They say, “With age comes wisdom,” but if you’re over 40, it may also come with health risks. Your 40s are a turning point into middle age, an era characterized by unique health challenges that affect your body, mind, and emotions. Awareness of these issues and regular screenings can help you recognize them, treat them, and even prevent them.
These are common risks that can affect you after age 40:
1. Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease, or CVD, refers to a cluster of conditions affecting your blood vessels and heart. It’s more common in older adults and is the leading cause of death in the US.
Age-related CVDs include:
• Atherosclerosis
Commonly called hardening of the arteries, atherosclerosis happens when plaque (cholesterol, fats, and other substances) accumulates in the blood vessels. This buildup narrows the vessels and obstructs blood flow. Atherosclerosis is stealthy and can go undetected until an artery is so constricted or blocked that it can’t transport enough blood to organs and tissues. This can lead to heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, blood clots, and coronary artery disease.
• Hypertension
Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is one of the most common medical conditions impacting older adults. During the aging process, the body’s blood vessel network (vascular system) changes. Arteries harden, increasing the pressure of blood against their walls. As pressure increases, the heart struggles to pump blood.
Blood pressure naturally rises and falls throughout the day. However, prolonged high blood pressure can lead to life-threatening medical issues, including kidney disease, heart attack, aneurysms, and angina (chest pain).
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Approximately 10 million people in the United States age 40 or over have peripheral artery disease. PAD happens when arteries narrow and can’t provide enough blood to the legs. This causes pain, sores on the feet and legs and difficulty walking. If the tissues die from lack of blood, gangrene can set in, leading to amputation.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a common condition among older adults. The illness occurs when the body is unable to use insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar properly. Several things can affect the development of type 2 diabetes after age 40:
• Decreased muscle mass
Muscle mass often decreases during the aging process. This can hamper the body’s ability to process insulin efficiently.
• Insulin resistance
Older adults’ cells may become less receptive to insulin. When this happens, the body needs more insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
• Fat
Adults over 40 may experience “middle-aged spread,” an accumulation of fat around the waist. This excess abdominal fat can cause insulin resistance.
• Lifestyle
As people age, they may become more sedentary and eat unhealthy foods. This can raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
3. Hormonal Decline
The aging process can cause a natural decline in hormones. Important ones, including HGH (human growth hormone), diminish. When HGH levels are low, it can contribute to:
- Quickened aging
- Decreased muscle mass
- Fatigue
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Decreased bone density
- Problems with concentration and memory
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Other hormones that diminish with age include:
- Estrogen and progesterone
Menopause marks a reduction in the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone. Most women undergo this change during their late 40s to early 50s, although some even continue experiencing symptoms in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s. These include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and diminished libido.
- Testosterone
Men’s testosterone levels begin slowly diminishing after age 30. As they age, they encounter erectile dysfunction, reduced sex drive, osteoporosis, increased body fat, and loss of muscle mass and strength.
- Thyroid hormone
Age can also affect thyroid function. Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) typically impacts adults over 40. It can cause weight gain, depression, and fatigue.
- Melatonin
Melatonin, a hormone that regulates your sleep cycles, decreases as you age. A deficiency can lead to insomnia, sleep disorders, disruption of circadian rhythm (internal clock), weakened immune system, and depression.
4. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disorder that causes bones to lose their density and become weak and brittle. The weakened bones are prone to breaks and fractures. Osteoporosis is an issue associated with aging. The condition can silently progress over several years and be undetectable until a bone fractures or breaks. Osteoporosis can be caused by:
- Hormonal changes
- Sedentary lifestyle (particularly lacking weight-bearing exercises)
- Being underweight
- Lack of dietary calcium and vitamin D
- Health conditions and medications
- Smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol
- Genetics
5. Cancer
The risk of cancer typically elevates with advancing age, particularly after age 40. Incidence rates for cancer are 350 per 100,000 people aged 45 to 49 and more than 1,000 per 100,000 for people 60 years and older.
Cancer may be caused by:
- Aging (this is the top risk factor for developing the disease)
- Immune system issues
- Cellular mutations
- Prolonged exposure to carcinogens (UV rays, tobacco smoke, certain chemicals)
- Hormonal changes
- Slower DNA repair
Although there’s no guaranteed prevention or cure for cancer, you can use strategies to reduce the risk of getting the disease. These include:
- A healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising
- Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke
- Limit alcohol
- Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing
- Get adequate sleep
- Manage stress
- Get regular checkups
6. Cognitive decline
It’s normal to lose cognitive abilities related to age. This process begins around age 40 and accelerates after that. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is early-stage memory loss or loss of other cognitive abilities. It can precede dementia. In this stage, people may be aware that their memory has become a bit “fuzzy.” Some people with MCI may never get worse, and others may completely recover.
Symptoms of MCI include:
- Missing appointments or social events
- Forgetting things more often
- Difficulty following a conversation
- Losing your train of thought
- Impairment of short-term memory
- Difficulty finding your way around familiar places
Cognitive decline can be counteracted by:
- Avoiding alcohol and cigarettes
- Eating a nutritious diet
- Socializing
- Getting quality sleep
- Regular aerobic exercise
- Stimulating your mind with puzzles, memory games or learning a new skill
After age 40, you may notice your body and mind going through numerous changes. One of those changes is decreased levels of HGH. However, you don’t have to resign yourself to living with it. When you explore HGH injections near me, you can find professionals who can help. And if you are having any other physical or mental age-related changes, there are abundant providers who can help with those too. Just fill in the handy form, and schedule your consultation today!
