Life stages: the 50s

General, Prostate | Mensvita | September 13, 2009 at 4:33 PM

lifestage_50s

Your Body at Age Fifty

Men and woman go through many stages of life. Reaching the age of fifty brings new health concerns to a man who had, up to now had been busy working to help feed and clothe his family that he neglected to heed the warnings to get a checkup by a doctor at least once a year.

There are many health issues that become important at this age. One in particular that might have up to now been neglected is having the prostate gland examined. This is one of the easiest areas to be tested as it only takes a blood test and a simple rectal exam. By neglecting these simple tests you might have been walking around with prostate cancer at an advanced state. Prostate cancer can kill if not found and treated in its earliest stages.

Another area that might cause a problem at this stage of life that a man is too embarrassed to ask his physician about is Erectile Dysfunction. Many men are too embarrassed to discuss it and so they ignore it. He makes all kinds of excuses to his wife for his lack of sexual interest.

He might say he is just too tired, and turn over and ignore her when she tries to lure him sexually. Others make sure they are too busy to go to sleep when his wife goes to bed in the hopes of finding her already asleep. Most of the time the inability to get and maintain an erection is due to stress but one will never know until he gets a physical and discusses his problem honestly with his doctor. Today, there are pills to take for those who suffer from erectile dysfunction but they should not be taken until a complete physical has been taken.

Reaching the age of fifty is the time to enjoy life and remain active. A healthy and proper diet is essential to prevent weight gain and to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Heart health become more important at this age. Cut back on foods that are high in cholesterol. Have your blood pressure checked regularly either by a doctor or the blood pressure machines found in most drug stores. Hypertension is the ‘silent killer’ so keep ahead of it by regular checkups and a proper diet.

While a glass of wine a day is recommended do not drink more than 2 units of alcohol at day to keep your liver healthy.

Cut out or cut down on smoking. Smoking can lead to lung cancer and heart disease. The fact that you are already into your fifties is no excuse for you to continue smoking. Stopping at any age will benefit your health.

Make sure you stick to a healthy diet. Include a variety of fresh fruits fish, vegetables and salads using a dressing of olive oil instead of the higher caloric dressings. Cut back on your intake of animal fats. These fats tend to clog the arteries and cause a heart attack that can be fatal.

Not all is doom and gloom at the age of fifty. Many men in this age group are and will continue to be hearty, healthy, active and more fit that men half their age. With very little effort this could be you.

Many men who have not already had their midlife crisis at 40, might experience it in their fifties. Suddenly it might disturb them as they suddenly wonder if ‘this is as good as it gets’. This is when they might get restless and attempt to turn back the clock in their quest for inner satisfaction. Some might make outlandish purchases that a younger man might make. Others have an affair with a younger woman in search for renewed sexual excitement. Frustration might lead to him drinking, smoking or overeating. He might even turn to pills to give him a calming effect.

Understand that the fifties are not the end of your life. For some it is just the beginning. See this as a new and exciting stage that can open new doors for you. This is the time to set new challenging and exciting goals. Use your lifetime experiences to help others. Teach an adult education class subjects you are well versed in. Learn something new. Do things you have always wanted to do but never had the chance to do until you reached the age of 50.

Have these screening tests during your fifties and you could cut out a good deal of problems later in life.

Test	Frequency
Testicular self-examination	Monthly
Blood pressure	Once a year
Colorectal exam	Once every five years, unless there is a family history of the disease, in which case you need to do this once a year.
Prostate	Once a year
Eye check	Once every two years
Skin check	Every year
ECG	Every two years
cholesterol	Every time you go for a checkup
Lung tests	If you smoke, you need to have your lungs X-rayed annually