As you age, the coined phrase "I'm not as young as I used to be" suddenly has more meaning. Your likelihood of developing disease increases, while natural resistance to pathogens, agility and strength commonly decrease.

Here are a few tips to help you live your best life.

• Start a weight-bearing exercise program to help strengthen muscles.
  Strong muscles protect you from injury by impacting bone health and improving agility, cardiac health, blood pressure and well-being.
  
  
• Maintain a healthy weight.
  Discuss your weight with your healthcare provider. You can improve many conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure by shedding a few pounds.
  
  
• Stretch daily.
  Stretching helps with flexibility and muscle movement that will help with minor aches and pains.
  
  
• Visit your doctor regularly.
  Things such as poor vision, health problems and limited mobility safety issues can be very devastating to seniors.
  
  
• Join a club.
  Seniors need to maintain their social life. Meeting friends on a regular basis and socializing is important to helping to maintain a positive mood.
  
  
• Get a pet.
  Pets are known to help loneliness and keeping one active.

Get the Most Out of Your Doctors Visits

Be prepared.
Make a list of symptoms if you are not feeling well and jot down questions or concerns that you may forget.

Ask plenty of questions.
If you don't understand what the doctor or nurse is telling you be sure to ask questions and ask that they explain it again in more detail. What is my diagnosis? What are these tests for, what will they show? Are there alternatives to prescription medications? Is there a special diet I should follow?

Get proper instructions on medications.
Be sure you understand what the medication is and what it was prescribed for. Ask if there are side effects and what to do should you experience any of them.

Don't get embarrassed.
Although health care topics can be very sensitive and personal, you should feel comfortable with your physician and discuss your health concerns openly.

Share all information.
Be sure to tell your doctor everything you know about your health, including symptoms or any problems you have been experiencing.
The more information you share, the better the doctor will be able to treat you.
Make a list of all the medications, vitamins and herbs, and include names of other health care provider that you are seeing.

Take someone with you.
A companion could provide moral support, help remind you concerns and help you recall what the doctor said.

Follow-up.
Schedule follow-up appointments and any lab tests immediately, you will be less likely to forget.