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5 common health habits older adults should rethink, according to doctors
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- Traditional health advice for older adults is often outdated, with some common habits potentially undermining their intended benefits, such as relying solely on cardio workouts or avoiding all sun exposure.
- Experts now recommend strength training, especially heavier weight lifting, to combat age-related muscle and bone loss, and advocate for limited unprotected sun exposure to maintain natural vitamin D levels.
- Balance training is emphasized as a distinct and crucial exercise category for older adults, as maintaining balance significantly reduces fall risk, a major cause of injury in this age group.
- Vitamin D and calcium supplements alone do not effectively prevent falls or fractures, highlighting the importance of natural vitamin D production and a more nuanced approach to supplementation.
- Routine annual checkups should be personalized based on individual risk rather than applied uniformly, as frequent comprehensive exams and lab tests may offer little benefit for low-risk older adults.
