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When you have crossed 50, some ailments can announce themselves painfully and suddently. And ouches and aches which were not much to worry about when you were younger could be a sign of bigger problems in middle age.
Heart Attack
This is a big one since 735,000 people have heart attack every year. A 50 year old man has a one in two chance of getting heart disease at some point. The most common signs of heart attack are shortness of breath, chest pain, and pain in the shoulders, neck or back, feel dizzy, sweaty or like you are going to throw up.
Stroke
It occurs when the blood doesn’t get to the parts of the brain like it should and those brain cells begin to die. If you experience sudden weakness or numbness in your arms, face or legs, have trouble speaking, lose your bearings or get confused, then get help right away.
Aneurysm
Most of the lifestyle changes you make to lower the risk of stroke and heart disease can make you less likely to have aneurysm as well. Often, an aneurysm happens when the wall of an artery gets weak or it start to bulge outward. If that wall gives away, then it could lead to serious internal bleeding or a stroke. The symptoms of aneurysm are nausea, pain, clammy skin, dizziness and a rapid heartbeat.
Gallstones
The gallstones are hardened chunks of bile, a fluid that helps the body to get rid of waste. They might get stuck on the way out of the gallbladder, a small organ below the liver. The gallstones can range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball and cause severe pain in the upper belly or behind the belly button. Your chances are higher if you have diabetes or Crohn’s disease, diabetes or don’t exercise.
Acute Pancreatitis
It is inflammation of the pancreas that makes enzymes and hormones such as insulin which help with digestion. It is caused by heavy drinking, kind of fat called as triglycerides and high levels of calcium. It causes nausea, stomach pain, fever and vomiting and can be lfe threatening. Seek immediate medical help if you have these symptoms.
Broken Bones
Although it can happen at any age, as you become older the bones will become brittle and hence they are more likely to break. Bone loss is known as osteoporosis which is common among older women.
Vertigo
If you suddenly find yourself dizzy, you might have vertigo. As you get older, the tiny crystals in your inner ear that helps you control your balance aren’t held in place. The doctor can treat it with a series of head movement that move those particles back into place.
Detached Retina
If the retina, a light-sensitive layer in the eye which tells the brain what you see, pulls away from the outer wall of the eye, it won’t get oxygen and others things it needs. You may see flashes or light or floating specks. See a doctor right away since you may permanently lose your eyesight. It is more common in people who are very near-sighted or have had cataract surgery or other eye diseases.
Kidney Stones
These hard clumps are made of calcium which may often pass harmlessly out of your body. However, larger ones are extremely painful and cause infections or bleeding or block the flow of urine. They are more common in men than women.
Pneumonia
People above 50 are at increased risk of kind of pneumonia caused by bacteria called pneumococcal pneumonia which is life-threatening. Older people are more likely to get it since their immune system gets weaker as they age.
Spinal Stenosis
Although spinal stenosis develops slowly, but it can make itself known suddenly. This occurs when the channel in the backbone which holds spinal cord and other nerves narrows due to arthritis. The nerves can be squeezed or pinched and causes numbness, pain or cramps in the lower neck or back.
Gout
This condition shows up with sudden pain and swelling on one of the joints. It is a form of arthritis caused by a build-up of uric acid in the body.
Pulmonary Embolism
When a blood clot gets stuck in the blood vessel in one of the lungs, pulmonary embolism happens. People of 50 and above are at higher risks. Get medical help faster, if you have chest pain dizziness and sudden shortness of breath, leg pains, bloody cough, clammy or bluish skin.
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