Age and Illness

You’re young at heart, but that doesn’t mean you’re immune to illness. Many diseases we associate with older age can develop during our 40s and 50s.

Arthritis

Risk factors: Age is one of the most significant risk factors, as joints wear and tear over time. If you’ve ever had a joint injury, you may experience arthritis pain sooner in life. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults has arthritis.

Treatment: Exercise is the best long-term strategy. Regular exercise increases joint flexibility and strengthens the muscles that support the joint. Balance your activity every day with periods of rest. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers can help exercise feel more comfortable. Stick with water exercises and resistance bands, which are easier on joints.

Prevention: Change your exercise routine to include more joint-friendly activities like swimming or biking. Focus your workouts on the muscles around joints that have a history of pain or injury. A study published in the Arthritis & Rheumatism journal found that strengthening the quadriceps above the knees was the most effective exercise to reduce pain in patients with knee arthritis.

Diverticulitis

Risk factors: Most common after age 40, diverticula are small, inflamed pouches that form in your stomach lining. Generally, this occurs in the lower large intestine. Risk factors include age, obesity, smoking, a low-fiber diet and a sedentary lifestyle. However, steroids, opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen) can cause diverticulitis.

Treatment: Stomach pain is the primary symptom, especially on the left side. Most cases are treated with antibiotics and a liquid diet. The Mayo Clinic states up to 25% of people can develop complications, which sometimes require surgery.

Prevention: The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories you take in. On average, that’s 38 grams for men and 25 grams for women. Women can hit their target by eating a banana (3.1 grams) at breakfast, an apple (4.4 grams) at lunch, a handful of almonds (4.3 grams) in the afternoon, and half a cup of black beans (14 grams) at dinner.

Shingles

Risk factors: Shingles can develop at any age, but people age 50 and older are at greater risk. Anyone who has had chickenpox virus can develop shingles. An estimated 1 million Americans are diagnosed with shingles annually.

Treatment: If you develop shingles, your primary care provider may prescribe an antiviral medicine to shorten the duration and intensity of the illness. Symptoms include a tingling or itching sensation on the back or chest followed by a painful, blistering rash. Medication should be taken as soon as possible after these symptoms appear.

Prevention: Vaccination is the only proven method for preventing shingles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for adults beginning at age 60, but it is approved for use as young as 50. Ask your primary care doctor about the benefits of getting vaccinated.

Stroke

Risk factors: If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, you’re at risk for stroke. These conditions begin with lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, low physical activity and smoking. The CDC reports a stroke happens in the U.S. every 40 seconds.

Treatment: Stroke is a life-threatening condition that requires emergency treatment. If you experience a sudden drooping in the face, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, difficulty understanding others, loss of coordination or severe headache, call 911 immediately.

Prevention: Commit to a lifestyle change. For example, quit smoking, replace red meat with baked fish once a week or bike to a nearby park on your lunch breaks.

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