Age-Old Conditions

Here Are Some Health Issues To Be Aware Of As Time Goes By.

- Donna Fleming

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

As we age, our blood vessels become less flexible, putting pressure on the system that transports blood around our body. Even if you have previously had healthy blood pressure, it can start to creep up once you’re over 50.

Almost two out of every three people over 60 have high blood pressure, which can contribute to heart disease and strokes. Lifestyle changes you can make to keep your blood pressure down include maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthily, exercising regularly, giving up smoking and dealing with stress.

DIABETES

The rates of people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are soaring, and your risk of developing the disease goes up once you reach 45. It can lead to heart disease, kidney problems, blindness as well as other serious issues and needs to be controlled.

Often it can be hard to tell if you’ve got diabetes – symptoms to look out for include feeling thirsty, going to the toilet a lot, blurred vision, suffering from infections that don’t heal easily, frequent hunger and extreme tiredness.

If diabetes is picked up at the pre-diabetic stage – where blood sugar levels are very high but you have yet to tip over into diabetes – lifestyle changes may prevent it from developing. It is important to have your blood sugar checked.

OBESITY

It’s not unusual for weight to creep on over the years. We tend to be less active the older we get, and we can also lose muscle tone – the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn. Menopause can have an effect on weight, with hormonal changes contributing to gains.