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On a sunny weekend, Huang Daming took his family to a cherry orchard in the suburbs for family time.
They laughed under the blue sky and white clouds, picked baskets full of bright red cherries, and then enjoyed lunch at a rustic restaurant on the edge of the garden.
After the meal, the family sat around and the conversation gradually turned to the topic of health.
"Did you know that after the age of 50, health is like a constant multiple-choice question. ”
Dr. Zhang, a friend of the doctor, suddenly interjected into the topic, his tone half-joking, but not serious.
Huang Daming is a secondary school geography teacher who has a unique understanding of the relationship between the natural environment and human health.
Today, he intends to share some opinions that may not usually sound like they are related to health, but they do affect the health of middle-aged and elderly people. "Let's start with sleep. ”
Dr. Zhang peeled cherries and said, "Many middle-aged and elderly people have a decline in sleep quality, and there are three special manifestations, if you don't pay attention, you may really be in pain." ”
First of all, Dr. Zhang mentioned frequent waking up at night.
He explains that, according to a recent study, frequent waking up at night not only affects the sleep cycle, but can also be an early warning of prostate or heart disease.
Specific data show that more than 65% of patients with prostate disease show frequent waking up at night in the early stage, and this proportion is only 20% in the general elderly.
This is followed by breathing problems during sleep, including snoring and pauses in breathing.
It's not just a respiratory problem, more research suggests it's strongly associated with cardiovascular disease.
According to statistics, middle-aged and elderly people with severe sleep apnea symptoms have three times the incidence of cardiovascular disease compared with those without such symptoms.
The third manifestation is difficulty getting out of bed in the morning.
Dr Teo points out that this is often considered a sign of laziness, but in reality, it can be a sign of muscle degeneration or joint inflammation.
Both conditions are common health problems in middle-aged and older adults, and studies have shown that persistent musculoskeletal discomfort is highly associated with difficulty getting out of bed in the morning.
"So, how do we deal with these problems?" Huang Daming asked.
Dr. Teo replied that some seemingly inconspicuous habits in life, such as moderate outdoor activities, may have unexpected effects on improving sleep.
He mentioned a case of a retired teacher who had struggled with sleep problems, after a light hike on a regular basis;
Not only has the quality of sleep improved significantly, but so has overall health.
"It sounds interesting, do you mean that we can improve the quality of our sleep through simple outdoor activities?" asked Huang Daming curiously.
"That's true. "Not only that, but I also found that these outdoor activities indirectly promote sleep quality by improving mental health." ”
In the following conversation, Huang Daming shared his views on geography and health.
He believes that the geographical characteristics of the living environment, such as altitude and climate type, may also have an impact on the health of the elderly.
This perception is rarely mentioned in regular health discussions, but he believes it is an area worth digging into.
"If we think of the outdoors as a medicine, how can we scientifically 'prescribe' it to maximize its positive impact on the health of old age?"
In this regard, a detailed analysis shows that outdoor activity prescriptions should take into account the individual's health status, the environmental characteristics of the location, and the type of sustainable activity.
For example, older people living in plain areas may be suitable for easy hiking, while seaside dwellers may benefit from beach walks.
In addition, taking into account the differences in abilities and interests, the frequency and intensity of activities should also be individualized to ensure that they are both safe and effective in promoting health.
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!