As you get a bit older, how’s your health?

[ididntexpectthat]

I turned 50 this year and so far, apart from high blood pressure (controlled by meds), my health has been ok. Both my parents had/have bad health from age 45+ with heart and kidney issues but also, on both sides of our family, everyone has always struggled with their weight too. I have too but have recently lost 2.5 stone and I’m working on the final 1.5 stone - which I know will help with my overall health.

So just wondering about others. If you’ve been an averagely healthy person most of your life, has your health changed in some way from age 45 or 50 or beyond? Was there a sudden event or you just found things started to decline a bit? Or maybe you’re fine! If so, what has been the secret?

Am 58, lost my thyroid decades ago and that was shit to deal with for years but changed to natural thyroid hormone and have been fine ever since. On no other drugs, healthy weight, normal BP etc. Strength train three times a week. I do take supplements, mainly magnesium, Vit D3/K2 and a B complex. Oh and vaginal estrogen cream.

Pins and needles ( nerve damage)
Hair falling out
That's two symptoms of low b12, possible low absorption pernicious anaemia
Hope your doctor is checking your bloods for that. 🙏

I’m 58. Years of nursing took their toll on my back which causes me quite a bit of discomfort. I’m slightly overweight too but finally tackling that. I also seem to have developed a weak spot following covid in 2020 which is my lungs. Every time I get a cold etc it heads to my lungs. Hey ho!

Plantatreetoday

ah thank you! She actually said that herself and am waiting for bloods back now. On phosphor which is good for b12 and iron so🤞

This thread could turn into lots of people saying their good health is down to how they eat and exercise, and while those things can definitely help, they don’t help everyone. People still get cancer, they have genes that give them heart disease and so on. Sometimes there is only so much you can do

I absolutely agree with even though my health has significantly improved with weight training and a good diet over the last few years.

My mum, both nans have or had cancer. My sister is having cancer treatment at the moment. My sister really watched her diet long before everyone was cutting down on upfs, didn’t drink or smoke loves yoga and weight lifting and had been doing this for 30 years. Im trying not to think when am I going to be diagnosed!!

I was in good health until Covid got me in 2022 and I’ve never been the same since then. Just lingering fatigue meaning I can’t exercise anymore. It was actually just starting to get better in the last few weeks and I’ve just come down with Covid again fgs!

Long family history of terrible health (mum died in her 60s, her sister in her 30s and everyone on my dad’s side has heart conditions) so I’ve always had the philosophy of enjoying life to the full while you have the health to do it!

I am only just recovering from the age 45 step down. Next big one is at 60, oh joy.

I’m 56 and feel much healthier since starting Fitness Pilates and strength training a few months ago. I’m in the healthy BMI range although since menopause I’ve developed a hugely sweet tooth which really needs to be addressed…after Christmas, obviously.
I’m certainly not self-congratulating , I just feel incredibly lucky.
The big C is often a very cruel lottery.
My best friend died in June aged 57 from colorectal cancer.
She wasn’t overweight, didn’t smoke or drink.
I’ve stopped moaning about getting older..wrinkles etc.
It sounds like a huge cliché, but it’s a massive privilege to get old.

I’m not doing too badly.

Had one of the over 50 health checks a few months ago and all was within range but I have a constantly aching hip and occasional knee problems. I walk miles every day and eat really well but I’m still slightly overweight. I only drink occasionally and have never smoked. Definitely noticed more aches and pains/insomnia once I started peri in my mid forties.

It's interesting to me, I was thinking about this the other day. I remember my grandparents and parents when they were in their 50s and they seemed to already be moving like older people. I'm nowhere near the peak of fitness, don't do any formal exercise, (I'm 56) and yet I will still run up/down stairs often (we have a lot of stairs in our house) which they never did. I still go to gigs sometimes with my adult DD and dance. I feel I have more energy and flexibility than they did at my age. None of them were particularly unwell or anything. My GPs lived till their 80s, my dad died of cancer but my mum is still alive at 78. I think 50's used to be seen as older than it is now.

My health is ok. I have some mystery lung condition (still waiting for a diagnosis) but I don't have any symptoms, it was found during a routine test. I've gone 11 months without a period, so hoping that's it now! Never went on HRT, I don't feel I needed it. I am a bit overweight but I already gave up drinking and smoking this year so the weight loss can wait till next year! Overall I'm not doing too bad.

I’m 45 and just survived bowel cancer

This is really interesting. I never really had grandparents. My mum’s parents both died when she was a teenager (both of illnesses which these days would have been very treatable) and my dad was estranged from his family - however again, both died in their 60s/early 70s and again, from diseases which have a much better life expectancy now.

I was looking through some family photos and there was one of my maternal grandmother - she looked to be in her mid 60s but actually she was 50. She died when she was 56.

I'm 60 and unfit, probably overweight.
However, I've not needed to see a doctor for any reason for 14 years. Menopause barely noticeable, apart from periods stopping.
Recently retired, so no stress.
I'm probably tempting fate, and I'll be struck down unexpectedly, but I don't want to turn into one of those older people who are constantly fussing over their health, so I stick to a policy of "benign neglect". Working so far!

This was me until I realised it wasn't OA but a build up of oxalates. I dumped them with low Ox diet and my hands are great at 63.

I had a years treatment for breast cancer at 48 though no risk factors. Now recovered from that and make sure I exercise 3-5 hours a week as that cuts reoccurrence risk 30-50% which would be at stage 4.

Normal BMI, blood pressure fine, eat lots of fruit and veg, a few aches as can't take HRT and from chemo but nothing too much. My weight did go above normal BMI with cancer treatment for first time ever but got it back down with a 1,200 calorie a day diet (plus calories from exercise which motivated me to exercise). It was challenging but great to achieve and now have a flat stomach again. I found the days with exercise easier than the ones without. Depends how tall you are how many calories will work for you, best to try and adjust. Also had to reduce sugar a lot for it but not completely or felt ill. Never drank.

I do wonder if there is something undiscovered heritary as lots of early deaths in my family though were all male.

I have problems with my eyes, the corneas are the wrong shape apparently. My mother is 80 and can barely see at all so I do worry about this in the future.

68 here - love red wine and smoke - no health problems so far but I’ve noticed my energy levels have dipped since retirement 2 years ago - don’t get the adrenaline rush anymore - starting volunteer work this week!

53 and so far so good. None of my quite large female friendship group (aged 48-54) have yet had any health issues. Although many of them have to wear glasses to see menus and have GIANT font on their phones 😆

63 and get aches and pains when it's cold and damp which I've had since my twenties and some arthritis in toes startling a year ago but nothing else yet.

71, exercised A Lot but drank & smoked a lot too. I've got arthritis & cancer but I keep buggering on . C'est la vie.

No exercise but wine and ciggies - my brother is 74 and been a healthy person all his life - non drinker and non smoker - has had vascular dementia now for 4 years at lest - I’’d rather go out with a bang!!

61,have fibromyalgia and a bit overweight. Some arthritis in fingers. Otherwise ok.

61 and probably feel the best I've ever felt, especially now the menopause is out of the way

60 and doing fine. 100% attendance at work and the only one in my team that can say this. They are all at least 20years younger and always seem to be taking days off with various ailments.

I wonder if keeping working has something to do with it. I only said to DH yesterday that all our friends of a similar age who have retired seem to have experienced some health issues since retiring, having been fit and well previously. Those of us still working seem to be much more resilient. Maybe we don’t have the time to be unwell.

A few niggles. Frozen shoulder and ingrown toenail, had both treated promptly and no further issues. Hearing not as sharp as it used to be and I could do with loosing a stone but otherwise all regular screening tests have been normal and long may it continue. A positive attitude and soldiering on through minor illnesses is the best approach.

I've always been pretty healthy, but was diagnosed with Breast Cancer aged 43. Chemo sent me straight into menopause which has been crap as I couldn't have HRT.
Recovered well, am now early sixties. Going along fine until a blood test said I was pre diabetic, so started more exercise and looking carefully at my eating. It is in the family so that doesn't help. DH also diagnosed as pre diabetic and he is the healthiest person I know, but it's common in his family too. So a lot depends on your genetics, but you can help yourself too. We are both now helping each other, and managing to control things nicely.