Live Your Best Life in Your 60s

SkinThe Good News:

As you age, your skin becomes drier, so you will be less likely to experience breakouts. There is a chance for women to see skin issues appear that are related to menopause, but they’re usually treatable with hormone replacement therapy. The not-so-good news: You may notice more age spots on your skin, and that it has become more fragile overall. What You Can Do: Hydroquinone is an ingredient that is considered

The gold standard for reducing age spots By Helen M. Torok, M.D., medical director for the Dermatology & Surgery Center at Trillium Creek in Medina, Ohio. Consider a prescription hydroquinone product. Your more dramatic fine lines and wrinkles can be addressed with a prescription retinol product to help with damage repair by speeding up the skin cell turnover.

BonesThe Dood News:

If you've been active for the majority of your life, your bones, joints, and muscles can stay in pretty good shape during your 60s. The Not-so-Good News: Due to aging and inactivity, you may experience achy joints because of the wearing down of cartilage, loss of lubricating joint fluid, and weaker muscles.

What You Can Do:

Maintain normal body weight and implement strength training exercises. Weight-bearing activities stimulate the bones to grow stronger and denser, which can protect against bone fractures and osteoporosis. Also, investigate vitamin D and calcium supplements. The recommended dose of vitamin D for people in their 60s is 600 IU a day. Women in their 60s also need about 1,200 mg of calcium a day. Collectively, these all things are going to make you able to Live Your Best Life in Your 60s.

Metabolism The Good News:

Research has shown that metabolism typically slows up to 5 percent per decade. But that doesn't mean you have to gain weight in your 60s. Doctors recommend staying active and cutting calories if needed, but do consult a professional for help with doing so.

The Not-so-Good News:

In your 60s, your body may produce less hydrochloric acid, which decreases the availability of vitamin B12. Ask your doctor whether you need a B12 supplement (optimal dose: 2.4 mcg daily). What You Can Do: As you age, your stomach empties more slowly, which can increase the risk of reflux. And the slowing of digested material through the large intestine can trigger constipation. The easy fix? Fiber and water. Adding fiber to your diet may also help protect against colon polyps. Almost half of those over 60 have colon polyps that may develop into cancer. Older adults also get dehydrated easily. So it's important to drink even when you don’t feel thirsty. Read Also: What to Expect When Turning 50

Heart The Good News:

An older heart can pump about the same volume of blood with each beat as a younger one can. The Not-so-Good News: According to AARP, heart disease accounts for more than 20 percent of all deaths among men and women ages 65 to 74.

What You Can Do:

Keep moving your body. Just 150 minutes of moderately intense activity per week lowers your risk of developing coronary artery disease by 14 percent, compared with people who are not physically active.

SensesThe Good News:

Lifestyle plays a major role in helping to maintain your senses as you age.

The Not-so-Good News:

Hearing loss becomes significantly more common as you age. It is mostly the result of degenerative changes in the ear canal, eardrum, and other parts of the ear. About 45 percent of 60-somethings experience some degree of hearing loss, according to AARP. After age 60, your ability to hear high-frequency tones will also lessen. What You Can Do: Make an effort to stay away from loud noises. Moreover, be focused on what you will learn after reading Live Your Best Life in Your 60s. Eat a balanced diet, particularly including foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, which can also help prevent some age-related eye disorders. See a doctor right away if you notice that your senses of smell or taste diminish significantly. You may also find that, to some degree, you may be required to swallow your pride and accept some challenging truths. Get tested for hearing aids. Find yourself some reading glasses. It’s all a part of the process.

Sex LifeThe Good News:

Many people are of the mindset that sex in your 60s can be better than ever: You've got more time to spare and fewer distractions. Getting older often means becoming more comfortable in your own skin and you are in a need of learning Live Your Best Life in Your 60s. A study done at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine found that sexual satisfaction among women rises with age. two-thirds of sexually active women with a median age of 67 reported being moderately or very satisfied with their sex lives. The Not-so-Good News: The sex-related hormones — estrogen and progesterone in women, testosterone in men — decline with age. Vaginal dryness may become more noticeable, What You Can Do: Find over-the-counter lubricants that are effective for improving experiences. Prescription creams and tablets may prove to be helpful, as well.

ImmunityThe Good News: As you age, your immune system becomes less over-reactive and sensitive, meaning that allergies could be a thing of your past. But there no need to be worried as our article Live Your Best Life in Your 60s is going to help you in a great manner. The Not-so-Good News: Because your immune response is less aggressive than it was at a younger age, you may find that you’re more susceptible to getting sick. Chronic inflammation, which is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis, makes it even harder for the body to mount an effective immune response. What You Can Do: With prevention in mind, it's important to shed excess pounds, eat a balanced diet, and to exercise. Your body’s response to vaccines will lessen with age, making you even more vulnerable to illnesses like flu and pneumonia. Higher-dose flu vaccines are available to those over age 65. Vaccines against shingles and pneumococcal disease will become important, too, as these conditions mostly occur after age 60.

BrainThe Good News: Neurogenesis is the growth of new brain cells, and continues well into your 60s. Your capacity to learn new things stays strong. The Not-so-Good News: According to AARP, “part of your brain circuitry starts to burn out with age, but most of us compensate by relying on other parts of our brain, and our past experiences, to make decisions… 'wisdom' that accrues with older age". You may also find in your 60s that it becomes more difficult to access memories as quickly as you used to. But memory loss is, in fact, to some extent, avoidable. What You Can Do: Research shows that “you can improve your brain health by getting regular mental stimulation, social interaction and physical activity," MRIs show that adults who get regular exercise have a bigger hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning, and are able to keep their minds sharp.

HappinessThe Good News: Recent research has shown it to be true that we get happier as we age. One reason is believed to be our years of experience. "As you get older, you know that bad times are going to pass," says Laura Carstensen, Ph.D., director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. "You also know that good times will pass, which makes those good times even more precious." The Not-so-Good News: In your 60s, you might tend to avoid stressful situations, as you should, but don’t allow yourself to miss out on new opportunities to learn to Live Your Best Life in Your 60s. What You Can Do: Be open to trying new things and meeting new people. Make sure all your social interactions stay active and strong. Having the ears and support of others may be key to facing future challenges with resilience. In addition to all of this, this article Live Your Best Life in Your 60s might be a guiding star for you. Recommended Read For You: Life Changes You Should Make After 40