Category: Internal Medicine
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Healthy Aging In Men
Healthy Aging in Men
Healthy aging in men is different than it is for women. Traditionally, women do a good job of getting to the doctor and having appropriate health screenings. For men this isn’t as common. But it’s a critical first step toward healthy aging.
As you age, it’s important to get a physical every year. You’ll want to make sure your cholesterol and heart health are tested. It’s also important to have your PSA numbers checked – this is the screening for prostate cancer.
As a man, your prostate may begin to enlarge as you age. This can lead to problems with frequent urination. It’s important to talk with your doctor about this symptom because help is available.
Prostate cancer is also a greater risk for men as they age. The good news is that a simple blood test can help to screen for this disease. And treatment options today are better than ever. When prostate cancer is detected early it can be treated very successfully.
Eating foods that contain lycopene such as tomatoes and watermelon can actually help you to have a healthier prostate. You can also purchase lycopene supplements that can be added to your daily routine.
As you age your risk of heart disease also increases. It’s important to make sure you eat a heart healthy diet and get your cholesterol tested each year. You may also need to have regular stress tests in order to determine the heath of your heart.
Hardened arteries can lead to problems with heart disease and stroke. But vascular problems can also cause problems with sexual function. In order to function properly, your blood vessels need to be in good working order.
While supplements such as Viagra can make it easier to participate in an active sex life, the best way to protect the future of your sex life is through a healthy lifestyle. This includes regular exercise and a diet low in saturated fats.
A healthy weight is also critical as you age. This will make it easier for you to be mobile and take the stress off of your joints. It will also help to keep your heart healthy. Extra weight can cause inflammation in your joints and can even lead to diabetes.
You should also work on maintaining your flexibility. Particularly for men, flexibility tends to decrease with age. However, continuing a fitness routine that includes regular stretching can help prevent this from happening. Many falls and fractures are a result of being inflexible when moving.
Men have specific needs when it comes to their senior years. But healthy aging in men is possible when you take care of your body with a healthy lifestyle and you see your doctor regularly for screenings and examinations.
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Healthy Aging In Women
Healthy Aging in Women
Healthy aging in women is different than it is for men. As a woman you have special needs that need to be addressed. You experience many changes hormonal and as you age your risk for other conditions increases.
First, menopause is one of the most talked about changes a woman experiences as she ages. During this time your menstrual cycle stops and you have a major fluctuation in hormones. Eventually your body starts to compensate as other glands produce estrogen.
Many women choose to go through the natural process of menopause, but others choose to use hormone replacement therapy. This therapy can help you to feel more energy, have a stronger sex drive, and combat problems such as hot flashes.
When you think of heart disease, you most likely think about men. However, heart disease is also the number one killer in women. As you age, the changes in hormones actually cause your risk of heart disease to increase.
It’s important to get regular exercise and eat a heart healthy diet to help prevent heart disease. You should also get your cholesterol tested and talk with your doctor about any type of screening you need. Depending on your family history you may need to take a regular stress test.
Breast cancer also becomes a greater risk as you get older. It’s important to get regular mammogram screenings so that you can catch anything that’s going on early. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and also one with the best prognosis if you get early treatment.
As you age, your bones can also become more brittle. This problem is more common in women than men and is called osteoporosis. As your bones lose calcium they can become weaker and they can break more easily. This is one of the reasons older women have more fractures.
In order to have strong bones, it’s important to participate in weight bearing exercises. Walking is a great exercise for your lower body, but you should also make sure to do some kind of strength training for your upper body.
As your muscles contract, they pull on your bones and this stimulates the strengthening of them. Strength training exercises and taking calcium supplements is critical for your bones as you age. You should also discuss bone density screening with your doctor.
Most women are also concerned about their skin as they age. A diet high in vitamins and minerals as well as vitamin E supplements can help slow down the aging process of skin. Products containing retinol can also stimulate your skin to build new healthy tissue.
A healthy lifestyle is the most important factor for healthy aging in women. Eating a healthy diet, getting exercise, and talking with your doctor about getting appropriate screenings can help you to get the most of this time in your life.