As we strive for an extended life our body will still undergo modifications due to aging, science has not come near achieving that milestone yet. That having been said there is no reason why a person living a prolonged life cannot do so without disability. When we grow older we do not necessarily begin to fall apart. Not everyone loses heart functionality, develops osteoporosis, finds their muscles weakening and their cognitive capabilities along with mind retention waning. Sexual activity and libido do not need to suffer and socializing can continue. There will be, however, some definite changes one will notice as age progresses.
I have listed some alterations one could expect their body to undergo as they advance in age. How drastically these physiological systems change will be determined by various issues, this would include your genetics and the kind of way of life that was lived and choices that have been made during a life well lived. The type of emotional composition we have developed over the years makes a difference along with our coping mechanisms to deal with discontent, failure, impediments and just normal stuff life throws your way. Here we go:
• Circulatory Capability Of Heart And Blood
When we age our hearts work less effectively and it needs to labor more as we get older. The peak pumping rate is diminished and there is a decrease in blood oxygenation. The muscularity of the heart becomes thicker and it becomes larger as arteries become more rigid, fat and plaque deposits begin to build up inside the blood vessel walls. When this occurs many of us experience a slow and deliberate reduction in our strength and stamina as time passes. Some will contract atherosclerosis and various heart ailments.
• Body Fat, Composition And Our Metabolism
Our slowly diminishing metabolism combined with changes in our hormones frequently means a reduction in muscle tone. We are prone to more body fat as we grow into mid life, it will then become constant for a few years before beginning a steady reduction in our senior years. Though as we age, the fat layers we are plagued by begin to relocate from just under our skin to areas around our deep organs. In particular many women start to store fatty deposits in their upper legs and hips while men are more prone to having fat deposits in the mid section. We do not metabolize medicines or alcohol like we once did and our reflexes los some swiftness when we drive or play sports or other forms of recreation.
• Our Nervous System And Brain
By the time we reach our thirties, we will start to slowly lose and do harm to some neurons or nerve cells, blood circulation is lessened, the weight of our brain decreases, we suffer a slow loss of brain neuron functionality obvious in our memory fatigue which reveals itself as a failure to recall names, details or events. The brain though has the ability to adjust to these alterations by adding additional links among cells known as synapses, along with dendrites and axons which are branch extensions that transfer information within the brain. The Journal of Neuropsychology published an investigation which revealed that a loftier education could prevent age associated cognitive failure due to helping seniors to mobilize assets from the frontal lobe of their brain. The average life expectancy of the human species is approximately one hundred twenty years or so. Mammals in particular appear to have a powerful connection linking the span of their life with the weight of their brain.
• Skeletal Structure
Once more from our thirties, our bones start to have less mass and strength; they lose minerals quicker than they are able to be replenished. The loss of bones mass appears to trouble women mostly after menopause or the change of life as it were. This means many endure an increased risk of osteoporosis. Upon reaching the age of sixty five years old, on in every three individuals has claimed to suffer a slip and fall. One in every twenty of these ends up with a fracture.
• Our Lung Function And Breathing
When we reach our twenties our lung tissue starts losing its elasticity, our rib cage muscles start to get smaller and our top end breathing capacity becomes reduced. When we age, specifically in those people who are couch potatoes, lungs become much less effectual and the cells in our bodies suffer from a lack of oxygenation.
• Our Bladder and Kidney Function
The kidneys become smaller and lose function when we age and they are far less effectual at dealing with dehydration or waste removal of particular medications from our blood systems. When the bladder function is reduced, we begin to urinate more often and if the urinary tissue starts to weaken, incontinence could become a problem.
• Our Muscularity
When we lack physical activity, our muscle density begins to reduce by as much as twenty two percent in women and twenty three percent in men from the age of thirty to seventy. Powerful muscles, though, have a tendency to acquire oxygen and nutrients from the blood more effectively, make less work for the heart muscle and aid the body in remaining sensitive to insulin and absorb sugar in the blood.
• The Epidermis
As age progresses, our body slows its production of collagen and oil glands generate a smaller amount of oil. This makes our skin inevitably less elastic, dry and more creased and lined. We could develop brown patches or spots – what are also referred to as liver spots appearing red, brown or even yellow – due to an insufficient amount of melatonin, an accumulation of waste by-product and even developing carcinomas.
• Our Nails and Hair
Toe nails, finger nails and hair start to grow more gradually when we get older and we also have reduced ability to heal when we have a wound or sores. Our scalp hair, pubic and armpit hair eventually get thinner and when we have a decrease in hair pigment cells our hair begins to turn gray and finally going white. The appearance of our nails can be an early indicator of certain severe medical ailments; however, the changes in nails are hardly ever the initial indicator. For instance, red nails could mean heart disease, pitting nails and rippling of the nails face could mean inflammation like arthritis. If your nails are white it could suggest liver disease or perhaps anemia. If your nails appear to be yellowish in color, thicker and grow more sluggishly – this could be a sign of potential lung disease.
So you see, as we age we have many things that change and there are many things that could go wrong with us due to a “lack of maintenance”, however we can achieve an extended life and NOT suffer the sometimes agonizing decline that many seniors face. Committing to taking better care of ourselves in the face of advancing age means we could slide by relatively unscathed by father time!
Wed, Sep 8, 2010
Anti Aging, Bioscience, Health And Aging, Longevity