Doctors share 10 important ways to stay on top of your health—and even improve it!—at 50 and beyond

NEED TO KNOW

• Doctors recommend prioritizing preventive care, including annual wellness visits and screenings tailored to your age and risk factors
• Key screenings include mammograms, colonoscopies, bone density tests, and cholesterol checks to detect potential health issues early
• Vaccines for shingles and pneumonia are important after 50 to protect against serious infections and complications

If you’ve reached the half-century mark—or are well beyond it—you’re in good company: More than 124 million Americans are 50 or older. It’s a milestone worth celebrating. It can also be the moment when health moves higher up on your priority list.

“At midlife, we maybe start seeing our aging parents and friends with unexpected health issues so we start to think of our own longevity and our own personal health,” says Dr. Susan E. Loeb-Zeitlin, an OB-GYN at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and director of the Women’s Midlife Center at Weill Cornell Medicine. “At the same time, for women, our bodies are changing, and we’re noticing changes physically, maybe mentally, cognitively, and even with mood.” In other words, the aging process starts to hit home and get real.

Wherever you are on the 50-and-older timeline, it’s never too late to shift the focus from treating what ails you to thinking preventatively about your health. That means first building a health-care team you trust and feel comfortable talking openly about your concerns. Integral to the team: a gynecologist (if you’re a woman) and a primary care doctor, such as an internist or family medicine physician, who can take a big-picture view of your health. “Think of the primary care doctor as the quarterback for managing your existing health conditions and preventing new ones in the future,” says Dr. Asia Gobourne, a primary care physician at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine.

While you may be visiting the doctor throughout the year when something is wrong, it’s really during the annual wellness visit where prevention takes center stage. It’s an opportunity to complete all the appropriate bloodwork, and just as importantly, it’s when the doctor really takes time with you. “We’re going to check your vitals to see if there’s anything we need to do about any abnormalities,” explains Dr. Gobourne. “And we’re going to ask you all those questions about your own personal and family history to determine what kind of testing and screenings you may need and how frequently.”

That family history can be especially telling. Take bone health: While routine bone-density screening is generally recommended starting at 65, a family history of osteoporosis may mean you should be tested sooner. The good news is that we can modify some of our genetic predispositions with lifestyle, says Dr. Loeb Zeitlin. “I recommend a Mediterranean or plant focused diet, regular exercise including strength training, and adequate sleep—they all really affect our long-term health,” says Dr. Loeb-Zeitlin.

And while no checklist can predict exactly what your future health will look like, the right screenings can give you something valuable: a clearer picture of where you stand today—and a chance to act on it. Keep in mind, though, that preventive care isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your age, family history, personal health history, risk factors, and lifestyle all play a role in determining what you need and when. Your doctor will advise on what’s right for you. With that in mind, think of this as the Cliff Notes: Ahead, the screenings and tests to know about and keep on your calendar after 50.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

There are several key vaccines to have on your radar midlife, and this is one of them, says Dr. Gobourne. “It protects against streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a type of bacterial organism that’s responsible for pneumonia and sinusitis and at worst meningitis,” says Dr. Gobourne. As she explains, think of the vaccine as a cheat code for your immune system. “Instead of having to figure out how to fight something when you get the infection, we give you a little portion of maybe the wall of the bacteria and now your body knows how to recognize it and mount a response.”

Shingles Vaccine

Shingles is a painful, blistering rash caused when the chickenpox virus, which remains dormant in the body after you’ve had chickenpox, reemerges. “Sometimes it can reactivate, and we have noticed that it happens so much more in people once they are over 50,” says Dr. Gobourne. The vaccine is a two-dose series, with the shots administered two to six months apart.

Colonoscopy

In recent years, the recommended age to begin colorectal cancer screening was determined to be 45, so by 50, you may already have had your first colonoscopy. If you haven’t, it’s worth talking to your doctor about scheduling one. “The rates of colorectal cancer in our country are rising, especially in younger people,” says Dr. Gobourne. “And more and more, we are seeing much more aggressive forms of it.” If your colonoscopy is normal, the test is typically repeated every 10 years. But that interval can be shorter if polyps are found or if you have certain risk factors, including inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of colorectal cancer.

Mammogram

The recommended age to start getting screened for breast cancer is 40, so by 50, you should already be in the habit of getting annual mammograms. How often you need one can depend on the guidelines your doctor follows and your individual risk factors. There’s no set age at which women should stop getting mammograms, but after 75, the decision is generally based on overall health and personal preferences.

Bone Density Screening

Bone loss can happen silently, without symptoms, gradually increasing your risk of fractures as you age. A bone density test, typically a DEXA scan, can catch low bone density early on. Women should generally start screening at 65, although your doctor may recommend earlier if you have risk factors like a previous fracture, low body weight, or a family history of osteoporosis. Men don’t have a standard age for bone-density screening, but your doctor may recommend a DEXA scan if you have a medical history that puts you at higher risk.

Cholesterol Check

A cholesterol test is likely already part of your routine bloodwork, but it becomes increasingly important as you age, says Dr. Gobourne. “There are really high rates of heart disease in this country—it’s the number one killer,” says Dr. Gobourne. “And so, because of that, we actually did some studies and saw that we should probably be starting people on medications to lower their cholesterol at a younger age and a lower risk level than we thought initially.”

Hearing Test

A hearing test is one of those things you don’t need unless you are having issues. But it shouldn’t be overlooked—hearing is an important part of staying engaged and maintaining healthy cognition. “We do know that, with some cognitive impairments, being able to see and just being able to hear will change how you interact with the world,” says Dr. Gobourne. If you’re noticing that you’re asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the volume or having trouble following conversations, an audiologist can perform a simple hearing test and determine whether any further evaluation or treatment is needed.

Eye Exam

If you haven’t been seeing an ophthalmologist regularly, it’s important to add one to your care roster later in life. “I find that a lot of people feel, ‘Well, I don’t have any visual problems, so I don’t need to see an eye doctor,’ ” says Dr. Gobourne. “But you should be getting screened for things like glaucoma, which can lead to blindness if not treated.” A comprehensive eye exam can also detect cataracts early, even before they noticeably affect your vision.

Mental Health Evaluation

“We see mood changes, especially during the menopause transition and a lot of people struggle with mental health,” says Dr. Loeb-Zeitlin. “I think that it can’t be ignored and should be addressed and evaluated in midlife and throughout the aging process.” If you’re noticing changes in your mood, don’t dismiss them as simply part of getting older. Start by talking with your primary care provider or gynecologist, who can evaluate your concerns and, if needed, connect you with a mental health professional.

Cognitive Health

There’s no routine test to see if you’ll experience neurological or cognitive decline in the future. But if you’re having trouble remembering things or have family members with dementia, it’s worth bringing your concerns to your doctor. During an appointment, Dr. Gobourne says, your doctor may ask a series of questions and have you complete simple exercises to assess your memory and thinking skills and determine whether there are signs of mild cognitive impairment that warrant further investigation.

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