Ou having a fe health ?
YOUR WORRY: ACHES & PAINS
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
YOUR WORRY:
THE MENOPAUSE
Find yourself complaining of a bad back and stiff joints? It comes with middle age, says Damian Mcclelland, Bupa UK’S musculoskeletal services clinical director.
He explains: “As we age, we start to feel twinges in our bodies, and aches and pains that weren’t there in our 20s. From the age of 30, our bone density, muscles and cartilage start to diminish, leaving us more vulnerable to injuries.
“Plus the effects of a busy work, social and family life can take its toll. Back and knee strain, and more serious conditions such as slipped spinal discs, can be caused by lifting children from the floor and balancing them on hips.” Making time for regular exercise and maintaining a good posture when doing any lifting are key, according to Damian.
“Being active helps bone and muscle health,” he explains. “Weight bearing exercise such as running will help maintain your bone strength, and resistance exercise (using weights or your own body weight) will help to increase your muscle mass.” And stop hunching over computers! He adds: “Keep your workspace close to you – the further away things are, the further you have to reach and lean over. Your screen and chair also need to be at the right height, so get a workplace assessment if you’re unsure.” If you’re concerned about your family history talk to your GP, advises Julie.
“Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 is entitled to a free health MOT on the NHS. This checks for risk factors for heart disease such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which might require treatment.”
And tackle unhealthy lifestyle habits. “Giving up smoking is crucial, as it causes the build-up of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries,” says Julie. “Also watch how much you’re drinking. Alcohol directly damages arteries, especially if you binge-drink.
“Cut back on cholesterol-raising saturated fats in your diet – that means less fatty and processed meats, butter, cream, cheese, cakes and pastries. And reduce your salt intake as it’s linked to high blood pressure. Get moving, too – even 10-minute bursts of brisk walking during the day will boost heart health.” The average age for the menopause (when ovaries stop releasing eggs) is 51, but the perimenopause usually starts in your 40s and the effects of declining oestrogen can be crippling. For many women, it’s a physically and emotionally challenging time, says Harley Street gynaecologist Mr Ellis Downes.
“The symptoms can take over your life – hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep, low energy, bad memory, running to the loo, incontinence and hair thinning.
“We also know many women are likely to get depressive symptoms and anxiety because of the effect low oestrogen has on the brain.”
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
Mr Downes says: “Taking regular exercise and following a healthy diet will help you cope with symptoms. You might need to consider hormone replacement therapy (via patches, tablets or gels), which can really improve your quality of life. There are very good studies which attest to the long-term safety of HRT, so no woman should be anxious about taking it.”