Aging in a Healthy Way 9th Grade Health

To age is to grow older. There are several ways to measure a person’s age. Chronological age is the number or years a person has lived. Biological age is a measure of how well a persons body systems are functioning.

Social age is a measure of a person’s involvement in leisure activities. Nothing can be done to change a persons chronological age. However your health habits can affect your biological and social age.

The study of aging is Gerontology. A gerontologist is a person who specializes in the study of aging. Some gerontologist believe aging begins when you are born and others say it is when you stop growing.

Physical Changes in Middle and Late Adulthood As a person ages, body systems also age. Some changes are due to a person heredity and others may be due to one of the other factors that influence health status

The Nervous System As people age, reaction time slows, eye sight change, touch, taste, smell, and hearing may be affected. Some short term memory may be lost but intelligence is not effective. The loss of degeneration of nerve cells also may cause disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes muscles tremors, stiffness and weakness. To lessen changes to the nervous system older people should exercise their minds and bodies regularly.

The Cardiovascular System As people age, their hearts may become less efficient. Blood may not circulate as well. Blood vessels may lose their elasticity and become clogged, causing increase blood pressure

Resting heart rate may increase and oxygen consumption decrease. To lessen changes to the cardiovascular system, older people should maintain a desirable weight, exercise regularly, and eat a low fat diet.

The Immune System As people age their immune system becomes less efficient in protecting the body Older people have less resistance to communicable disease and are more likely to develop chronic diseases.

A chronic disease is an illness that develops and lass over a long period of time. To lessen changes to the immune system older people should have regular physical examinations, eat a healthful diets and get regular flu shots if advised by a physician.

The Respiratory System As people age their lunges become less elastic. They may not be able to hold the same volume of air as in the earlier years and may become short of breath. They have increased risk of chronic bronchitis, emphysema and flu

Chronic Bronchitis is a recurring inflammation of the bronchial tubes Emphysema is a condition in which the alveoli lose most of their ability to function. To lessen changes to the respiratory system, older people should avoid secondhand smoke, use caution in severe weather, exercise regularly and not smoke.

The Skeletal System As people age their bones become less dense and when broken take longer to heal. There may be less fluid between the bones and the spinal column so an older person may become shorter with age As people age, they may develop arthritis.

Arthritis is a painful inflammation of the joints. Some older people especially females, develop osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become thin and brittle To lessen changes older people should maintain desirable weight exercise regularly and eat foods with calcium.

The Muscular System As people age muscles mass and strength decrease. Body composition changes The percentage of body fat increase To lessen changes to the muscular system, older people should exercise regularly and lift objects correctly

The Endocrine System As people age there may be changes in secretion of hormones Some people who are overweight or who have an hereditary tendency may develop diabetes mellitus

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body product little or no insulin To lessen the changes to the endocrine system, older people should maintain a desirable weight and have regular blood tests.

The Digestive System As people age, their metabolism slows and their weight may increase Fewer nutrients are absorbed from foods. The liver may be less effective as it breaks down toxic substances. Some older people have difficulty digesting fatty foods

Gum disease and the loss of teeth make it difficult to eat. Some older people may lose their appetites, eat less, and become malnourished. To lessen the changes of the digestive system, older people should maintain a desirable weight, eat a balanced diet, limit alcohol consumption, and eat smaller meals more often

The Urinary System As people age their bladder may decrease in size so that they have to urinate more frequently. Their kidneys also may produce less urine To lessen the changes to the urinary system, older people should drink at least eight glasses of water each day.

The Integumentary System As people age, their skin becomes drier and may wrinkle. Age spots may appear on the skin Extended exposure to sunlight earlier in life may affect how skin ages Hair thins and grays Some males become bald, and some females develop bald spots

To lessen changes to the Integumentary system, older people should regularly check their skin and hair for signs of aging, wear sun block and a hat to reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and use lotions to keep skin from being dry.

The Reproductive System As people age their bodies produce fewer sex hormones. Male climacteric is a decrease in testosterone in males accompanied by symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, insomnia, and fatigue Menopause is a decrease in estrogen in females and the cessation of the menstrual cycle

During menopause, some females experience hot flashes, depression, insomnia, headaches, fatigue, and short term memory loss. A females risk of developing heart disease increases as her ovaries secret less estrogen.

Some females choose estrogen replacement therapy. Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) is synthetic estrogen given as a drug to reduce the symptoms of menopause and to help prevent osteoporosis

Mental Changes in Middle/Late Adulthood As people age they may lose some short term memory. Some older people develop dementia Dementia is a general decline in all areas of mental functioning. It is usually due to brain disease or mental impairment

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease in which the nerve cells in the brain degenerate and the brain shrinks in size. Symptoms vary, but there are usually three stages

In the first stage, people are forgetful, lose interest, and feel anxious and depressed In the second stage, people are disconnected and restless and have increased memory loss, especially for recent events In the third stage, people become very disoriented, confused and completely depended on others.

Older people should work to stay mentally sharp by using their mental skills, drink at least eight glasses of water each day, limit intake of alcohol and not abuse drugs They should be cautious and try to avoid accidents that may affect their mental functions.

Being a Care Giver As people age, they may develop chronic diseases or other health conditions and require special care givers. Most older people turn to family members and friends for assistance and support. Theses family members and friends are care givers.

A care giver is a person who provides care for a person who needs assistance. Most people are caregivers for an elderly family member at some time in their lives.

Six factors to consider when you are a care giver for a family member The type of care the family member needs The type of care the family member will accept The cost of the type of care needed The insurance coverage and finical resources of the family member The type of care you can provide The type of care proved by resources in the community

Resources for Caregivers Senior Centers Transpiration assistance Friendly visitors or companions Telephone reassurance programs Home delivered meal programs Gatekeeper and home observation programs Home health care organizations Personal emergency response devices Adult day care programs Respites care Nursing homes Hospice care

10 habits that promote healthful aging Eat healthful, balanced breakfast each day Follow the Dietary Guidelines Exercise regularly Do not smoke or use other tobacco products Get plenty of rest an sleep Have a regular physical examinations Balance work with play Choose activities to keep your mind alert Develop healthful relationships with family members and fiends Practice stress management skills