WOMENS HEALTH; LIVING WELL AFTER 50

Being over 50 has its advantages. With each year comes more self-confidence, maturity, and -- for RealAge women -- a greater ability to change the rate at which the body ages.
Part of living younger means actively patrolling your health, so that you can treat chronic health conditions early and minimize their impact on your body''s age. Three conditions that women over 50 need to be particularly vigilant about monitoring for are heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Handling 3 Top Women''s Health Concerns

1. Heart Disease
Heart disease -- whether it takes the form of high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or stroke -- claims the lives of more women than any other disease. And the risks grow with age; about 10% of women ages 45 to 64 have some kind of heart disease.
What to watch for : High blood pressure and high cholesterol contribute to heart problems but usually have no symptoms, so have them measured regularly -- at least every 2 years for blood pressure and every 5 years for cholesterol. Many women will need more frequent screening, however, because of health history or heart disease risk factors. Work with your doctor to find the right screening schedule for you. Heart disease also typically has no symptoms, but call your doctor if you experience: pressure or discomfort in your chest, arm, back, or jaw; an irregular heartbeat; lightheadedness; shortness of breath; nausea; or unusual fatigue.
2. Diabetes
Diabetes affects your insulin levels. Insulin helps your body use blood glucose, an energy source for cells. But with diabetes, your body either doesn''t properly respond to insulin or doesn''t produce enough of it. As a result, blood glucose levels are too high and can damage delicate body systems. About 9% of women in the United States have diabetes, either type 1 or type 2. Type 2 diabetes is a concern for aging women because onset of the disease typically occurs after
age 45.
What to watch for : Elevated blood sugar is a symptom of diabetes, so have yours measured regularly -- about every 3 years. You may need to measure it more often if your blood-sugar level is high or you have other diabetes risk factors. Diabetes can cause serious health problems if left untreated, but many people may not even know they have it because it''s easy to dismiss some of the signs, such as often feeling very thirsty, hungry, fatigued, or irritable; having to urinate frequently; experiencing weight loss for no reason; or having blurry vision. See your doctor if you experience any unusual or unexplained symptoms like these. 
3. Osteoporosis
Bones can become more fragile as women age, partly due to the drop in estrogen that women experience after menopause. It''s not clear why low estrogen levels lead to weaker bones, but estrogen appears to play a role in natural bone rebuilding cycles. About half of all women over age 50 will suffer a fracture related to osteoporosis.
What to watch for : Many women don''t know they have osteoporosis until they experience a bone break, because there are few visible symptoms of osteoporosis in the early stages. As the disease progresses, some women may experience back pain, or their posture may become stooped. If you are postmenopausal or over age 65, you should have a bone mineral density test. Some women may need to start testing at a younger age if they have risk factors.
 An Ounce of Prevention
You don''t have to just wait and watch for symptoms to do something about your health. Heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis are preventable! It all starts with a healthy lifestyle. You know the drill: Eat right, exercise often, and control your weight. These same habits can alrol those conditions if you already have one.