Turn Back Time With Simple Healthy Living Tips
Simple health steps for mature women in their 40s and 50s explain why it’s time to start giving some thought to the kinds of screening tests you need, what menopause will mean for you, and what nutrition is best. Check out these simple health steps for mature women to help manage your health.
Reexamine Your Birth Control Methods
Talk to your doctor about possible changes. For example, if you take the pill, as you get older you may want to think about a switch to an IUD, estrogen patch, or other methods. That’s because some birth control pills may raise some women’s risk of heart disease and blood clots.
Cope With Menopause
Have a discussion with your doctor before symptoms of menopause start to appear. Talk about what you would like to do to get relief from any distress.
For instance, short-term hormonal therapy (HRT) may be a choice for you if you have moderate to severe effects from menopause and you are at low risk for breast cancer, heart disease, strokes, and blood clots.
HRT can help with symptoms like hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal dryness.
Monitor Your Calcium Level
Start to monitor your bone health at this stage, if you have not begun yet. As you climb the ladder into menopause, it’s an important time for you to prevent osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones.
If you don’t get enough dairy in your diet, maybe due to allergy, dislike for dairy, or simply the product is out of reach, take a supplement with calcium and vitamin D. Vitamin D releases the calcium in your body for use.
Confirm with your doctor if you should take a bone density scan to check for early osteoporosis. If you are under 65 but past menopause, you may need one if you’re at risk for the condition because you’ve had a bone break, take steroid medicines, smoke, have a low weight, drink alcohol excessively, suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, or have a parent who’s had hip fractures.
Get Major Screening Tests
Mammogram
Many experts suggest you get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years to check for breast cancer when you’re 50 to 74. Check with your doctor about what you should do if you’re older than 74.
Colonoscopy
You may be due for another colonoscopy. It’s a procedure that can find small growths called polyps that have the potential to turn into colon cancer. You should get the test every 10 years, or sooner if your doctor finds polyps.
Pap & HPV Test
To check for cervical cancer, ask your doctor if you need regular pelvic exams with Pap and HPV tests, and how often. When you are 30 to 65, you should get a Pap test every 3 years. Or, if you prefer, every 5 years a Pap test along with an HPV test. That other test is useful because most cervical cancers are caused by an infection with HPV (human papillomavirus).
Thyroid screening
Thyroid disease is common in older women, so ask your doctor whether you should consider a screening test for it.
Bone density
Ensure to get your bone density screening test done when you turn 65, or sooner if you are at high risk for bone-weakening conditions osteopenia, and osteoporosis.
Essential Immunizations
Ensure you get a flu vaccine every year. It’s also recommended that you get a pneumococcal disease vaccine if you’re at medium risk for the disease. For the reason that you smoke, have long-term heart or lung disease, have diabetes, are a heavy drinker, or have long-term liver disease. If you are over 50, ask your doctor about getting a vaccine to prevent shingles.
It takes a little time to keep your body healthy and your mind sharp. So try these simple health steps for mature women that can make all the difference if you are in your 60s or older.
Improve Your Brain Function
As you get older, keep your thinking ability in good shape. A key part of this is to make sure your brain stays busy. Read, do crossword puzzles, socialize, try new hobbies, and start new adventures. Maybe it’s finally time to learn French!
It Is Not Too Late To Strength Train
At 65, you may think the heaviest thing you should lift is the remote. Not true! You do lose bone mass and flexibility with age, but consistent strength training and exercise can keep you healthy. It will help keep your muscles from shrinking and help you avoid falls and other accidents. Take inspiration from Ernestine Shepherd the 84 years old woman bodybuilder still rocking.
You Can Still Stop Smoking
If you have been trying for decades to stop the cigarette smoking habit, it is possible to snub the habit. In addition, you can still mend or reduce some of the damage from smoking if you drop the habit now.
Studies show that people who stop smoking at 65 cut their heart disease and lung cancer risks.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007467.htm
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