I am a healthy female in my early twenties with very few concerns about my health. I exercise as often as I can, eat a healthy diet and I'm a nonsmoker so I follow the basic guidelines for living a health life. Although I do not have and physical issues with my health, I worry and stress a lot. Between school and work and planning a wedding I have a lot going on. It is hard to get everything done and have time to relax. I sometimes feel like I'm walking on a tightrope and my life is nothing but a balancing act. I have no doubt that many young women in similar situations feel the same way. My biggest health concern is definitely stress. Over time stress can cause aches and pains, affect sleep, increase or decrease appetite and take a huge toll on one's mental and emotional well-being. At this point in my life I am most concerned with managing stress.
I chose to interview my mother (age 48) and my grandmother (age 74) to learn about the different health concerns of middle aged women and senior women.
My mother said her biggest health issue is dealing with menopause. She has had a difficult time making "the change", as she calls it. The physical challenges of menopause have been difficult but "the depression is the worst." she said. My mom has had a real struggle with depression over the past year or two. I can remember her calling me up crying a year ago saying she didn't understand what the point of being alive was anymore. It's strange to see someone you love going through such a challenge and knowing that there is really not a whole lot you can do for them. She was prescribed a hormone patch about six months ago. "The patch helps a little bit, I don't feel as crazy anymore and I don't cry in the car when I hear sad songs." my mom said. I hope that in the next few months my mom's hormones will stabilize and she will return to her usual self.
My grandmother is 74 and lives in a 55 and older community in Sarasota, Florida. She is extremely healthy for her age and does water aerobics and yoga with her friends in her community. When I called her up this morning and asked her what concerns she has about her health the first thing she said to me was "I want to lose 25 pounds and get my cholesterol down." I was shocked. I expected her to say something like having a stroke or osteoporosis, you know "old people problems." I think a lot of people assume that once people get to a certain age they stop caring as much about their weight or their looks. I asked her why she wanted to lose 25 pounds and she said "so I'll look like a babe on the beach. Also I'm gonna be 100 before I die." Well, okay..... she never fails to make me laugh. I'm glad that my grandma has such a positive outlook on life and is trying to improve her health at 74. At this rate I think she may live to be 100.
The women of my family have very different health concerns and I have no doubt that our concerns will change as we continue to grow older. For now I'll take a little advice from my grandma and sign up for a yoga class.
Yes the health concerns of women will change as society and technology change. I too was a little surprized by what your Grandmother had to say. I expected the same as you "old people" problems. My father has lived in the same type of community and there are many different types of activities and great gatherings. Maybe this is something that your mother needs some close connections with other people aside form you. That is what helped my mom when going through the same thing. I can only hope that science has the "change: figured out better when it is my time and do not have to suffere as our Mothers have.
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