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Wellness Wisdom Weekly - Your Guide to Living Well After 50
Wellness Wisdom Weekly - Your Guide to Living Well After 50
July 2025 Issue 13
July 2025 Issue 13
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If you want to keep your body strong and healthy in the second half of life, you might need some new routines. Here’s what you’re up against and why you should treat your most vulnerable body parts with TLC.
Welcome to Issue 13 of Wellness Wisdom!
7 Body Parts You Shouldn’t Ignore After 50
7 Body Parts You Shouldn’t Ignore After 50
Introduction
Your Eyes
Your Teeth and Gums
Your Feet
Your Pelvic Floor
Your Hips and Knees
Your Ears
Your Core
Introduction
Introduction
Hitting 50 is a milestone worth celebrating—but it’s also a good time to start paying closer attention to how your body is holding up. While most of us are pretty good about watching our weight or checking our cholesterol, there are several key body parts that tend to get overlooked until there’s a problem.
Ignoring them now can lead to bigger issues down the road—from joint pain and hearing loss to balance problems and unexpected bathroom emergencies (yes, we’re going there). Staying proactive can mean the difference between thriving and just getting by.
This newsletter shines a spotlight on seven crucial areas—your eyes, teeth and gums, feet, pelvic floor, hips and knees, ears, and core. These parts do a lot of heavy lifting (literally and figuratively), and giving them the attention they deserve can help you move better, feel stronger, and age with confidence.
Whether you’re hoping to stay active, avoid injury, or simply keep up with the grandkids, these are the seven places you can’t afford to ignore after 50.
Your Eyes
Your Eyes
Even if you have perfect vision, an eye exam every one to three years should be part of your routine starting at age 55.
Eye doctors monitor your eyes to diagnose and manage common age-related conditions such as macular degeneration — when the eye begins to blur and lose central vision — and glaucoma, which damages the optic nerve, threatening peripheral vision. A lot of the things can be picked up during an exam that you wouldn’t otherwise know you had.
Besides not smoking, which increases the risk of eye diseases, research shows you can slow the progress of macular degeneration with a specific multivitamin supplement. Medication and surgery can hold the line on glaucoma.
Your doctor should also keep an eye out for vision-clouding cataracts. When the time comes, surgery to replace your tired, yellowed lenses can correct for issues like nearsightedness and astigmatism.
And if you’re experiencing the gritty sensation of dry eye — which gets more common with age — look for relief with omega-3-rich foods or supplements, eyelid hygiene or artificial tears. People don’t have to suffer with poor vision or uncomfortable eyes. There are things that can be done.
Your Teeth and Gums
Your Teeth and Gums
These days, thanks to widespread water fluoridation and basic oral hygiene, people expect to keep all or at least most of their teeth for a lifetime — into their 80s and 90s. But to get that kind of mileage out of them, you may need to do more than you’re used to.
As people get older, gum recession and bone loss is more prevalent and that can expose some root surface. But these surfaces aren’t covered with enamel, the hard outer coating that protects the top of the tooth, so they become more susceptible to decay.
After 50, you may also make less saliva, which dissolves the acids made from breaking down food, making them less damaging to teeth. Or you may be prescribed one of the hundreds of medications known to cause dry mouth, which also puts teeth at risk.
Somebody that wasn’t having an issue with decay may suddenly need a prescription fluoride rinse or fluoride gel to use on a daily basis to make their teeth and the root surfaces stronger.
To keep your teeth and gums healthy for the long haul, it is recommended to double down on your oral hygiene (no skipping flossing tonight!). If you’re on a drug that causes dry mouth, ask your doctor if you can take a smaller dose or a different drug.
And avoid chewing ice, as tooth enamel can chip, or using your teeth for things like removing a price tag. Teeth are not tools.
Your Feet
Your Feet
You probably don’t think much about your feet until they hurt — and pain is a strong likelihood. Many people over 50 have significant foot issues.
Long-term forces are often to blame. Calluses on the soles develop from foot abnormalities that make it difficult to walk. Similarly bony lumps called bunions form due to long-term pressure on the big toe joint. Such problems not only make your feet smart but can lead to knee, hip and back problems.
Forty to 60 are the prime ages for plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the tissue band (fascia) that connects the heel bone to the toes. It typically comes from over stressing the fascia due to the force of activity and hard surfaces.
Feet are designed for grass, dirt and sand. Everything that we walk on is hard, and it’s the hard stuff that causes problems.
What to do: Wear supportive shoes — even around the house. If you’re not supporting and protecting the foot, then you’re going to get arch problems, heel pain and Achilles tendinitis.
Sidestep other foot ills by having your feet measured, he adds. Many people don’t realize that feet can get bigger with age and suffer from shoes that are too tight.
Your Pelvic Floor
Your Pelvic Floor
You might think of the pelvic floor— the muscles that stretch from the pubic bone back to the tailbone at the bottom of the pelvis — as a female concern. But it’s just as important to men.
The pelvic floor muscles hold up your bowel, your bladder and your uterus, if you’re a woman, and your prostate, if you’re a man.
Women can experience pelvic floor disorders, often as a result of childbirth, though they may emerge long after the kids have grown. Weakened pelvic muscles can lead to urinary or fecal incontinence, pain and prolapse, when organs drop down and even protrude outside the vaginal canal. Men can also experience incontinence, particularly after prostate cancer treatment.
Strengthening your body’s core is also vital.
Abdominal muscles, hip muscles and spinal muscles connect to and support the pelvic floor, and vice versa, allowing it to work at its best.
Your Hip and Knees
Your Hip and Knees
These familiar joints are among your body’s most vulnerable. Knees and hips are weight-bearing joints. They’re subjected to a lot more stress than, say, your shoulder or elbow. And having a knee or a hip that’s causing you pain diminishes every aspect of your life.
Unfortunately hip and knee pain are common after 50 and often lead to surgery. It’s a result of everybody living a longer and more active life. Active people who play a lot of sports are prone to knee injuries and those injuries can result in premature arthritis.
Other factors like obesity can also play a role. Carrying extra weight seems to predispose our joints to wearing out, not just because there’s more stress on the joint, but having a lot of fatty tissue on your body predisposes you to inflammation, and that inflammation seems to attack hip and knees. Arthritis of these joints also runs in families.
Shedding excess pounds and exercising are good ways to minimize joint pain. If your joint is already giving you trouble, keep moving. But you may need to alter what you’ve been doing. If you’ve been a runner for 20 years and now your knee is bothering you when you run, don’t run so much. Find something else or change your routines — do it every other day, go shorter distances, do it in intervals. But listen to the joint.
Arthroscopic surgery to trim or reconstruct damaged cartilage and remove fragments of bone or cartilage may offer relief from knee pain or alleviate symptoms of problems that damage the cartilage and the soft tissues around the hip joint. It gives people many more years of active life.
Many people will eventually need joint replacement in their later years. Fortunately surgery is increasingly common — and safe — and often can be done at surgical centers, allowing you to go home the same day.
Your Ears
Your Ears
Just 2 percent of Americans ages 45 to 54 have serious hearing loss. But that changes over time, rising to half of people 75 and older.
People start to be bothered by hearing loss in their 50s and 60s. People first tend to notice it in challenging situations like a crowded restaurant or a ball game, where the brain is try to pick out the signal from the background noise.
Hearing changes may be imperceptible year to year, and it takes the average person seven years to seek help, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. But addressing hearing loss early on may lead to less precipitous declines and lower risks for depression and dementia, both of which can be linked to poor hearing.
The younger you are, the more capable you are of adjusting to a hearing aid. You preserve your hearing better and the [hearing] decreases more slowly. It is recommended that people get a baseline hearing test in their 50s, which allows doctors to evaluate changes over time.
Another reason to care for your ears: They play a crucial role in preserving your balance and preventing falls, which become more common and risky as you age.
Your Core
Your Core
Your abdominal core doesn’t get nearly enough credit for all it does to keep you healthy and upright. The muscles that make up the core encase your internal organs, extending from the diaphragm down to the pelvis.
The core muscles are super important. They are responsible for the fundamental activities of daily life, such as when you go from sitting to standing and lying down to sitting. Those muscles are required to stabilize your whole body.
And if your core is not intact, other muscles have to compensate. As a result, a lot of people with core dysfunction have chronic back pain, chronic constipation, and urinary issues. That's all because the muscles are not working in unison as they should.
Among the most common consequences of weak ab muscles are hernias, when the muscle wall weakens or tears and internal tissues push through the weak spot. This can cause a tender lump and may lead to abdominal pain, requiring a surgical repair.
To avoid this fate, practice keeping the core muscles steady while carrying out everyday movements. Think of sucking everything in and pulling your belly button toward your spine to fully engage the muscles.
Instead of doing crunches or sit-ups to tone the abs, do planks. This activates the transverse abdominus muscle, the deepest of the core muscles, which connects all of them. Crunches just engage a few muscle groups.
Finally, don’t neglect things that are abnormal. A lot of people put off seeing to a doctor but you can get help to get your abdominal muscles back.
As we move through our 50s and beyond, we begin to realize that aging gracefully isn’t about chasing youth—it’s about honoring the body that’s carried us this far. The small aches, changes in mobility, or occasional forgetfulness are not signs of failure; they’re reminders to pay attention. Instead of ignoring the signals, we can choose to tune in, listen closely, and respond with care. Our bodies have remarkable wisdom, and when we partner with them instead of working against them, we’re rewarded with resilience, comfort, and freedom.
This stage of life offers a unique opportunity—not just to maintain our health, but to redefine what vitality means to us. It’s not about perfect abs or marathon medals; it’s about waking up without pain, having the energy to enjoy the day, and being able to say yes to what brings us joy. By tending to the parts of our body that quietly do so much behind the scenes, we give ourselves the chance to thrive—not just survive—in this next chapter.
Too often, we wait for a crisis to force change. But there’s power in prevention, and dignity in self-respect. Caring for your eyes, your feet, your pelvic floor, or your hearing isn’t indulgent—it’s strategic. It’s a declaration that you still have dreams, people to love, adventures to try, and stories to live out. When we respect and maintain the body we live in, it becomes a loyal companion—not a burden to manage.
So let this newsletter be more than just information—it’s your invitation to take the reins. Choose one area this week and give it a little extra attention. Book that check-up. Stretch more. Strengthen your core. Listen to your body and act with kindness toward it. You’re not falling apart—you’re still becoming. And every small, consistent act of care you take is a statement: I’m not done yet. In fact, I’m just getting started.
Don't forget to visit West Egg Living on Facebook!!!
Don't forget to visit West Egg Living on Facebook!!!
Bonus Material
Bonus Material
In our “9 Steps to Better Health” series, we’ve covered a range of steps that contribute to a healthier lifestyle. As we reach the final step, Step 9, we focus on staying consistent and persistent. This step encompasses the mindset and approach needed to ensure long-term success in your health journey. It’s about committing to long-term health and being kind to yourself, even when setbacks occur.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how to cultivate consistency and persistence while embracing the ups and downs that come with improving health and fitness.
If you’re new to West Egg Wellness 50+, be sure to click on the Getting Started icon. There, you’ll find free downloadable materials designed to help you take those first steps toward better health and nutrition. From simple meal planning guides to beginner-friendly fitness tips, these resources are created with you in mind. It’s a great way to jumpstart your wellness journey—don’t miss it!
If you have any questions, thoughts, or comments you'd like to share, I'm always happy to hear from you - just send a message to info@westeggliving.com
I'm here to help!
Thank you for joining us for this edition of Wellness Wisdom! We hope you found inspiration, encouragement, and a few practical takeaways to support your wellness journey. Remember, lasting health isn’t about perfection — it’s about small, consistent steps.
We’re honored to walk alongside you as you create a stronger, more vibrant life after 50. Stay tuned for next week’s issue packed with more tips, insights, and motivation. Until then, be kind to yourself and keep moving forward — you’ve got this!
The content provided by West Egg Wellness 50 Plus is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any new health, fitness, or nutrition program. Individual results may vary. West Egg Wellness 50 Plus makes no guarantees regarding specific outcomes.
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I love the video on this one.
I will try dinking water every hourr like I am trying to go 250 steps each hour.. Encouraging idea.
This is great information. I love the new layout. I cannot wait for the next edition!!!
Thanks Riaan.
Great article!