BA50 Talkers
If you are a woman heading towards fifty or have already reached that particular milestone, you will need to prepare for facing and tackling a number of known health issues, such as the menopause in particular.
For anyone contending with issues surrounding alcohol or drugs, Clearbrook Treatment Centers has info that could be very helpful. In terms of general health issues for a woman over fifty, here is a look at what you might need to face and how to potentially counteract or reduce the effects of certain problems, by staying as fit and healthy as possible.
Half-century health issues
There are plenty of positives attached to becoming a woman in your fifties, but there are also some common health issues that will be more likely to present themselves in your life, once you have notched up the half-century.
One of the most talked about issues for women in this age group is the menopause, otherwise commonly referred to as the change.
Menopause begins after you have experienced your last menstrual cycle and is considered to be completed when you have not had a period for a year. The natural age range for menopause is when you are somewhere between 45 and 55, and it brings with it a range of symptoms that you will have to contend with to varying degrees.
Hot flashes and night sweats are classic menopausal symptoms, combined with mood swings, bouts of insomnia, as well as vaginal dryness and maybe discomfort caused by an itching and burning sensation brought about as a result of the menopause.
Although the symptoms are fairly regulation, the extent to which you are inconvenienced or temporarily floored by the changed, varies on a personal basis, with some women experiencing only mild symptoms that don’t last that long, while others suffer greatly at the hands of the change, prompting a look at whether HRT might relieve their symptoms.
The question of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a weighty topic for many women, as although it can help to alleviate the symptoms associated with the menopause, there are pros and cons attached to taking this route.
Cancer is probably one of the major concerns attached to the use of HRT, as Estrogen can potentially increase the risk of various cancers, especially ovarian and cervical cancer. You may well want to have to have a detailed discussion with medical professionals about the use of HRT in order to decide whether this might be a course of action you would consider.
Lifestyle can make a big difference
Nothing wrong with wanting to try and live your life to the full of course, but by the time you get to 50, you might want to take some positive lifestyle choices that help you find a healthy balance where you give yourself the best chance of aging gracefully and looking after your body.
Regular exercise, plenty of restful sleep and a sensible approach to alcohol, will all help you to keep your mind and body in good shape through your fifties and beyond. Smoking is never a good idea at any age, but if you are a smoker, entering your fifties, should be viewed as a perfect time to make a concerted effort to quit smoking for good.
A good lifestyle is all about making sensible choices, like enjoying good food but aiming to maintain a healthy weight, as well as drinking alcohol in moderation and drinking plenty or water on a daily basis, to keep yourself nicely hydrated.
Never underestimate the power of sleep
You can find plenty of evidence around to suggest that anyone who enjoys a good 7-9 hours of sleep every night, is likely to live longer than those that skip on their shut-eye and don’t think about the long-term consequences.
One of the problems with this advice if you are in your fifties, is that sleep can sometimes be a challenge if you are experiencing hot flashes and night sweats as part of the menopause. Your body’s natural defense mechanism will unfortunately often interpret any lack of sleep as stress, prompting it to release hormones that can reduce your immunity levels and make you more susceptible to illness.
If you are struggling with sleep as a result of the change or other issues, it is far better to find some ways to trigger a better sleep, such as taking a warm bath to relax you before going to sleep in a room where the temperature is noticeably lower.
This drop in temperature can help you to achieve a more restful sleep and should give you a better chance of waking up feeling refreshed and ready to go.
There are many aspects to turning fifty, not least your health, which needs to be taken seriously if you are going to make the most of this exciting new period in your life journey.
Jay Hewitt has plans to become a General Practitioner in the future. Currently at medical school he enjoys brushing up on his general knowledge by writing a selection of health articles in his rare free moments.