Learning About:

Age Related Health Conditions

Lourdes A. D. de la Cruz

Introduction

Aging is a normal process. As we age, our bodies undergo many changes, but aging does not mean poor health. Some of these events start occurring in the third or fourth decade and may go unnoticed. Each of us experience these changes in varying degrees and most of us handle and deal with them as best we can. Changes can be:

• observable, such as wrinkles, graying or thinning hair, weight gain, visual changes like difficulty reading small print and seeing in dim light; hearing difficulties
• internal such as slowing of digestion, slightly lower heart rate, frequent urination at night, decreased sense of smell, bone loss, decrease in the secretion of certain hormones, decreased immune function
• slowing of reflexes and reaction time.

These variations may be inconvenient and sometimes challenging but most of the time they are not troublesome and not necessarily incapacitating. However, because of the somewhat reduced efficiency of our body systems, we are vulnerable to some conditions. This section deals with types of aging, successful aging, the different age related conditions, and health conditions – acute or chronic ones. Suggestions to deal with some of these changes are given as appropriate. Internet tools, web links, and resources are provided