Although women are stronger than men in many respects, it has also been found that women are susceptible and prone to more health risks than men. One good example is problems they often face with their reproductive system. In this article, I will discuss how a woman can maintain their health to enjoy a quality of life, especially after they turn 50. I will focus on their physical, mental and spiritual health issues.
First of all, the common health issues that men and women over 50 years of age will face inevitably are what I have talked about in my previous articles. These include the deterioration of brain cells, or dementia, and the loss of body muscle, or sarcopenia. These two negative health conditions do not become obvious quickly since their development is gradual and may take many years for the manifestation of the symptoms. To delay the onset of these two issues, I have recommended ingesting certain foods and supplements that will be beneficial while most advice endorses physical activity. To be active throughout one’s entire life will not only protect us from the above conditions, but will also assist our body systems to function properly, immunize to so we are not prone to many diseases; in short, to be physically active will improve one’s quality of life.
To be active is actually not that difficult. You can start with a brisk walk regularly and then upgrade to running when you are ready. Sport participation is a good option as is aerobic exercise for 15-30 minutes three days a week. Being physically active will also help to keep body weight at a proper ratio. In fact, research has found that exercise actually behaves like medicine to improve thinking and enhance brain health.
The practices that women should pursue to maintain good health as long as they live cover many areas. Firstly, an adult woman 25 years of age and older should undergo an annual physical checkup, similar to men. This examination should cover the following:
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Complete blood analysis, as this test will tell red and white blood cell levels, the latter revealing whether you are infected it is high or vulnerable to infection if the level is low.
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Liver function test where two enzyme levels will be measured with high levels indicating possible malfunction of the liver.
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Kidney function test, since kidneys excrete surplus water, minerals and chemical agents, including medicines taken for various ailments. Should kidney function be reduced from any reason, the levels of excreted items, like blood urea nitrogen or creatinine, will be high, and this is a warning sign of kidney problems.
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Complete urine analysis, which is used to detect and manage a wide range of disorders, such as urinary tract infections, kidney disease and diabetes. A urinalysis involves checking the appearance, concentration and content of urine. For example, a urinary tract infection can turn urine cloudy. Increased levels of protein found in urine can also be a sign of kidney problem.
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Blood sugar level test, as this indicate diabetes mellitus, a quite common condition for aging citizens, even more common in women than men.
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Electrocardiogram, or EKG, to analyze heart performance and check for possible heart malfunctions.
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Livid levels in the blood should be tested to determine cholesterol levels together with good and bad fat content, including the HDL, LDL and triglycerides since these lipid levels will indicate possible future heart disease, ischemia or the narrowing of blood vessels which could be quite dangerous or even fatal.
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Chest X-ray, which is meant to monitor lung performance and possible infections such as tuberculosis.
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Uric acid level test, which is used as an indicator for gout.
Besides these standard tests listed above, women should also check conditions specific for females. They shoud have an annual mammogram to investigate breast mass and detect any deviation indicate cancer or early signs of heart disease. Women should also undergo a Thin Prep pap test to detect the abnormal cells in their reproductive organs. Also, after menopause, female hormones will be reduced significantly; therefore, the thinning of the bone or osteoporosis is inevitable, which means porous bones and the weakening of the skeleton. A twist, bend, unexpected jolt could then snap a dangerously weakened bone and a serious fracture. Hence, women should undergo bone density measurement to proactively rectify this dreadful condition beforehand. Bone density is important to the quality of mobility and, thus, overall quality of life.
Furthermore, cancer testing is indispensable. This includes the reproductive system that I mentioned earlier, including a Thin Prep test and mammogram. Women should also consider undergoing colon and liver cancer testing, which can be conducted with blood that was drawn during earlier testing.
At the same time, women should consider what kind of health food and supplements they should ingest. As usual, multivitamins and mineral supplements are a first and foremost priority as they provide micronutrients normally lacking in our daily food intake. Women should also take calcium to strengthen bone density. Women who discharge a substantial amount of blood during their period should consider taking an iron supplement to prevent anemia.
As many women are concerned about having a nice skin complexion, antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E are indispensable. Another highly recommended antioxidant is lycopene which can be easily found in tomato juice; so, it’s good to drink 200cc on a daily basis. Collagen powder can be added as a routine supplement since it is essential for healthy skin. And, it is most important to apply a good quality moisturizer to one’s skin daily.
Besides supplements, women should always remind themselves to drink a sufficient amount of water on a daily basis. Water is important to our body function, and many people forget to drink as much as they need. Insufficient water consumption and long hours between visiting the toilet can result in many ailing conditions such as urinary tract infection which is common among women working in an office.
By following my above suggestions, I believe a woman can enjoy a long, healthy, active and healthy life.
