Things I’m Doing For My Health in My 60s
What’s actually working, and what I’m still figuring out
The older I get, the more I realize how precious and precarious my health really is. Some days, I feel like I could scale a mountain. The next, I feel like I’m being held together with willpower and duct tape. I know how lucky I am not to have anything major going on, and I don’t take that for granted.
About ten years ago, I cracked my femur and tore the labrum on my left hip after a fall. Every so often, I’ll turn too quickly and feel like my leg didn’t get the memo. It’s not bad enough to require a hip replacement, but it does mean I have to be a little more mindful. Here are a few of the things I am doing to take care of my health in my 60s.
Prenuvo Whole Body Scan at 60+
I had a Prenuvo Whole Body MRI a year and a half ago and plan to repeat it this summer. My goal? Catch anything sneaky like ovarian or pancreatic cancer before it has a chance to settle in. Those often show up too late to treat effectively.
The scan did catch several benign things I didn’t know about and some not-so-great disc changes in my spine. It’s been eye-opening. I now avoid certain movements in Pilates or yoga because I know where I’m vulnerable. That peace of mind has been worth the cost.
Wearing an Oura Ring Over 60
My good friend Tania was wearing an Oura ring when we roomed together in Florida a few years ago, and I was fascinated, so I ordered one. It tracks my sleep, exercise, and heart rate and, much to my dismay, reminds me exactly how sedentary I can be some days.
It tracks the different heart rate zones of my exercise so I can try to get my heart into the training zone more often, and it also tracks my stress level. It also tells how unhealthy it is for my heart when I have a glass of wine with dinner.
Glucose Monitoring With Stelo (and Why I Needed It)
Here’s a little backstory: I had gestational diabetes with both pregnancies. My babies were huge, and so was I. In fact, I went from 135 to 205 pounds when I delivered my first baby.
They warned me then that my risk of developing diabetes later in life was higher. and well, here we are. My A1C is climbing despite my best efforts.
I switched to artificial sweeteners, lost a few pounds, moved more, and still…it crept up. When I saw that my Oura ring was now able to monitor my blood glucose levels with the Stelo Glucose Sensor, I ordered one to try. There’s a Stelo App you can download to keep track of your glucose levels if you don’t have an Oura ring.
It’s shocking to see what raises my blood sugar and surprise…I’m very sensitive to carbs (which turn into glucose in your bloodstream) and sugar.
Photodynamic Therapy for Precancerous Skin Spots
I had melanoma about 20 years ago, so I don’t mess around when it comes to sunscreen. Still, years of sun damage show up, no matter how diligent I am now. (I was a baby oil and iodine girl. And yes, I used the Beatles White Album cover wrapped in foil to attempt to tan. Brilliant, I know.)
These days, I have a growing collection of precancerous lesions, mostly on my face. I’ve had some frozen off, but that left bright white spots that I didn’t love.
I was prescribed the Fluorouracil cream to treat them a few years ago, but a quick Google search showed some pretty scary-looking effects people deal with. My skin is stupidly sensitive and scars very easily, so the cream makes me nervous, so my dermatologist recommended Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) instead.
I’m scheduled for treatment soon. From what I’ve read, I may look pretty beat up for a few days, but it’s worth it if it helps prevent more serious issues.
“Photodynamic therapy uses a combination of light and a medication called a photosensitizer to treat precancerous and cancerous skin lesions. It targets abnormal cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.”
Here’s hoping it’s effective and somewhat kind to my skin. You may also enjoy: Best Mineral Sunscreens for Mature Skin
Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss in Women Over 60
Here’s some good news. After years of hair shedding from telogen effluvium and female pattern hair loss, I saw a trichologist who recommended low-dose oral minoxidil. It’s been a game-changer.
My hair is still thin, but it no longer falls out in fistfuls. I did have to lower my blood pressure medication to balance it out since minoxidil lowers BP too. I’m hoping one day it might replace that medication entirely, but we’re not there yet.
Still… a huge win.
You may also enjoy reading: Causes & Treatment for Thinning Hair in Women Over 50
The Truth? It Takes a Village
To look at me, you might think I’m in good shape. And for the most part, I am. I feel very fortunate to have the health I do have, but behind the scenes, it takes effort, research, appointments, and a whole lot of listening to my body. It’s a full-time job staying healthy as we age, and there’s no shame in needing a little help from modern medicine (and a few gadgets).
It’s easy to scroll social media and assume everyone else your age is aging effortlessly, running marathons, eating kale, and never forgetting their vitamins. But the truth is, staying healthy in your 60s is layered. There’s the stuff you can control and the stuff you just manage the best you can.
Sharing this isn’t about complaining, it’s about taking ownership. About making informed choices and saying, “I’m doing what I can with what I’ve got.”
What are you doing for your health in your 60s—or what’s one thing you wish you were doing? I’d love to hear.
Appreciate your insights and sharing. Intermittent fasting is actually a very effective way of managing pre-diabetes and insulin resistance. I’m 54 and have been an intermittent faster for 5+ years and have never felt better. Highly recommend Delay Don’t Deny (2nd edition) by Gin Stevens.
I have been doing intermittent fasting for about 9 months and it’s helped me keep my weight down. I’ll check out the book, thanks
This post is so helpful! I am seeing hair thinning, and it’s good to know some options. I worry about hips and bone loss – my mom has had osteoporosis and/or serious bone-thinning (just short of osteoporosis) in her senior years.
I know I need to do better about flexibility and I should reduce my sugar intake, but it’s hard to break the habits of years. Oh, what I took for granted when I was younger – like sleeping comfortably through the night and not waking up with aches and pains!
I’m 57 and always enjoy reading your posts. I feel like I’m in a circle with my older sisters, sharing information & I do so appreciate it as I did not get to see my parents live past 69.
I discovered club Pilates earlier this month & do it 3-4 a week. I’m trying to focus on strength, flexibility, stability and aerobics as I age. I haven’t found what aerobics I want to do to keep me interested. I live in a 2nd floor apt & work FT so timing is key. I still have my period & so there’s a week each month where I don’t exercise much due to it being so heavy & sometimes flooding. One tip I can share is please get your hearing checked yearly especially if you wearing hearing aids or cochlear implants as I do.
Great tip! Hearing loss is so common.
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for so openly sharing your life, health journey, thoughts, and reflections on all of your blog posts—I’ve truly enjoyed and appreciated it all. Your insights have encouraged me to be more mindful about my wardrobe, and I’ve made more thoughtful choices in my recent purchases because of your influence. I’ve also discovered and enjoyed several of the books you’ve recommended—they’ve been great reads.
Wishing you continued healing, good health, and many beautiful days ahead.
Thank you again for the inspiration!
Susan
Thanks so much Susan. I’m so glad you’re part of this community!
Interesting, thanks. I went to an aging lecture over the weekend — a lot of good reminders and info. We eat very healthfully but need to go full steam ahead on the Mediterranean diet. People think sweets are the worst for diabetes, but simple carbs (starches) are the worst. I pretty much avoid all pasta and rice — also fruits and oatmeal are not necessarily your friends. The former has lots of sugars (stick to berries) and portion size is incredibly important for oatmeal. Grain bowls are out. Look at charts for glycemic index and glycemic load: they are really helpful! Good luck
I’ll have to look into the Mediterranean diet. I’ve heard of it but not studied much about it. I’m learning that if I have a salad first, and then a small amount of starch, it keeps my glucose levels from spiking so sharply.
I used to be very active and I love to walk, garden, etc., so I always said never to the gym kind of exercise. Until heart issues and I was having trouble getting myself up off the ground. So…. I don’t like going to the gym, but I love seeing my friends, we keep it casual but try to go about the same time and days when possible. The trainers are great, they help me to know how to do things, and we’ve made friends there. We can say hello, chat, share a laugh, usually someone calls me by name to give some friendly encouragement. Always makes my day! It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for my health.
That’s wonderful!
What is your feeling on acrylic and gel nails and health effects? I started after menopause when my nails became weak and ridged. I have never had an infection in the 25 years I have done them. I do wear tanning gloves to protect during the UV curing.
I love the way they look but can not keep them from lifting so I have basically given up on them. I just try to keep my tiny and short.
Excellent article Jennifer and appreciate your honesty in sharing health issues. I’m 71 and like you, do have some issues but mostly grateful for the good health I do have.
My question is about that beautiful JJill blue gauze dress you’re wearing. I was just about to buy it, but one of the comments mentioned that it’s pretty thin/see-through in the light blue color. Have you noticed this or feel the need to wear a slip underneath the dress?
Thank you,
Brenda
I’m wearing a slip. I always do because unless lined, I find most skirts and dresses see through.
Thank you for the educational, personal & candid post with links to your supplements et al. Appreciate you’ve done the hard work of research & experimentation. Maybe misery loves company, but strength in the camaraderie of your blog. Have you considered a Podcast? BTW, you look awesome in the jjill breezy blue cotton dress with belt & sandals. Flattering(comfy) silhouette, put together & def YOUR color!
I do love this color! I’ve never considered doing a podcast but I know they’re very popular.
I get PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections in my knees for my arthritis. It takes about a month to take effect, but worth it.
Wow, that sounds amazing.
Thank you for sharing. While each of us will have different health issues/journeys, I appreciate hearing what others are doing..or not doing!…to better inform my own decisions. I feel very lucky that I don’t need blood pressure meds or statins and my a1c isn’t rising. At 73, I feel like those are big wins for me.
Those are big wins. I’m working on mine.
Thank you for sharing your health challenges with us. I turned 80 in December and wonder where all the years have gone. I’m now officially disabled with chronic pain and fatigue caused by a genetic disorder I was born with. It has been chasing me my whole life but I didn’t get official diagnosis until my 60s. I’m fortunate that I had a very active career in nursing for 30 years until I couldn’t push myself to continue. I had a bad fall skiing which pretty much ended my joy of dancing down the mountains. Our little dog Trixy keeps me motivated to walk a mile every day with her and holding my husband’s hand. We do what we can. My joy comes from living here in the Colorado mountains and still lucky enough to have my 83 year old healthy husband in my life.
The mountains are so beautiful Sydney. I’m impressed you walk a mile each day. That’s wonderful.
I’ll be 80 this year and am in good health yet managing kidney disease with a plant based diet guided by my renal dietitian. The 60s is the time to keep an eye on those renal blood tes results and advocate for yourself. Thanks for your blog!