Women’s Wellness
...in Your 50's
By your 50s, you’ve accomplished a lot and gained some wisdom on the way.
Then, along comes menopause—and fluctuating hormones that can shake your wellbeing.
In your 50s, being your best self is up to you. For women in their 50s, a common myth is that “ I am getting old, and I’m going to slow down.” Yes, this could be true if you don’t rev it up, but it’s not inevitable! It’s a myth. There’s no reason you can’t change your lifestyle and have more energy as you get to your 60s.
Taking charge of your health during this prime time in your life starts with a commitment to wellness.
Your 50s are a decade full of exciting and sometimes stressful changes and transitions for many women. Those changes can impact your physical, mental and social health.
Your body changes with age, so your nutritional needs change, too. One of the significant factors for women in their 50s is taking control of diet and weight gain.
- Many women think that this age means that all kinds of physical activity, including sex, stops. But that doesn’t have to be the case!
- In fact, continuing to follow a regiment of 30-minute cardio exercises five times a week has tremendous health benefits. This includes an increased sex drive, lower risk of heart disease, and weight gain prevention, all of which can be common at this age.
- Large muscle mass requires more calories to support it and your body burns more calories at rest. A natural part of aging is a loss of muscle mass. The loss of muscle slows your metabolism especially at rest (Basal metabolic rate or BMR). This is why we gain weight as we age.
- Building muscle will keep a higher basal metabolic rate and burn more calories between working out.
Nearly half of women over 50 experience stress incontinence, also known as urinary incontinence. Still, women under 65 are less likely to talk to a doctor about treatment options for stress incontinence. This condition causes urine leakage while laughing, coughing, sneezing or exercising.
Menopause
The average age of menopause for US women is 51, with most women reaching this milestone somewhere between ages 45 and 55. And while menopause signals the end of the menstrual cycle and your reproductive years, less estrogen also means major changes for your body in other ways too.
These hormones may fluctuate, leading to typical menopause symptoms, such as night sweats, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Hot flashes, one of the most common menopausal symptoms, may be making you uncomfortable, and you may notice that your skin is thinner and dryer now. You may gain weight or find your sleep interrupted by hot flashes. You might also experience vaginal dryness that can affect your sex life.
If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause or if you simply have questions about menopause, I encourage you to call our office for a consultation.
Learn more...
We understand the many concerns of women in their 50’s:
- Menopause
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Pain with intercourse
- Irregular bleeding
- Urinary incontinence
- Changes in libido
- Bone health
- Cancer screening needs