Womens Health

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Womens Health

• 50s

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Take the Time to Stay Healthy Through Menopause

• The average age of menopause for women in the US
  is 51, and most women start menopause between age
  45 55.
• This life stage is defined by physical,
  emotional, and psychological changes.
• Changes to the body can occur a whole decade
  before menopause. As estrogen levels decrease
  you may notice these changes
• Slowing of metabolism, hot flashes, irritability,
  depression, shifting of weight, and problems
  sleeping.

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Menopause Transition

• Talk with your health care professional to put
  together a plan that takes into account your age,
  health status, daily schedule and goals.
• Exercise and weight training will improve your
  health and strengthen bones
• Your health care professional can advise you if
  you need additional supplements for your calcium
  needs.
• Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and cut
  down on "junk foods" to help keep you healthy and
  fit.
• Limit alcohol

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Changing Shape

• During your 50s you cant help to notice the
  changes in your body shape and energy level
• Your metabolism has slowed down
• Lean muscle mass turns to fat unless you
  aggressive get active
• Waist measurements of greater than 35 inches
  significantly increases your risk for developing
  diabetes and heart disease

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Exercise and Weight Management

• Fat burns fewer calories than muscle.
• Your exercise routine should be design
• to maintain muscles
• to burn calories
• to raise your metabolic rate

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Dont Ignore Silent Changes

• Bone Loss
• Increased heart disease risk
• Changes in brain function
• Other conditions

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Bone Loss

• After menopause, the rate of bone loss increases
  significantly
• An estimated 20 of women in their fifties
  already have osteoporosis
• Make sure your diet is rich in calcium and you
  engage in regular weight-bearing exercises and
  strength-training

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Increased heart disease risk

• As estrogen diminishes many older women develop
  high blood pressure and high cholesterol
• Things you can do
• Exercise
• Limit Alcohol
• Dont Smoke
• Maintain a Healthy Weight

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Changes in brain function

• Estrogen decline can contribute to short-term
  memory loss and problems with word recall.
• Its effect on the brain also is the source of
  hot flashes, trouble sleeping and serotonin
  levels.

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Other Conditions

• Women in their 50s are more likely to develop
  thyroid problems
• Higher risk of diabetes which could contribute to
  heart disease
• Cancer risk increases, particularly of the
  thyroid gland, breast and colon
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Bladder infections are common

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Questions to Ask Your Health Care Professional

• Refer to Handout

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Necessary Preventative Health Screenings

• Pap Test for cervical cancer (1 to 3 years)
• Clinical breast exam (yearly)
• Mammography (yearly)
• Blood pressure for hypertension (1-2 years)
• Cholesterol (5 years)
• Diabetes blood glucose test (3 years)
• Weight
• Thyroid Test (TSH)
• Colorectal cancer screening (regular intervals)
• Dental Exam
• Complete eye exam
• Skin exam for skin cancer
• Bone mineral density exam/bone mass measurement
  (at age of 40)

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Immunizations

• Tetanus
• Influenza
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B

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Your Partnership with your Health Care
Professional

• Be Honest
• Speak Up
• Share Your Family Medical History
• Know the Signs of Illness and Disease
• Ask Questions
• Schedule Regular Medical Checkups and Screenings
• Get a second medical opinion

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Resources - Organizations, Web sites to contact

• American Heart Association1-800-242-8721http//w
  ww.americanheart.org
• American Diabetes Associationhttp//www.diabetes.
  org
• National Womens Health Resource Center
• 1-877-986-9472http//healthywomen.org
• North American Menopause Societyhttp//menopause.
  org
• U.S. Centers for disease Control and Prevention
• http//www.cdc.gov