Fifty may be the new forty, but that doesn’t mean adults in their early fifties should ignore their healthcare needs. While younger people tend to put off annual physicals longer and suffer from fewer chronic health issues than their older counterparts, people in their fifties should be paying attention to their health. Like it or not, age comes with health conditions that you can’t always see. For women, menopause can cause symptoms that need hormone replacement treatment or therapy and for men, prostate screenings are a must. In addition to other routine doctor visits and check-ups, regular screenings for signs of serious illness are important after fifty. If you’re about to turn fifty or are already there, read on for why you should re-evaluate your health care needs now.
Living Your Best Life
Women in their fifties likely know about the symptoms of menopause. They’ve been through dizziness, hot flashes, irritability, hormone changes, aversions to spicy foods, and even vaginal dryness. Many have seen doctors for hormone replacement therapy or used estrogen supplements to help with menopausal symptom relief.
Menopausal women aren’t the only people in their fifties who should be in regular contact with their doctors‚Äîmen and women both need to get regular checkups. Far more important than treatment options for hot flashes are the types of screenings and tests that can decrease the risk of breast cancer going undetected or prostate cancer unnoticed.
Regardless of how long it’s been since you had an in-person visit with your healthcare provider, the best way to get effective treatment for even minor medical concerns is to get back on track and make an appointment. Doing so will help your quality of life going into the future.
Preventative Care and Dental Health
Many people forget about oral health when they think about medical care. What they don’t understand is that ignoring dental needs can lead to missing teeth and a variety of other serious health consequences. Infections, for example, can get into the bloodstream and cause systemic toxemia in the body. Gum disease can lead to headaches and infection spreading to other parts of the body, too.
Dentists advise cleanings one or two times a year. Depending on your overall oral wellness, you could need more than a cleaning. After fifty, it’s natural to experience a loss in bone density. Because teeth are bones, they can break or chip more easily than they did when you were younger. Regardless of whether you think you have a cavity, bone loss, or even if your natural teeth are holding up well, consider making an appointment to see your dentist for an annual cleaning. A simple Google search with your location, like ‘dental services in North Olmsted, OH,’ will pop up a list of dentists if you don’t have one you’re established with now.
Motivation for Regular Screenings and Check-Ups
In the end, it can be annoying to run out of work for doctor’s appointments that don’t seem pressing. Especially in the middle of a global pandemic, it can be tempting to push annual visits and checkups off. The problem is that, after your fifties, there can be serious consequences for waiting too long. Whether missing a mammogram and early detection of breast cancer, or ignoring early signs of prostate problems, too many people with serious diseases now blame themselves for holding off on getting checked too long.
One way to make getting to regular appointments easier is to reward yourself for taking care of your health. Decide to stop at your favorite bookstore or coffee shop on the way home. Having something to look forward to can make a big difference when it comes to motivating yourself. Even better, this is a great self-care trick for your mental health. You’ve come this far. Make it a priority to give yourself your best shot at another healthy fifty years into the future.
