Many of us have different points of view about growing old. When we talk about aging, we often associate it with different factors such as gray hair, wrinkles, and saggy skin. Others associate it with physical restrictions and health conditions. Still, others connect it with memory loss and brain deterioration.
However, aging doesn’t have to be something that we should dread. While it’s normal to go for a back pain treatment session or something similar at the chiropractor for physical relief, there are other things that we can do to age gracefully.
Here are some of the most common aging issues and the things you can do so these don’t hinder you from enjoying life:
- Cardiovascular Health
As we grow older, our heart starts to work harder to pump blood throughout our bodies. This is brought about by blood vessels and arteries stiffening that makes our heart muscles adapt to the changes. Our heart rates pretty much stay the same but won’t work as much as they used to, which puts us at greater risk of cardiovascular problems.
- Muscles, Bones, and Joints
Our bones shrink and become brittle as we age. Our muscles lose strength, flexibility, and endurance. These things make us more susceptible to physical injuries that affect our mobility. To prevent injuries and immobility, we should make it a point to include exercise as part of our daily routine. It would also help to take calcium and vitamin D supplements to reinforce our bone strength and density.
- Digestive System
Lest we think that the changes aging brings only involve our skin, hair color, and muscles, here’s a news flash: our internal organs aren’t spared from the effects of growing old.
Our digestive system also takes a hit as our large intestines change structurally which causes constipation in most older adults. Other factors such as insufficient water intake, lack of exercise, a low-fiber diet, and certain medications also affect the digestive system.
- Urinary Tract and Bladder
If you’re in your 40s or 50s and you’re starting to notice that your bladder control is no longer the same, that’s because our bladder’s elasticity becomes lesser as we age. This is what wakes us up several times in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. However, aging is not the only thing that causes urinary incontinence. Certain medical conditions, like diabetes, obesity, or alcohol/caffeine consumption can also cause weak bladder control.
- Brain and Memory
It’s quite common that old age is associated with some form of cognitive dysfunction and memory loss. It’s normal for healthy older adults to forget people’s names, certain important dates, or even words they typically use. In some cases, folks who were brilliant multitaskers find it harder to do as the years go by. It is best to consult with a specialist if you’re worried about sudden changes in your cognitive functions.
- Eyes and Ears
They say that when you grow old, the first things to go are either your hair or your eyesight. Your visual and auditory senses deteriorate as the years go by. Poor eyesight and slight loss of hearing are quite normal for aging folks but this doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about it. Regular trips to your ophthalmologist or ENT and taking the proper precautions can help slow down their deterioration.
- Oral Health
While lots of people use dental appliances, older folks are typically associated with them. It’s no secret that as we grow older, our oral health also deteriorates. Our teeth are more prone to infection and decay. Dry mouth is also a common occurrence among older people. Regular dental check-ups on top of proper dental care can help you keep those pearly whites a bit longer.
- Skin
As we grow older, our skin loses fatty tissues that keep it youthful. This leads to our skin becoming more fragile as it gets thinner and a lot less elastic. The decrease in our skin’s natural oil production makes it drier and more prone to bruises. The right skincare routine and products can help rejuvenate your aging skin and prevent wrinkles, sagging, and skin tags from taking place sooner.
9.Metabolism and Weight
Our body’s ability to burn calories grows increasingly slower as time passes. With the deterioration of our metabolism, we need to watch what and how much we eat, especially if our physical activities have also been reduced. We need to maintain a certain amount of physical activity as we make healthier dietary choices.
Managing the Changes of Aging
Promoting good health is important at any age. But as we grow older, we need to be more intentional in maintaining good health if we want to live longer and enjoy life. A healthy diet, plenty of exercises, sufficient sleep, the right supplementation, proper stress management, and regular check-ups all help improve our health and keep us in great overall shape.
Aging is inevitable. Growing old is one of the realities of life that we need to face and embrace. As long as you take good care of all aspects of your health, aging gracefully will come naturally to you.
Meta title: The Realities of Growing Older and How It Affects Our Bodies
meta desc: We have listed some of the most common aging issues and what you can do so these don’t hinder you from enjoying life.
