CHAPTER THREE Physical Changes
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Transcript of CHAPTER THREE Physical Changes
CHAPTER THREEPhysical Changes
Why Do We Age? Theories
Rate-of-Living Theories• Limited energy to expend in a lifetime • Excess calories may reduce lifespan
Why Do We Age? Theories
Cellular Theories• Limited number of times a cell can divide
(Hayflick limit)– Telomeres (tips of chromosomes) become
shorter with each cell division • Cross-linking
– Tissue becomes stiffer with age • Free radicals
– Reactive chemicals causing cellular damage
Why Do We Age? Theories
Programmed Cell Death Theories• Aging may be programmed into genetic
code– Cells may be pre-programmed to self-
destruct
Changes in the body that
occur with age
• Changes in Skin– Why does our skin wrinkle?
• Four-step process– Outer layer becomes thinner
because of cell loss– Collagen fibers lose flexibility– Elastin fibers lose ability to keep
skin stretched out– Underlying fat layer diminishes
– Environmental factors affecting skin
• Sun exposure• Smoking
– Other skin changes• Pigment-containing cells decrease• Age spots, moles• Varicose veins
Changes in Appearance
Changes in the Hair– Hair loss caused by destruction of
germ centers that produce hair follicles
– Graying caused by cessation of pigment production
– Other hair changes• Males do not lose facial hair.• Females gain facial hair.
– Caused by hormonal changes
Changes in Appearance
• Attributes of the aging voice:– Lowering in pitch– Increased breathlessness and trembling– Slower and less pronounced pronunciation – Decreased volume
• May be due to normative changes or poor health
Changes in the Voice
• Decrease in height with age– Between mid-50s and mid-70s men lose about 1
inch and women 2 inches– Compression of the spine – Changes in posture
• Weight gain then loss– Usually a weight gain between 20 and 50– Usually a weight loss throughout the older
years– How different between men and women?
• Research suggests that one lives longer with a normal body weight
Changes in Body Build
• Muscles– Strength loss: age 70 – up to 20%; age 80 – up to 40%– No difference in the rate of muscle change between men and
women
Changes in Mobility
Changes in Mobility
• Bones– Loss begins in the
late 30s, accelerates in the 50s, and slows in the 70s
– Gender differences– Osteoporosis: loss of
bone mass; leading cause of broken bones in older women
Changes in Mobility
• Joints– Osteoarthritis occurs when the bones beneath cartilage become
damaged– Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the joints
Changes in Vision
• Structural changes in the eye– Decreased ability to allow light into the eye– Adaptation between light and dark is slower– Presbyopia: difficulty focusing on close objects– Cataracts: spots develop on the lens, clouding vision– Glaucoma: pressure in the eye may result in loss of
peripheral vision
Changes in Vision
• Retinal Changes– Macular degeneration: loss of receptor cells
in the eye– Diabetic retinopathy: may result in blindness
Changes in Hearing
• Due to normative age-related changes• Due to loud environment
– Presbycusis: Reduced sensitivity to high-pitched tones Hearing Loss Simulation - YouTube
• With age there is a loss of touch only on smooth skin of the hand
• Temperature regulation is sometimes more difficult in older adults
Changes in Somesthesia
• Kinesthesis is ones sense of where they are in space; involving muscles and joints
• Vestibular system is in the inner ear and helps with balance and movement– Fear of falling, dizziness, vertigo increase with age
• Environmental hazards– Loose rugs– Slippery floors– Hip protection
• Tai Chi
Changes in Balance
• Taste receptor cells do not change in quantity across the lifespan
• Taste is dependent on smell• Smell diminishes after age 60 and
sometimes can be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease
Changes in Smell and Taste
• Underlying cause of diminished capacity– Accumulation of fat deposits– Stiffening of the heart muscle
Changes in the Cardiovascular System
• Congestive heart failure: cardiac output declines, heart gets larger—most common cause of hospitalization for those over 65
• Angina pectoris: chest pain due to insufficient oxygen supply to heart
• Myocardial infarction (MI): blood supply is severely reduced; pain may or may not be present
• Atherosclerosis: build-up of fat deposits; may lead to CVA
• Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke: blood flow to brain is cut off
• Hypertension: high blood pressure
Cardiovascular Disease: #1 cause of death
• Respiratory Diseases– Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), includes:
• Emphysema– Destruction of membranes around the air sacs in the lungs– 82% self-induced by smoking
• Chronic bronchitis– Bronchial passageways become irritated by dust, fumes, air
pollution, etc.– More common with people over 45
Changes in the Respiratory System
Changes in the Female Reproductive System
– Perimenopause• Transition to menopause involving changes in reproductive
organs and sexual functioning• Genital organ change begins in the 40s
– Menopause• The point at which the ovaries cease to release eggs
– Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – No physiological reason why most women cannot continue
sexual activity into old age.– Climacteric: the transition from reproductive to non-
reproductive years
Changes in the Male Reproductive System
– Unlike menopause, no event to mark male reproductive changes• Gradual decline in testosterone levels• Decrease in sperm production (30% between 30 and 60)
– Prostate cancer a real threat– Impotence/Erectile Dysfunction: treatable with drugs such as Viagra
• Psychological Implications– For healthy adults, sexual activity is a lifelong option.