Really feel such as you’re a younger 50? Whereas many older Canadians report feeling youthful mentally and bodily than their age, when you hit 50, sure well being points can sneak up on you — regardless of how good you are feeling.
“As we age, our cells naturally put on down, as do the programs that restore them. It’s like your physique’s upkeep crew will get slightly drained and understaffed,” explains Dr. Angela Downey, household doctor and host of the “Codependent Physician” podcast. “This makes us extra weak to issues like hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart illness and sure cancers, even when we’ve lived a wholesome life till this level.”
Whereas that is the case for everybody, being a girl comes with just a few additional well being dangers.
“After menopause, estrogen ranges drop, which will increase the chance of coronary heart illness, autoimmune situations, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence and osteoporosis,” Downey provides.
This text is for informational functions solely and isn’t an alternative choice to skilled medical recommendation, analysis or remedy. Contact a professional medical skilled earlier than partaking in any bodily exercise, or making any adjustments to your weight loss program, medicine or life-style.
Data is energy, the previous adage goes, so we’re digging into the ten totally different well being issues that needs to be in your radar when you’re a girl over 50 — plus tips on how to keep on prime of them.
10 well being issues each girl over 50 ought to know — and what to do about them
1. Imaginative and prescient issues
For those who’re over 40, the Canadian Affiliation of Optometrists recommends an eye fixed examination each two years. (Picture through Getty Photos)
Imaginative and prescient adjustments are a recognized byproduct of getting older, however decrease estrogen ranges after menopause may have an effect on your eye well being and result in a necessity for glasses or a stronger prescription, diminished night time imaginative and prescient and even a better danger of eye situations like dry eye and macular degeneration. You may keep on prime of your eye well being by having common eye exams. Even when you’ve got no imaginative and prescient points, it’s advisable you get an eye fixed examination each two to a few years when you’re beneath 40, and each two years when you’re over 40. When you hit 65? Optometrists advise a yearly go to to remain on prime of your ocular well being. And naturally, when you discover any sudden imaginative and prescient adjustments or bodily adjustments to at least one or each of your eyes, head to the attention physician as quickly as potential.
2. Listening to loss
Whereas listening to loss is extra frequent in males than ladies, it is one thing value getting checked out when you’re over 50. (Picture through Getty Photos)
Listening to loss is extra frequent in males than ladies, however don’t let that hold you from scheduling a listening to check. Round 54 per cent of Canadians aged 40 to 79 have delicate listening to loss — however it may be fairly sneaky. Lots of people that suffer from it don’t even discover a problem. It’s possible you’ll really feel like your ear is a bit clogged or solely have bother listening to in noisy locations. Even when the signs aren’t impacting your each day life, it’s essential to have your listening to checked when you’re over 50 or discover a change. It’s not simply age that may trigger listening to loss; accidents, sickness and sure drugs can mess together with your listening to, too.
3. Coronary heart illness
A whopping 89 per cent of ladies do not know their distinctive danger components for coronary heart illness. (Picture through Getty Photos)
In keeping with the Coronary heart & Stroke Basis of Canada, coronary heart illness and stroke is the primary explanation for untimely dying of ladies in Canada. Much more regarding? A whopping 89 per cent of ladies don’t know their distinctive danger components, a lot of which improve with age and/or menopause, reminiscent of hypertension and excessive ldl cholesterol, weight problems, diabetes and despair. Making heart-healthy life-style adjustments and seeing your physician or pharmacist for normal blood strain, ldl cholesterol and blood sugar monitoring may help you retain your ticker wholesome.
4. Osteoporosis
Greater than 30 per cent of ladies will break a bone because of osteoporosis. (Picture through Getty Photos)
Bone loss accelerates after menopause, rising the chance of osteoporosis, and one in three ladies break a bone because of the situation, in response to Osteoporosis Canada. Your intercourse and age aren’t the one danger components; household historical past, sure drugs and your weight loss program additionally play a job. Participating in common train, particularly weight-bearing train, getting sufficient calcium and vitamin D and never smoking may help you scale back your danger. For those who’ve ever fractured a bone, have a household historical past of osteoporosis, or are post-menopausal, ask your physician about screening.
5. Autoimmune illnesses
Many signs of autoimmune situations — like joint paint, fever and digestive points — can overlap with different well being situations, making analysis tough. (Picture through Getty Photos)
Relating to autoimmune illnesses, the percentages are stacked in opposition to ladies. Round 80 per cent autoimmune illnesses are identified in ladies — and the chance of growing one will increase after menopause, in response to Downey. There are greater than 100 autoimmune illnesses, together with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and thyroid illnesses. Signs reminiscent of fatigue, joint ache and digestive points can overlap with different situations, and there’s no single definitive check for all of them, making analysis tough. For those who discover new signs, see your physician for applicable testing.
6. Most cancers
9 in 10 most cancers circumstances in Canada are identified in individuals over 50, and there are some forms of most cancers that girls are at increased danger of. (Picture through Getty Photos)
A whopping 9 in 10 cancers in Canada are identified in individuals over the age of fifty — and growing older is a very powerful danger issue for most cancers. Whereas that is true for women and men, there are some cancers that solely or predominantly have an effect on females, together with cervical, breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers. Lung most cancers, which as soon as largely affected males, is now affecting extra ladies. Household historical past, age of your first interval and variety of pregnancies are just some of the components that have an effect on a girl’s danger of most cancers. Discuss to your physician about your danger components and screening.
7. Weight problems
Perimenopause causes a mean weight achieve of 4.5 kilos. (Picture through Getty Photos)
About 65 per cent of Canadians are obese or overweight, most of them between ages 40 and 69. Slower metabolism much less exercise and hormonal shifts — particularly throughout perimenopause, which causes a mean weight achieve of 4.5 kilos — are contributing components. Staying lively and consuming properly may help, but when wanted, there are different instruments out there which may be value discussing together with your health-care supplier.
8. Vaginal dryness
For a lot of, vaginal dryness could be handled with over-the-counter remedies. (Picture through Getty Photos)
Vaginal growing older is a factor. As we — and our vaginas — become old, decrease estrogen ranges trigger our as soon as moist and versatile vaginal tissues to the develop into drier, thinner and fewer stretchy. Whether or not you’re having intercourse or not, treating vaginal dryness is essential as a result of if left untreated, it will probably result in signs like irritation and microtears, which may in flip improve your danger of infections. Vaginal dryness could be managed with over-the-counter remedies like vaginal moisturizers and lubricants. If these don’t work, your health-care supplier can prescribe topical estrogen, which is obtainable in Canada in cream or pill type.
9. Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
If not handled, UTIs can result in critical problems. (Picture through Getty Photos)
Feminine anatomy — and having the urethra and anus in such shut quarters — is in charge for females experiencing way more UTIs than males as a result of it makes getting micro organism from one opening to the opposite rather a lot simpler. After menopause, the chance will increase because of pores and skin irritation and tears from vaginal dryness and a lower in good vaginal micro organism, which lets the much less useful micro organism develop. UTIs can result in infections increased within the urinary tract, such because the bladder or kidneys, which may have critical problems. Treating vaginal dryness (see above) may help scale back the chance of UTIs. For those who suspect you could have a UTI, a physician or pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics to deal with it.
10. Urinary incontinence
Many causes of incontinence could be handled. (Picture through Getty Photos)
Urinary incontinence can occur to anybody, however it’s most typical in ladies over 50. That mentioned, don’t cross it off as an everyday a part of growing older, as it will probably have a number of causes, a few of that are treatable. Together with decrease estrogen ranges which may have an effect on vaginal and urethral tissues, pelvic flooring harm from giving start, UTIs and sure medical situations and drugs are just a few potential causes. For those who’re instantly leaking urine, even when just a bit, don’t hesitate to achieve out to your health-care supplier.
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