50S
Be ready for menopause symptoms. While some women start experiencing these in their late forties, most women begin to notice changes in their body when they’re in their fifties. You might want to talk to your doctor about your options – which may include HRT – if you’re struggling with hot flushes and mood swings.
Look after your heart. After menopause, women’s risk of developing heart disease increases because they lose the protective effect of oestrogen. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked and make any necessary changes to reduce your chances of having a heart attack, for example give up smoking, lose weight or get high cholesterol under control.
Consider getting screened for colon cancer. Risks of developing this type of cancer increase after 50, yet it is often preventable if polyps that form in the bowel are caught at the pre-cancerous stage. Talk to your doctor about whether you should have a colonoscopy.