What Are Some Of The Most Common Health Problems For People Over Age 50?

Growing older is no walk in the park, not only do we find ourselves dealing with more and more aches, pains, grey hairs, and everyday ailments, but we also find ourselves more at risk for a wide range of more serious health issues.

When we’re in our twenties, and even our thirties for that matter, we may feel as if we’re invincible. We tend to eat what we like, drink way too much alcohol, not get enough exercise, not get enough sleep, and still wake up the next day feeling fine and fresh.

Once we hit age forty however, we begin to receive warnings from our bodies. When we hit age fifty, that’s when we really need to be careful and be more aware of our health and wellbeing. Once we reach 50, we’re more likely to suffer from various ailments, which is why it’s so important to be aware of them beforehand.

To help ensure you’re as fit and healthy as can be, no matter your age, here are several health problems more likely to affect people age 50 and over.

Heart attacks

This is one of the most serious health issues affecting people age 50 or above, and it could potentially be fatal.

Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body, and looking after it is essential. Considering more people die from heart disease every year than any other disease, this shows you just how important heart health really is.

A person age 50 and over has a possibility of developing heart disease in the near future, this may result in a heart attack that may be fatal. Some of the most common symptoms to watch out for include the following:  shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, pain in the back, neck, or shoulders, going pale, sweating, or feeling nauseous.

Heart disease, though somewhat genetic, is largely brought on by unhealthy lifestyle choices. Those who eat junk food, are overweight, don’t eat vegetables, who smoke, binge alcohol drinking, use drugs, and suffer from stress are much more likely to experience heart problems.

Try to exercise more, eat more healthy foods, drink more water, avoid stress, don’t smoke or use drugs, drink in moderation, and lose excess body fat if you are looking for ways to look after your heart.

 

Hypertension

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is another health condition commonly affecting people age 50 and over that may be fatal.  Hypertension is a primary risk factor for strokes and heart attacks, and it is very difficult to diagnose, which is why it is called the silent killer.

High blood pressure is more likely to affect people age 50 or above because the vascular system alters as people grow older. As arteries lose elasticity, pressure inside them builds up, plus some people suffer from partially blocked arteries which increases blood pressure further.

High blood pressure is also caused by weight and stress, and as people age fifty and over find it harder to lose weight, and are likely to suffer from stress, it’s easy to see why hypertension is such an issue.  The good news is that, like with your heart, you can manage your blood pressure and reduce it naturally through a healthy diet and lifestyle, though sometimes medication is needed.

Arthritis

Arthritis affects people as they grow older, and it is people aged 50 or above who are especially likely to suffer the ill-effects of the condition.   Arthritis sets in when joint cartilage located between the bones and the joints begins to deteriorate and wear down. This causes the joints to rub and grind against each other and can be extremely painful.

People with arthritis tend to be very stiff and suffer from a lack of mobility, as well as joint pain. It can be managed with pain relief, weight loss, and a healthy diet, though there is no cure for it.

Broken bones

While we can break our bones at any age, those age 50 and over are more likely to suffer with broken bones due to their bones becoming more brittle, or even through osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is where we lose bone mass and the bones become weaker and brittle, meaning they’re more susceptible to breakage. People in their twenties or thirties may fall over and catch themselves with their wrists to break their fall and feel fine. A person suffering with osteoporosis however, would likely snap their wrist because their bones were so weak.  Osteoporosis and broken bones are more common in people age 50 and over although we can strengthen the bones with resistance training, calcium, vitamin D, and omega 3s.

So just in keep in mind when you are age 50 and over it is important to work on keeping yourself healthy and follow-up with your doctor on any concerns you may have about your health.