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)

They are supposed to offer them. They rarely do.

Do you have an annual health check at your GP surgery? I ask because a year ago, (I was then 66), I was with a group of friends who were all on meds and I wasn't. I'd also not had the annual health check. I'm extremely active and very fit indeed (never, ever smoked, low alcohol intake, very healthy diet, etc).

So I made an appointment and went. I was absolutely shocked to find I had high blood pressure and got put on meds (one pill a day) that I'll be on for life. Blood tests, etc remain clear.

My partner (female) was similarly shocked two years ago when her annual blood test put her in the 'pre-diabetic' category (very healthy weight/BMI, similarly very healthy diet, etc). Despite sticking rigidly to a keto diet for two years, she is still pre-diabetic, though not requiring meds.

Age and genetics lead most people to medication for various conditions. If you haven't had the annual 'MOT', do go.

I’m 60 and on HRT. I wouldn’t be without it,
it made my life so much better.

Protects you against what?

Me too! Nor have I ever been on any regular medication other than the Pill - and that ended 30 years ago when I was sterilised at my insistence.

I'm mid 60s and only use estrogen cream. My immune system seems pretty strong. Never had covid, even though I worked alongside others throughout and I don't get bad colds anymore after decades of 3 or 4 a year. Hope I'm not tempting fate by saying so...

I was with a friend the same age recently and she was detailing all her meds - some related to ailments she no longer had and she couldn't explain why she still took them. Mind you, she's always been prone to complaining about her health, even as a teenager. I think it's one of her hobbies

I had bloods and urine tested a few months ago, BP a little concerning but no need for meds yet and I know what I need to do to improve it.

Im 60 and on no meds at all . I take a few supplements but nothing prescribed

About 50% of 60 year olds at being treated for multi-morbidities.
I’m 55 and when I heard that a few years ago I became much more concerned about my diet and activity. I’m determined to not wander into ill health caused by lifestyle even though I know I could be unfortunate enough to be genetically disposed to certain illnesses (DM was a slim non-smoker dead at 62 with bowel cancer).

My mum is on various medications because of an ailment that she had as a child, that affected her in her 60s and she needed an op. I think it’s partly luck, partly lifestyle.

I am late 60s, I don't take any prescribed meds for age related issues. I know some of my friends do, but others I have no idea, I've never asked.

I saw the practice nurse earlier this year for BP checks and blood tests and all was fine. I haven't needed to see a GP for ten years.

In the UK it is recommended that everyone over age 1 take Vitamin d at least in the winter months.

At what age do people start going in for check ups just to get on the safe side?
I've never been except if there was an issue. I'm 45 so last time I was at doctors I was 30 and there because of pregnancy monitoring. Am I supposed to start going just for check ups at some point?
I'm not sure my surgery would even allow it.

Like many other health-related things, some of this will come down to where you live and your level of education. Over half (54%) of people aged over 65 in the UK had two or more conditions in 2015, a figure projected to rise. This figure was higher in women.

DD is <10 and takes multiple medications every day (antihistamines, steroids, inhalers etc). She will be on these for the rest of her life. DM was on nothing at 60. Now nearing 80, she has to take a range of tablets.

My surgery do check ups every five years from age 40 and I think that’s a uk wide nhs thing.

All those not on any medication, are any of you very overweight? I have the impression weight is a real big factor.

I’m nearly 68 and not on any medication. I’m probably about half a stone overweight. I did go on a diet recently and lost 11lbs. I take vitamin D, but I would say it’s a supplement rather than medication.

I know it is but Ive never understood why when not everyone will be deficient in it

Im on around 75ug anyway, way over the recommendations for other reasons but not sure I would bother if I didnt need to

In theory when you get to 40 you should be invited every five years. If you haven't been invited and want a check up, ask your GP surgery about it.

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check/

I've seen a few threads on mumsnet about these and consensus on the threads was that most people were not invited to these kind of checks. I haven't been either or my husband.

Df is in his seventies, no meds at all, occasional paracetamol at he gets a stiff neck, DM in her sixties just had a hip replacement but back at work already, no meds. Fil sixties is epileptic so has meds for that but never talks about it, MIL sixties no meds but likes a herbal remedy for her hot flashes but again rarely talks about it. My gran is in her 80s still active, drives etc no idea if she takes any meds the only ones I know about is that she takes iron supplements as she tends towards anaemic that only came up because I wasn't allowed to give blood last year and was told to get my iron levels checked and I was anaemic. We all have plenty to say , but medical issues not a main topic of conversation!

I take statins at 63 - but only 3 times a week. Every day gave me weak legs

No, BMI is about 22, it was probably about 20 when I was younger.

SeaAndStars
You can improve all those things without taking HRT
Eg the hair, my hair is falling out and getting thin, they think hormone related, chest issues and feeling shaky, they’re attributing it all to perimenopausal symptoms as have ruled out everything else. Not on it yet as still worried about the risk of certain cancers but even I think I’m a bit crazy

I mean its not much of a check up is it. Blood pressure which isnt reliable on a one off check like that, height and weight which you would know anyway and a cholesterol and blood sugar blood test.

Whoopdedoo

What about testing thyroid, iron, any number of other issues that a lot of people suffer from but may not be diagnosed with