RUGGED Healthy Aging: Invest in Your Future Health

A full schedule makes it easy to focus on getting through the next job. But the ability to keep working, enjoy time with family and pursue interests outside the trades deserves a place on the calendar, too.

RUGGED Mind and Body’s October healthy aging series closes with three priorities for the years ahead: keeping up with preventive care, building balance alongside strength and making decisions with your future health in mind.

Know Your Numbers and Keep Up With Preventive Care

Feeling well does not always tell you everything about your health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that high blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms. Having it measured helps identify a problem you might otherwise miss.

The CDC also recommends routine preventive care, including checkups, appropriate screening tests and vaccinations. Screenings can help find certain conditions early, when treatment may be more effective.

Make your next appointment a useful conversation:

Ask what your blood pressure readings mean and whether you need follow-up
Discuss which screenings and vaccinations are appropriate for your age, health history and individual risks
Bring a current list of medications and supplements for review
Describe your work demands and raise concerns about sleep, fatigue, pain or changes in your ability to do everyday tasks

The goal is to leave with a clear understanding of what needs attention and what to do next. If a test, referral or follow-up visit is recommended, make a plan to complete it.

Train Balance Along With Strength

Strength matters in the trades. So does being able to control your movement and stay steady. Give balance a deliberate place in your activity routine.

For adults 65 and older, the CDC recommends a weekly combination of aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening activity and balance activity. Its guidance includes:

At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
Muscle strengthening on at least two days
Activities that improve balance

Activities that combine balance and strength can help reduce fall risk in older adults. Choose activities that fit your abilities and health conditions, and ask a health care professional for guidance if you are unsure where to start.

Keep exercise separate from workplace hazards. A ladder, elevated surface or uneven jobsite is no place to practice balance. Training belongs in a safe setting; safe access and fall protection remain essential on the job.

Think About the Worker You Want to Be 10 Years From Now

Consider what you want to be able to do a decade from now. Continue working in your trade? Travel? Keep up with grandchildren? Spend more time outdoors? Let those goals help you decide what deserves attention today.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) takes a lifelong approach through its National Center for Productive Aging and Work, connecting worker safety and health protection with efforts to promote health and prevent disease across working life.

That responsibility extends to the workplace. NIOSH recommends:

Managing hazards
Improving ergonomics
Providing rest breaks
Matching tasks to workers’ abilities

Personal health habits belong alongside working conditions that support safe work. Start with one step toward protecting the health and abilities you want to maintain. Schedule an overdue appointment. Make room for regular strength and balance activity. Ask for help with a task that creates unnecessary strain. Review the hearing protection and other equipment you rely on.

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