How to regain strength after an illness in the elderly

After an illness it is normal to go through a period of recovery or convalescence. In older people, this phase can be longer and heavier after a flu, pneumonia or a urinary infection, for example. should adopt measures to regain strength, physical health and spirits after this period of illness.

6 steps to regain strength after an illness

During the days of bed rest, the muscles degenerate rapidly, the appetite is lost and the mood is affected. On the way to recovery, older patients should pay attention to some measures that can speed up the return to normal health. But it is not so important to shorten the time as to strengthen the entire organism.

1. Give the body time to regenerate

Whether in the bronchi, bladder or intestines, repair and regeneration processes take place throughout the body after overcoming disease. It’s energy-consuming cleaning work.

The older the person affected, the more time is required. To really get over an infection, it can take six to eight weeks, with or without antibiotics. Therefore, older people must be urged to be patient. Feeling very weak or dizzy when getting up is completely normal at the beginning after leaving a health problem and you should not worry about it.

2. Support your recovery

can be of help to recover:

lozenges to suck with hyaluronic acid or Icelandic moss that keep the mucosa moist. You also have to drink enough.Inhale essential oils (such as eucalyptus) or pure water vapor, as it helps relieve irritated airways and bronchial tubes.nasal douches they are also helpful even after sinus infection symptoms have disappeared.Coconut lip balm with lemon balmprotects against cold sores in the mouth. vitamin supplements and protein drinks provide nutrients if too little is eaten. probiotic capsules they reinforce the microbiota, reduce inflammation and stabilize the intestinal mucosa after taking antibiotics.

3. Get out of bed

Staying in bed is not the most desirable. Older patients rapidly lose muscle mass if they remain bedridden. Strict bed rest can be compared to weightlessness. People over the age of 75 lose up to 1.5 kilograms of muscle mass in ten days. This extreme loss is why a prolonged flu or infection can lead to permanent frailty.

4. Exercise to prevent muscle breakdown

So as soon as possible get out of bed. Even if it’s hard for you, and if you only go to the dining room table three times a day, that’s better than nothing at first.

Lying down for long periods also weakens the respiratory muscles. The shallower the breath, the less oxygen reaches the tissues. So get back to normal as soon as possible, not with a strenuous sport, but with a gentle movement.

For physical recovery it is important that the diet is correct. Experts advise eating a balanced diet throughout the day, even if you don’t have an appetite. Protein-rich foods such as eggs or legumes are particularly important now.

Extensive tests or lab checks are usually not necessary unless you continue to feel very weak and no better after six weeks. If the body weight decreases, it is necessary to consult the doctor.

5. Try to do things with other people

For many older people, being physically exhausted for a long time also means sinking into a mental depression. Fortunately, some older people have enough basic confidence to help them survive a crisis of this kind.

Others, instead, fall into a deep hole. Grief, worries, but also the fear of not recovering keep them stuck in the disease. They lose the motivation to get up again, to eat, to participate in life again. Just a few steps can help them get out of the depths.

Challenging yourself mentally and seeking out social contacts can lift you back up. For the next day, for example, propose to go to the bakery. The walk, with the shopping list in your head, the conversation in the store, are a good start.

6. Daydream: imagine what you will do in the near future

Stay realistic. You don’t have to imagine a big trip, first formulate small goals: dare to go out to the street or to the park or invite your grandchildren to have a cup of tea.Create structure. Rituals, such as reading the newspaper every morning or having a cup of tea in the afternoon, help structure the day and counter depressive moods.Accept help, it can do you a lot of good. Singles or widowers can ask family, friends or neighbors for help. It is a way to cover your needs and to be in contact with other people.