resources and information especially for older adults.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits
As we get older, it becomes more and more important to take good care of our health. Seniors can stay healthy, energetic, and active for many years by establishing and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits.
Eating the right food in the right amounts is fundamental to your health. It is also a joy to eat a variety of healthy foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and lean meats. You do not have to eat foods you dislike, and you do not even need to skip snacks when you crave them. The key is making healthy choices and balancing occasional splurges with more moderate eating. It is important to be thoughtful about how you eat, to know what foods are good for you, and to plan the types of foods you will buy and eat on a regular basis.
The wise senior enjoys regular moderate activity. Regular exercise can give you more energy, help you sleep better, improve your mood, boost memory and concentration, and reduce your risk of developing chronic health conditions. There are many ways to exercise. The key is to find activities that you enjoy. Starting slow is okay, particularly if you have not exercised in a long time. In a short time, you may find that exercising is one of your greatest pleasures. Exercise is particularly important for seniors, because without it, our muscles atrophy and we lose mobility.
Maintaining a healthy weight and refraining from smoking are also foundations of a healthy lifestyle.
If you eat well, exercise every day, maintain a healthy weight, and do not smoke, you will feel good, have fewer health problems, live longer, and enjoy a better quality of life.
Eating well
Often, our appetites change as we get older. You may find yourself skipping meals or not paying as much attention to what you eat. But in our senior years, it is particularly important to eat well. If we fail to nourish ourselves properly, we will lose energy much more quickly and our health may suffer. For example, if we do not eat enough of the right minerals such as calcium, our bones will lose strength and we may develop osteoporosis. As seniors, we should carefully plan a healthy diet that we can enjoy and stick to.
Staying physically active
Regular exercise is something everyone should do throughout their lifetime. Exercise will help you stay healthy and maintain the best possible quality of life. Exercise is particularly important for seniors, because without it, our muscles atrophy and we lose mobility. No one is "too old" to exercise. You should not strain or push yourself too hard, but especially if you have been sedentary for a long time, it is important to start moving. Even a little bit of exercise can greatly improve your health.
Maintaining a healthy weight
As you get older, you may notice changes in your appetite and weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is important for healthy aging. To stay healthy and manage your weight, make regular exercise and healthy eating a part of your routine. Being underweight, overweight, or obese can negatively affect your overall health.
Aim for regular physical activity each week. It is never too late to start being active. Walking and tai chi are great forms of exercise for seniors. Start slowly, pace yourself, and build up over time.
Aim for eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day to manage your weight and to decrease your risk of diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, and many other conditions.
Quitting tobacco
Longtime smokers can benefit from quitting at any age. Quitting tobacco is one of the best things you can do for your health. Your body will become healthier within days after quitting.
Kaiser Permanente offers a range of quitting tobacco classes and programs free to members. Call or visit your local Health Education Department or browse this website for more information.
Additional References:
- External Link to National Institute on Aging
Related Health Tools:
Interactive Programs
- Quit Tobacco Medications Quit Tobacco Medications
- BMI Calculator BMI Calculator
Podcasts
- Exercise Lite Exercise Lite
- Quitting Smoking Quitting Smoking
- Ready to Lose Weight Ready to Lose Weight
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.