A notable number of women of 60 years faces a significant risk to its health: the heart diseases. This condition stands as the main cause of death in this age group, which has led experts to emphasize the need to maintain cardiovascular health.
Stacey Rosencardiologist Northwell Health In New York, highlights the importance of recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack, which can present differently in women and men. “Women often have difficulty breathing, which is accompanied by chest pain, back pain, and fatigue that is easy to dismiss.”, he claimed. Along these lines, he added that Women should pay attention to these signs and consult your doctor if you have any discomfort.
By fulfilling the 65 years, the importance of preventive examinations cannot be underestimated. During these annual checkups, it is common to perform basic tests such as screening for hearing loss and evaluating cognitive health, in addition to reviewing other preventive services.
Although many people are familiar with the basic principles of living a healthy life, such as eating right, sleeping well, exercising, and attending annual checkups, following all of these recommendations to the letter can be overwhelming. Keeping up with self-care and getting screened for cancer and other diseases requires constant attention and effort.
It must be considered that the definition of “health” can vary enormously between women at different stages of their lives. The study highlights the need for these guidelines not to be too strict, especially with advancing age: “Your provider should help you consider the risks and benefits of any screening for your specific health situation as you begin to address towards their golden years.”
Nearly half of all adults have high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but only one in four adults with high blood pressure has it under control. Uncontrolled hypertension substantially increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, so working with your provider to keep it below 130/80 is important for your cardiovascular health.
Another reason to take care of your heart is for that other organ that people start to worry about as they age: the brain. Dementia risk begins to increase after age 65so “being proactive in reducing the risk of dementia is obviously very important,” says Thomas Wisniewski, a neurologist at NYU Langone Health.
“What is good for the heart is good for the brain”, especially because the brain is the most “oxygen-hungry” organ in the body, he says. “Having a healthy vascular system is very important for brain health and resilience, so the simple fact of being physically active is very protective,” as well as keeping medical problems such as high cholesterol, blood sugar well controlled. high blood and hypertension.
One of the ways to reduce your risk of cognitive decline include following a Mediterranean diet, getting enough sleep, staying mentally active, and getting screened for sleep apnea if you snore, as the risk increases with age. “Be diverse with mental stimulation,” says Wisniewski. “Reading, discussing what you read, being socially interactive, doing new things, taking lessons, adult learning, crosswords, Sudoku, puzzles, all those things together are very beneficial.”
What is not beneficial, however, is excess alcohol. Binge drinking and alcohol problems have increased in older adults, but the risks of alcohol, including the risk of dementia, and sensitivity to the effects of alcohol begin to increase as you age.
Finally, although it may seem obvious, “avoid head trauma,” says Wisniewski. He recommends that older adults use stationary bikes instead of treadmills or ellipticals, for example, because there is a lower risk of falls.
The average age of menopause is 51 years, but for many, postmenopausal symptoms can extend into their 60s. That means balancing managing those symptoms with the potential risks of some treatments.
For most women, the benefits of hormone therapy over age 50 outweigh the risks, such as an increased risk of vaginal bleeding, blood clots, stroke, dementia, and certain types of cancer, because these risks are low for women in this age group. But once they reach age 60, that calculus begins to change. Hormone therapy is linked to a lower risk of coronary heart disease in women under 60, for example, but risks may increase as women age.
“Studies have shown that it is after age 60 that the risks begin to increase,” says Angela Wilson, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care. “If the patient is still on hormone replacement and approaching age 60, that’s when I start trying to taper it off,” although it’s not wise to stop cold turkey, she adds. Stopping suddenly can be a shock to the system that may initially bring back symptoms.
Again, however, that is not a universal recommendation. Wilson has some patients who continue low-dose hormone therapy into their 60s because their quality of life suffers too much without it. The important thing is to discuss your symptoms with your doctor and evaluate the benefits and risks specific to your circumstances.
Although many women stop seeing their OB-GYN after age 65, Wilson says, there are reasons to continue, such as the risk of pelvic organ prolapse, when one or more pelvic organs, such as the vagina, bladder, uterus, the urethra or rectum, fall out of position, often protruding into the vagina. Up to half or more of women experienced prolapse, and the risk increases with age, often resulting in incontinence.
Finally, both urinary and fecal incontinence generally become more common in women in their 70s, but can begin much earlier, particularly in those who have had complicated births, such as a vaginal birth with a large baby or third- or third-year lacerations. fourth grade.
“Those women will often have some fecal incontinence later in life,” either from leakage or urge incontinence, where they can’t get to the bathroom in time once they feel the need to go, says Rajeev Jain, a Texas gastroenterologist. Digestive Disease Consultants.
