By now, you’re probably comfortable leaning into your 60s and beyond, knowing that age is just a number. It’s no secret that we’re living longer; more often than not, we maintain a youthful perspective on life as we grow older.
While a positive attitude can be attributed to improving our overall health, our body—including our eyes—continues to change over time. Staying healthy, seeing our best, and staying active as we age require that we pay attention to those changes.
Thankfully, for those of us over 60, there are 3 easy ways to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible:
1.) Schedule your annual eye exam.
Your eyes will go through changes throughout your lifetime, some short-term, some gradual, and others more permanent or sudden. Some vision changes are normal, such as needing reading glasses. Other changes may be a sign of a more serious problem. Discuss vision concerns with your eye doctor and have regular eye exams to stay on top of changes. Also, be aware that through examination of the retina during eye exams, eye doctors may be able to detect early signs of heart disease, hypertension and many other health problems.
Vision insurance is an important tool for maintaining eye health. If you need to buy vision insurance, you can find affordable individual vision plans through VSP® Individual Vision Plans. Coverage starts as low as $13 per month, depending on where you live and offers payment options to meet every budget.
2.) See your physician at least once a year.
Heart disease doesn’t only affect men; each year, it claims the lives of as many women as men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1. Age is one of the factors that increase heart disease risks for both sexes.
It’s important to be aware of things that can elevate your risk, such as being overweight, smoking, or having uncontrolled high blood pressure. Since many people don’t have symptoms or realize they have heart disease until they experience a heart attack or stroke. It’s important to get regular check-ups, like a physical and an eye exam, to help catch signs early on—before permanent damage is done. Talk to your doctor about your risks. They can help you understand what lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of heart disease.
3.) Get the recommended routine screenings.
Good for you if you’ve always been diligent about having annual screenings! If not, it’s time to start. Recommended screenings are there for a reason—your doctors are checking for conditions like diabetes through your blood and take your blood pressure to screen for hypertension. Even though it may seem difficult to fit them into your busy schedule—it’s important that you do.
Routine screenings2 can help detect health problems in their earliest stages when they’re most treatable. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors for different conditions and which screenings they recommend for you.
As Easy as 1, 2, 3.
These are just a few ways to focus more on our health as we age to keep us feeling as great in our 60s and beyond as we did in our 30s.
To learn more about individual VSP eye insurance you can buy to help protect your vision and overall health, visit VSP Individual Vision Plans today.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm (accessed January 11, 2023)
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/routine-screenings (accessed January 11, 2023)
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