3 Health Issues We Get As We Age (And What To Do About Them)

As we get into our forties and fifties, we start to notice that our bodies aren’t quite as young as they once were. And, unfortunately, some of us end up with health problems. Here are some of the most common health conditions women encounter as they age and what to do about them.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an age-related condition that affects your vision. It’s caused by a buildup of pressure behind the eye. Over time it can start to damage the optic nerve and cause damage to the globe of the eye. As a result, some people with glaucoma can find themselves slowly going blind. Right now about two million women are living with the condition in the US, so it’s a widespread problem.

Fortunately, the condition can be prevented from advancing to later stages. If the problem is caught early enough, vision can often be preserved. But, to keep your sight, you’ll have to go to an optometrist. If you feel pressure behind your eyes, or you are losing vision, go and see your optometrist immediately.

Varicose Veins

As we age, the ability of our bodies to regulate blood flow to our legs declines. The valves in the arteries near our hips stop working as they used to. And this causes an increase in blood pressure in our lower extremities. Over time, this puts outward pressure on blood vessels, causing them to swell in size. After a while, this swelling becomes visible and what we call varicose veins.

If you have visible varicose veins, there are still options open to you. One option is to have the varicose veins laser-removed and a varicose vein clinic. The procedure is quick and efficient, and excellent at hiding any cosmetic damage.

Constipation

As we get older, our bowels start to weaken. They just don’t have the same ability to push as they used to. As a result, we can often get blocked up. It’s not a serious problem in itself, but it can be uncomfortable. And it is usually the result of poor lifestyle choices.

Back in the 1970s, British researchers realized that constipation was epidemic among Westerners. In fact, it was one of the biggest medical complaints of the population in the post-war years. But in other parts of the world, like rural Africa, people rarely suffered from the condition. In fact, they usually went to the bathroom a couple of times a day. And the time it took for food to travel through their system was about half what it was in Western people.

But what was the difference? It was all caused by diet. Indigenous people ate lots of whole grains and bean, whereas Westerners ate refined grains and fat. This is still the case today. And it’s what has led to an epidemic of constipation among the population. The solution? Stick to whole grains, quinoa, beans, and vegetables. Give your bowels more to work with, and you’ll soon find yourself going to the bathroom on a more regular basis.