No matter your age, it is extremely important to take care of yourself and stay on top of your health. The earlier you discover that something is wrong or abnormal regarding your personal health, the sooner you can take the appropriate steps toward healing. This becomes even truer as you enter the middle-age stage of your life. Aging means that your immune system is not what it once was and that you are more susceptible to certain health issues. Regularly going to the doctor and being screened are some of the best preventative steps that you can take for your health as you continue to age. These are just a few of the things you should keep an eye on.  

High Blood Pressure

Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in the United States, with high blood pressure being one of many facets. Known as the silent killer, there are not always signs that you have high blood pressure. Unless you are monitoring it at annual doctor’s visits or taking it yourself, there’s a large chance you won’t even know you have high blood pressure. Those most at risk are people with a family history of it, although there are plenty other contributing risk factors. You cannot cure high blood pressure but you can manage it. This includes being more active, lowering levels of stress, or even taking a high blood pressure medication prescribed by your doctor.  

Early-onset Alzheimer’s

Even though Alzheimer’s is a disease often associated with more senior people, there is a form of it that develops during middle age. Early-onset Alzheimer’s can come in two forms. The first is the normal Alzheimer’s disease that shows up on younger people, although it is still unclear as to why that happens. The other is what is referred to as familial Alzheimer’s disease, which is linked to other genes and often occurs in people who had a parent or grandparent affected by Alzheimer’s.

Hair Loss

Hair loss is extremely common, especially in men who can begin losing their hair by their early 20s. In fact, 85 percent of men will experience some form of male pattern baldness by the time they are 50 years old. While hair loss is not a life threatening condition, it can cause many to lose confidence and can severely affect self-esteem even leading to some form of depression. There are a variety of treatment options for men, from a topical solution to a prescription medication. Taking care of yourself, both inside and out, helps you to be the best version of yourself and feel great too.

Diabetes

Leaving diabetes undiagnosed can lead to serious health problems. These can include nerve damage in the feet, skin conditions, kidney disease and stroke, among other complications. Being diagnosed early and beginning treatment is the key to managing diabetes and preventing any additional complications. There are a few treatment areas that when combined lead to the best management plan. Making lifestyle changes in terms of the food you eat and the amount of daily exercise you do, and adding in the right medication can make all the difference.

Obesity

Obesity is something you hear a lot about but may not know exactly what it means. Whether you are considered obese or overweight depends on your Body Mass Index (BMI). If your BMI is in the range of 25 to 29.9 you would be considered overweight, anything over 30 is considered obese. With obesity comes serious health problems, especially where the heart is considered. Extra weight can put more stress on your cardiovascular system and make you more prone to conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack or even stroke. There are several lifestyle changes that you can make to lead a healthy lifestyle and combat obesity, including what you eat and how much you sleep.

Maintaining your health by routinely being checked by doctors and getting the proper treatment for any potential conditions is the best way to ensure you are living the best life you can. This is especially important during the middle age period of your life when your health and immune system start to not be what it once was and you become susceptible to more conditions. Follow any recommendations and tips provided by medical professionals on what signs you should be looking for and what conditions you may be prone to given your age and prior health.