5 Common Health Issues That Can Strike After Age 50

Nearly 130 million adults in the United States have some form of chronic disease, and the most common forms of these are typically diagnosed after the age of 50. Prevention is the best solution, but these conditions can be medically managed.

At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, John Terzian, MD, FACC, and our team regularly diagnose and treat our patients with chronic health issues to preserve their quality of life, while also encouraging prevention, before small problems grow larger.

Today, let’s look at the five most common health issues that can strike after the age of 50. Getting a handle on these conditions early can keep you active and healthy for decades.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

The risk of high blood pressure climbs as you get older. About one-third of adults have high blood pressure by the time they reach the 40-59 age range. Your arteries naturally become less elastic with age, boosting your blood pressure even if you follow a healthy lifestyle.

You can usually improve your blood pressure through modest lifestyle changes, including:

• Reducing salt consumption
• Add regular activity and exercise to your daily routine
• Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
• Reducing stress in your life
• Avoiding tobacco products
• Moderating alcohol consumption

We can add a medical blood pressure management plan when lifestyle alterations aren’t enough.

Type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar)

A primary role of insulin is unlocking the cellular door to blood sugar for fuel. When cells stop responding to insulin a condition called insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, develops.

The primary causes of insulin resistance take time to develop into diabetes, making it a common after-50 diagnosis. Controlling blood sugar usually takes the form of lifestyle changes, like those made for high blood pressure, as well as medical treatment.

Heart disease

A leading cause of death in both women and men, heart disease risk increases with age, with most heart attacks occurring after 45 in men and 50 in women. High cholesterol is often a contributing factor.

Along with high blood pressure and diabetes, high cholesterol rounds out the top three causes of heart disease, particularly coronary artery disease (CAD). Other forms of heart disease include congestive heart failure and irregular heartbeats.

Again, improved lifestyle choices work hand-in-hand with medical treatment to minimize the effects of these heart disorders.

Osteoarthritis

Everyday activities take a toll on your joints, and after 50, you’re at risk of losing a protective layer of cartilage that normally allows bones to glide over each other during joint movement.

The erosion of the cartilage layer results in osteoarthritis, the most common inflammatory joint condition. Osteoarthritis is degenerative and has no cure, though treatment and lifestyle modifications can slow its progress and reduce symptoms.

Osteoporosis (bone density loss)

Though they seem strong and permanent, your bones constantly turn over tissue until around age 50, when bone loss occurs faster than your body can produce new tissue. The foam-like inner structure of bones becomes increasingly porous until the structural integrity of weight-bearing bones begins to fail. 

This process is called osteoporosis, and for menopausal women the risk of the disease skyrockets. For most women, this is around age 51, so it’s another common health issue that can start as you get older.

The good news is that all of these conditions can be treated and managed. Dr. Terzian provides a wide range of primary care and cardiology services, covering the scope of the diseases that could affect your later years.

Contact Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, by phone or online to schedule a consultation today.