Healthy living in your 50s

You're in your 50s! What can you do to live a healthier life? Be healthier with one, or all, of the steps below! Get the conversation started at your next well-woman visit with this list.

Every day I will try to:

Eat healthy — use the MyPlate Plan tool to get started

Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity

Get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep

Reach and maintain a healthy weight

Get help to quit or don't start smoking

Limit alcohol use to 1 drink or less

Wear a helmet when riding a bike and wear protective gear for sports

Wear a seatbelt in cars and not text and drive

Not use illegal drugs or misuse prescription drugs

I will talk to my doctor at least once a year about:

Menopause symptoms

My weight, diet, and physical activity level

Whether I use tobacco and alcohol

Any violence in my life

Depression and any other mental health concerns

My family health history, especially my cancer risk

I will ask my doctor if I need these tests, medicines, or vaccines this year:

Low-dose aspirin

Blood pressure

Chickenpox

Cholesterol

Colorectal cancer

Diabetes

Flu

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C

HIV

Lung cancer (55 and older, if you smoke now or quit within the last 15 years*)

Mammogram

Measles, mumps, and rubella

Osteoporosis (for women who have gone through menopause and are at higher risk*)

Pap and HPV

Sexually transmitted infections

Tetanus, diphtheria, or whooping cough

Tuberculosis

Download/Print this checklist (PDF, 151 KB) Bookmark this checklist

* The decision to get any medical test or procedure, at any age, is a personal one between you and your doctor. These age ranges may not apply to every person.

These guidelines are based on recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the Women's Preventive Services Guidelines, the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.