Hitting the big 5-0 is cause for celebration. You’ve made it half a century on this planet and hopefully you’ll be around for the other half. That will require keeping an eye on your health. So, what can you expect healthwise after turning 50?
It’s no secret that ageing comes with an increased likelihood of health complications, and a reduced ability to recover from them. But it doesn’t have to be all bad news.
While your health after turning 50 definitely won’t be the same as when you turned 20, you can potentially live for many more decades by being aware of what may lie ahead and taking steps to counter the issues.
These are a few of the health factors you need to be aware of after turning 50.
Brain health
The good news is people generally enter their fifties with more brain function than when they were 25. The bad news is that average brain function begins to dip around age 55.
This is partly because the brain starts to physically shrink around this time. Fat and other deposits start to build up inside neurons, which limits their functioning. Neurons that die naturally are not being replaced at the same frequency as before and its this loss of neurons that causes the brain to shrink.
As a result, messages travelling between neurons move more slowly and cognitive abilities begin to decline.
Diet and (brain) exercise are key to slowing or even halting this process. Make sure you’re eating a Mediterranean-style diet that’s rich in fruits, vegies, wholegrains, and healthy fats such as olive and canola oil.
Exercising an older brain can create new connections between neurons. Reading, socialising with friends or engaging in hobbies are all great ways to keep your brain active.
Immune system
An unfortunate reality of turning 50 is that it marks the beginning of a period of dramatic decline for your immune system, gradually progressing towards a state known as immunosenescence where your immune system becomes dysregulated and can actually contribute to your likelihood of getting sick.
The ageing immune system gradually loses the ability to protect against infections and cancer. Wounds also gradually take longer to heal after 50, leaving them more susceptible to infection.
Vaccine responses are typically not as strong in older people and convey less protection. But frustratingly, inflammatory responses caused by vaccines will often be more intense and longer lasting.
Again, diet plays a key role in keeping your immune system strong as you age. Citrus fruit, leafy greens and brightly coloured vegetables such as capsicums have all been proven to boost immune function. Vitamin C and D supplements can also help with immunity.
Hearing and vision
Your senses also begin to decline after 50, particularly your hearing and vision. This isn’t so much due to natural breakdown, but the accumulation of 50 years of damage to both.
Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, occurs when the outer hair cells within the cochlea gradually deteriorate with over time usually due to chronic exposure to traumatic levels of noise.
Eye problems also become more common after 50. Conditions such as presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts all get more common with age.
To help safeguard your hearing as you age, avoid loud noises or at least reduce the amount of time you’re exposed to loud sounds, and protect your ears with earplugs or protective earmuffs where possible.
Protect your vision by always wearing sunglasses outside, ceasing smoking and maintaining a healthy body weight.
Bones and muscles
After age 50, muscles often get more rigid and may lose some tone, even with regular exercise. Bones tend to become more brittle and may break more easily.
After you turn 50, you start to lose muscle at a faster rate and your physical strength can get weaker as well. Counter this by lifting weights or doing strength training exercises such as lunges and squats two to three times a week.
As for your bones, when you’re younger, your body replaces worn-down bone cells with new, strong ones. But by the time you’re in your fifties, there are usually more broken-down bone cells than can be replaced.
To reverse bone decline as much as possible, make sure you’re eating foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises can also help bone strength.
What other health issues have you encountered after turning 50? Have you made any changes to your diet or lifestyle? Let us know in the comments section below.
