Is it that unusual to be in your 60s and not on medication?

[Mumblechum0]

This is just something that made me think this week; 3 separate groups of friends and family, all late 50s or early 60s.

im finding increasingly that a lot of conversations turn to various ailments etc. I find these very dull.

amyway, in all 3 groups (I know how bizarre this sounds), they talked about what medications they’re on, and were surprised that I don’t take anything, not even vitamins, hrt etc.

i had cancer over 20 yrs ago but have been to the GP twice in 10 years. If I get ill, I tend to just wait for it to pass.

anyway, I wondered idly whether I just hang out with a lot of very unlucky people in terms of health, or is it usual to be on 3 or 4 meds?

(one friend had an alarm going off on her phone all day to remind her to take her tablets which led to today’s conversation)

Protects against….?

Have had doctors be surprised when they see I’m not on any meds. I’m 54 (and look perfectly healthy!) and am now on vaginal HRT but that’s it.

In the past, the ones on meds would have been in pain or dead.

They're the generations living longer in managed good health instead of dropping off the hooks and leaving their huge houses for the younger ones

Yeah that's very true, I don't really think about it on a day to day basis. I'm definitely lucky that I can be treated with very little side effects

I think it all comes down to lifestyle (which you can help) and genetics (which you can't).

My parents are in their 80s. Father is on no meds at all and mother takes a truckload. I think I'm lucky to take after my father and take nothing except HRT (my brother got unlucky and has his own truckload of meds to take!).

You should be taking Vit D if you are an adult and living in the UK - you are very lucky if you are not seriously unwell.

Bone density loss, heart disease, possible dementia protections, some cancers

Pros and cons to everything of course, some people are worried about increase risk of other conditions. For me the research seems to show overall on balance a protective factor. So I'll be taking it once I get my head round it.

I'm surprised that I don't rattle when I walk. Ive been on various meds since my 40s.

everybody if different.
although if you never go to the doctors or have any routine tests done, you may be missing out on uncovering something that would have medication prescribed ….

I would have thought you only need to take that if you're deficient. Not everyone is.

I am 68, and wasn't on anything until 3 years ago.

I didn't have HRT, I never went to the GP for the menopause, I was a bit hot and sweaty some nights, iirc. but that was about it, it quite quickly passed

It improves bone health (makes your bones stronger and less likely to fracture)
It improves cardio vascular health reducing your risk of stroke
It improves your skin and hair

It is beneficial to women

I feel like you reach an age where you start going to the doctors as a day out. My dgm is in her eighties now and loves a visit to the gp despite being in rude health. Her favourite topic of conversation is what he said to her on her last visit and whether she should start taking some pill or another. This is quite recent though, she was still pretty good in her 60s.

I’m 60 and on zero medication. Only contact I ever have with GP surgery is a letter every few years asking if I want to stay registered. I very rarely take a paracetamol or anything else.

You can improve all those things without taking HRT

I was like you a couple of years ago in mid sixties, then went to the doctor a year or so ago after a long time not going for a routine thing and discovered that my blood pressure was pretty much off the scale.. They were talking of admitting me straight away because it was so dangerously high ,it was so high but I felt perfectly fine. Was put on blood pressure meds straight away and will be now on them for life ..I wasn't overweight, nor ate a bad diet , was rarely ill and pretty fit but even so, and high blood pressure can be a silent and sudden killer..
Am now also on statins ..
Its definitely worth getting regular checks even if you think you are well

I’m 67 a just take vit D supplements. I have 2 friends a similar age both on heart tablets for genetic conditions, but both are quite healthy and active otherwise. I’m keen not to be reliant on medication so keep myself and my diet as healthy as possible

I remember taking my mum to hospital in her mid 80s and they couldn’t believe she wasn’t on any medication.

She hated doctors and hospitals and actively avoided them. Dementia got her in the end but her body was incredible.

What is your BP like OP, do you at least check it yourself?

Right. I’m 61.
So my thyroid hasn’t worked since I was in my early 30s, so I take thyroxine to function. Not age related.
I’m on HRT - age related, but not 60+ related.
I buggered my knee skiing when I was 13 so I take supplements to help that - cod liver oil and glucosamine.
My mum had macular degeneration, so to protect against that I take lutein - and have done for about 20 years.

None of that is related to being in my 60s and I’ve been taking all of it for years. What does that tell you?

But HRT improves them. Why take several other things instead?

Not trying to be smart or anything, but my Dad always said that "the creaking door hangs the longest", so maybe those taking multiple meds know something! It can happen that those with no outward signs of illness often go before those on every drug on the planet!

Yes occasionally, it’s always normal.

of course now I’ve started this thread, I’ll start falling apart at the seams

Guess we’ll ignore the cancer and DVTrisk from HRT then.🤔