Dr Steve Hambleton is
the Federal AMA Vice President and a Brisbane-based GP. Here he shares health
insights and advice for those aged 50 and over.
As people move into there
50s and 60s and beyond, health problems will become more numerous and more
varied for many of them.
It is important for
people as they age to more closely monitor their own health and ensure they get
all the important check-ups.
Above all, it is vital
that people have a GP they can see regularly and who can provide them with
holistic health care and advice, as they grow older.
People should not be
afraid to ask questions of their GP, especially in regard to conditions that
are known risks for older people.
Here are simple and
practical tips.
Men
1. Prostate.
Discuss the prostate
issue with your GP. The GP will know your health history and current state of
health and will decide whether you need to be tested.
In general, unless you
have a family history of prostate cancer the conversation should start when you
are about 50. Remember, the jury is still out about the value of the PSA blood
test and the digital rectal examination.
Women
1. Breast screening
Every woman should
attend for screening mammography from the age of 50 every two years. All women
should become familiar with the look and feel of their breasts and any new or
unusual change should be reported to your GP. Only five per cent of women are at
substantially higher risk of breast cancer than the population. If you have a
relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer below the age of 50, then see
your GP to discuss the issue further.
2. Pap smear screening
Pap test screening is
recommended every two years for women who have ever had sex. The over 50s
represents an under-screened group. Eighty five per cent of women in Australia
who develop cervical cancer either have not had a Pap test or are significantly
under-screened. Remember, women who have female sexual partners are also at
risk and need screening.
Everyone
1. Bowel or
colo-rectal cancer.
Bowel cancer is common
in our society. The screening test is the faecal occult blood test. This is a
very simple test that can be done at home and mailed in to the pathology
company. Unless you have a family history of colo-rectal cancer, this can begin
at age 50 years. It should be repeated every two years
2. Diet
Diet is the key to
good health. A mix of different food provides the raw materials that the body
needs to stay healthy. Sufficient fibre exercises your insides as well and
reduces the risk of diverticular disease of the bowel. The biggest problem with
diet is overeating. Remember, ‘energy in’ needs to match the energy ‘going
out’. Also, our metabolism slows down as we age, and we need to eat less, or we
will inevitably gradually put on weight.
3. Exercise
Exercise keeps your
joints lubricated and your muscles strong. Many studies have shown that one
hour of exercise three times per week can significantly reduce your risk of
heart attack, will burn excess energy and improve your health. Many people
enjoy running or jogging, but brisk walking is sufficient for most of us. We
need to lift our heart rate and put some colour in our faces. If you are still
able to hold a conversation after exercise, you will be well within your safe
limits.
4. Weight
Weight goes hand in
hand with diet and exercise and is usually the result of an error in one or the
other. Our society is growing larger and larger each year. BMI is a good
measure to guide us. But for men, if you circumference is greater than 102cm it
is time to act. For women, the magic number is 88cm and the limits are tighter
if you are Asian or of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander extraction.
5. Smoking
Quit. This is the very
first thing that smokers can do to improve their health outlook. Smoking is the
number one cause of quality life years lost in our modern society. Take some
advice - cold turkey is pretty good but there are lots of techniques that can
help. Find a reason to quit, make a plan, put your plan into action and stay on
track. For more information visit www.quit.org.au
6. Alcohol
Alcohol is the next
nasty. For a legal drug, it also robs our society of quality life years. Direct
and indirect effects are enormous. Binge drinking among teenagers robs them of
their full potential. Society has turned against smoking and now its collective
wisdom must turn against alcohol. By limiting consumption to two standard
drinks per man or woman reduces your risk of death or injury from alcohol to
less than 1 in 100. Every drink above this level continues to increase your
lifetime risk of death or injury from alcohol. While many young Australians
drink frequently, the highest proportion of daily drinkers in 2007 were those
over 60 years old.
7. Family history
- cancer
- heart disease
- stroke
- diabetes
Some diseases do run
in families. If you have any of the above, particularly in younger members of
your relatives you should talk to your Doctor about your own risks. You can't
change your genes but you can avoid the factors that we know contribute to your
risk of harm.
8. Blood pressure
Blood pressure check
at your GP can give them a clue that early intervention is required. A simple
thirty second test could prevent your life from being shortened by stroke or
heart attack or renal failure. Home blood pressure monitors are quite accurate
these days and you can check your relatives and friends also.
Most adults should
have a blood pressure check at least every two years.
9. Screening tests
- blood sugar
- cholesterol
- faecal occult blood
testing
- renal function test
Blood tests form a
part of good medical management of your health and a thorough health check will
include some or all of the above. If they are normal they can be repeated at
from two to five year intervals.
9. Skin check
It is very important
that we are aware of changes on our skin. We have one of the highest melanoma
skin cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer rates in the world in Australia. The
risk increases with increased sun exposure. If you have a fair complexion and a
tendency to burn then you are at slightly higher risk.
Older people
1. Hearing
Hearing cuts you off
from society. Wax build up is the most common cause and is the quickest to fix.
Those exposed to loud noises should wear hearing protection. If you are
concerned, an audiogram will tell us if a hearing aid will help you.
2. Osteoporosis
A lack of calcium in
bones can lead to fractures that are unexpected for the degree of trauma. A
broken bone in an older person can set off a viscous cycle, which is hard to
stop. We should make sure that our diet contains sufficient calcium – about three
serves per day or consider taking calcium supplements. For people who never see
the sun, Vitamin D could be the problem.
3. Vision
Glaucoma begins
silently robbing sight from the age of 40 and your optometrist or
ophthalmologist will always check on it. If you have a family history you are
at special risk. Cataracts are now readily dealt with. Macular degeneration
cannot be fixed but it can be arrested in some cases. The secret is early
diagnosis. Your GP can show you a simple test. If your vision changes, you need
to find out why and make sure it is not serious.
4. Falls risk
If we are getting
frail and our bones are thinning and our hearing is not so good, a fall can
start you on a downward spiral. It is important to fix that rolling up carpet
and put more rails on steps and in bathrooms and toilets. An ounce of
prevention is not only better than the cure - it might also save your life.
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