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/#  

The Sun Shows A Brighter Side

 The New York Times posted an article Aging of Eyes Is Blamed for Range of Health Woes, discussing a brighter side of the sun.  We see the many signs of aging, but one that may go unnoticed is the aging of the eye.  The gradual yellowing of the lens along with the pupil narrowing occurs with age and disturbs the body's circadian rhythm.  Circadian rhythms are "the cyclical hormonal and physiological processes that rally the body in the morning to tackle the day's demands and slow it down at night, allowing the body to rest and repair."  The internal clock relies on light in order to function properly.  Individuals such as shift workers possess circadian rhythms that are out of sync and therefore become greater at risk for a number of ailments, such as: insomnia, heart disease, and cancer.  

Looking back at the relation with age, as the eyes age, less and less sunlight is able to get through the lens and is not able to reach the keys cells in the retina that regulates the body's circadian rhythm, it's internal clock.  

Photoreceptive cells in the retina absorb sunlight and transmit messages to the brain, the suprachiasmatic nucleus.  This part of the brain controls the internal clock and adjusts the body to the environment by initiating the release of melatonin in the evening and cortisol in the morning.  Dr. Mainster and Dr. Turner estimated that by age 45 the photoreceptors receive 50% of the light needed to fully stimulate the circadian system.  When the age of 75 hits it dips down to a mere 17%.

These doctors believe that with age, people should make an effort to expose themselves to bright sunlight or bright indoor lighting.  Sun seems to be harmful to the skin, but for the eyes, the sun shows a brighter side.               

"Home Remedies for Bed Sores"

Bed sores, also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers is another unpleasant discomfort that comes along with aging.  Bed sores are caused by continuous pressure on skin, most commonly around areas with a prominent bone or cartilage structure (an example hips or the tailbone).  A first sign of a bed sore is reddening of the skin, swelling, or hardening of tissue.  The extensiveness pressure of the skin restricts the flow of blood, which in turn restricts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the skin.  The smaller blood vessels can create a clot and a sore red patch will appear on that area of the skin.  If this sore spot of the skin is not attended to, the skin can crack open and develop into a painful wound.   

Prevention is the key to bed sores.  Two bed sore remedies that can be used in hopes for bed sores to not appear are the consumption of vitamin C and zinc.  Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory and is necessary for the health of one's skin and blood vessels.  In a study it was shown that individuals who had significantly lower levels of vitamin C suffered from bed sores then those with vitamin C in their blood.  As for supporting the immune system and promoting the process of wound healing, zinc can help.  Adding zinc to your diet can increase the preventing of bed sores.    

                           http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-bed-sores.html

12 Natural Treatments for Wrinkles

Wrinkles are visible creases in the skin that show yet another sign that one is getting older. Collagen is a protein within skin that allows the skin to retain fluids to support the smooth, supple skin we wish would last forever.  This collagen- filled elastic tissue is lost with age and when damaged cause wrinkles to become more prominent.  Wrinkling is a natural occurrence in the aging process, however there are actions that can be taken in order to slow down the appearance of wrinkles.  
Before revealing the twelve natural treatments for wrinkles, one should know what can cause damage to the skin forming this "enemy."  Exposure to ultraviolet light and free radicals can accelerate the process.  Overexposure to sunlight, cigarette smoke, poor diet and nutrition, poor muscle tone, stress, lack of proper skin care, heredity, and even habitual facial expressions can lead to the appearance of wrinkles.
To soften existing wrinkles and prevent new wrinkles from forming, skin creams, which contain herbal antioxidants that stop the free-radical processes from destroying collagen along with these natural treatments could do the trick. 
  
12 Natural Treatments for Wrinkles:
     (From the article- Natural Treatment for Wrinkles)
1. Never intentionally expose your skin to midday sun.
       -Between 9am and 3pm always wear sunscreen.  Other times during the day do not,                       so your skin can be exposed to Vitamin D.  
2.  Take 100-300 mg of coenzyme Q10 daily.  
       -This supplement can act as an antioxidant. 
3. Take 1,000 mg of chondroitin sulfate once a day.
           -This will stimulate the growth of skin cells and speed up the metabolic processes.
4. Drink eight glasses of water a day-hydration. 
5. Use natural oils rather than harsh soaps and cold creams. 
6. Avoid alcohol-based toning solutions-drying of skin.
7. Exercise regularly. 
8. Avoid smoking.
9. Take vitamin C- Acerola Tablets. 
10. Aloe Gel can rejuvenate skin.
11. Calendula Cream. 
          -Stimulates growth of skin cells  and protects from infections.
12. Comfrey Allantoin cream stops reddening and irritation of skin around wrinkles.


                        http://www.homemademedicine.com/natural-treatment-wrinkles.html

Another Sign of Aging-Gray Hair!

"Why Does Hair Turn Gray"


Ever wonder why your mom, dad, and grandparents have gray, white, or silver hair?  This is just another natural part of aging.  Each hair is made up of two parts: a shaft, and a root.  The shaft is the colored part that is seen by the human eye.  The root is the bottom part, which holds the hair anchored under the scalp.  Each root is surrounded by a tube of tissue located under the skin, known as the hair follicle.  Hair follicles contain a certain number of pigment cells, which continue to produce a chemical, melanin.  Melanin provides each shaft with color whether it be red, brown, blonde, etc.  
You are probably familiar with the fact that every human being has a different skin complexion.  Melanin is the same chemical that makes skin color fair or dark.  As we age, the pigment cells in our hair gradually die, which causes a more transparent color.  Eventually ones hair color will completely turn gray due to the the small amount of pigment cells not being able to produce as much melanin. 
You may ponder on the fact that younger individuals have gray hair.  This is due to one's genes.  If your parents started to get gray hair at an early age, most likely you will start around that same age.       

'As Loved Ones Slip Away, Families Desperate for Cure'

Alzheimer's, a form of dementia, causes progressive loss within ones' social and intellectual skills.  Among the top killers, Alzheimer's is the only disease with no prevention, cure, or treatment.  The National Alzheimer's Project Act has committed to the goal of finding a treatment for this horrific disease by 2025.  
Eating right and staying active is said to ward of disease, but this seems to be false.  Alzheimer's runs in families and affects more than five million people in America.  This number is predicted to triple by the year 2050.  This disease has taken down the the best and brightest of individuals.  Keeping a healthy body is not harmful, but a healthy body may not lead to a healthy mind.  Life is short, therefore it is best to live each day as if it were the last. 

                                                     "We Must Find a Cure' to Save Memories" -USA Today