Women's Health
Health tips for elderly women
As a woman ages, her body experiences significant changes. The hormone levels in her body shift during menopause, her skin becomes less supple and her bones begin to weaken. However, how she feels during this second half of her life will depend greatly on whether or not she exercises, how often she seeks medical care and the quantity and quality of foods she eats.
A Healthy Body and Mind at Any Age
- In your 40s. Some women may find that after they have reached their 40th birthday, they gain weight more easily. During one of your physical exams, your doctor may suggest nutritional goals such as attaining and maintaining a healthy BMI. Proper diet and regular exercise are optimal ways of achieving this goal.
- As a woman reaches her forties, her doctor may also make suggestions of getting screening mammograms. The recommendations for mammograms for women who are at average risk for developing breast cancer differ among national expert groups, but The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Cancer Society recommend initiating routine screening mammograms at 40 years of age.
- In your 50s. Symptoms of menopause are common, the average age of onset being around 51. For the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, you can discuss possible hormone replacement therapies and other alternative treatments with your doctor.
- In your 60s. Women have a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis. Treating osteoporosis decreases the risk of wrist, spine, hip and other fractures. A proper diet and a correlation of weight-bearing exercises are effective methods of preventing osteoporosis.
Areas of Routine Care
For your general medical care, remember to:
- Get an annual pelvic exam
- Have an annual physical exam
- Have regular blood pressure checkups
- Regulate high blood pressure
- Have an annual mammogram
- Get your eyesight checked
To maintain a healthy diet and level of exercise:
- Increase fiber intake
- Decrease sodium intake
- Get in 1,500mg of calcium daily after menopause
- Drink 8 glasses of water daily
- Reduce saturated and total fat intake
- Maintain a regular cardiovascular fitness schedule