God willing, every human being will age someday. Ageing is an inevitable phase of life that commences immediately we are born.
Scientists inform that we start ageing
once we take our first breath; which perhaps underscores the reason why
we are certain number of years ‘old’ — and not ‘young.’
Medical experts have defined ageing as a
continuous process of life in humans that restricts normal functions
and makes one more prone to disease and death.
But more people are living longer,
according to a United Nations report in 2012, which states that the
population of elderly persons is the fastest growing around the world.
The world body notes that the number of elderly people is expected to
hit two billion by 2050.
A consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Dr.
Tope Ajewole, describes ageing as a compulsory metabolic process and
notes that many factors like genes, lifestyles, diet and environment
determine how long an individual would live.
He states that though life expectancy
has increased in modern times — thanks to advances in science,
technology and medicine — the hustle and bustle of daily life take a
heavy toll on our bodies and health.
Ajewole says, “For most of us, taking
care of our health is the last thing on our mind, as we are too busy.
Eventually, negligence takes its toll on our body and manifests itself
through a serious illness or in rapid physical deterioration in old
age.”
As humans grow older, physicians say,
physical conditions decline, which may lead to many illnesses and
ailments. Some of the common health problems that affect people as they
age include the following:
Alzheimer`s disease
This is an incurable and degenerative
disease that is mostly diagnosed in people over the age of 65. It is the
most common form of dementia, with nearly three million sufferers
worldwide. Alzheimer’s greatly affects a patient’s emotional, mental and
behavioural abilities, researchers say.
Depression
A psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Adebayo,
speaking during this year’s World Mental Health Day, argued that
depression is not necessarily an inevitable part of ageing, though he
did agree that elderly persons are susceptible to depression due to
changes in their lifestyles, loss of loved ones, and isolation. If left
untreated, it can lead to memory impairment, fatigue, lethargy, and,
sometimes, suicidal tendencies.
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease is caused by disorders of
the heart and blood vessels. It is the biggest cause of death worldwide,
experts warn. Researchers say around 87 per cent of coronary heart
disease deaths are found among people who are 60 years and older. It
includes raised blood pressure, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular
disease, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital
heart disease and heart failure.
Eye diseases
An ophthalmologist, Dr. Grace James says
visual impairment occurs with age. According to her, some changes lead
to significant visual impairment in elderly persons that affects their
ability to perform daily functions. James adds that this functional
decline, in turn, results in decreased independence and increased risk
for falls, fractures and depression. Since symptoms may be insidious and
slowly progressive, early diagnosis and treatment are vital to prevent
blindness and total loss of function.
Leading common causes of visual
impairment in the elderly include cataracts, glaucoma, macular
degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
She says, “Aging can also cause the lens
to darken, grow opaque, and in some cases thicken, causing
nearsightedness. Clouding of the lens, which is called cataract, usually
develops slowly over many years. It may go unnoticed until the
cloudiness blocks the central line of sight and impairs vision.”
Bone and joint diseases
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the
bone mineral density is reduced and it can lead to an increased risk of
fracture. It can occur due to lack of vitamin D, calcium, physical
activity, hormonal changes or diseases such as hypothyroidism and
hyperparathyroidism.
Arthritis is the inflammation of the
joints. There are more than 100 types of arthritis of which
osteoarthritis is the most common. It is a degenerative and chronic
condition ranging from very mild to very severe.
Prostate enlargement
It is a common disease that occurs in
men as they grow older. Their prostate gland becomes enlarged with age.
This causes urination problems like frequent, weak and interrupted
flows.
It can lead to conditions such as urinary tract infections, kidney or bladder damage, incontinence, and acute urinary retention.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which
a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce
or respond to insulin. It is incurable but it can be controlled through
changes in diet, lifestyle and medication.
Cancer
Cancer is a term for a group of more
than a hundred diseases involving unregulated cell growth. Though cancer
can affect all age groups, cancers of the prostrate, colon and breast
are the most common among the elderly.
But you can take steps to protect yourself from these diseases by taking a conscious decision to live a healthy life today.
These steps include getting involved in
regular physical activities and making healthy food choices, knowing
your numbers, blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels.
Generally, take good care of yourself and let your doctor be your friend as you grow older.
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