The Aging Process Essays

The human organism is a collective structural and functional integrated system. It consists of many components; chemicals, cells, tissues, organs and systems. Atoms being the smallest unit of matter comprise the cell. Cells are the basic structural and functional units that build the body.

Throughout a lifetime, old bone is removed (resorption) and new bone is added (formation) to the skeleton. During childhood and teenage years, new bone is added faster than old bone is removed. Consequently, bone become larger, heavier, and denser. Bone formation continues at a pace faster than resorption until peak bone mass, which is reached around age 30. After age 30, bone resorption slowly exceeds bone formation. In women, bone loss is most rapid in the first years after menopause but persists throughout the postmenopausal years. Based on year 2000 census data, it is estimated that 55% of people age 50 and older have either osteoporosis or low bone mass. The major risk

As we grow older, reflecting on one’s life becomes a natural part of the aging process. This paper is a life review taken from my grandfather, Mr. D.H., who was born in the 1940’s, he is currently 75 years old. He has a birthday coming up soon in November where he will be 76 years old. He currently lives by himself in an apartment in a retirement community designed for older able adults, where this interview took place. Overall for his age, his health is stable only suffering from Type I diabetes and a thyroid condition (didn’t specify), that he was diagnosed with in his late 50s that didn’t allow him to work anymore. Despite his current disorders, he’s still able to do for himself, and continues to smoke cigarettes plus indulge in a beer or two a day.

396). When blood calcium needs to be replenished, the trabecular bone gives up minerals. The loss of trabecular bone is significantly apparent in men and women in their 30s. However, the trabecular bone can start to desintegrate whenever calcium withdrawals exceed deposits. Furthermore, cortical bone also gives up calcium, however this occurs at a slower and steadier pace. The cortical bone begins to give up ususally around someone in their 40s. Therefore, as bone loss continues, bone density begins to decline, which causes osteoporosis to become apparent. For instance, "Bones become so fragil that even the body's own weight can overburden the spine - vertebrae may suddenly disintegrate and crush down, painfully pinching major nerves" (Whitney & Rolfes, 2013, p. 396). Nonmodifiable risk factors for osteoporosis tend to occur in the older age, female gender, smaller frame Caucasian, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino. In addition, it occurs in people with family history of osteoporosis or fractures. However, modifiable risk factors include, sedentary lifestyle, diet inadequare in clacium and vitamin D, diet excessive in protein, sodium, caffeine, cigarrette smoking, alcohole abuse and low

Osteoporosis is a disease of bone that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone is altered. Osteoporosis is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in women as a bone mineral density 2.5 standard deviations below peak bone mass (20-year-old healthy female average) as measured by DXA; the term "established osteoporosis" includes the presence of a fragility fracture.[1] Osteoporosis is most common in women after menopause, when it is called postmenopausal osteoporosis, but may also develop in men, and may occur in anyone in the presence of particular hormonal

Osteoporosis is when bones become weak or brittle, and have reduced mass. The bones in the human body are constantly renewing themselves, meaning, the old bone is replaced by new bone and then broken down. At a young age, the body makes new bone at a faster rate than it tears down old bone resulting in an increase of bone mass. However, at a older age, the body stops producing new bone and has to rely on the bone mass that was built up at a younger age.

Osteoporosis is the gradual process in which tissue is lost from bones, resulting in brittle and fragile bones. Bones become less dense and become more prone to fracture. This may be due to a variety of factors and usually occurs during old age.

Osteoporosis is referred to as the decrease in bone density and mass over time. The interior bones become progressively weaker and can cause a stooped posture. This makes the individual more susceptible to bone fractures. Osteopenia regards a condition where the bone material density is considered lower than normal. This is usually a precursor to the musculoskeletal disorder, known as osteoporosis. The term ‘osteoporosis’ means ‘porous bones’. In this case, bone is a living tissue that is continuously being broken down and replaced. Thus, osteoporosis happens when the creation of bone does not keep up with the removal of the old bone. In this disorder, the bones are diminished and deteriorated in structure. This condition is typically prevalent in older women due to an estrogen deficiency with menopause. The lack of estrogen increases bone resorption and decreases bone deposition. In addition, osteoporosis can occur with atrophy, which is caused by disuse. Additionally, osteoporosis can occur in men due to the aging process as well as patients who have received corticosteroids, which are hormones used to treat inflammatory conditions.

Intrinsic skin aging results from the normal chronological processes that affects all organs during aging and is influenced by numerous factors that change during aging such as decreases in hormonal production [42]. It is well established that decreases in hormonal production results in a loss of moisture in aging skin, with concomitant reduction in elasticity, epidermal atrophy, increased collagen degradation and wrinkling of the skin [43 44]. Adult skin progressively thins at a rate that accelerates with age and all components of skin appear to decrease in thickness with age [45, 46]. The changes that occur to different layers of the skin are depicted in Figure 3.

According to Judith (2010), Osteoporosis is a loss of the reabsorption in the bones by way of calcium, plasma, and phosphate. Estrogen production helps bones metabolism by stimulating osteoblastic activity and limiting osteoclastic effects of the parathyroid hormone. It develops when the new formation of bones fall behind in the reabsorption process (Judith, 2010). In simpler terms, it’s a loss of bone mass due to a metabolic bone disorder affected by the rate of bone resorption advances while the rate of the bone formation reduces. According to Judith (2010), the bones end up losing calcium, phosphates and end up brittle making them prone to fractures and further complications (P . 236).

• Bone loss (osteoporosis). The body loses calcium more quickly after menopause, causing your bones to become weaker. This can make bone breaks (fractures) more likely.

Osteoporosis takes place when the removal rate of the old bone tissue is faster than the formation of new bone. Normally in the beginning stages of bone loss there are no symptoms exhibited. When weakness has developed in the bones due to osteoporosis, some signs and symptoms that appear are: height loss, forward bent posture, back pain or fractures that occur easily. Bones are regenerated continuously, the aged bone is destroyed as the new bone is created. As the body ages, and the process of old bones being broken down occurs at a quicker rate than new bone being formed, this process decreases bone mass. The chances of developing osteoporosis is influenced by the amount of bone mass developed in adolescent years. An elevated bone mass at peak level indicates the amount of bone present and indicates that you have less chances to develop osteoporosis with age (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, “About 54 million Americans have osteoporosis and low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Studies suggest that approximately one in two women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis.” The bone disorder may be common, but there are many risk factors for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis usually happens with elders, especially in postmenopausal women. According to Human Anatomy and

the time of the menopause and in men at about age 55 and leads to an increase in fracture

Humanity has come a long way as we evolve and adapt to the changing environment. Through the years, we have managed to overcome several limitations, which in the past were nothing more than dreams. We succeeded in landing on the moon and communicating over long distance, yet there are still some boundaries we have yet to cross despite our best effort. Aging is an inevitable process of nature. While we cannot stop the ticking clock in our body, we have made it possible for aging to be delayed and relieved to a great extent through advance technology and modern governance. High-tech equipments and medications are available for the treatments of more illnesses as our understanding of medicine improves and governments nowadays are doing