Many activities are deemed unsafe or unfit for people over 60 to participate in. Curious about which ones? In this article, you’ll discover a good number of examples that may be best avoided.
Soccer
Soccer is a high-impact sport. It is easy to get injured while playing this sport. People over 60 are often told to avoid playing soccer and other high-impact sports such as basketball, tennis, and CrossFit. Breaking a bone after 60 becomes a lot more complicated than it was when we were younger.
Weight Lifting
Mount Sinai says that when we get older our “bones become more brittle and may break more easily.” Because of these changes in our bone density, it becomes easier for us to break a bone. Lifting very heavy weights without the proper training is not a good idea when we get older.
Prolonged Sitting
It’s not good for any of us to stay sitting down for too long but prolonged sitting is especially dangerous for people over 60. People over 60 are at a higher risk of developing complications when sitting for long periods such as muscle stiffness and deep vein thrombosis.
Skydiving
Skydiving is an extreme sport that comes with many risks even for young, healthy people. Skydiving as you get into your 60s and 70s is no longer a good idea. It is especially dangerous for people over the age of 60 with underlying health problems.
Overexposure to the Sun
The CDC states that people over 65 are at greater risk of heat-related illnesses, along with those who have existing medical conditions or who are overweight, and infants and babies. Older people should take caution when on vacation in hot countries to avoid overexposure to the sun.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is an extreme sport that requires a lot of good upper body and core strength. If you are not in good shape, you will find this very difficult. But rock climbing is especially dangerous for older people, who could easily fracture a bone while climbing.
Driving in Adverse Conditions
Older people have reduced reaction times. Because of this, they are not able to maneuver a car as quickly as they might need to in an emergency. Adding adverse conditions to the mix, such as darkness, bad weather, or high speeds, can make this extremely dangerous.
Bungee Jumping
Bungee jumping is an extreme sport that can make a person’s adrenaline and anxiety levels skyrocket before and during the jump. These bodily changes can make a healthy person feel unwell but they can do a lot more damage to someone older. It’s not recommended that people over 60 bungee jump.
Overdrinking
Overdrinking is bad for everyone but it’s extremely dangerous for older people. Drinking too much can lead to accidents such as slips and falls. Because older people have more brittle bones, they are more likely to break something when they fall over. Excessive drinking will also do more adverse damage to internal organs.
Overexposure to the Cold
Overexposure to the cold is not good for anyone, but it’s especially dangerous for the elderly. People over 60 should take care not to expose themselves for long periods of time to the cold, as they could develop complications such as hypothermia, frostbite, and loss of consciousness.
Smoking
Talking about the dangers of smoking, the CDC explains that “smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.” Smoking is more dangerous for people over 60.
Heavy Gardening
Heavy gardening, such as pulling out stubborn weeds or digging holes in the yard, are not jobs that those over 60 should be doing. These tasks are very strenuous on the body and can cause injury. It is better for an older person to ask for help with jobs such as these.
Ladders
Everyone must take precautions when working at heights or on a ladder. But jobs of this nature are especially dangerous for people over 60. When we get older, our reaction times slow down. Our bones also become more brittle with age and we are more likely to break a bone when we fall.
Skipping Health Checks
It is really important that those over 60 keep up with their routine health checks. WebMD lists a number of screening tests that are important for those over 60 to have done regularly, including hearing tests, eye tests, colorectal screens, blood pressure checks, and cholesterol checks, among others.
Isolation
People over 60 who have retired are at a high risk of feeling lonely. It is not recommended that people at this age move far away from family or friends or isolate themselves in their homes. A person over 60 should try to stay as active as possible and meet up with people regularly.
Extreme Diets
There are a lot of fad diets on the internet that people think will help them lose weight or tone up a little. However, extreme diets without medical supervision are dangerous, especially for people over 60. If a person over 60 wants to lose weight, it’s best they see a nutritionist.
