Okay, maybe the title of this article is not completely true for everyone.  But at the same time, whoever said life is all downhill after your 50th birthday didn’t know what they are talking about.   Oh sure, there are the many physical changes occurring as we go through life – weight gain or loss, hair loss or going gray, wrinkles appear, muscle loss, in addition to eyesight, hearing and energy levels beginning to diminish.  It’s enough to demand “I want to get off this old age merry-go-round.”

Of course we can’t control everything in life but once past the age of 50, do not believe for one minute that the beginning of the end of your life has begun.  It all depends on your outlook and how well you take care of yourself.  And even if you’ve neglected your health a little bit – or even a lot over the years, there is still time to grab your health by the horns and take control of it.

Common health conditions after age 50

What about common health conditions past the age of 50, you may ask.  Yes, there can be a number of medical concerns which are more common in people over the age of 50.  But these same conditions can also happen in people under the age of 50.  Here is a list of some of them:

·      Cancer – particularly breast, prostate, colorectal and skin

·      Chronic pain – arthritis, bursitis, back pain

·      Depression

·      Digestive issues

·      Erectile dysfunction

·      Heart disease

·      High blood pressure

·      High cholesterol and triglycerides

·      Osteoporosis

Is it inevitable these conditions along with others will happen for certain? No one can predict their future.  But when you do certain things to protect your health, suddenly you realize you have a say in how healthy you can be now and in the future.  You get to determine what you will do to make a difference in how well you age and what diseases you may or may not develop.   

Start with routine health care

One way to care for yourself is by getting routine health care in your 50s and beyond.  The goal of this is to develop and maintain the doctor-patient relationship, encourage a healthy lifestyle, screen for disease, assess medical problems and update immunizations.  In general, routine health care for people 50 and older include the following:

·      Yearly physical exam including height, weight, and BMI calculation, blood tests, urinalysis and mental health screening.

·      Dental exams and cleanings every 6 months

·      Comprehensive eye exams at least every 2 years and every year if you wear prescription glasses or have diabetes.

·      Blood pressure screening at least once a year

·      Cholesterol screening every 5 years or as recommended

·      Diabetes screening – as recommended

·      Skin exam to determine skin cancer risk – every year or as recommended

·      Colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 50 or earlier if at increased risk (family history)

·      Immunizations – annual flu vaccine, tetanus booster (every 10 years) and whooping cough, pneumococcal, shingles, and hepatitis vaccines as recommended

·      Screening tests for women – annual clinical breast exam and mammogram, pelvic exam and pap test, HPV test, and bone density test.

·      Screening tests for men – Testicular exam at every yearly physical and prostate cancer screening as recommended

Focus on living a healthy lifestyle

This is where the real fun begins.  Don’t worry if you haven’t led the healthiest lifestyle in the past.  Now is the time to laser in on treating yourself like a prized racehorse.  There are numerous ways to accomplish this but here are some ways to make it happen.  Remember, you may not be able to do everything on the list, but the more you can do, the healthier you can be in the best half of your life.  Here’s how to get started:

·      Eat healthy – This means lots of fruits, veggies, lean meat, nuts, seeds, low-fat dairy, whole grains – you know the drill.  You have to feed yourself the best daily in order to be your best.

·      Stay physically active – Again, extremely important.  Get at least 30 minutes but preferably up to 60 minutes on most days of the week.  Walk, jog, swim, play tennis, bicycle, do whatever you enjoy – just do it.

·      Maintain a healthy weight – As we age, our metabolism slows down.  After the age of 50, our body has a tenacious tendency to want to replace lean muscle mass with fat.  Fat mass burns fewer calories than muscle making the cycle of losing weight harder to do.  But, don’t give up – it can be done through by following a healthy diet and regular, consistent exercise.

·      Do not smoke or use tobacco products – Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do to improve your health.  This is one time when quitting really is in your best interest. 

·      Get enough sleep – You may have discovered your sleep habits have changed with age.  If you are experiencing too little sleep, talk to your doctor about this.  Insufficient sleep can increase your risk for certain health problems.

·      Reduce stress – Chronic stress takes a toll on our body and health.  Take steps to reduce stress in your life and talk to your healthcare provider if you are feeling overwhelmed or think you may be suffering from anxiety or depression.

·      Drink alcohol only in moderation – Moderation is defined as no more than one drink per day for women, two for men, if at all.