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Process of aging is characterized by
degenerative and irrevesible biological changes.
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Process of aging consist of
- 1. Appearance
- 2. Functional ability
- 3. Genetic and environmental factors
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Skin
- A. Loss of strength and elasticity, wrinke dry appearence.
- B. Facial hair increases, men in the ear, women on chin.
- C. Head and body hair becomes gray and more sparce.
- D. Sun exposure causes, lentigo senilis (liver spots), basel cell carcinoma and seborrheici keratoses.
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Musculoskeletal system
- A. Diminished bone and muscle mass
- B. Muscles atrophy with age, thus diminished strength
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Osteoporosis
most common in women
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Osteoarthritis
Degenerative joint disease
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Nervous system
Neuronal loss and diminished blood flow to the brain.
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Atherosclerosis involves
the depositioning of the fatty substances in the lining of the arteries.
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When atherosclerosis occures in the neck arteries
it impairs blood flow to the brain.
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Certain behavioral and fuctional characteristics are believed to be associated with age-relatedchanges in the nervous system. What are they?
- 1. Increase in time needed to react.
- 2. Difficulty in remembering recent events.
- 3. Difficulty in learning new motor skills.
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Eyes
- lens lose the ability to accommodate - difficulty focusing on close object.
- This usually occurs by the age 45.
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Cataracts
opacity of the lens.
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Glaucoma
an increase in intraocular pressure due to a buildup of aqueous humor.
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Ears
- Gradual decline in hearing acuity.
- Difficulty with hearing certain high frequencies.
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Respiratory system the ability to take in air is altered by
- A. Skeletal changes
- B. Atrophy and weakening of respiratory muscles.
- C. Lungs become less elastic
- D. Thickening of alveolar -capillary membrane which causes shallow resp.
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Cardovascular system
- 1. More frequent aarhytmias
- 2. A decrease in the maximal attainable heart rate
- 3. A decrease in cardiac output.4. Increased fatigue.
- 5.
Walking is the best form of exercise. 6. Increased systolic blood pressure. - 7. Arterial inelasticity
- 8. Atherosclerosis
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Gastrointestinal
- 1. Decrease in appetite
- 2. Weight loss
- 3. Heartburn, indigestion, flatus, and constipation
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Urinary system
- 1. Decreased kidney function due to loss of functioning nephrons.
- 2. Less blood filtered by the kidneys... decrease in medication filtered which increase drug toxicity.
- 3. Increase of resifual urine due to dimenished bladder tone which increase UTI'S.
- 4. Increase freq. and urgency
- 5. Enlarged prostate in men
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Atrophy
a diminution of cells and tissues with a corresponding change in the structure and function of various organs.
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