Health in your 50s.. expectations ?

[BookWorm45]

I'm 53 and have noticed especially during this year I've had a series of health problems. Some minor / shortlived, a couple more severe. Basically it feels like there hasn't been a week in 2023 where I've not had some item or other. THings such as - severe headache; diarrhoea; UTIs; a tooth problem; thrush; migraines; hearing loss (turned out to be partially wax build up in the ear and partially that hearing has actually worsened); knee problem; rosacea; sleep problems.

For "normal" people, e.g. not athletes or the very rich, is this just simply the way that life is once into the 50s / 60s ? Or have I had a very unlucky year ?

What would your expectations be of "normal health" in your 50s ?

I'm sorry you've had similar. Mine is more like a constant ache.
I've now got a leaky valve and struggling to get my peak flow above 300.
It's so rubbish

I'm 66 now, and am hopefully through "sniper's alley". This is the phenomenon of getting through your 50s alive, which generally means you will be ok in older years. I had a couple of scares in 2021 including one hospitalisation for Afib and another for a gastric bleed to to H Pylori infection. All OK again now thankfully.

From Irish Times on "Sniper Alley"

‘Get through your 50s in good shape and you could well live to be 90’ – The Irish Times

In case it is paywalled here is the important bit. The journo was attending hospital and this is what the nurse said to her when she asked her age:

What age are you?” the nurse who took my bloods had asked.
“Fifty-nine.”
“Great. You’ve almost made it through sniper alley.”
“Is that a thing?”
“Maybe,” she said. “Get through your 50s in good shape and you could well live to be 90.”

I had no major illnesses prior to above issues. I never got Covid (touch wood) or flu either. I don't have joint problems and am very very lucky in that regard. Am feeling good but don't do anything specific like running or strenuous exercise. All I do is get out for a walk most days, avoid junk and sugar (mostly!), and I don't drink alcohol. I'm sure there are bits and pieces of me getting wear and tear every day, but until they bother me, I'll carry on and be thankful I can walk and talk at the same time!

I knew lots of people who came though their 50’s unscathed.

They all died in their 70’s and 80’s. No one made it to 90

Unpopular opinions/personal beliefs -

Other things I contribute to being healthy are

No alcohol

Low or no central heating on so that when I go out or come in it's not a big shock.

Vegetarian.

High strength vitamin c

Teaspoon of bi carb in squash (I don't like water) to improve alkaline level and reduce acidity.

Stretching. I am active but it's easy to forget how important stretching is. I don't do yoga but I do lots of stretching exercises to stay flexible.

I also avoid walking my dogs on hard surfaces as much as possible as that's better for their joints and mine.

I do not run or jog. It loosens the face muscles and when you get older you may look haggard! I don't thing pounding the pavement is good for joints either. I do speed walking in the countryside and sometimes pole walking.

I’m not sure these are unpopular or unusual opinions. They’re pretty mainstream. No one has all the answers anyway, so don’t be too smug. I’ve certainly seen that cancer can strike anyone at any time, no matter how healthy they think they are.

I hit 50 and within six months had Afib, permanent pulsatile tinnitus, vestibular dysfunction and a pituitary cyst found.

Not sure how no central heating is a plus,

Cold kills more people than central heating. Why do the government pay cold weather payments?

I’m early 50s and find I have to work at good health

hrt has been brilliant for improving sleep. Outdoor exercise, eating more protein etc

i only drink when out with mates and having a great time - waste of calories at home

I had covid a few weeks ago and omg all the symptoms of achey joints, headache etc really took it out of me. I think that has impacted our collective health more than we all understand

Never needed a doctor apart from childbirth until early 50s.
Then developed asthma, then joint pain which eventually became rheumatoid arthritis. Skin problems - eczema, folliculitis. Then palpitations ending up in hospital with Afib. Asthma turned out to be bronchiectasis.
Then at 61 breast cancer.
Covid nearly finished me off.
Now at 65 all these things are stable and managed but I don't feel optimistic about a healthy old age.
Oh and to the smug healthy - I have never been close to being overweight, eat healthily, I'm fit and flexible and active.

You know these are neither unpopular opinions or personal beliefs, right? (Apart from the running thing, obviously).

tbh, I've known people in their teens or 20s who struggled to get a week free of health woes.

I'm never cold.

A lot of people put central heating on when it's not really necessary or they have it too high and it's stifling.

Obviously it depends on the structure and age of your house. We have excellent insulation and the house is designed to keep heat in when needed but to be cool in the summer. I'm sure that makes a huge difference compared to an old house with draughty windows etc.

Yes, of course it does - which is one of the reasons why people die of the cold.

There is a lot of science around staying healthy into old age

Science that looks across many people not just taking one persons personal opinion. That's important because , as many have noted , there is also an element of chance/ randomness

Not running as an approach isn't backed up by science. Exercise is - including weight bearing exercise and aerobic exercise- like running

People who have a healthy lifestyle have an effective age much younger than those with an unhealthy lifestyle

57, fat, unfit with an entertaining array of autoimmune conditions. Earliest I will be able to retire is 65.

On the plus side I have a stonking death in service benefit from my employer plus life insurance taken out before my immune system decided it hated me.

DH will be alright and if I'm honest that is what matters to me.

I'm 53 and type 2 diabetic. I've lost my Dad this year which has thrown me, but touch wood, other than feeling low in mood I've only had one bout of tonsillitis.

I walk my two dogs for at least 90 minutes a day if not 2 hours, and I swear that exercise keeps me sane and helps me cope with life. When Dad was in a hospice, I would walk that entire time with tears pouring down my face but that allowed me to give him my brightest face when I was with him. I'm a very firm advocate for getting outdoors. And I take a vitamin D supplement daily.

I think there's so much luck involved. One of the people with the healthiest lifestyle I knew, excellent body weight, physically active, vegetarian, died in her 40s from cancer. I know three people who died in their 40s, all from cancer. I do need to lose a bit of weight (it's so hard!) but I'm otherwise fit and active and eat healthily. Here's hoping now that I'm past that apparently tricky period I do okay.

Bit of tendonitis and one knee being to grumble a bit, counteracting that by strengthening my quads calves and hamstrings. Other than those and now needing glasses, no issues at all :)

Absolutely. We can keep ourselves as for and healthy as possible but ultimately it’s down to luck and genes.

All sounds very Presbyterian. No heating, dear lord

We all know that a healthy diet, exercise, good sleep etc is extremely important in relation to good health. These things make a huge difference.
However, there is also luck, genes etc. I've always been a healthy weight, obsessed with nutrition, exercise, non-smoker etc. My older family members are all healthy. Despite all this I got cancer in my 30s (a type of cancer associated with old men who've worked with asbestos or smoked for 50 years). I've had back to back health issues for years and basically always have a cold!
Sometimes you can do everything in your power to stay healthy and still suffer from poor health.

I’m 55, went on HRT and vaginal pessaries 2 x per week at 53. Prior to that I was struggling with sleep due to hot flushes and vaginal atrophy. Now sleep really well which helps massively with how I feel and my food choices. I’m very active as I work in the fitness industry but I’ve tailored my own training towards more strength (still do cardio but slightly less) and make sure I have rest days. I try to eat more protein and watch what I drink (but enjoy a wine or two over the weekend).

I’ve friends who’ve led very healthy lifestyles and had cancer so I do think there is an element of genetics and luck.

At the moment I feel pretty good. Have the odd twinge here and there but on the whole not too bad.

Went on HRT at 50, now late fifties so no menopause related stuff. No aches and pains apart from when I do too much heavy gardening. What has caught up is skin cancer. Years of sunbathing is now showing so had several bits cut out. Husband is the same.

Jeez I could have written that (minus the new hips!) and I’m 33 😭😭😭 god, dreading the future health-wise!

53 and this year has been plagued with new health problems that I've never had before. Vertigo. Blood pressure. Dizziness.. Urinary issues. IBS. Not recovering from a simple cold as quickly.m and fatigue. All to do with the menopause according to my gp. Been on HRT for three years, take lots of supplements and exercise. Honestly not sure how I'm supposed to work full time for another ten years.