7 Things that Happen as You Age

There is a story of a little boy sitting on his grandpa’s knee. He was looking at the skin on his arm. The little boy said to his grandpa, “Grandpa, did God make you?” “Yes”, the grandpa replied. The little boy asked, “Grandpa, did God make me?” “He certainly did”, the grandpa again replied. The little boy slowly rubbed the grandpa’s skin. “Grandpa, the little boy said in deep thought, “God is doing a much better job now days, isn’t he?” This post will briefly touch on 7 things that happen as you age.

As we age, there are certainly going to be some changes we will notice with the passing years. Some of them are quite apparent, and some of these things happen under the skin and are not readily noticeable.

#1-The Cardiovascular System

The most common change that happens to most people are the stiffening of the blood vessels and arteries. This causes your heart to work harder to pump blood to reach all the parts of your body. The heart muscles must adapt to the increased workload.

This increases the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) and other heart problems.

How Can You Promote Heart Health?

The first thing you can do is to include physical activity in your routine each day. Regular, moderate, exercise can be things like riding bike, swimming, or even going for a walk.

Choose fruit, vegetables, and other high fiber foods to add to your menu. Lean proteins, and limited salt are also great ways to plan a healthy diet.

Adequate rest is a great way to reduce stress in your life, and we all have one kind of stress or another to deal with. As you sleep, it gives you body a fantastic time to repair and replenish itself.

Don’t smoke. Smoking is strongly discouraged because it places a great toll on increased blood pressure and hardening of your arteries.

#2-Your Memory

As you age, you may find yourself searching for words that were once on the tip of your tongue. As an example, you may forget familiar names or find it more difficult to multitask.

Mental Acuity

One solution that is often suggested it to join a band and learn to play an instrument. This will help to create new pathways in your brain.

Stay mentally active by playing word games. Take up a new hobby, or take a class in something that you are interested in.

Remain socially active. Volunteer, spend time with friends and family, and participate in social events.

Be physically active each day and keep in contact with your family physician to manage any high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or other chronic disease.

#3-Your Bladder and Urinary Tract

As you age, your bladder becomes less elastic. This may result in more frequent need to urinate. Weakened bladder muscles and pelvic floor muscles may cause you to lose bladder control – urinary incontinence or difficulty to empty your bladder completely.

Men may have an inflamed or enlarged prostate which would cause difficulty emptying the bladder. It could also cause incontinence.

Are There Any Solutions to This Problem?

• Do Kegel exercises.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Make regular trips to the toilet.
• Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
• Avoid constipation. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and other high fiber foods.
• Avoid caffeine, acidic foods, alcohol, and carbonated beverages. These can make incontinence worse.  

#4-Constipation

As you age the large intestine changes. This can result with seniors having a problem with constipation. They tend to become more sedentary and do not feel thirsty enough to realize that their body needs a drink of water. Certain medications might also contribute to constipation.

What Can I Do to Prevent Constipation?

Get plenty of exercise, drink enough fluids, and prepare a healthy diet with plenty of fiber. This will often solve the problem.

Limit high-fat meats, sweets, and dairy products. Some medications may contribute to the problem as well, but plenty of fiber in your diet should be a big help with avoiding constipation.

Also, don’t ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. Ignoring the urge too long can cause constipation as well.

#5-Your Bones and Muscles

As you age, your bones become less dense and become shorter with time. It is easier to get a fracture and they take longer to heal.

Unless you are proactive, bones, muscles, tendons, and joints get weaker with time. These factors can affect your coordination, stability, and balance.

How Can You Keep Strong Bones?

• Avoid smoking, and limit alcoholic drinks.
• Get adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D.
• Doing resistance training
  will build strong muscles and bones. Carrying in your groceries, going the steps, instead of the elevator; lifting weights, all build strong bones and muscles.  

#6-Your Eyes and Ears

As you age, you may find it difficult to read small print. You may become more sensitive to glare and have more trouble adjusting to different levels of light. You may develop cataracts on the lens of your eye, causing your eyesight to become clouded.

Don’t be surprised if you have difficulty following a conversation in a crowded room or have difficulty hearing high frequencies.

Visit an Eye or Ear Specialist

 You should make a visit to an eye doctor and/or hearing specialist. You may find it necessary to be fitted for reading glasses and a hearing specialist may prescribe a hearing aid. Modern technology has a wide variety of options to choose from in hearing devices.

#7-Your Skin

With age, your skin becomes less elastic, more fragile, and the fatty tissue just below the skin becomes thinner. You may notice that your skin becomes drier with decreased production of natural oils. Wrinkles, age spots, and skin tags become more common.

The Best Care for Your Skin

• Wear sunscreen and a hat when going outdoors.
• Smoking contributes to skin damage, so don’t smoke.
• Check your skin regularly for changes in moles, etc. Report any changes to your doctor.
• Be gentle with your skin. Use mild soap and moisturizer, and wash in warm, not hot water.

7 Things That Happen As You Age

We touched on 7 things that happen as you age. Your heart, memory, bladder, and bowels all frequently change from when you were young, as well as your bones, muscles, ears, eyes, and skin. Moderate exercise and a healthy fiber-filled diet, as well as a healthy lifestyle go a long way in keeping your body at its optimal performance for a long while.

Please Leave a Comment!

I would love to hear from you. Who do you know who has reached a long life, and what do you think helped them to reach a healthy older age?

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Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. No content on this site should be substituted for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare practitioner. The information contained here is for informational purposes only. It is from my research and personal experience.