Poor Health...Is It Normal Aging or Just Bad Advice?

As a Physical Therapist and Health Coach conversations about health are a big part of my everyday life…and I absolutely love it!  I love sharing my knowledge and experiences and helping others on their health journey. 

So, today I want to talk about something that has been coming up a lot lately that has me concerned.  It’s this idea that persistent aches, pains or poor health is somehow accepted as “just a normal part of aging”.           

​I hear from so many people who are NOT living the life they envisioned for themselves because of one or more health problems.  And sadly, the most common health problems affecting people’s lives today are conditions that can prevented, significantly improved and in many cases even reversed with proper treatment and advice.  

Unfortunately, dealing with aches, pains and injuries for months and even years is a common problem, but in most cases it’s not something that has to be or should be permanent.  This is also true for many people suffering from things like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, gut discomfort, sleep disorders, headaches, low energy, etc.…the list could go on and on, but these conditions do not have to be a life sentence.

Now that is not to say that ALL health conditions or diagnoses are completely within our control, but I believe we have A LOT more control over our health than we give ourselves credit for.  
 
So, why do so many people end up living with persistent pain or chronic health problems that limits their quality of life and happiness.

I don’t think it’s because people are “lazy” or “lack motivation”.  I believe most people want to feel better.  They want to find the right solution to ease their pain or improve their health.  In fact, the stories I’ve heard from people about the long list of things they’ve tried is proof that people ARE NOT CONTENT with being unhealthy.  They would prefer to enjoy a healthy, active and vibrant lifestyle.

I think people are frustrated, confused and tired.  They’ve been beaten down by the healthcare system, fitness industry or yet another fad diet one too many times. 

They start to lose hope.  Hope is eventually replaced by FALSE BELIEFS like “It’s a normal part of aging” or “I just have to accept it”.  These false beliefs become their new reality.
 
But is it really just “NORMAL AGING” and something we have to accept?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

As humans it is built into our DNA to live a long, active, healthy life.  We are not meant to live in constant pain, discomfort or suffer from chronic poor health. 
 
In fact, many of the most common health problems people suffer from DO NOT come from “normal aging” or “just getting old” – they come from improper exercise or lack of exercise, poor nutrition, poor lifestyle habits and sometimes BAD ADVICE.

Where does this bad advice come from?  Sometimes it’s a well-meaning “friend or family member”.  Sometimes it’s from the internet.  And sometimes it’s even from your own doctor. 

Now don’t get me wrong, not all doctors give bad advice.  But what is frustrating is how often I hear from people who have been told by their doctor to rest, take medications, try an injection or just lose some weight, eat less & exercise more…and when that doesn’t work to solve their health problem they are told they are “just getting old and there’s nothing that can be done”. 

In my opinion, that is BAD ADVICE that leads to several common FALSE BELIEFS and even more health problems down the road for people.

SO, PLEASE DO NOT FALL VICTIM TO THIS WAY OF THINKING!

Okay, so now what?

If you are suffering from a persistent ache, pain or injury and haven’t tried Physical Therapy, now is the perfect time.

If you are struggling to lose weight or suffering from another health problem like diabetes or have low energy and haven’t considered hiring a Health Coach, now is the perfect time.

As a Physical Therapist and Health Coach I have the luxury of spending a lot of time with my patients and clients, sometimes up to a full hour in just one session compared to the 5-10 minutes you might get with your physician.  This gives us the time needed to look for the real cause of a problem, find the right solution to correct it, and create new and improved behaviors and health habits.  We also teach you how to maintain the progress you’ve made and prevent the problem from returning. 

And even if you’re not ready to get professional help, at the very least, the next time you hear yourself saying “I’m just getting old”….

…STOP!

Instead ask yourself what you can do differently today to take better care of YOU.  I find that most people can identify a few things they can do to improve their health that they have control over.  But if you are feeling confused, frustrated or stuck, please know you don’t have to do this alone. 

Call today us today for more information at 503-744-0046.

Or click here to fill out a short form to request a FREE Phone Consultation or FREE Discovery Visit to find out if Physical Therapy or Health Coaching is right for you before you decide what your next step needs to be.  

Oh, and speaking of FALSE BELIEFS…the one we talked about today (”It’s just a normal part of aging”) is just one of several I hear.

So, stay tuned for next weeks BLOG where I’ll uncover several more common FALSE BELIEFS about our health to help you steer clear, or to find your way out if one or more of these FALSE BELIEFS is holding you back from enjoying the healthiest and happiest version of YOU.