7 Common Health Problems That Can Strike After 50

Some chronic conditions tend to start cropping up in midlife. Here’s what to do about them

Rachel Nania,

AARP

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En español

Published May 18, 2021

/ Updated June 16, 2023

A bone scan display of a knee with arthritis in the foreground, while a woman in medical exam is explaining pain to health care provider in background.

BSIP / UIG / Getty Images

There’s a lot to celebrate when you hit the big five-oh. Discounts start to kick in, investments begin to mature and — how does the saying go? — with age comes wisdom. But for all the money saved and knowledge earned, there’s a small price to pay: It’s time to really tune in to your health.

“What we see is that some chronic health conditions are frequently diagnosed starting at age 50,” says Renuka Tipirneni, M.D., an internist and assistant professor in the Division of General Medicine at the University of Michigan.

The good news is that many of the conditions that creep up in midlife can be managed. And if they’re caught early and treated promptly, you can “prevent complications that are more serious,” Tipirneni explains.

Here's what you need to look out for after you turn 50.

1. High blood pressure

A common condition health care providers see among patients in their 50s is high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

One reason high blood pressure is so prevalent in this age group is that the vascular system changes as we age. Arteries become less elastic, and the pressure inside them builds. The extra weight and stress that often accompany middle age can also contribute to creeping numbers.

The good news: High blood pressure is manageable with medication and lifestyle modifications, including diet and exercise. Because the condition often lacks symptoms, it’s easy to miss. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 adults with high blood pressure don’t know they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That’s why Tipirneni recommends getting your blood pressure checked “more regularly” — at least every year — once you hit 50.

If you have a blood pressure cuff (they cost about $30), you can check it yourself. And pharmacies and health fairs often offer blood pressure checks for free, Tipirneni points out. Of course, your health care provider can take it for you.

Warning Signs of Heart Disease

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are three leading risk factors for heart disease, which is the number one cause of death in the U.S.

Do you know the warning signs?

“Most people worry about chest pain,” says Renuka Tipirneni, M.D., an internist and assistant professor in the Division of General Medicine at the University of Michigan. Pain in the chest is an indication that something could be wrong, but there are other symptoms, including:

Unexplained back pain that happens when you exercise
Pain in the neck, jaw or throat
Pain in the upper abdomen
Shortness of breath
Nausea, vomiting or fatigue
Dizziness
Heart palpitations

If you experience any of these symptoms and are at risk for heart disease, it’s important to get “evaluated emergently,” Tipirneni says.

Source: Renuka Tipirneni, M.D./CDC

What you want to see is a reading at or below 120/80, which is considered normal by the American Heart Association. Anything over 130 on that top number (the systolic reading) is considered high and warrants a conversation with your doctor about possible treatments.

2. High cholesterol

Another contributor to heart disease is high cholesterol, which can build up on the inside of the blood vessels over time and form plaque that slows or blocks blood flow. This plaque can also break loose and cause a blood clot — even a heart attack or stroke.

As with high blood pressure, your risk for developing high cholesterol increases with age. It also comes with no symptoms or warning signs, which is why it’s important to check your numbers regularly throughout midlife with a routine blood test that can be done at the doctor’s office. Diet and exercise can help lower cholesterol, as can medication.

3. Diabetes

While you’re getting your blood checked for cholesterol, your health care provider may also screen you for diabetes — another common condition that creeps up in your 50s and can wreak havoc on your health. More than 37 million Americans have diabetes — the vast majority have type 2 diabetes — and those in middle age are most at risk, according to the CDC. An additional 96 million Americans have prediabetes, or higher than normal blood sugar.

Diabetes can often be managed with lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet and physical activity. “Sometimes we need to add some medications as well” to help control blood sugar (glucose) levels, says Kate Lorig, professor emeritus at the Stanford University School of Medicine and a partner at the Self-Management Resource Center.

As with high blood pressure and cholesterol, the warning signs of diabetes are often silent, which is why it’s important to get screened. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to a host of health conditions, including kidney disease, vision loss and heart disease.

4. Arthritis

One condition that pops up in your 50s but is regularly overlooked or dismissed is arthritis — especially osteoarthritis, which Tipirneni refers to as “the wear-and-tear-type of arthritis” that occurs when the joint cartilage between bones is damaged or breaks down.

“It can be very aggravating even younger than age 50, but especially over age 50, we see pain associated with that is coming up more and more,” she says.

If you notice joint pain or stiffness from daily activity, talk to your health care provider. You’ll want to make sure it’s not rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease.

Treatment for osteoarthritis runs the gamut. Increasing physical activity can help prevent further pain or disability, Tipirneni says. Your health care provider may also recommend over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers to alleviate discomfort.

5. Osteoporosis

Women in particular need to pay attention to their bone health once they hit 50 — that’s when osteoporosis, or the weakening of the bones, becomes most common. In fact, almost 20 percent of women 50 and older have osteoporosis, the CDC says.

That’s because one of the risk factors for osteoporosis is being postmenopausal, explains Lucy McBride, M.D., a Washington, D.C.-based internist. “When you stop making estrogen, your bone density typically goes down,” she says. The average age for menopause among women in the U.S. is 51, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Weight-bearing exercises — walking and upper-body strength training, for example — can help reduce your risk for developing osteoporosis. So can paying attention to your calcium intake and vitamin D levels, both of which are important to bone health.

6. Cancer

Because advancing age is the biggest risk factor for cancer, keeping up with routine screenings becomes important in your 50s.

Women in this age group should get a regular mammogram to screen for breast cancer — the American Cancer Society recommends an annual mammogram; the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force calls for one every two years — and men should talk to their health care providers about prostate cancer screenings. Colon cancer screenings also become more regular for both men and women.

7. Anxiety/depression

Whether it’s teenagers, work or aging parents (or all of the above) that keep you busy in midlife, chances are you’re stressed. And all that stress can take a toll on your mental health, which in turn affects your physical health.

“Because at the end of the day, your blood pressure, your weight, your cholesterol, your cancer risk — all those biometric [measurements] are rooted in your behaviors. And those behaviors are rooted in your emotional health,” McBride says.

About 20 percent of people age 55 or older experience some type of mental health concern, according to the CDC, and anxiety and depression are among the most common.

McBride’s advice? “You really need to make sure you’re bringing your whole self to the doctor” and talking to your health care provider about your stress levels and your relationship with food and alcohol, she says.

“Your brain is just like any other organ. We have heart health, we have breast health, we have skin health, we have kidney health. We also have mental health. It needs to be addressed,” McBride adds.

Mind your immune system

Another thing to bring up with your health care provider once you turn 50 is immunizations.

“Vaccines become much more important, because at this age group, our immune systems start to wane a little bit, and so you’re more at risk for infections,” Tipirneni says.

In addition to the annual flu shot, your provider may suggest a shot that prevents pneumonia. There’s also a vaccine recommended for adults 50 and older to prevent shingles and the complications from the disease, and soon there could be one for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Don’t forget about your COVID-19 boosters. Staying up-to-date on coronavirus vaccines greatly reduces your risk of complications from an infection.

What’s Good for the Heart Is Good for the Brain

Keeping your numbers in check — we’re talking blood pressure, blood sugar and body weight — is good for the heart, and it’s also important for the brain. Studies have found that high blood pressure in midlife can increase your risk of developing dementia later in life. Diabetes has also been linked to an increased risk of dementia, and both increase a person’s risk of stroke, sometimes called a “brain attack.”

A few other habits that can help protect your brain health as you age: