It is never too early to start looking after your health. In fact, the earlier women become proactive with their health, the more in tune with their bodies and the healthier they will be as the decades pass by.
That being said, there are certain things for women to focus on in different decades of their life; a twenty-year-old is not going to have the same health needs as someone in their 60s. Our bodies grow and change as we get older, and it is important to cater our healthcare to match these natural changes. In addition, certain health conditions can become more prominent during different decades, meaning prevention and disease monitoring can vary depending on a woman’s age.
It can seem like a lot to navigate, so let’s take a look at the key components to watch for in each decade, ensuring that your healthcare is changing with your body’s needs. We have also compiled a guide for mens health as they age.
20s
Most women’s bodies are still in good physical health in their twenties, so this is a great time to compile your family’s medical history. Doing so allows you to be knowledgeable about any health conditions that you may be predisposed to, which can help doctors prevent the disease. For example, someone with diabetes in the family can learn from their doctor what habits to follow to avoid developing diabetes themselves.
To protect your mental health, it’s important to become aware of the signs of mental health conditions and seek out a mental health professional or counseling when the symptoms begin interfering with your daily life.
30s
In your thirties, a woman’s metabolism begins to slow, requiring a new diet and exercise approach. During these years, it is crucial for women to focus on maintaining a well-balanced diet that provides all the nutrients the body needs to function without harmful additives that can contribute to weight gain.
This is also an excellent time for women to make sure they are getting enough calcium and vitamin D to help protect against osteoporosis later in life.
Your thirties are also when you should start getting regular checks for cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, allowing doctors to form a baseline to compare future measurements to.
40s
It’s also important for women in their 40s to maintain their diet and exercise habits, especially as menopause (and the drastic shift in hormones it causes) is on the horizon.
50s
Women may also want to speak to their doctor about changing hormone levels due to menopause and any unpleasant symptoms that may have developed due to decreasing estrogen levels. After menopause, women are also more vulnerable to heart disease, so it is recommended to be more vigilant in monitoring this condition. With heart disease as the leading cause of death for American women, this is an important disease to watch for and prevent.
60s
This may also be when hearing and vision can start to decrease, so it is recommended to receive testing for these two. Early identification is an integral part of minimizing the effects of dual sensory loss and helps to ensure that you can maintain living independently.
Your 60s is also when Alzheimer’s can first start displaying symptoms, so it is important to be aware of any new memory struggles or cognitive limitations.
70s+
Cognitive health is also important to focus on during these years, and women should try to incorporate computer activities or simple puzzles into their day to keep their minds sharp.
Staying Healthy Through the Years
Another significant concern is disease prevention and screening. Following up with this by receiving regular testing and screening can significantly improve your chance of managing and recovering from a disease when it is still in the early stages, also improving your quality of life.
Women’s health should be a priority for every woman, and by focusing on your body’s needs by decade, you can focus on the care your body truly needs and set it up for success as the years go by.
References
Kessler, R., Amminger, G., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Alonso, J., Lee, S., & ??st??n, T. (2007). Age of onset of mental disorders: a review of recent literature. Current Opinion In Psychiatry, 20(4), 359-364. doi: 10.1097/yco.0b013e32816ebc8c
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2018). 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD.
Breast Cancer Statistics | How Common Is Breast Cancer?. (2022). Retrieved 28 April 2022, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html
What Is Menopause?. (2022). Retrieved 28 April 2022, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-menopause
Heart Disease: Heart Disease Facts. (2022). https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm