Growing up is all about making mistakes -- but what's your excuse when you reach your 40s? As a teenager you may have baked in the sun and attended too many eardrum-shattering concerts. Today, you may be harming your body with foolish dieting and skipping life-saving exams. Stay healthy with our guide to the most common midlife health mistakes and their fixes.
Mistake #1: Skipping medical tests
Mammograms and pap tests are two of the most important tests at this time of your life. "Breasts are under a lot of stimulation during midlife, and the biggest peak of breast cancer occurs then," explains Dr. Jerilynn Prior, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. During perimenopause, the years of change before menopause, estrogen levels increase while progesterone levels decrease, causing breasts to swell, feel sore and/or become lumpy.
"The pap tests are important because by that age you may have accumulated more sexual partners, and there's a relationship between the number of sexual partners and cervical cancer," says Dr. Prior.
What to do: Get both tests done every two years. If the mammogram hurts, schedule it when estrogen levels are low -- during your period.
Mistake #2: Skipping vaccines
Unless you're travelling, the only vaccine you have to worry about is the flu shot. Vaccination is recommended if you're 50 or older. If you're in your 40s, you should still be vaccinated, especially if you're in contact with people at high risk for complications, such as children under two and seniors.
What to do: Schedule vaccination time in your calendar and get your flu shot.
Mistake #3: Taking the wrong medications
The biggest mistake is taking estrogen when you've had periods within a year, says Dr. Prior. Even in the eleventh month without flow, a woman's estrogen levels can be double her norm. By taking supplemental estrogen you risk sore breasts, heavy flow, fluid retention, mood swings, hot flushes and night sweats as the high levels lower, and are at a higher risk for blood clots, gall bladder disease, incontinence and breast cancer. Dr. Prior also warns about our "love affair" with antibiotics.
What to do: "Don't take estrogen either as a 'menopausal treatment' or as birth control pills until you've been a year without a period," says Dr. Prior. And skip the antibiotics when you have a viral illness. "Colds don't need antibiotics."
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