This is the promised (but very rough) summary of two articles by American doctors on what to do to maintain yourself as you start to show signs of ageing. Always refer to GP or SN first … this below is for interest.

1. Chronic dehydration … body’s natural reduction of thirst as we get older … accelerated brain function decline, thickening of blood, greater risk of strokes, destruction of joint lubrication and kidney problems … but a reader said not to overdo it.

2. Consumption of processed food starts to steal energy from already tired organs. Keep it as raw and natural as possible. SN helps here.

3. Loneliness causes inflammatory processes inside the body … maintain social contacts and have projects. Online can help much with this.

4. Gym. Until maybe 70, stress training helped … push weights, intense training … muscles grow … slowly ceases after 70 or so and starts to be counterproductive. Reduce to moderate weight and higher reps, work in walking or biking.

5. Restrictive eating habits not good later (official guidelines). Age related malnutrition … body not processing nutrients as well. When protein reduces, muscle decline starts … which for oldies is a killer. Legs, arms, hips, bones, internal organs, processes decline. In turn, susceptibility to strokes etc. Fats are essential, not processed carbs.

6. Changes in sleep are natural later … melatonin declines, deep sleep shortens. You wake up during the night, earlier in the morning or later. Don’t force yourself to get up and rush off … so much to do, oh goodness, must get to work quickly. Do not stress over sleep not fitting guidelines. Whatever your bod needs, it needs. Relax over it. Never mind other people’s expectations. Let go of “all sleep must happen in one block”.

7. Meds. Going to leave this topic … your GP and SN involved there. Do ask about side effects.

8. Non-essential relationships. We tend to be gregarious, like to support friends, coworkers, acquaintances etc. … it’s a two way street … some must be kept, some derive so much, but some must slide, become more occasional. This SN chat … well we keep coming back, don’t we, it obviously has something in it for us.

9. Pretending we’re still as young as we were. Any issues putting on socks? How about getting out of a chair without using your arms (quads and glutes, hamstrings and calves). Work your legs moderately each day … walks, riding, whatever. In your legs is your independence. Knees, hips. Gently, gently.

10. After 70, the most dangerous accident is a fall. My bath has handrails, corridors are about four feet wide … sudden movement and I start to fall but every room has something at least to break a fall. I use bouncing off things as a strategy, not a fall.

11. Meaningful solitude … don’t let people rush you. Reserve time for yourself to regroup, reflect, plan.

12. Overall safety … with all the attacks outside, esp. on girls and older people … esp. in urban areas …they always choose the vulnerable … plan your routes, your time of day, your company. I go by cab now, never public transport. Etc. Etc.

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