Health risks that rise after 50 years old

Your 50th birthday is a milestone for many reasons, not the least of which is the shift you might experience in how you view your health. The good news is that you’ve already survived your first aging leap, which a recent Stanford Medicine study found occurs at about age 44, and you’re still a decade or more away from the second. But that’s no reason to be complacent about your health.

Your risk for developing a chronic disease increases as you age. In fact, more than three quarters of adults ages 35 to 64 have one chronic health condition, and more than half have multiple chronic conditions, according to a study published this spring in the Centers for Disease Control journal Preventing Chronic Disease.

Common Health Risks To Watch for After Age 50

Learn about some of the health risks you’re more likely to face after 50 and steps you can take to reduce your risk.

Heart Attack and Stroke

Heart attack and stroke are serious consequences of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death among men and women.

How to reduce your risk:

• Quit smoking.
• Maintain normal weight with a low-cholesterol diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Manage stress.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the form of diabetes that’s more common in older adults. It occurs when your body develops insulin resistance, rendering it unable to control blood glucose levels. Complications include cardiovascular disease, nerve damage and kidney disease.

How to reduce your risk:

• Eat a healthy low-fat, high-fiber diet.
• Maintain healthy weight.
• Stay physically active.
• Avoid long periods of sitting.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a loss of bone density and/or a diminished ability to generate new bone. The result is weakened, porous bones that are susceptible to breaking. Osteoporosis is twice as common in women as in men.

How to reduce your risk:

• Avoid alcohol.
• Eat a well-balanced, calcium- and protein-rich diet.
• Ask your doctor about vitamin D supplements if your diet is low in vitamin D and you have limited exposure to sunlight.
• Get plenty of weight-bearing and resistance exercise.

Cancer

Cancer is a large group of diseases that have one thing in common: uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. It’s the second-most-common cause of death in the U.S., after cardiovascular disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are the most common types.

How to reduce your risk:

• Quit smoking.
• Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins.
• Eat a low-fat, low-sugar diet.
• Get plenty of exercise.
• Use sunscreen.
• Talk to your doctor about potentially elevated risk before starting a hormone therapy.

Cognitive Decline and Dementia

As Mayo Clinic describes it, cognitive decline refers to diminished memory, language skills and judgement that isn’t so severe as to limit daily activities but might be a precursor to dementia. Dementia describes a more severe decline due to damaged brain cells. Alzheimer’s Disease is a form of dementia.

How to reduce your risk:

• Stay active with vigorous exercise.
• Avoid long periods of sitting.
• Avoid heavy drinking.
• Limit exposure to environmental toxins.
• Protect your head against injury.
• Get enough sleep.
• Seek treatment for hearing and vision problems.
• Socialize.
• Keep your mind active.

Vision and Eye Disorders

Vision changes are a normal part of aging, according to the National Institute on Aging. However, older adults are susceptible to potentially serious conditions like age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma, that threaten your vision.

How to reduce your risk:

• Quite smoking.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Stay active.
• Maintain a normal weight.
• Treat high blood pressure.
• If you’re diabetic, manage your glucose levels.
• Take breaks when looking at screens or other objects for extended periods.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss risk increases with age, and about one-third of older adults have it, according to the National Institute on Aging. Hearing loss can lead to social isolation, which increases your risk of dementia. It can also pose physical danger if it makes it difficult for you to hear your doctor’s instructions or emergency alarms and signals.

How to reduce your risk:

• Protect your ears against loud noises.
• Seek treatment for ear pain and buildup of wax or fluid.
• Manage other health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

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