As you age all your vital organs begin to lose some function. Aging happens in all the body cells, organs and tissues, and these changes affect the functioning of all body systems. Physiological changes that take place in the human body leading to senescence, the decline of biological functions and of the ability to adapt to metabolic stress. In humans the physiological developments are normally accompanied by psychological and behavioral changes, and other changes, involving social and economic factors, also occur.
The effects of aging on the respiratory system are like those that occur in other organs: maximum function gradually declines. These changes in respiratory mechanisms are primarily a reflection of the increased stiffness of the bony cage of the chest and decreased strength of the muscles that move the chest during respiration. Age-related changes in the lungs include:
• Decreases in peak airflow and gas exchange
• Decreases in measures of lung function such as vital capacity (the maximum amount of air that can be breathed out following a maximum inhalation)
• Weakening of the respiratory muscles
• Decline in the effectiveness of lung defence mechanisms
These changes contribute somewhat to an older person's reduced ability to do intense exercise, especially intense aerobic exercise, such as running, biking, and mountain climbing. However, age-related decreases in heart function may be a more important cause of such limitations.
The brain and nervous system are
As you begin to get older your muscles within your digestive tract can start to become really weak and would possibly start giving you the risk of having a lot of constipation. Also as you get older your heart is beginning to get less efficient and would not be able to pump the blood around your body like what it used to have done. Also the other things that could happen to your organs as you begin to get older are
The elderly population is growing rapidly and now makes up greater than thirteen percent of the United States population. (APA, 1994). With such a record growth, there are different aspects to aging that are still being analyzed. Many may think of reaching late life as a rite of passage, but many face this time with a different view. Through the movie "UP', we are granted an opportunity into view the struggles of an elderly widowed man by the name of Mr. Fredrickson and the challenges in which he faces in his later life. The movie, takes one on a journey through his sorrows and his triumphs until he realizes what the true meaning of happiness is.
Humans undergo several stages during their lifetime including growth, development, reproduction and senescence. Senescence is defined as the deteriorative biological changes that organisms experience as they age eventually leading to death. These changes include low metabolism, a weak immune system, memory loss, poor vision and loss of hearing. Senescence begins in humans during their post-reproductive years. However, gerontology research has shown that individuals who reproduce late have longer life spans compared to individuals who reproduce early. Nonetheless, it does not indicate that senescence is inevitable. All organisms experience senescence,
changes in the lungs. The walls of the airways thicken and more mucus is produced. Damage to
There are many factors that contribute to the vast differences in physical function in the aging adult. One of these factors is related to immunity. As we age our immunity progressively declines putting us at a high risk for disease and illness. While the decline is gradual it has the snowball effect. The elderly population is much more likely to be affected by these diseases and illnesses (Health, 2011). Disease is believed to accelerate aging biologically speaking (Spirduso, 2004).
The lungs provide us with vital oxygen that we need and remove carbon dioxide from the air. Air enters the body through our nose and passes down the pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box) and finally the trachea (wind pipe). The trachea then splits up into two tubes called the bronchi (singular form: bronchus). This then splits up into bronchioles. Attached to these bronchioles are the alveoli (tiny air sacs lined with a thin layer of cells that have an excellent blood supply). This is where gas exchange occurs. The lungs' main function is to help oxygen from the air we breathe enter red blood cells. These red blood cells carry oxygen around the body to be used in the cells around our body. The lungs also help the body to remove CO2 gas when we breathe
There is also a large increase in airway resistance and a collapse of the lower airways during expiration and a decrease in the elastic recoil of the
As people age there are many physiological changes that occur because of the age related changes in each body system. There are numerous of physiological changes in the major body systems such as the cardiovascular and the respiratory systems. The physiological changes of the cardiovascular system in older adults may include slower heart rate, decreased cardiac output, abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias), increase in blood pressure, and angina (chest pain). Also, orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing, is common with older age and could lead to a fall
This paper will discuss the relationship between the aging process and key diseases associated with aging. Examples of aging-associated diseases include cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases (López-Otín, Blasco, Partridge, Serrano, & Kroemer, 2013, p. 1194). Of these, we will discuss in-depth recent studies that have linked aging with Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. These diseases affect a significant proportion of the population over the age of 65 and place a considerable burden on the American health care system. Therefore, a better understanding of how they are related to aging and each other can result in the adoption of innovative treatments and declined risk for older adults.
In the beginning stages of fibrosis, shortness of breath would not be noticed with normal daily activities because there is not an increased need for oxygen at the tissues or increased production of carbon dioxide. Mr. L would likely be able to compensate for the amount oxygen needed in regular activities without feeling short of breath because the thickness of the membrane is not yet extreme enough to affect the diffusion rates for normal activities. Unfortunately, even in the beginning stages of the fibrosis, because there is an increased need for oxygen at the tissues and increased production of carbon dioxide, the thickening membrane and decreased diffusion rate will make his body feel the effects. His muscles have an increased metabolism and are not getting the oxygen that is needed, nor is the body ridding itself of the excess carbon dioxide produced by the increased muscle usage. With increased levels of CO2 in the circulation and a need for oxygen, the body would signal him to increase the amount of ventilation (Hall, 2016, 543). It should be noted, though, regardless of lung disease, shortness of breath occurs initially with exercise. When the brain begins sending motor impulses to the muscles, research has shown that it also transmits an impulse to the brain stem to excite the respiratory center. Ventilation often increases before the
As an individual grows older, the body will also undergo changes to its system. The effects of changes on the respiratory system can cause problems to develop more easily and be more difficult to manage. Some changes that occur over time are that the nose tissue has reduced support which causes symptoms that interfere with air passage and reduced secretions causing tickling of the throat and coughing. The trachea will stiffen causing more difficulty in the coughing process making the ability to expel lodged items less effectively. The lungs will become smaller; the recoil of the lungs is decrease forcing the body to use other muscles in order to maintain the proper amount of gas exchanges. The thorax and the diaphragm lose skeletal muscle strength causing a reduction in vital capacity and residual volume left in the lungs. Elderly are also more apt to getting respiratory infections because their immune and lymphatic systems also are undergoing changes as they age. All of these changes mentioned above not only impact just the respiratory system but they also force an individual to change their normal daily functions. An
Several aspects of aging can be debilitating for the elderly population, as they often include loneliness, general decline, and lack of social support (Anisman, 2014). The senior population, already at large, is projected to surpass that of other age groups and increase the burden on our health care system. Only a small proportion of individuals age successfully, with the majority experiencing a spectrum of cognitive impairments that can manifest into neurodegenerative disorders. This is due to a broad range of factors, including genetic and environmental determinants that ultimately shape the aging process. The hippocampus, a subcortical brain region, is responsible for mediating memory consolidation, spatial navigation, and to some extent learning (Kolb and Whishaw, 2013). It is particularly impaired in old individuals and the focus of numerous experiments aimed at delaying degeneration or alternatively enhancing neurogenesis. This limbic structure is readily influenced by the stress response, namely the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis (Kolb and Whishaw, 2013). Aged individuals tend to exhibit elevated levels of corticosteroids, which promote hippocampal deterioration (Cameron and McKay, 1999). A specific region within the hippocampus, the dentate gyrus, is unique in that it not only succumbs to such effects but continues to undergo neurogenesis (Cameron and McKay, 1999). However, the rate of neurogenesis is reduced if not inhibited in old
Aging! We all do it every day, but have you ever thought how it is going to affect the rest of your life or more importantly your career? Aging isn’t something that we get to choose if we participate in, however working is, and aging may affect that choice. Right now, I want you to think about the age of sixty-five. What words pop into your head when you think of someone sixty-five? I’d imagine some of the words you thought of were retired, old, fragile, slow, as well as many others. Those words right there all help to explain the many concerns that one’s employer may have when hiring someone that is of the older population. When we think of the older population in the work force we don’t necessarily think of positive things, instead we think of things. When we think of this population in the workforce we generally think of lower production rates and higher costs. These can create issues among the older population, as employers must consider all the possibilities when hiring someone. We know that more people in the older population are continuing to try to continue their careers, but why? How hard is it for them to continue? What changes have made it easier? How are the younger and middle aged populations perceiving them in the work place? This are only some of the many question surrounding the increase of aged workers.
Also spelled as ageing, this is generally the process of becoming old. It is the in a way the opposite of immortality. In a broader aspect, it may occur to single cells in an organism also called cellular senescence or the population of a species, known as population ageing. This process primarily affects human beings and fungi. In humans, it signifies the accumulation of various changes which occur over time. The changes include physical, social and psychological changes.
With age, changes to the body may result in slower heart rate as the heart muscles degenerate slightly.