Age milestone is also a health crossroad

Life is hectic. When balancing responsibilities like a career, a spouse and children, it can be easy to push one’s own health to the backburner.

For women over 50, specific exams and checkups are necessary to prevent and/ or treat diseases, such as heart disease and breast cancer, to name a few.

Turning 50 is considered a milestone and for many women, a crossroads.

"The kids are going to college, parents are aging. There may be marriage problems, job challenges. It's definitely a stressful time," said Dr. Jennifer Zreloff of Emory University School of Medicine in an interview with WebMD. "You also find that you can't abuse your body as much as when you were younger. Your body just isn't as resilient as it used to be. It's a time when women need to seriously take stock of their lifestyle habits, and make some changes."

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer for women, causing one in three deaths a year. Women should receive a blood pressure screening annually, as high blood pressure can result in heart disease and stroke. Women can reduce their risk of developing heart disease by not smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and eating healthy meals. Aerobic exercise specifically, such as walking, helps to prevent heart disease.

Though there are many types of cancer, women over 50 are most at risk for developing colorectal cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer. Colorectal cancer screenings begin at age 50. Baylor Health Care System recommends a colonoscopy and fecal occult blood test at age 50. If your colonoscopy doesn’t show abnormalities and if there isn’t family history of colon cancer, patients should get a colonoscopy every 10 years. If abnormalities arise, or if you have a family history of colon cancer, tests will be more frequent based on the patient.

Annual breast cancer screenings, including mammograms, should at least be annual for women 50 and above. Women who have a greater risk of developing breast cancer, such as those with a strong family history of the disease, may need to have screenings more often.

“Women ages 50-59 who got mammograms on a regular basis had a 14 percent lower risk of dying from breast cancer than their peers who did not get mammograms,” according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force meta-analysis. If you have a strong family history of breast, ovarian or peritoneal cancer, talk with your doctor about BRCA genetic testing. The BRCA test may help those with genetic history of these cancers better plan treatment, if needed.

A pap smear can help detect cervical cancer at its earliest stage. Women should have a pap smear as long as they are sexually active every one to three years. If a woman has a normal pap smear for three years, she is considered a low risk for cervical cancer. If you are considered low risk, you may only need a pap smear every other year or every three years.

“Like many cancers, treatment for cervical cancer is usually successful if found early,” according to Baylor Health Care System.

Though it seems less medically savvy than checkups and screenings, women over 50 should also get plenty of sleep. Seven to nine hours of sleep is the recommended amount for most adults.

“We don't seem to adapt to getting less sleep than we need. While we may get used to a sleep-depriving schedule, our judgment, reaction time and other functions are still impaired,” according to WebMD. Not enough sleep can lead to memory problems, depression, a weakened immune system and an increased perception of pain.

Occasional snoring is not a big deal, but if you have persistent snoring, something else could be at work. Persistent snoring, along with dry mouth, daytime grogginess, restlessness during sleep and morning headaches are signs of obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when something partly or completely blocks the upper airways while you’re asleep. Breathing temporarily stops and usually resumes with a loud gasp, snort or body jerk. If you snore often and feel groggy throughout the day, consider talking with your doctor about a sleep test.

Since age 50 is considered a crossroads for many women, don’t forget to think about your mental health as much as your physical health. Getting plenty of sleep and exercise, as previously mentioned, help those diagnosed with depression or prevent depression for some. Talk to your doctor if you experience depression symptoms, which are common for women over 50. Symptoms include persistent sadness or pessimism, feelings of worthlessness, loss of hope, difficulty concentrating, anxiety and insomnia. Women Over 50 Health-care Round-up:

• Schedule an annual physical exam.

• Get plenty of sleep.

• Participate in aerobic exercise.

• Eat healthy.

Keep checks on mental health. If you feel signs of depression, talk to your doctor.