Introduction
As we age, our bodies become more susceptible to certain health problems. For those over the age of 50, it is important to be aware of the potential health issues that may arise. According to experts at Eat This Not That, there are five health problems that are more likely to affect those over 50. These include heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing the signs and symptoms of these conditions can help you take steps to prevent or manage them. In this article, we will discuss each of these health problems in more detail and provide tips on how to reduce your risk.
5 Health Problems That Usually Strike When You’re Over 50, According to Experts
As you age, your body changes and you become more susceptible to certain health problems. If you’re over 50, it’s important to be aware of the health issues that you may be more likely to experience. Here are five health problems that usually strike when you’re over 50, according to experts.
1. Heart Disease
Heart disease is one of the most common health problems that people over 50 experience. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes. To reduce your risk of heart disease, it’s important to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking.
2. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become weak and brittle. It’s more common in women than men, and it’s especially common in people over 50. Risk factors for osteoporosis include being female, having a family history of the condition, and having a low body weight. To reduce your risk of osteoporosis, it’s important to get enough calcium and vitamin D, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to properly regulate blood sugar levels. It’s more common in people over 50, and risk factors include being overweight, having a family history of the condition, and having high blood pressure. To reduce your risk of diabetes, it’s important to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight.
4. Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition in which the joints become inflamed and painful. It’s more common in people over 50, and risk factors include being overweight, having a family history of the condition, and having a previous injury. To reduce your risk of arthritis, it’s important to exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and avoid smoking.
5. High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a condition in which the blood pressure is higher than normal. It’s more common in people over 50, and risk factors include being overweight, having a family history of the condition, and having diabetes. To reduce your risk of high blood pressure, it’s important to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight.
If you’re over 50, it’s important to be aware of the health issues that you may be more likely to experience. By making lifestyle changes and seeing your doctor regularly, you can reduce your risk of these health problems and stay healthy as you age.
Most people around the world are living longer and can expect to live into their 60s and beyond, according to the World Health Organization.
By 2030, one in six people will be 60 or older, a share of the population that will increase to 1.4 billion. By 2050, that segment of the world population will double, to 2.1 billion, the WHO says.
Along with the growth of older people comes an increase in health issues related to aging. “What we see is that some chronic health conditions are frequently diagnosed starting at age 50,” says Dr. Renuka Tipirneni, an internist and assistant professor in the Division of General Medicine at the University of Michigan.
Who develops these conditions varies, depending on genetics, lifestyle, ethnicity and race, and other factors: Some 80-year-olds have the physical and mental capabilities of 30-year-olds; others develop health problems a lot earlier, the WHO says.
And some will have more than one of these conditions, according to a 2017 study in Frontiers in Public Health journal. “Sixty-two percent of Americans over 65 have more than one chronic condition, and the prevalence of multiple chronic conditions is increasing, due to aging of populations and to increasing diabetes rates,” the study says.
Here are five of the most common health problems that can strike when you reach 50.
More than 70 million Americans have high blood pressure, or hypertension, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield. Hypertension is a leading cause of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and other issues that can lead to death.
It becomes more prevalent among people older than 60 as the blood vessels become less elastic.
“Hypertension, a major contributor to atherosclerosis, is the most common chronic disease of older adults,” says the study in Frontiers in Public Health. “Isolated systolic hypertension is particularly common among older adults and is associated with mortality even at advanced ages.”
People who are 40 or older should check their blood pressure at least annually, the Mayo Clinic advises. If you have hypertension, your doctor may advise even more frequent checks.
“Cardiovascular disease remains the most common cause of death of older adults, although death rates have dropped in the last 20 years,” according to the study in Frontiers in Public Health.
High cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis and blockages in blood vessels if left untreated. Atherosclerosis causes inflammation and further vascular changes that increase the risk for cardiac events, cerebrovascular events, peripheral vascular disease, cognitive impairment and other organ damage, the study says.
High cholesterol may be managed through lifestyle changes and medications. Blood tests are required to diagnose the issue as it presents with few if any symptoms.
Normal aging includes vascular remodeling and vascular stiffness, the study adds.
“Osteoarthritis is the second most common chronic condition among American older adults and a common cause of chronic pain and disability,” according to the study in Frontiers in Public Health.
Some 52 percent of 85-year-olds have the disease, and it occurs more commonly among women than men, the study says.
Tipirneni calls it “the wear-and-tear-type of arthritis.” “It can be very aggravating even younger than age 50, but especially over age 50, we see pain associated with that is coming up more and more,” she adds.
Obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis. The rate of severe hip and knee arthritis increases as patients age.
“Diabetes rates have been increasing as populations age and become more overweight,” according to the study in Frontiers in Public Health. “The prevalence of diabetes among American older adults may increase more than 400 percent by 2050.”
Diabetes is linked to complications that include peripheral arterial disease and peripheral neuropathy, contributing to diabetic foot ulcers and amputations.
In its earliest stages, diabetes may be managed with lifestyle changes. “Sometimes we need to add some medications as well” to help control blood sugar levels, says Kate Lorig, professor emeritus at the Stanford University School of Medicine and a partner at the Self-Management Resource Center.
Aging leads to the loss of bone density in both men and women, though the latter are most likely to experience it after 50. That’s attributable to menopause.
“When you stop making estrogen, your bone density typically goes down,” says Dr. Lucy McBride, a Washington-based internist. Women are diagnosed with menopause on average at age 51, the Mayo Clinic says.
About 20 percent of women over 50 have osteoporosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Osteoporosis is associated with an increased rate of bone fractures, according to the study in Frontiers in Public Health.