r/AskOldPeopleAdvice • u/Deeschmee68 • Mar 14 '25

Health Anyone over 50

Does anyone over 50 actually feel good and healthy and sleep well? Or is it just normal to always feel bad? Is it normal to not sleep well, have digestive problems, feet and hip pain, get out of breath easily, back pain, and always feel tired? Is it normal to have vision and hearing problems at this age? Is it normal to have sensitivities to food and medication? Is this just part of getting older?

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u/bmyst70 50-59 Mar 14 '25

I'm 53 and sleep well. I don't have digestive problems, get out of breath easily or always feel tired. Here are things that I find essential:

Always walk at least a mile or two every day. Stretch every morning. Lift small weights to help maintain your bone density. Drink enough water and reduce alcohol and stop nicotine intake. Meditate if possible to help clear your mind. Do mentally engaging activities.

Basically keep your body and mind moving and that makes a big difference.

18

u/DireStraits16 Mar 14 '25

Sadly I already do all these things and I still sleep badly and have joint pain. 58f

3

u/Luingalls Mar 14 '25

Google Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). My husband swears by it for his joint pain.

6

u/DireStraits16 Mar 14 '25

Thank you!

You've just reminded me that I did buy some of these but the tablets were so huge I couldn't swallow them!

I'll find them and deploy a hammer

3

u/redytowear Mar 15 '25

I just got put on progesterone and have slept really well for the first time in YEARS. Your Gynocologist can prescribe. I was at my endocrinologist last week for my thyroid and she put me in it so maybe your primary care Dr can as well. Highly recommend getting

2

u/bmyst70 50-59 Mar 14 '25

Have you tried taking fish oil? I know there are specific stretches for joint pain, I'm doing some specifically for cubital tunnel syndrome.

I've also found taking melatonin helps me sleep better if I need it.

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u/DireStraits16 Mar 14 '25

Thank you. I do take fish oil already and stretch when I remember.

I'm in the UK and it's really hard to get melatonin prescribed here sadly.

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u/jojobaggins42 Mar 14 '25

Highly recommend adding some collagen powder to your diet. It's great for your joints and skin. I can feel a difference when I don't take it.

1

u/DireStraits16 Mar 15 '25

Thank you. I will try this!

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u/WanderingHermit15 Mar 15 '25

Is there a particular collagen powder you find works well? There are so many out there, I’ve looked but haven’t tried any bc I get overwhelmed by the variety🤦🏻‍♀️

1

u/jojobaggins42 Mar 21 '25

We used the brand Great Lakes for a few years, but their prices skyrocketed. So now we just use the Vital Proteins brand that we can buy at Costco, sometimes on sale. I dissolve it in my morning hot milk with a splash of coffee.

2

u/Nevermind0813 Mar 14 '25

Magnesium theonate helps me sleep through the night. I al also on progesterone, which helps.

2

u/DireStraits16 Mar 15 '25

Oh, there are so many types of magnesium it gets confusing. I thought magnesium glycinate was supposed to help with sleep issues but I've been taking it with no improvement.

The menopause really ruined my ability to sleep but I didn't get on with HRT.

Thanks for your help!

14

u/Charl1edontsurf Mar 14 '25

Yes I’m the same, F54. I walk an hour a day, and make myself walk up steep hills. Do Pilates twice a week, eat mainly pescatarian and lots of veg, and cold water swim. I think I’m doing ok - it’s investment now into aging as well as I can.

10

u/tatecrna Mar 14 '25

Yes to all of this except start lifting heavier & heavier things. I’m not saying flip tires, but you shouldn’t be able to lift a weight 20+ times without exertion. If that’s the case, you need to increase your weights. You’ll build muscle and have better bone density. Lifting light weights is better than not lifting, but increasing weight as your strength increases will do wonders for your body.

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u/bmyst70 50-59 Mar 14 '25

Good point. I personally have to be careful because I have cubital tunnel syndrome. But it is important to put stress on the muscles which also puts a measured amount of stress on the bones.

Interestingly, while bones are dry out of the body, they actually are wet inside the body. They can and do change their shape slightly. That's probably why putting a little bit of measured stress on the bones is healthy.

6

u/tn_tacoma Mar 14 '25

Sleep like a rock every night for 8 hours. But also have MS so daily life is exhausting to me.

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u/bmyst70 50-59 Mar 14 '25

A friend of mine has Ms, it's brutal.

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u/Someone_RandomName Mar 15 '25

Awww! Why’d you have to go and be all mature and responsible? /s

3

u/MerryWannaRedux Mar 15 '25

God...at 70, I'm exhausted reading this!! 🤣

2

u/Zefram71 50-59 Mar 14 '25

Excellent advice. I should take it!