Gender differences in growing older

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Men and women may age differently but healthy aging for both genders boils down to getting preventive health screenings, eating nutritious foods and staying active most days of the week.

Linda Lee, a registered oncology nurse and community outreach educator for WellStar Health System Cancer Network, frequently speaks with seniors about wellness and the gender differences in growing older.

“Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you give up on staying healthy,” Lee said. “It’s how we’ve used and abused our bodies while we were young that can lead to problems later in life.”

However, it’s never too late to make changes and even little ones can have a positive outcome on healthy aging.

A senior herself, Lee has been speaking for 30 years on the importance of cancer screenings and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. When speaking to senior groups she often addresses men and women in separate sessions.

For men, important screenings include those for prostate and colorectal cancers, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Men should also conduct regular testicular self-examination.

Lee speaks to older men quite extensively about prostate cancer because the odds of getting it grow greater with age. Warning signs include frequent urination, especially at night; blood in urine or problems urinating; stiffness or nagging pain in back, hips, upper thighs or pelvis.

Senior women should continue to get yearly mammograms, even past age 70, as well as conducting monthly self-exams, Lee said. Regular screening for cervical cancer, such as pap smears, also should continue under normal health circumstances.

Like men, women should have prostate and colorectal cancer screenings, and screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm, especially if they have ever been a smoker.

Both genders should have preventive screening for oral and skin cancers. This would include dental check-ups every six months, and monthly oral self-exams checking for red spots, white spots and sores that don’t heal.

Monthly skin checks for unusual changes and total body exams by a dermatologist are recommended for both genders.

Diabetes screening should occur every three years for both sexes, or more frequently if there are risk factors such as obesity and family history. And both genders should have regular cholesterol and blood pressure checks.

Signs of mental illnesses should not be ignored, either.

“Older people, especially those who live alone, are more likely to be depressed,” Lee said.

Family members should be aware of unexplained weight loss, change of moods, excessive sleeping or staying up all night, and poor hygiene.

“If they’ve always dressed nicely in the past but now they don’t take care of themselves, it could be a sign that something’s wrong,” Lee said.

Seniors also need a diet rich in plant sources and whole grains. Eat less red meat and more fish and chicken, but watch out for chicken thighs, which have about as much fat as a hamburger, Lee advised.

Be careful with portions; avoid meat portions larger than your fist. Be sure and eat breakfast because it revs up your metabolism for the day, then spread small meals and snacks out so that calories are distributed throughout the day.

Set a goal of being physically active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Do something you like and have fun, Lee said.