Are You Over 60? Doctors Suggest These Tests

Extended life expectancy offers opportunities, not only for older people and their families. In these years of life, people can undertake new activities, such as continuing their studies, starting a new career, or resuming old hobbies. In addition, older people contribute in many ways to their families and communities, says WHO.

Preventive medicine is the best. At this age, a complete and balanced diet with all food groups is suggested, emphasizing proteins to strengthen muscle mass and limiting saturated fats and processed foods.

Internist and nephrologist Sergio Alvizures, advisor to Nipro, comments that the issue of people’s health is important at any age and one pillar is a healthy lifestyle. “As the years go by, the body’s response to certain stimuli decreases and it is the natural process of aging and the most valuable thing is to age with dignity. That is why a check-up with the family doctor with the most essential things possible is necessary and it is not about filling up with tests but about verifying if there is any condition that alerts about what needs to be verified,” he indicates.

Alvizures adds that if there is an alteration, it is important to investigate what is happening in the body. When there are chronic diseases, he invites the patient and the doctors to commit to monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment.

People with type 2 diabetes should regularly measure their blood sugar on an empty stomach or two hours after eating, as appropriate. These numbers should be noted down to share at medical appointments. Patients and their families are encouraged to learn more about the disease into follow up appropriately.

If you have high blood pressure, you need to measure it frequently, keep track of it, and be sure to take your medication. Caregivers or those living with you are advised to confirm that you are taking your medication, as this reduces the chances of a stroke or heart attack.

Other evaluations

Other tests that may be ordered include vision screening, audiometry to check for hearing loss and bone density, electrocardiograms, and cancer screenings.

“Everything is geared towards individualized medicine. If I have risk factors but do not have diabetes, I should have a check-up every three years starting at age 30. However, if I have risk factors and suffer from diabetes, this should be done every year (…) this is what the guidelines say and we have seen that adolescents or children already suffer from diabetes,” explains Alvizures.

It is important to know and mention that those who already live with this disease must maintain good control of glucose or blood sugar because this could affect other organs of the body. In this case, for example, a urine test will be added to monitor the state of the kidneys.

Mayo Clinic geriatrician Daniel Sanchez says doctors should also consider that some tests may not be necessary after certain ages because certain assessments are more likely to harm than good.

Tips for having full health

What to do in your daily life? Here are some tips from the experts.

• In a balanced diet, consume proteins from both animal and vegetable sources. Proteins from animal sources include meat, eggs, fish, milk, and its derivatives, while the main vegetable sources are legumes and cereals. Among legumes, soybeans have the highest concentration of proteins, followed by lentils and common beans. Among cereals, quinoa is one of the richest sources of vegetable protein.
• Exercise to achieve the goal of maintaining muscle.
• It is vital to drink enough water. Older adults can easily become dehydrated.
• Some professionals recommend that people indulge in a sweet treat like ice cream or a dessert once a week, since at this age they have a preference for sweet flavors due to a certain loss of their sense of taste.
• Getting a good night’s sleep is another important factor in maintaining health.
• Dental care is another aspect to take care of at this age. When the elderly have full or partial dentures, it is also important to clean them every day, because bacteria adhere to them in the same way.