Aging: What to expect as you get older
Aging: What to expect as you get older (Part 2 of 2)
Posted on Sept. 18, 2006, 7:55 a.m. in AgingWonder what's considered a normal part of the aging process? Here's part 2 of what to expect as you get older. If you missed last month’s article, let me know and I will send it to you.
Cardiovascular systemAs you age, your heart rate becomes slightly slower, and your heart might become bigger. Your blood vessels and your arteries also become stiffer, causing your heart to work harder to pump blood through them. This can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension) and other cardiovascular problems.Bones, muscles and jointsWith age, bones tend to shrink in size and density — which weakens them and makes them more susceptible to fracture. You might even become a bit shorter. Muscles generally lose strength and flexibility, and you might become less coordinated or have trouble balancing.Digestive systemSwallowing and the motions that automatically move digested food through your intestines slow down as you get older. The flow of secretions from your stomach, liver, pancreas and small intestine may decrease. These changes generally don't disrupt your digestive process, so you may never notice them. But you might notice more constipation.Kidneys, bladder and urinary tractWith age, your kidneys become less efficient in removing waste from your bloodstream. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and some medications can damage your kidneys further.About 30 percent of people age 65 and older experience a loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence). Incontinence can be caused by a number of health problems, such as obesity, frequent constipation and chronic cough. Women are more likely than men to have incontinence.WeightAs you age, maintaining a healthy weight — or losing weight if you're overweight — may be more difficult. Your metabolism generally slows, meaning that your body burns fewer calories. Calories that were once used to meet your daily energy needs instead are stored as fat. Your level of activity may decrease, resulting in unwanted weight gain.SexualityWith age, sexual needs and performance might change. Illness or medication might affect your ability to enjoy sex. For women, vaginal dryness can make sex uncomfortable. For men, impotence might become a concern. It might take longer to get an erection, and erections might not be as firm as they used to be.How long can you live?The longest documented human life span is 122 years. Though a life span that long is rare, improvements in medicine, science and technology during the last century have helped more people live longer, healthier lives. If you were born in the early 1900s in the United States, your life expectancy was only about 50 years. Today it's around 77.Remember, it's never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. You can't stop the aging process, but you might be able to minimize its impact by making healthy choices.Read the Mayo Clinic article to learn more about what you can do to promote better health regarding these changes: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/aging/art-20046070?pg=1Image via Pixabay by stephnpb