Creating WholePerson Health In Your 50s

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Jan's grandmother was 101 years old.

Jenny was 50 years old when she was born. So although he thought he was middle-aged when he thought about it, he was halfway around the sun.

Her grandmother's long life gave Jane a special perspective. "At 51, I don't think my life is fundamentally over." Instead, I'm like, "Well, I'm still 50 years old on this planet, I want to take care of myself."

Jolie's family has different genes. Jolie's father, siblings and mother recently passed away from heart disease. While his parents lived into their 60s and 60s, his brother Thaddeus was only 45 years old.

But Julie doesn't give up. He knows that behavior and the environment can change the way genes read. Julie, a former college athlete, still exercises regularly and fights with her college-age daughter. It's not about getting fit or turning 30, it's about being as healthy as possible and spending time with your loved ones. Jolie's family knows firsthand how precious this time can be.

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Building health in your 50s is all about perspective. Do you see yourself "over the hill"? You declare yourself “old” and refuse to learn new things, find a partner, or just play sports.

In this decade, your body and mind are giving you a choice: work on overall health or wait and see if you won the genetic lottery... or not.

Should we expect a midlife crisis?

possible and not possible. Psychologist Erik Erikson describes the age group between 40 and 64 as “intermediate maturity”. ^[i] While some of us face an identity crisis, Erikson and other experts say the main question adults face at this point in life is, "Can I make this matter in my life?"

Erikson calls the Midlife Central "Generation" project, which means creating or creating something that we believe is worthwhile and can last. You may experience this through your children, your career, or other contributions to society.

Build a healthy body at 50

Here are some things you can do to stay healthy this decade.

• Practice physical exercise. Muscle mass begins to decrease from the age of 30. You can lose 3-5% per deal. ^[2] Being active helps you maintain and even build muscle.
• Get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Getting enough sleep makes a huge difference in your memory, alertness, ability to eat healthily, and more. ^[third]
• Maintain a healthy weight. It doesn't necessarily mean "thin". Instead, ask yourself: Does my weight increase my risk of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and other diseases? If so, do I agree? My family? Are there other ways to reduce the risk?
• Manage your drinking. This is more important than ever as you age because as you age your body has less water. ^[4] Drinks you rarely liked in your 30s can give you a hangover headache today. Many people change their drinking habits as they get older.

Visit from health workers

Recommendations vary, even among experts. Below we've listed some important health screenings to have in your 50s. If you are over 50 years old, a shingles vaccine is recommended. Your doctor will likely recommend the pneumonia vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine. ^[fifth]

A standard physical exam doesn't go far enough to find the root causes of preventable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and many cancers. Ask your doctor for a comprehensive health assessment to learn how you can support yourself to achieve better physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Experts, questions and times

Ask any questions you might have that you should come back to frequently. If you have a specific medical condition, ask your doctor if you should see a specialist. It can be as simple as seeing a gynecologist for hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms or a cardiologist for heart disease prevention.

If you have cancer, ask your doctor about seeing an oncologist, often referred to as survival care. Ask your oncologist to skip the typical survivor's checklist and find out how you can regain your health even after battling cancer.

While you want to find a doctor that you can talk to and see freely, expecting to spend even an hour with them even once a year is unrealistic. But most doctors have several options for answering your questions, including email and calling a nurse. (Please do not use urgent emails.)

ounce of resistance

50 is when health checks really start to count. Half of all cancer cases occur in adults aged 66 and over. ^[6] Some cancers, such as colon cancer, start growing long before symptoms appear. Research can help identify problems early when they are easier to solve.

Ask your doctor what to do based on your personal medical history, medications, family history, and other medical conditions.

Don't forget your teeth

In some countries and in recent years, adults over the age of 50 are often missing some or all of their natural teeth. It is less common in the United States today. If you think you can't see a dentist, ask your doctor about inexpensive or free dental clinics.

Visiting the dentist for a check-up and cleaning at least once a year will help you avoid gum infections and inflammation of the entire body caused by oral bacteria. ^[vii] This inflammation can damage your heart and even shorten your life.

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