Health Center - Diabetes
About eight percent of all Americans have diabetes, and the rate is increasing. Learn more about this prevalent and life-threatening disease, including common symptoms, how it affects your health, tips to manage it and prevent complications and ways to reduce your risk factors.
Diabetes Guide
Your Health at Midlife
Life is a journey, filled with many passages and transitions. And midlife is one transition sure to get your attention. Many things may change—your relationships with your now—older children and your partner, your career, even your body. Some you can control; others you can't. One thing you can control, however, is your health during this time of life.
For once you hit midlife—and we're talking anywhere from your early 40s to early 50s—health-related issues you never before considered begin demanding attention.
Here, in a nutshell, are three things to focus on:
Your bones. You've probably always taken them for granted, but now is the time to become aware of just what's holding you up—your bones. After menopause, you have far less estrogen available to maintain bone. Hence, bone-destroying cells get the upper hand, putting you at risk for osteoporosis. What to do? Ask your health care professional about your personal risk for osteoporosis. While bone density screening tests aren't usually recommended until 65, some health-related issues warrant earlier screening. Regardless of your risk factors, the following two approaches can help you maintain existing bone and continue to build bone:
High levels of calcium. You should be getting at least 1,200 milligrams a day, but most women get only about 600 milligrams through their diet, so supplements like calcium citrate and calcium carbonate might be necessary. It's also important that you engage in some weight-bearing exercise most days, like walking, gardening or working out with weights.
