Aging: Leading Towards a Less Efficient Digestive Tract

As we age the digestive system is another part of the body that is affected.  Aging causes the body to decline in different ways, triggering the need for different medications.  With the mix of pills along with the changes in ones habits and lifestyle, due to getting older, can affect your digestive tract, creating discomforts.  
With age the digestive tract like other bodily systems slows down.  The muscles become stiffer, weaker, and less efficient.  
As a result some of the digestive tract problems that can occur are: heartburn, peptic ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, gas, stomach pain, and inflammation in the colon. 
Fortunately, there are ways to decrease these discomforts by, staying hydrated, limiting fats, consuming fiber, and exercising on a regular basis.  


http://www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health/dealing-with-a-sensitive-gut.aspx    

Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism, the sudden blockage of a major blood vessel in the lungs.  This blockage is usually caused by a blood clot.  In most cases the blood clots are small and not deadly, however they can cause damage to the lungs.  Quick treatment of the blood clots can reduce the risk of future problems or save your life.  When the blood clots become larger and stops the blood flow to the lungs, it can become deadly. 
So how do you know if your body is effected by a pulmonary embolism?  The most common symptoms are: sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pains that becomes worse when you cough or take a deep breath, and a cough that brings up pink foamy mucus can all be signs of a pulmonary embolism.  General symptoms can also occur, such as: feeling anxious, sweating, feeling lightheaded, increasing of heart rate, or fainting.
In order to decrease your risk of pulmoary embolism, staying active can be benefical.  Recent surgery that involved the legs, hips, belly, or brain, pregnancy, childbirth, taking birth control pills or other hormone drugs, smoking, and diseases such as: cancer, stroke, or servere infections can increase your risk of pulmonary embolism. 

http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/pulmonary-embolism-topic-overview

DEMENTIA: is it becoming more common?

Dementia is an age related disease, a disease that we try to hide behind us knowing that one of our love ones will most likely be affected by it.  Dementia is the loss of mental functions; thinking, memory, reasoning are all affected, which will interfere with daily life activities and hobbies. 
If you ever walk into an assisted living or nursing home you are bound to run into an individual that has some sort of dementia.  This leads us to the question, how common is dementia? 
Dementia that is caused by a nervous system disease, most common, Alzheimer's disease is greatly increasing.  Researchers have suspected that half of the people over eighty  develops Alzheimer's disease.  Around 8% of people over the age of 65 has some form of dementia, which may seem low, but just think, 65 these days is the new 50.  Unfortunately that 8% doubles every five years above that age.  
Yes, there are some forms of dementia that are treatable, but trying to run away from this age related dysfunction may be impossible.  So, the best advice may be to just enjoy the time you have now with your love ones and your own independence. 


Alzheimer's Disease and Other Forms of Dementia
http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-dementia

Behind the Scenes of the CNS

I never knew that the central nervous system was made up of so many different cells.  From last semesters biology class I understood that neurons, the inter-neurons are located within the central nervous system.  Surprisingly these neurons only make up about half of the volume within the CNS, so what makes up the other half? Glial cells, are the infamous cells that fill up the other half of the CNS. Everything in life needs support and protection, and that is what the glial cells provide the neurons within the CNS with.  The three types of the central nervous system supporting cells are: Astrocytes, Oligodendrocytes, and Microglial cells. These glial cells have four main functions within the CNS: to hold neurons in place by surrounding them,  supply oxygen and nutrients to the neurons so they can survive and perform their job, isolate one neuron from another, and destroy and remove dead neurons.  As you can see if the CNS did not have these supporting cells, the neurons would not be able to perform their job; therefore, our nervous system would be encumbered.

http://blustein.tripod.com/

No One Wants To Lose Their Hearing

Hearing loss is more then affecting your inner ear, it can affect the things you've enjoyed throughout your life time.  Many people may look at the elderly as if they are confused and becoming senile, but in reality many of them still carry the same mindset, they just have trouble hearing.  Hearing loss can affect a person's daily life in many ways; they may miss out on socializing with friends and family.  Not being able to catch what everyone is saying can be frustrating, which could led to social isolation.  It may make the individual feel upset, embarrassed, and lonely.  This is where the outsiders need to be considerate of the individual and not presume that they are confused and can no longer relate or participate in conversations.  It is important that individuals who care about the elderly and enter the field of gerontology have patience and understand what the elders are experiencing.  It is hard for many to wrap their heads around the aging process until they enter it themselves; therefore, it is valuable for the older population to be surrounded by people who can understand the process at a young age and present them with their dignity when they feel it is diminishing.   
   


Hearing Loss and Aging
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20432

Dimmer Colors

Lately, we have been discussing the eye and the changes that occur as one ages.  After searching through articles, I found a piece stating how color vision decreases as one becomes older.  This is labeled as a normal aging occurrence among the older population.  There is no treatment for this condition and is not severe, however, if you pursue a profession that requires fine color discrimination such as an artist, one may have to be more concerned. 

As seen in class, the rods and cones are what allow us to view colors.  As we age, cells in the retina, which are the cells that are responsible for color vision, decline in sensitivity.  These cells becoming less sensitive prevent us from seeing bright, noticeable colors.  Therefore, older individuals may be viewing a bright piece of artwork differently then younger adults, viewing the painting with faded, washed out colors. 

                                              

                                              How Your Vision Changes as You Age

                                              http://www.allaboutvision.com/over60/vision-changes.htm     

"News: Post-Exercise Protein Drinks Could Help Build Stronger Muscles"

You've finished your workout, showered, and continued to hydrate your body; all the right actions to take after an intense workout.  Before you reach for that sugary sports bottle, think about grabbing a protein drink instead.  It has been shown in studies that having a protein drink after a workout can be beneficial for ones muscle growth. People who drank protein-rich drinks after exercising showed to experience an increase in larger muscle fibers and whole body lean mass.  The consumption of drinks rich in protein can not only maintain ones exercise performance, but can also reduce fatigue, and help with muscle recovery.  Maybe after your next workout grab a protein drink and see how you feel. =]

http://www.greatist.com/fitness/protein-drinks-post-exercise-help-build-stronger-muscles/#