Tips for Helping Veterans Stay Healthy

There are over 17 million veterans living in the United States, according to the American Community Survey conducted by the United States government in 2019. Many joined after 9/11 and participated in the war on terrorism operations alongside other service members with full benefits, including health care insurance coverage for life!

As a veteran, you have served your country proudly and deserve your well-earned retirement. However, retirement does not mean not taking care of your health.

Taking care of your health will enhance your lifestyle and overall health and relieve stress. It can also help you live a happier life with greater peace of mind.  If you are a veteran and are currently disabled you may be eligible for disability benefits.  To see if you may be eligible, click here.

Furthermore, committing to taking care of your health will help you create a daily routine that will give you a sense of purpose after retirement. However, staying disciplined in the army is relatively easy because you are held accountable, and your fellow soldiers count on you. After retirement, though, it can be tough to keep yourself healthy. In this article, we will discuss tips that can make it easier for you to take care of yourself.

Let’s get right into it.

1. Take Care of Your Mental Health

Your mental health directly impacts your overall health. If your mental health is not up to the standards, your overall health is also subpar. Suppose you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Dealing with life and everything it throws at you can be challenging. Luckily nowadays you can learn about PTSD testing to help you get the right diagnosis for any mental health issues you have been facing, so you aren’t going through it alone.

In addition, life can be even more demanding if you are struggling with a disease like, for example, mesothelioma. The risk of mesothelioma is higher in military personnel due to a higher risk of asbestos exposure which can cause the disease.

We recommend you visit the Mesothelioma Veterans Center so that they can help you get what you rightfully deserve. It would also help if you talked to a therapist to keep your mental health specialist for any concerns.

Furthermore, science has also proven that meditation helps enhance your mental health. Those benefits include:

● Reduces stress

● Reduces anxiety

● Reduces depression

● Reduces high blood pressure

● Helps with pain

● Helps with insomnia and improves sleep quality

● Helps with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

● Helps with cancer

● Helps with weight control and eating behavior

● Helps with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

2. Exercise

Now that you know the importance of taking care of your mental health, it is time to take care of your physical health, and that is where exercise comes in. Research studies on exercise suggest it can help prevent several severe chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depression, and osteoporosis) and even premature death.

In addition, exercise can also help you enhance your life and live it to the fullest. When you are strong enough mentally and physically, there is nothing that life throws at you that you cannot handle. Furthermore, exercise can help fight depression and anxiety. According to Mayo Clinic, studies have shown that exercise can help improve your mood and fight anxiety.

Additionally, you do not have to do an intense 60-minute training session daily to gain the benefits. In fact, the low-intensity sessions you do regularly will help keep you in tip-top shape. Lastly, exercise offers plenty of benefits, including:

● Maintain a healthy weight

● Improved quality of life

● Stress reduction

● Helps with depression

● Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease

● Reduces risk of diabetes and arthritis

● Strengthens your muscles and bones

● Reduces risk of cancer

3. Nutrition

Nutrition is one of the most important things to help you improve and maintain your overall health. Let’s be honest, all the meditation and physical training will not help if your mind and body are not getting the nutrients they need to function. A well-balanced meal plan is exactly what the doctor ordered. In addition, learn as much as you can about nutrition because understanding it will help you maintain a healthy weight and improve your overall well-being.

In addition, you should prepare a weekly nutrition plan to avoid any slip-ups. While it is okay to binge once in a while, having a weekly nutrition plan will help keep you in check because you will know beforehand what you will have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make sure your meals include proteins, healthy carbs, and healthy fats so that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs. Also, do not drink sugary drinks. Instead, hydrate with water because doing so will help keep the extra weight off and make you feel better.

Lastly, healthy nutrition offers plenty of benefits which include:

● Living longer

● Prevents cognitive decline

● Enhances the immune system

● Keeps eyes, teeth, and skin healthy

● Supports your muscles and bones

● Lowers risks of diseases like cardiovascular, diabetes, and cancers

● Helps maintain weight

4. Regular Visits to Your Dentist and Doctor

Now that you have done all that you can to take care of your health on your end, we highly recommend regular check-ups with your doctor and dentist.

At your age, regularly seeing your dentist is crucial because the risks of cavities increase as you age. On top of that, your overall health is directly impacted by your oral health.

Mouth infections can lead to severe health conditions like diabetes. So, do not take any risks and visit your dentist regularly.

In addition, you must also see your doctor regularly. This way, you can get out before any complications arise and get the appropriate treatment before it is too late. Do not take risks while experiencing something as mild as a cold.

Your immune system weakens with age, so even something as mild as a cold can cause severe complications. Therefore, see your doctor regularly.

Conclusion

You have fought valiantly during your time in the armed forces. You have taken care of us, and now that you are in your retirement, it is time you took care of yourself. Maintaining a healthy routine may be challenging, but you will thank yourself for staying disciplined. The tips mentioned in this article will help you get started. You can use them to build a healthy lifestyle that will keep you on your toes, living life to the fullest.

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