During your 70s, it is important to continue to be mindful of personal health risk factors and current health conditions that pertain to you. Consider support from your healthcare provider, family and friends in managing your health. A healthy regimen can be achieved through proper health maintenance and management. It’s never too late to begin a “wellness way of life.”
To ensure optimal health while in your 70s, you should:
- Do balance exercises each day
- Eat five servings of fruit and vegetables each day
- Schedule preventive screenings and exams, such as:
- Cholesterol panel — total, LDL, HDL and triglycerides
- Blood pressure checks
- Thyroid test (TSH)
- Fasting blood glucose
- Annual physical exams for men and women
- Discuss cervical cancer screening with your primary care provider, annual clinical breast exams and monthly self-breast exams for women
- Discuss prostate cancer screenings with your primary care provider for men
- Bone density screenings for men and women
- Colonoscopy
- Continued hearing and vision exams (as needed)
- Semi-annual dental visits for exams and cleanings
- Skin exams (as needed)
- Up-to-date immunizations: influenza “flu” (annually); tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) (once every 10 years); pneumococcal (talk to your healthcare provider): Zoster (one dose for shingles prevention)
- Practice safety:
- Always wear seat belts
- Don’t text and drive
- Don’t drink and drive
- Protect yourself from the sun
