Everyone knows getting old is a natural thing but As we get old, we experience a lot of changes in our body like muscle weakness, loss of taste, etc. we are not able to understand what should we do at that time but it is very common because coping with changes is difficult at any age.
How we handle these changes is the key to a healthy life. If we adapt to these changes then we can live a life with enjoyment even if we are getting old. Many people fear old age due to misconceptions about oldness but the truth is you are strong. And you have to follow a few things if you are facing these changes.
JOINT WEAKNESS
As age increases, joints become weak and their movement becomes stiffer, less flexible. It is because of the decreased muscle mass, decreased bone density, and many more things. The main reason is lack of exercise. We can overcome this problem with the help of some exercises that should be consulted by the therapist and doctor.
We should also take proper nutrition to improve muscle mass and bone density to strengthen the joints. To understand this, Have a look at the table below:
| CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION | NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT | DIETARY SOURCES |
| Decreased muscle mass | Increase need for protein | Meat, eggs, milk, grains, nuts, cheese, etc. |
| Decreased bone density | Increase need for calcium, vitamin D | Calcium- green leafy vegetables, shellfish, etc. Vitamin D- fatty fish, milk, cereals, fish oil, etc. |
LOSS OF TASTE AND SMELL AS GETTING OLD
Some loss of taste and smell is common with age. The numbers of taste buds and olfactory receptors both decrease as we get older. Age-related loss of taste and smell can not reverse but doctors can adjust multiple medications that can alter the taste, flavor, and appetite. doctors can also treat many nasal and olfactory conditions.
If you ignore these problems that will lead to poor nutrition because you are not able to taste properly the food and are not able to smell it. So if you are experiencing loss of taste and smell should consult the doctor.
DECREASED IMMUNE FUNCTION
Getting old shows a decline in immune function. Due to this older adults reduce their ability to combat viruses, bacteria, other infections, and shows many problems like:
- Immune system shows slower response to viruses, bacteria, and other infection.
- Body may heal slowly by immune cells.
- immune system are not able to detect the right and wrong cell.
As we can see improper immune system work leads to a lot of problems. So we should prevent the decline of immune function by doing daily exercise and taking proper nutrition. there are many nutrients that improve immune function, have a look at the table below:
| NUTRIENTS | DIETARY SOURCES |
| Vitamin B6 | Spinach, bananas, etc. |
| Vitamin E | Vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, whole grain, etc. |
| Zinc | Red meat, dry beans, nuts, etc. |
| High-quality protein | Fish, eggs, cheese, yogurt, etc. |
GASTROINTESTINAL CHANGES
As we age, many changes can occur in the gastrointestinal tract like:
- Delay in stomach emptying
- Delay in gastric output
- Decrease oesophageal sphincter motility
- Decline in the production of enzyme
- Stomach and small intestine digestive secretions are reduced
There are many problems that can also be seen, resulting in a decreased capacity of nutrient absorption from food. It leads to a deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Constipation is the most common which people face with aging.
If you are facing these changes you should first consult the doctor and take a Diet that is high in fibers and drink a sufficient amount of water. fiber helps to increase gastric motility and that can be taken from white beans, apples, guavas, etc.
HEARING IMPAIREMENT
Hearing impairment is common with aging. An aged person who has hearing impairment shows problems like understanding language, late response, hearing something unusual. When an older person is not able to hear properly they become:
- Depressed
- Uncooperative
- Unresponsive
- Frustrated
After this, they feel separated from others. The cause of hearing impairment can be a loud noise, eardrum damage, and a few diseases. If you have a hearing problem then should first talk to the doctor, the doctor may be recommend hearing aids(It is device that make sounds louder).
Now talk about how can we cope up with a hearing problem:
- Lets always people know that you can not hear properly
- Always pay attention to person who is talking
- You should talk to person in a place where there is no external noise
- If you are not able to hear the sentence, let people know
- Ask the person to speak slowly
These are a few tips that will help us to cope up with hearing impairment but the most important part is to talk to the doctor if you are having a hearing problem.
CHANGES IN SKIN AS GETTING OLD
As we get old, there are many changes in the skin. skin becomes dry, thin, loose(mainly around eyes & cheeks), less elastic, etc. The common skin condition with aging are wrinkles and dry skin.
- In wrinkles, skin loses its flexibility because of sun uv rays. When skin expose to sun then uv rays break elastic tissue. Wrikles can be impove with some creams that should be recommended by doctor.
- Dry skin is due to the loss of their oil glands. Dry skin can be improved by lotions,creams and fatty acid rich diet.
Skin changes depend on many factors like what we eat, habits like smoking, what is our lifestyle, etc. So we should always take good steps that help us to improve our health.
GETTING OLD IS A NATURAL PROCESS, IT IS A STAGE OF LIFE. WE SHOULD ALWAYS FACE THE SITUATION AND LIVE A LIVE WITH HAPPINESS.
Thank you for reading this far, today we talk about a few problems I hope this article will help you. if you want to know something more, then ask in the comment section and You can mail us by contact page.