Healthy Lifestyle Tips For Women Over 50

Healthy Lifestyle Tips For Women Over 50

What should a 50-year-old woman do to stay healthy? 

1. Get that heart pumping.

Working out to speed up your breathing is the key to heart and lung health. Aerobic exercise is a great choice. Choose something you will enjoy like Zumba, tennis, dancing, swimming, or bicycling.

2. Stretch those muscles.

The best way to have healthier muscles, better balance, and eliminate joint pain is to stretch, creating better flexibility. It’s good to stretch every day, but start with at least two days a week and work your way up until it’s a daily habit.

3. Eat healthy.

Focus on eating more fatty fish (like salmon) to get heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Add in whole grains, lentils, and skinless lean protein.

4. Get enough sleep.

Lack of sleep will exacerbate other issues associated with menopause. If you have issues sleeping, talk to your physician as hormones could be the disrupter.

5. Calcium for bone health.

Osteoporosis gets a fair amount of attention, and most older women understand that the risk increases with age. Good sources of calcium include dairy products, leafy green vegetables, certain fish, oatmeal, and other grains.

6. Get an annual checkup.

Early detection can save lives, and staying up to date with annual checkups is important to your health. Life can get busy, but these visits help you avoid future problems.

With Medicare Open Enrollment right around the corner, you may need more coverage than you think.

If you are 65 or older, then you most likely have medicare. With Impact Health Sharing, you can rest easy knowing that as a member of Impact, your sharing community will have your back when Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover what you need. Learn more about Impact for Seniors.

Here are some preventive tests that are suggested for women who have reached the 50-year-old milestone.

Hepatitis C screenings are recommended for those born between 1945 and 1965. Baby Boomers are at higher risk than others. If undiagnosed without treatment can damage the liver.

Mammogram. Women ages 45 to 54 should have a mammogram each year, and those 55 years and over should continue getting mammograms every 1 to 2 years. It's the most effective screening test used today to find breast cancer, and early detection can be life saving.

Bone density. It’s best to get tested by age 65, or earlier if you have a family history of fractures or osteoporosis. 

Cholesterol. Cholesterol levels are checked through a simple blood test and should be done annually. High levels of cholesterol increase your risk of heart disease.

Blood pressure. Older adults with high blood pressure have a 40% chance of dying of cardiovascular disease. Women are more likely to have high blood pressure after menopause. Get yours checked regularly, and don’t be afraid to use those available in pharmacies and food markets.

Blood sugar. Everyone over 45 should have their blood glucose tested to screen for diabetes. 

Pap smear and pelvic exam. Pap smears are recommended for women from 21 to 65 to detect cervical cancer.

Colonoscopy. Your first colonoscopy should be by age 50 or earlier if you have a family history of colorectal cancer or have had ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Regular screening is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early.

Skin and mole check. Cases of skin cancer increase after the age of 50. Experts recommend doing a monthly skin exam. A monthly self-exam allows you to become familiar with your moles' appearances so that you can detect changes and have them looked at by a dermatologist if you have concerns.

What’s the biggest mistake you could make?

Avoiding your heart health. Since Heart disease is the number one killer of women and the risk rises as women age, it’s something that women simply cannot ignore. As women, we like to help others, take care of others, and put ourselves last. But take time to take care of your health so you can live longer and be around to enjoy your family, friends, and life.