Women 45+ The main factor of aging. How to prevent age-related changes?

“You love yourself too much!”, “You feel really sorry for yourself,” “You only think about yourself!” and even the simple and short “Selfish” - these words are too familiar to most of us, women, whose childhood and youth occurred in the last quarter of the last century. A value system in which the collective is everything, and the individual is nothing, has raised horse women who will pull the cart to the last and take care of everyone, from their own children to the stray kitten at the entrance. About everyone - except yourself. We say: enough is enough! We say: this is a real crime! We say stop and learn to take care of yourself.

Put a mask on yourself

We have been taught to think that self-care is selfishness, and self-love is a bubble bath or a piece of cake at night. Ok, you can still buy a new skirt - but only after gifts have been bought for all other family members and there is some free money left... That is, most likely never.

We make sure our children, parents, husbands and pets are fed, healthy, and get enough rest and sleep. We figure out how to interest them in sports (an active lifestyle is useful), support if something doesn’t work out, take on their anger, aggression or sadness... And who does the same for us?

Mothers and wives usually make appointments for their loved ones to see the doctor, make sure that all medical examinations are completed on time and do not allow their legs to hurt - but when have we ever been to the doctor ourselves?

The airplane rule: “Put the oxygen mask on yourself first and only then help others” must be extended throughout life. To support and care, and to fully enjoy life, we need self-care and self-love. Are we getting enough sleep? Are we eating adequately? Are we getting enough physical activity? Do we see a doctor on time? The answers to these simple questions will help us understand whether we are giving ourselves at least the minimum care necessary to maintain health and well-being. We have compiled a small list of what every woman over 40 should do for herself and her health, and we ask you: please do not miss a single point. Take good care of your closest and most beloved person - yourself.

No amateur performances

Naturally, such therapy can only be selected with an experienced gynecologist. First, he will prescribe examinations to exclude contraindications and select the type and form of therapy.

Therefore, after 40 years, and even more so if you have already discovered the first signs that your body is preparing for the last menstruation, go to the gynecologist. How to understand this? One of the symptoms may appear, which is better not to ignore: menstruation comes less than once every 40 days or has not come for several months, the menstrual cycle is less than 25 days, and the number of days of menstruation has sharply decreased, urinary incontinence, hot flashes, brittle nails, loss hair, excess hair growth or baldness.

It is important to consult a specialist on time, not after the cessation of menstruation, but before, in order to prevent the start of a drop in hormone levels.

Get enough sleep

Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night is a necessary minimum, and depriving yourself of it is simply criminal. Lack of sleep, even for several days, has a negative impact on health: the level of the stress hormone cortisol increases, cell tolerance to glucose increases, inflammatory processes in the body become more active, and the risk of cancer and heart disease increases. In addition, it is very important how sound your sleep is: our body truly reboots and recovers only in the phase of slow, deep sleep. To prolong it as much as possible, it is important to sleep in a dark, cool room, stop using gadgets two hours before bedtime (blue light blocks the production of the “sleepy” hormone melatonin), and try not to drink coffee after 15:00.

Urogynecological changes in women aged 40+

In women over 40, estrogen production gradually decreases, causing the pelvic floor muscles to begin to weaken. That is why urinary incontinence becomes the most uncomfortable age-related symptom for women. Regular discharge and leakage caused by weakening of the muscles of the bladder and urethra force the constant use of pads. The pathology also significantly limits social activity - a woman loses the opportunity to stay among people for a long time, she has to constantly remember her problem, which is almost impossible to control. Hence the anxiety and depressive states that are characteristic of many patients in this age category.

In addition, as a consequence of age-related changes in the fifth decade of life, the following may appear:

prolapse or prolapse of the pelvic internal organs;
cystitis - acute or chronic, other inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system;
decreased tone of the vaginal walls, dryness, widening of the vaginal opening;
thinning of the mucosa and decrease in vaginal volume;
increase in skin folds and fat deposits on the external genitalia;
loss of the labia minora and majora of their original shape;
hyperpigmentation of the skin of the external genitalia.

A woman’s sexual function, unlike childbearing, remains intact after the age of 40 and even much later. Therefore, such changes can cause her discomfort: dryness and reduction of the vagina - physiological; the unaesthetic appearance of the external genitalia is psychological. But the situation can and must be fought.

Eat healthy and varied

We are what we eat, and every year our health depends more and more on our nutrition. After 40 years, we need more protein (as we lose muscle mass more actively), dairy products (calcium and vitamin D are important for losing bone strength), and unsaturated fats. You should also try to eat fresh vegetables and fruits every day (ideally, at least half of your plate should be vegetables), fish, whole grains and other slow carbohydrates. But you should avoid processed meats, fast carbohydrates, foods with added sugar and salt, sugary drinks and alcohol: every year they become more and more harmful to our health.

Take care of yourself

Don't forget to take care of yourself after 40 years. A woman should always look good, respect herself and have self-esteem. To prolong the youth of the skin and prevent wrinkles, various creams and masks should be used. You can also use herbal decoctions and infusions. It is necessary to carefully monitor your hair, protect it from the sun and do not wash it with hard water. For hair loss, regularly use oils and special masks.

Hands and nails should always be kept clean and, if necessary, moisturized. It is better to wear clothes made from natural fabrics so that the skin can breathe. Do not neglect decorative cosmetics to emphasize your unique feminine image and hide imperfections.

Don't forget to drink

Water is life, no matter how trite it sounds. Fatigue, swelling, digestive problems, insomnia, excess weight - all these and many other problems can arise precisely because of insufficient hydration of the body. Doctors say: at the moment when we feel severe thirst, the body is already about 30% dehydrated. The best solution is to keep a bottle of clean water handy and simply sip on it a little every hour. But if you are prone to swelling, try not to drink two hours before bed.

Women's health after 40 years

Comprehensive examination by a gynecologist

Comprehensive examination by a gynecologist.

Women's health is the key to family happiness, youth and beauty for many years. Regular preventive visits to a gynecologist and timely treatment from qualified specialists help maintain health and prevent the development of serious gynecological diseases.

In order to identify the disease at an early stage and prevent its further development, it is recommended to undergo a preventive examination by a gynecologist 2 times a year. Often gynecological diseases occur in the early stages without pronounced symptoms, and the woman feels absolutely healthy. At the first symptoms of trouble in the female genital area, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist as soon as possible. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose gynecological diseases and select appropriate treatment.

Move

The older we get, the more important physical activity becomes. The required minimum is 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week and at least two strength training sessions. After 40 years, the process of losing muscle tissue begins and regular strength exercises are simply necessary to maintain the muscle corset - in the future it will be the one that will support the weakening spine and relieve stress from the joints. It is important to find a type of physical activity that you enjoy and devote as much time to it as possible.

Vision deteriorates

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People after 40 years of age often develop farsightedness: they see poorly up close, they need more light when reading, many colors begin to look unusual, and dry eyes appear. Acquired farsightedness is explained by the fact that the lens of the eye becomes denser and loses elasticity over time, and the muscles that hold it weaken.

Nothing can be changed

After 40 years, changes begin to occur in the female body. The speed at which they occur depends entirely on the following factors:

genetic predisposition;
daily routine;
nutrition;
presence of bad habits (smoking, alcohol);
reasonable organization of one’s time, etc.

For many people, the transition to a healthy lifestyle is difficult. However, you need to overcome yourself and start. You need to overcome your own fears and laziness.

Many women are supporters of a healthy lifestyle in an attempt to regain their former youth and beauty. After all, 40 years is the age when the body begins to fade and require more attention and care. The majority of women become disillusioned and stop taking care not only of their body health, but also of their appearance. Some people convince themselves that they are no longer young and that life is over, while others shift the blame to their children, who demand to spend all their free time with them. This is absolutely wrong thinking. It is worth paying attention not only to the physical, but also to the mental state.

Sacrificing training for the sake of family, work or laziness

This point is very clear. Workouts will help you become healthy, fit and beautiful. They will improve your mood and well-being. You don't have to sacrifice your enjoyment of sports if your family is against it. Family members should support each other and want only the best.

The same can be said about work, which in most cases is harmful to both mental and physical well-being. Especially if you are a workaholic. Don't forget to take care of your well-being. You can always find a job, but you only have one health. When playing sports, forget about laziness. Thanks to training, you will get rid of procrastination and become a more productive person.

All of these mistakes are common among women and greatly interfere with living a healthy and happy life, especially after 40 years. Therefore, follow the rules and listen to your coach.