Aging is known as changes, process of growth and development of living organisms. Aging refers to multidimensional process of physical, psychological and social change. Dimensions of aging grow and expand over time. Physical reactions may slow down with age, while knowledge of world events and wisdom may expand. The aging has been divided as young old (65-74), the middle old (75-84) and the oldest one (aged and above 85).

Population and Aging

The number and the proportion of older people in the society are getting increased each day. The causes are migration, longer life expectancy and decreased birth rate. Comparing to young people they have different requirements from society and government. They have more political influences too.

Lifespan of a Human

Human lives have divided into various ages due to biological changes. It varies from person to person. In USA, old age is considered to begin at the age of legal retirement, approximately 65 years. Human age is also divided by decades.

Cultural Variation of Aging

Calculating aging will differ from culture to culture; in some culture they express aging by counting years with or without including current year. For example, it could be said about the same person that he is twenty years old or that he is in twenty-first year of his life, in some cases the status in calculting age totally differ from the above, they are very much interested in advance status to reach stages in life, so they are not even bothered about the numerical age. Old age is given more respect in status. Western culture is totally differ from East Asian culture. In traditional Chinese culture they consider that people are born at the age 1, not at 0.

Successful Aging

Successful aging can be viewed in both concepts physically and sociology. It is seen in individuals across their life span with the particular focus on later years of life. We can describe successful aging as “optimal aging” or “healthy aging”. Successful aging is consists of the below three components.

• Active engagement with life.
• Low probability of disease and disability.
• High cognitive and physical function capacity.

Successful aging consist the following six dimensions.

Objective (Social support)

• Length of unadvisable health
• Good mental health
• Self-rated life satisfaction in eight domains, namely marriage, income related work, children, friendship, social controls, hobbies, religion and recreations (i.e.) sports, community service activities.
• No physical disability over the age of 75 as rated a physician.
• Good subjective health assessment (i.e. good self-ratings of one’s health)

How can you measure your age?

• From his/her birth
• Age in parent’s development
• Gestational age
• Last menstruation date of women
• Fertilization age

How to maintain your health from aging?

Things to Avoid

Health is playing a major role in aging by maintaining good health we can overcome the aging. Smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet and alcohol consumption will lead to early death. By avoiding all these unhealthy habits and adopting healthy behavior, eating nutritious foods, physically active and avoiding tobacco and smoking we can easily prevent or control the devastating effects of many of the nation’s leading causes of death regardless of one’s age.

Tobacco Use is the major and unpreventable cause of death and disease in all over the world. Cigarette smoking is the main cause more than 440000 deaths each year. Cigarette smoking become a fashion of all ages both men and women, this will lead to heart and cancer related diseases.

Infectious diseases are caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. The best way to avoid this infectious disease is to prevent mosquito bites. We can avoid mosquito bites by applying insect repellent, wearing long sleeves, pants and socks to reduce the amount of bare skin exposed.

Physical Activity

Regular physical activity will help you a lot in reducing the risk of early dying by heart disease, cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. Physical activity also helps to control weight, contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints. Exercise helps to relieve pain of arthritis, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and can decrease the need for hospitalizations, physicians visit, and medications. People of all age groups can get benefit from moderate physical activity.

Chronic diseases are due to the usage of more tobacco, lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. It generally not prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just disappear. Major chronic diseases are cancer, heart diseases, stroke and diabetes. 88% of those over 65 years of age have at least one chronic health condition. Promoting healthy behavior through education and community policies and practices can reduce the burden of chronic diseases.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a leading cause for aging. Effective treatments are available to reduce the burden of arthritis, but currently it is underused. Moderate exercise can reduce joint pain, stiffness, build strong muscle around the joints, increase flexibility and endurance.

Your Heart and Age

Cardiovascular Health is the nation’s leading cause of death. Usage of more tobacco, lack of physical activity and poor nutrition are the main cause to heart disease. Modifying these behaviors is needed for both preventing and controlling heart disease. You can prevent heart diseases though you are old.

Prevent Yourself from Cancer

Cancer is the second most cause of death. It can be controlled through prevention, early detection and treatment. The behavioral and environmental factors play a main role in reducing the cancer risks. Cancer screening services and high quality treatments are available and accessible. Colorectal cancer is another cause of death. Lack of physical activity, low fruit and vegetable intake, low fiber diet, obesity, alcohol consumption and tobacco use may contribute to the risk for colorectal cancer. Breast cancer is detected in its earliest by mammography.

Keep Diabetic and Overweight under Control

Diabetes is costly and increasingly common chronic disease. People aged about 65 years or older have more chances of suffering with diabetes. To prevent the burden of diabetes, the early detections, improved care and better self-management are the key strategies.

Obesity among adults has doubled. Overweight is a risk factor for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis-related disabilities and cancers.

Oral Health and Age

Oral health problem can cause pain and suffering as well as difficulty in speaking, chewing and swallowing. It is more problem as you age. Maintaining appropriate dental care with nutritious diet. Can improve oral health. Epilepsy and seizures affect all ages of people, particularly the very young and the elder.

Aging and Mental Health

Mental Health can affect an older adult’s quality of life. They experience specific mental disorders including depression and anxiety disorders. You need to manage with the physical and cognitive changes associated with aging as well as various losses such as the loss of family members and friends which are frequently associated with late life.

Depression caused in contrast to the normal emotional experience of sadness, grief, loss or passing mood states. These symptoms are not a normal part of aging. It often occurs with other serious illness such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer. If depression left untreated it impairs ones enjoyment of life and may increase disability. A positive approach during old age is necessary to everyone.

Do you know about immunization for adults?

Infectious diseases cause death, pneumonia and influenza are among the top ten causes of death for older adults. Influenza vaccination can reduce both direct health care risks as well as indirect cost from work absenteeism associated with influenza illness. Pneumonia is a serious infection to older adults, women and the old age people.

What are the injuries that can affect older persons?

Falls in Old Age

One of every three persons aged 65 and older falls each year. Falls are the leading cause of injuries, hospital admission for trauma and deaths due to injury. Fracture like hip fracture is the most serious health consequence of falls. These injuries can be prevented by exercise which improves strength, balance and flexibility. Medications may affect balance. Reduce fall hazards through home modifications and by removing items that may cause tripping.

How can you plan your old age life?

Family members should ask and take decisions on behalf of loved one who is seriously ill. The older adults should plan about their wishes and health care with family members. Many older adults feel difficult to begin a discussion about end of life issues. Several resources are available to help the older adults for conversations and practical planning for end of life care. The health insurance program covers preventive health services and screenings.

Aging and Public Health Awareness

As people are living longer, their expectations about quality of life is increasing. Death is not preventable and most of the people will die as a result of chronic diseases. Many deaths occur within hospitals. Life care has been recognized as an important clinical issue needing improvement.

The top priorities for the focus of end of life issues are as follows:

• Educating the public about palliative care
• Identifying the contacts for end of life issues in health departments
• Incorporating comprehensive cancer control plans

Planning about your healthy life will support you at all your walk of life. Keep yourself active with exercise, healthy food and keep your mind peaceful for better life and peaceful end.

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