Serving your country in the military is a job of honor, bravery, and pride. Since you put your life on the line to protect your country, you also earn a lot of respect. Bur war is a serious matter, and getting involved in it has several consequences. You might face exposure to gunpowder, loud noise, lack of sleep, and extreme weather conditions. Military veterans deserve to live a peaceful life after service. However, they often find themselves struggling to cope with health issues post-retirement. Depression, stress, anxiety, and other chronic disorders tend to harm the body because of age and a weakening immune system. Luckily, you can keep such health problems at bay in multiple ways. This article will highlight tips that will ensure you stay fit after military service.

Regular health checkups

Military service members enjoy many benefits that are a part of their compensation for their services to the country. These include accommodation, health checkups, bonuses, and increased pay scales, along with many others. But once they retire, these benefits may not be available. Consequently, it leads to inattention to their health, thus becoming a victim of numerous diseases. Some military veterans reported falling ill to chronic diseases such as mesothelioma – a deadly cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The US military used asbestos as a component for constructing military weapons such as ships, tanks, aircraft, and even military buildings. But little did they know that inhaling asbestos is toxic for them.  Veterans can now receive compensation via mesothelioma law firms and trust funds. These law firms strive to bring justice and reimbursement to people erroneously exposed to asbestos. They have extensive expertise in dealing with asbestos lawsuits to help the affected people through legal procedures. As an ex-military serviceman, if you are lucky enough to win your claim, you can use the compensation money to look after your health. Regular health checkups can help diagnose underlying health problems before they surface.

Eat a well-balanced diet

Eating a balanced diet is the golden rule for living a happy and wholesome life. You must realize your dietary choices directly or indirectly influence your overall health. Typically, military personnel consumes a healthy diet during service to stay fit. But after retirement, most of them fail to keep their eating habits in check, resulting in a weaker immune system. The best way to reverse any health complications while staying healthy is to focus on eating a nutritious diet. Nowadays, numerous food industries produce processed foods that are not good for the human body. They lure people into eating those foods which might taste delicious on the tongue but have negative health consequences. Recent studies have revealed that eating fast food can lead to many illnesses such as obesity, coronary diseases, depression, and anxiety. So keep your meal free from processed foods that contain high quantities of carbs and fats. Instead, focus on eating healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, and non-processed meat. Since these foods are rich in nutrients and strengthen your aging immune system, they should be a part of your routine diet. 

Stay active

Indulging yourself in physical activity is one of the best practices you can adopt as a military veteran to stay healthy after service. People who stay active are relatively more energetic than those pursuing a sedentary lifestyle. Likewise, they are less prone to developing health problems post-retirement. After service, you should focus on developing good habits such as regular exercise while eliminating the bad ones. Even low-intensity workouts such as walking or jogging would do wonders for your health. Swimming, running, and hitting the gym are favorites among military veterans trying to stick to a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity allows your body to develop stronger bones and muscles and improves immunity. It can also keep your body in shape since you will no longer be engaged in rigorous military training. You can perform your routine tasks easily while ensuring health issues like joint pain, shortness of breath, and reduced stamina are no longer a threat. In a nutshell, making some time for regular physical activity is the prerequisite for a healthier lifestyle.

Engage your mind and body

Healthcare professionals recommend that war veterans focus on staying mentally and physically fit. But that doesn’t necessarily mean doing hours of exercise until you feel exhausted. Rather, it also involves organizing your thought process and preparing your body to deal with any emerging situation. For this purpose, introducing yoga and Tai Chi into your lifestyle is worth it. Yoga is a healthy practice that is associated with several health benefits. Performing yoga regularly works your mind and body, thus strengthening them. It can help release hormones in your body that can induce a feeling of calmness and relaxation. As a result, it can help you cope with underlying mental health problems such as stress and PTSD. It can also help build a positive mindset necessary for fostering healthy relationships after being distant from your loved ones for years. Similarly, Tai Chi is another powerful and proven way of engaging your mind and body. It is a low-intensity activity that entails deep breathing and gentle body movements for healthy living. It is also easy on your bones and joints, thus enhancing your flexibility while ensuring you don’t get injured.

Cope with financial problems

Dealing with stress is a common phenomenon that everyone faces in today’s world. However, for aged people and military veterans, it is too much to handle, especially when it comes to catering to the financial challenges post-retirement. Unless you have a stable source of income, dealing with financial stress becomes a tad difficult. Worse, you might fall for addictions that can harm your health. To overcome financial stress, you should consider seeking advice from financial experts. They can highlight your future financial prospects and help you understand how to spend your savings while assisting you in making more dough. Consider starting a business or finding another job to keep the money flowing in. You can even share your financial problems with your loved ones and see if they can provide solutions.

Conclusion

Taking care of your mental and physical health while serving in the military can be a huge challenge. But ensuring you continue to do so even after service becomes even more difficult. However, you can stay healthy by consuming a well-balanced diet, managing financial stress, staying active, and visiting the doctor for regular health checkups.