7 Diseases You’ll Probably Have By Age 50

There’s a good chance you’ll develop at least one these common conditions. Fortunately, you can fight off the majority of them. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Your clean bill of health may not be so squeaky after all. Even the fittest, most active people will experience a few health hiccups as they get older.

The following 7 conditions strike the majority of people by middle age. Here’s how to help fend them off and stay healthy for life.

(For more amazingly simple ways to take control of your health, check out The Better Man Project. It’s jam-packed with 2,476 life hacks on how to shrink your gut, have mind-blowing sex, transform your fitness, and more!)

Epstein-Barr Virus
This is the bug that causes mononucleosis, the infamous “kissing disease” you may have contracted at some point in college. But even if you never felt the ravages of mono, there’s a good chance the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is lurking somewhere in your body.

Related: 5 Signs You’re A Lousy Kisser

About 95 percent of adults over age 30 carry it, according to research in the New England Journal of Medicine. “EBV transmits very easily,” says Ahmed A. Arif, MBBS, Ph.D, C.P.H., FACE, an associate professor of epidemiology at UNC Charlotte. “It is mostly through person-to-person contact, especially through saliva.”

Many people have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. Your doctor can easily test your blood for the virus if you’re concerned about it.

Gum Disease
This mouth malady strikes more than half of men, per a study published in the Journal of Dental Research. To reduce your risk, make friends with floss.

In a recent study from Japan, people who didn’t floss were 95 percent more likely to develop periodontal pockets, a hallmark of gum disease. Smokers also had a 71 percent increased risk, while those who only brushed their teeth once a day or less were 33 percent more likely to develop gum disease.

For more must-follow oral habits, check out 9 Surprising Ways to Whiter Teeth.

Herpes
About 54 percent of adults carry the herpes simplex virus 1, while 16 percent carry herpes simplex virus 2, according to research from the CDC. HSV-1 is often the culprit behind cold sores, while HSV-2 frequently causes genital herpes.

To avoid the scarier second type, always use a condom unless you’re absolutely certain that your partner is herpes-free. Every unprotected sex act increases a person’s risk of herpes by about 4 percent, suggests a study published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Related: 15 Ways You’re Using Condoms Wrong

HPV
HPV is the human papillomavirus, a very common sexually transmitted infection that can cause genital warts. In a study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, just over half of men 18 to 40 were infected with at least one strain of the virus. And women are just as likely to have it.

Many strains of HPV are essentially harmless—however, HPV 16 and HPV 18 have been linked to an increased risk of various cancers. Safe sex is the best way to stay clean.

Norovirus
The average person will have five norovirus-caused gastrointestinal infections in their life, according to CDC estimates. You can catch this bug from food, surfaces, and—most commonly—other people, says Lee-Ann Jaykus, Ph.D., a professor of food science at NC State University who studies norovirus.

Related: The Germiest Places You Touch Every Day

Poop and vomit are reservoirs for millions to billions of virus cells, but you only need to be exposed to a few thousand to end up leaning over the toilet bowl. Worse yet, your immune system may not remember the bug next time you’re exposed.

“It appears that people have short-term immunity, but they don’t really have long-term immunity to noroviruses,” says Jaykus. “There’s a lot of strain evolution, so new viruses are popping up all the time.”

Your risk is highest in tight quarters—like on cruise ships. Wash your hands frequently and be cautious around others with stomach symptoms. Even if your friends seem fine, they can shed the virus for weeks after infection, says Jaykus. Many norovirus infections resolve themselves, but see a doctor if you experience dehydration or if you just can’t kick the bug.

Obesity
CDC data shows that 69 percent of adults are either overweight or obese. There’s no simple explanation for why so many of us are pudgier than we should be, but fortunately, we do know how to shed those pounds.

For the simplest, most effective way to shrink your gut for good, try our Lose Your Spare Tire! program. You can drop 10, 20, or even 50 pounds!)

Varicella
According to research published in Public Health Reports, 98 percent of adults have been infected with this virus, which can cause chicken pox and shingles. The CDC recommends the varicella vaccine for any adult who hasn’t had the shot or chicken pox already. It’s a two-part vaccine with doses spread 28 days apart.

By Julie Stewart