Healthcare for Women in 40s

For all those women who made it to 40, here's a loud Hurray !! Yes, you made it to a matured stage in life than your previous years. With this graduation comes a growing package of few health concerns...its time to be smarter, here too. With the decreasing body metabolism, and increasing stress levels, everyother function of the human body gets affected. Muscle tone, bone density and hormone balance are the most affected. If certain good health habits are inculcated at this age, it would be easier to reach 50s, 60s and higher!! 40s are the most critical days in ones life...it is when the children finish their studies and start their careers, and Parents worry more about them, their settlement in life, about ones own health and longevity, and they begin to worry if they are going to see the kids get married happily. Ones own middle age crisis begins at this age. With all these emotional and family-oriented worries trying to create an imbalance, it is difficult to bring back a harmony in the health yet, it is very crucial to stay healthy now..even the slightest stress and strain can be harmful as the body has worked for few years already and is tired and ready to give up if it is not well trained and strongly backed up.

The average age of Menopause in Indian women is between 45-51. Hence, once you start your journey in the 40s, the countdown begins. A woman is considered to be in Menopausal stage if she does not have a menstrual cycle for a continuous period of 12 months as has crossed 45 years of age. Here are few tips for an easy health management:

Start the day with a healthy breakfast- A high-calorie breafast is not atall harmful for the start up. Those calories will be burnt down by the end of the day, anyways.
Kickoff with a power punch exercise regime: Training the muscle and strengthening the bones is important. Exercise trains the heart too to gear up its functioning., and helps an active metabolism, working on the body to avoid lethargy. Take necessary vitamin/ mineral supplements, specially calcium and vitamin D: As muscle tone and bone density problems are ready to strike, one should fight back with supplementation. Joint pains and knee issues start to show up at this age for women..and hence, Calcium intake is necessary. Appetite may reduce due to lack of interest in food, because of changes in bosy metabolism or lack of motivation to eat due to changes in physical appearance ( some women suddenly gain weight, very few loose weight), and that is why it is necessary to support the nutrition with supplements.

Pump up your protein intake Meet the Doctors for regular health checks, e.g., Pap Smears- every 1-3 years, Thyroid- every year, Mole check, Glucose- every 6 months, Blood Pressure- every 6 months, Eye exam, Pelvic test and Mammogram- every 1-2 years Meet happy people- Women sometimes face cosmetic depression due to changes in facial structure as wrinkles appear more, hair thins out, voice becomes meek...to cope with this depression due to menopausal stages also one needs to have good company. Happy friends and those who have good knowledge of health are better than few who discourage others to visit Doctors or ignore health signs themselves.
Discuss family matters with the family, openly instead of keeping to yourself and worrying.

Not only for the Women in 40s, it is important for anyone to stay happy and healthy. Happiness doesnot lie in things of this world, it is the internal happiness and righteous living that brings the difference and sense !!

---Prathyusha