There may be something special about reaching the age of 50 and it has nothing to do with getting senior discounts. A new study says that while people in their late 40s have a low interest in hearing about health issues, people in their early 50s and beyond are very interested in information about staying healthy.
Ohio State University researchers surveyed nearly 500 Americans aged 45 to 65 and found what they described as "change points" during a lifespan. At these change points, people are more receptive to information about how to improve their health.
This is encouraging news because age 50 is indeed an important milestone for preventive health measures. It's the age at which most people should get their first colonoscopy, for example, and also when women should be receiving annual mammograms.
The researchers also asked participants in the study to rate their most important health concerns. The top rated health issues were: eyes, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, nutrition and weight management, arthritis and high blood pressure.
So while I have your attention, here's a good source of information for men and women about what preventative measures you should be taking to stay healthy at 50 and beyond.
