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After the age of 50, most women go through menopause. At this time, our body experiences a serious load and the probability of many dangerous diseases increases significantly. We tell you what you need to pay attention to at this time.
The probability of these diseases increases significantly after the age of 50, but if preventive measures are taken in time, the risk can be reduced. The main thing is to know your weak points and pay more attention to them.
Osteoporosis
With each passing year after menopause, our bones and joints become more fragile. Estrogen, a hormone whose level drops sharply after menopause, plays an important role in maintaining bone density - and therefore in the first five years after menopause, women lose 20-30 percent of their bone mass. It is important to remember the increased risk, regularly take calcium, perform strength exercises, and also reduce the use of alcohol, sodium and sweet drinks, which "wash" calcium from the bones.
Diseases of the gums
Another consequence of the loss of a significant dose of estrogen is periodontal disease and tooth loss. The fact is that calcium is washed out not only from the bones of the skeleton, but also from the hard base of the jaws, in which the roots of the teeth are "fixed". As a result, the risk of tooth loss and periodontal disease increases significantly in women after menopause. In addition, many women who have gone through menopause often complain of dry mouth, pain and burning in the soft tissues of the gums, as well as a change in the perception of taste. Therefore, it is very important to pay increased attention to oral hygiene, as well as to visit the dentist regularly.
Apnea
Oddly enough, in 90% of cases of sleep apnea (a condition when there is a pause in breathing during sleep and as a result not enough oxygen enters the blood) women are not diagnosed - we are used to it being a male disease. But after the onset of menopause, many women are prone to this disease - it's just that they often lack the usual symptoms, such as snoring or increased daytime sleepiness. But insomnia, morning headache, fatigue, depression and increased anxiety should be a reason to consult a doctor.
Diabetes
You are at risk if your menopause came early (before age 46) or late (after age 55). But even if you went through menopause at a "normal" age, you should still pay special attention to your health, as a lack of estrogen increases insulin resistance. Also, factors that increase the risk include high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia), diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes), or polycystic ovary syndrome.
Heart diseases
Estrogens, produced by the ovaries before menopause, provide powerful protection for our heart. Increase the level of "good" HDL cholesterol and reduce the level of LDL cholesterol; dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow and prevent an increase in blood pressure and the formation of cholesterol plaques. It is not surprising that after the onset of menopause, the risk of developing heart disease in women increases significantly: one in eight women between the ages of 46 and 65 suffers from any type of cardiovascular disease, and in the age group over 65 this proportion increases to one in four. Therefore, it is important to know the early signs of a heart attack, heart attack and stroke, and also to pay great attention to the prevention of heart and vascular diseases.
Breast cancer
The older we get, the higher our chances of getting breast cancer: for a 30-year-old woman, the risk of getting the disease in the next ten years is 1:227, but by the age of 60, the risk is already 1:28 - almost 10 times more! Medicine does not have a proven way to completely eliminate the risk of developing the disease, but one factor that affects it in our power is excess weight. The less weight you gain after menopause, the better you will take care of your health.
Diseases of the genitourinary system
A decrease in estrogen levels can cause the walls of the urethra to thin - and lead to the development of urinary incontinence (involuntary leakage of urine when you laugh or sneeze). Also, after menopause, women are particularly prone to recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Liver diseases
After menopause, it becomes especially difficult for our liver to recover from the harmful effects of alcohol, infections, or excess fat. Therefore, it is important after the age of 55 to pay special attention to your diet and reduce alcohol consumption if possible.
