Health checks in your 50s and beyond

As you get older, preventive health through lifestyle changes is really important. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one key piece of the puzzle, it’s also vital to have regular and recommended health checks.

By getting health checks throughout all the key stages of your life, you may be able to detect and treat a condition before it becomes too serious.

And while it’s important to continue to stay on top of the issues that were relevant in your 20s, 30s and 40s, there are now new issues that you may need to pay closer attention to.

Here, we look at key health issues that you should be checking from 50 onwards, from breast checks to hearing assessments.

Undiagnosed medical issues can have a snowball effect on your health. Left unaddressed, they can get worse and harder to treat over time.

The purpose of a health check is to detect these potential issues at an early stage, so they can be managed as best as possible.

Your GP can examine your health and look at your lifestyle and medical history. They may also recommend further checks or screenings based on things like:

• age
• weight
• ethnicity
• pre-existing conditions
• family history.

It’s a good idea to request a health check from a GP you’re comfortable with, and who’s familiar with your medical history.

As well as continuing to check the things that were relevant in your 20s and 30s and your 40s, you may now also need to stay on top of the following checks.

Performed by: Yourself and your GP

Frequency: Regular self-checks and a mammogram every 2 years (or more frequently if advised by your doctor)

Why: One in 7 Australian women develop breast cancer in their lifetime.¹ And 75% of those cases occur in those over 50.²

Detecting breast cancer early can mean a greater range of treatment options and may improve your chances of survival. It’s important to get to know your breasts so that you can notice changes more easily. Things to look for include:

• changes in the size or shape of your breasts or nipples
• changes in the skin over the breasts, such as redness, dimpling, lumps or lumpiness.

National breast cancer screening program BreastScreen Australia offers free mammograms every 2 years to women and people who are transgender or gender diverse aged over 40. Those aged between 50 and 74 are actively invited to receive the screen.¹

If you have a family history of breast cancer, talk to your GP about when and how frequently you may need a breast cancer screen.

Performed by: Trained specialists at a radiology service

Frequency: On your GP’s advice, depending on your risk factors

Why: Your bones require calcium and other minerals to give them strength and thickness. Otherwise, you risk developing osteoporosis, a health condition that leads to brittle bones, making them vulnerable to fractures.

A bone density scan is the most accurate way to assess your bone health. A ‘dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry’ (DEXA) scan is painless and involves a very low dose of radiation.

The DEXA scan is usually only recommended to certain people, such as post-menopausal women over 45 or men over 50, including those:

• with a history of previous fractures (including a family history)
• who smoke or drink a lot of alcohol
• with a vitamin D deficiency
• with a low body weight
• on certain medications
• with certain medical conditions.³

Performed by: You and a pathology lab

Frequency: Once every 2 years, or more frequently as advised by your GP

Why: Bowel cancer is one of Australia’s most common cancers, and the risk of developing it rises significantly from the age of 50.⁴

Screenings generally test for blood in the stool, which can be an early warning sign of bowel cancer. The screening is usually carried out through an ‘immunochemical faecal occult blood test’ (iFOBT), a simple home test that you can send to a laboratory for analysis. Results are then sent back to you and your doctor.

A positive iFOBT result doesn't necessarily mean you have bowel cancer, but it does generally mean you have an increased risk. Your doctor may investigate further, often with a colonoscopy.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program offers free iFOBT kits to eligible Australians aged between 45 and 74 every 2 years.⁵ If this means you, talk to your GP about a potential screening. If you’re outside of this age range, have a family history of bowel cancer or are concerned, talk to your GP about whether the test is appropriate for you.

Performed by: Hearing health professional, arranged by your GP

Frequency: As symptoms occur

Why: In Australia, approximately 3.6 million people have some kind of hearing loss.⁶ But many hearing conditions are preventable.

Hearing problems can significantly affect your quality of life, and your risk of hearing loss increases with age. Your doctor can treat minor conditions that cause temporary hearing loss, such as ear infections, but for more serious problems you may be referred to a specialist hearing health professional.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program provides information and resources, including free screening kits to eligible Australians.