Daily habits may be more important than genes.
1. Get around animals. Pets provide warmth to the elderly, let the elderly have someone to talk to, and thus release stress. People who have more contact with pets can have stable blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Dr. Alan Baker, who studies human-animal relationships at Purdue University, said that in addition to cats and dogs, having an aquarium in your home and a small parrot can help. If you don't want to keep a pet at home, visit zoos and aquariums to interact with small animals, volunteer at an animal shelter, or regularly walk the neighbor's dog.
2. Listen to music every day. According to Dr. Pieter Ganata, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of California, Davis, listening to music can help relieve anxiety, aid sleep, enhance memory, improve wound healing, and lower levels of the stress-related stress hormone cortisol, thereby boosting immunity. For the elderly, listening to music every day can also lower blood pressure, ease arthritis pain and speed up recovery after stroke, and even inhibit the development of cognitive impairment. Professor Kumar of the University of Miami School of Medicine said that music can evoke positive emotions and attitudes, especially in the early morning, choosing fast-paced, joyful music can help you maintain a good mood throughout the day.
3. You laugh a lot. According to Dr. Michael Miller, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, laughter triggers changes in the body that improve the function of the immune and endocrine systems. So Dr. Miller's prescription is to find what makes you happy, laugh about it, and pass it on to others.
4. Get back in nature on weekends. Yale University social ecologist Stephen Kellett, PhD, said that more time outdoors and back in nature can help boost mood and self-confidence. A study by the University of Essex in the UK found that people who have regular exposure to nature are less angry, depressed and stressed. Low-impact aerobic exercise, such as walking and cycling, can reduce the risk of heart disease. Brisk walking, fishing, boating and gardening are all good ways to do outdoor exercise. You don't have to worry about living near mountains or oceans. You can do the same by spending weekends in "green areas" such as local parks and botanical gardens.
5. Dedicate 2 hours a week to helping others. The study found that older people who regularly help friends, relatives or neighbors feel significantly happier and healthier than those who never help others. Dr. Stephen Post, a professor of preventive medicine in the United States, said that people over the age of 70 can get a variety of health benefits by volunteering 100 hours a year (just two hours a week), including easing depression, reducing weight, reducing insomnia and strengthening immunity.
6. Try Tai Chi. Tai Chi movement is gentle, small impact, almost everyone is suitable for exercise, especially the elderly. Regular practice of Tai Chi can relieve anxiety and depression, improve sleep quality, reduce high blood pressure and relieve chronic pain such as fibromyalgia.