For women over 50, its a time to take stock of lifestyle habits: Dr Anil

Dubai / Emirates Business

Women spend a lifetime looking after their families and often ignore their own wellbeing. It is important for women to take of themselves.
As metabolism slows, your changing body requires fewer calories and is prone to belly fat. Switch out for lower-fat options, leaner sources of protein, like chicken, fish, beans, or quinoa. Get antioxidants by increasing intake of fruits and vegetables and support healthy cholesterol and digestion with plenty of fiber.
You should fortify and protect your bones to prevent osteoporosis. If you cannot reach daily calcium quota of the recommended 1,200 mg from food,
consider supplements.
Anytime you go in for any health care visit, your blood pressure will be taken, and you should get a cholesterol work-up every 1 to 3 years.
You should be having routine pelvic exams and Pap tests every 2 to 3 years. Pap tests screen for cervical cancer.
Breast cancer is a very common cancer among women. You should become familiar with the look and feel of your breasts so you know what’s normal for you. If you fall into a high-risk category for breast cancer, your doctor may suggest you have a mammogram every year or so.

Otherwise, mammograms should be done every 2 or 3 years when you are in your 50s.
In addition to minimizing your risk with healthy sun habits, your doctor should do a thorough skin check annually to screen for new or changed moles or marks. You can also do a skin check yourself each month.