What to expect when you’re turning 50
For women, turning 50 is a milestone. You have either gone through menopause or are in the process of menopause. In either case, your body will continue to change over time to due to different hormone levels in our bodies that age brings. That’s because menopause, and the hormone changes that come with it affect almost every aspect of our bodies.
As with anything, there are good and bad aspects to aging. Let’s take a look at some of the changes that come with turning 50.
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Hot flashes
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Night sweats
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Vaginal drying
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Decreased libido
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Weight gain
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Forgetfulness
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Mood swings
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Increased cancer risk
Okay, now that you know it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, let’s look at how we can help ensure that we are our best, healthiest selves at any age.
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Get plenty of Sleep
A restful sleep can boost your memory, mood, and human growth hormone levels (HGH). HGH plays a key role in bone and muscle mass, so get those ZZZ’s.
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Maintain a Healthy Diet
A health diet that includes dark leafy greens, veggies, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins can drastically improve your health, mood, and well-being. When you eat well, you feel well. Your body functions better, and that leads to being better across the board.
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Sexual Health
While menopause and changing hormones can lead to a decreased libido and vaginal dryness, it doesn’t have to mean the end of your sex life. You can restore your sex life with hormone therapy, or by using topical estrogen preparations to help keep sex doable and enjoyable. Don’t give up! As the old saying goes “use it or lose it”.
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Exercise
Regular exercise keeps you energized, healthy, and your immune system humming. And don’t neglect weight training. Resistance training drastically improves bone density.
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Brain Exercise
Speaking of exercise, don’t forget to work out your mind. As we age, our brains lose some of their ability to function. It’s a natural part of aging, but it can be slowed. Don’t freak out. You won’t suddenly become incapable of regular activities. Rather, you’ll find that you search for names a bit more often or you forget that your glasses are on your head from time to time. Brain exercises can help keep your mind sharp for longer.
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Mammogram and Colonoscopy
As we age, breast cancer and colorectal cancer become things we have to seriously consider. It’s important that we don’t forget to get annual wellness exams, mammograms, and colonoscopies to ensure that we detect any issues as soon as possible.
We know, we know this has been full of issues and concerns for women who are approaching or have hit 50. But not to worry, it’s not all doom and gloom! So when you think of what to expect in your fifties, expect to have an amazing life. All you need to know is what to look for. So just take care of yourself, and embrace the next chapter of your life!