Often, it is observed that, as we age, we may experience more health problems, such as skin sagging and wrinkling. Health issues result because the degeneration of the body begins and its pace progresses. We cannot prevent aging. It is part and parcel of life. But, what we can certainly do is delay the process of aging. Delaying the process of aging reduces the progression of disease in us. Long life is a gift, and aging is a natural process. So, we need to take care of our health and introduce some foods in our diet which can help in taking care of our health while aging.
Effects of Aging on the Body and Brain
Several gene activities occur as age advances. Our muscle weakens, minds turn slow, and we become more vulnerable to the disease. Those first strands of grey hair or wrinkles are the signs of aging. Every symptom is just further evidence of aging like waking up a little stiffer at night and growing along the waistline. We get many patients who complain of knee pain saying it’s just age and happen to ignore it or live with it till it deteriorates further and causes problems that are irreversible or may require knee replacement surgery. As you grow older, do not ignore pain. The reality is that both the knees are of the same age then why one knee turns painful and the other does not. Most people reach their peak of functioning at around 30 years of age. Natural changes in the cell slow them down or alter their capacity.
1. Eye troubles due to aging
Some age-related complaints are common, for instance, eye trouble after 40 is due to the aging process and can be prevented in a long run by having or consuming vitamins that are good for your eyesight. Cataracts or clouding of lens may begin to start at the age of 60. Prolonged exposure to the sunlight happens to increase the potential risk of cataracts. Glaucoma occurs due to the rise in the pressure in the eye and results in damage to the optic nerve. If you experience blurred vision or vision loss, get your eyes examined. It is a good idea to have a preventive check-up too, particularly if you have a history of diabetes or glaucoma in the family.
2. Hearing loss due to aging
About one-third of people who are 60 or older suffer from hearing loss to a certain extent. It occurs due to a loss of sensory receptors in the inner ear. At first, some sounds may be muffled and high-pitched voices may be harder to understand. Older men experience more hearing loss than women. Pain, drainage from the ear, and a rapid loss of hearing could be a sign of tumor or infection. If people just notice that “I am not hearing as I used to hear before” then it’s a sign of aging.
3. Decrease in the stamina or strength
As we age, we happen to lose muscle tissue, and our body muscles happen to turn less toned and more rigid. Weight training and stretching can improve flexibility and strength, though we can’t completely counteract the natural process of aging. Our organs lose that extra reserve too and the stamina and activeness reduce, thus making you more exhausted and fatigued. Tiredness sets in early in the evening after work, and we happen to overeat trying to gain stamina.
4. Weak memory due to aging
As the body’s absorption power reduces, the body’s mental capacity reduces to think. As age advances, the body absorbs fewer nutrients. The brain metabolism of the body gets affects. Every day, we perform hundreds of tasks but are unaware of the efforts involved. The two most important organs of your life are the brain and heart, and they function harmoniously with other parts of the body to perform daily activities. These tasks are of different forms, such as noticing colors, remembering names or calculations, and more. Mental abilities happen to modify throughout life, initially due to the brain maturation, and, later, on account of the aging of brain cells and their billions of complicated interconnections. This brain on average weighs 3 pounds but holds 400 blood vessels, 100 billion neurons, and trillion glial cells. Time is a major factor that passes with age. As we and our body age, our brain’s functional power reduces which is a natural process. Brain activity impacts our memory, our ability to multitask, and more.
Three major mechanisms that cause the adverse effect of aging are:
Energy consumption
Free radicals
Damage to our DNA
All of these factors impact our body parts and this truly involves the brain. The regions of the brain associated with processing episodic memory and executive functioning are more prone to aging which may relate to the decline of the cognitive function of the brain. So, it is the neurochemistry of the brain that happens to change with time, thereby affecting the major cognitive function. Aging affects all and it’s important to see how aging affects our life. Episodic and working memory happens to decline over time.
Energy and oxygen are two important features that our body need and which we get from nutrients in the food. Energy from food helps us to carry out various activities and functions along with blood circulation to the brain and heart. For all these body functions, energy is required and stored in various forms in your body through metabolism. Energy stored is equally proportional to energy expenditure as well. The mechanism by which this energy is developed from food is called metabolism. So, make sure you consume a healthy and balanced diet to have enough energy.
These are the signs of aging that can help you to overcome the effects of aging. So, take care of your diet and health as you age and stay healthy.
