"When you hit 40, your hormones start a 10-15 year decline. These declining hormones make it hard to sleep, hard to lose weight, give you brain fog, make you irritable, anxious, low libido, lack of motivation to workout and can make you feel like you are living in someone else's body and mind," explains Mindy Pelz, MD.
Hectic schedules, inconsistent health-care patterns, and unhealthy habits can cause these common health problems from age 40. There is an adage that says, “life begins at forty”. However, this is also often the time that the body starts to wear out, signalling the onset of lifestyle diseases.
The most common health problems experienced during middle age are arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, coronary heart disease, diabetes, genitourinary disorders, hypertension (high blood pressure), mental disorders, and strokes (cerebrovascular accidents).
Yes, it is possible to start a new career at 40 — or 50, or 60, for that matter. It might take some extra effort, but it's never too late to set new personal goals and professional goals and live a life that feels meaningful.
As we age, our cartilage wears down which means joints don't slide as well as they used to. Joints also become more stiff and lose range of motion due to ligaments and tendons becoming more rigid and brittle. This is all due to loss of hydration within the joints and eventually leads to osteoarthritis.
In addition to irregular or more frequent periods, loss of estrogen might lead to symptoms like hot flashes, changes in bladder control, sleeping issues, vaginal dryness or irritation and decreased interest in or discomfort during sex.
Aches, pains and strains – Patients in their 40s feel new aches and pains, especially after strenuous activity. They don't recover as quickly from a minor injury or workout. In most cases, these experiences are normal. The body is starting to slow down and it takes longer to recover.
It's never too late to change
For the most part, many complications and health risk experienced from poor food choices, physical inactivity and too much stress can be quickly and effectively improved by changes in lifestyle habits.
Researchers with Duke University's School of Medicine suggest that physical decline begins in the decade of the 50s and worsens as we age, especially for those who don't exercise.
Middle age, commencing at about 40 years, is followed by old age at about 60 years.
"Turning 40 is a time of reflection to take stock of who you are at this time in your life, which include the values, friendships, jobs, relationships, and thoughts you hold dear," says clinical psychologist Tricia Wolanin Psy.
By the age of 80, cerebral blood flow is approximately 20% less than at age 30, which means that the heart has less capacity for physical exertion and may feel fatigued more easily. As a result, we feel a gradual decline in our energy and endurance levels.
Skin Aging
As you grow older, the tissues and muscles by your eye area weaken, so they sag a bit, making you look a bit sleepy. As you mature, our skin's elasticity weakens. Fats and fluids in the eye area can accumulate in your lower eyelids, making them look plumper, and in turn, a lot puffier.
Usually, our energy declines because of normal changes. Both genes and environment lead to alterations in cells that cause aging muscles to lose mass and strength and to become less flexible. As a result, strenuous activities become more tiring.
Some older adults wonder if they need milk anymore. Experts note that cow's milk — which is rich in protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals — can be a beneficial part of an older adult's diet, but some non-dairy milk products are also healthy options.
Eating foods which are rich, healthy sources of protein, healthy fats, and antioxidants could help reduce the signs of ageing. Such foods include broccoli, avocado, blueberries, sweet potato and pomegranate. Inflammation can play a significant part in accelerating biological ageing.