From your heart and eyes to your skin and bones, you have a lot of control over how you feel as you age. Knowing what changes are normal as grow older and what is not may help you enjoy a better physique. You can also try to prevent or decrease these changes by taking some easy measures. Find out more about the different body changes with aging through our write-up below:
Heart Will Work Harder
Your arteries and blood vessels get stiffer as you age. To pump blood, your heart has to work harder. High blood pressure and other heart issues may result from this.
Try Doing: Remain active. A little moderate activity each day, whether it be walking, running, or swimming, can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure.
To keep your heart healthy, consume a lot of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. For stress management, get adequate rest.
Skin Will Feel Different
Your skin may seem drier and less supple than it was previously. That is because as you get older, your skin produces less natural oil. Additionally, you perspire less and shed part of the fat that is found beneath the skin. As a result, it could appear thinner. You could also see skin tags, age spots, and wrinkles starting to appear.
Try Doing: Take warm baths and showers only since hot water dries out the skin.
When you are outside, dress protectively and wear sunscreen. Check your skin frequently, and let your doctor know if you see any changes, such as moles.
Decline in Sight and Hearing
It could be challenging for you to focus on up-close items in old age. Your first pair of reading glasses may be necessary. You may also perhaps experience glaring or have trouble adjusting to sudden changes in light.
In addition, your hearing may make it difficult for you to hear at high frequencies or follow talks in a noisy environment.
Try Doing: Regularly check your hearing and vision. To protect your eyes when you go outside, wear sunglasses. To shield yourself from or block loud noises, put on earplugs.
Changes in Teeth and Gums
Your gums may appear to pull away from your teeth and some medications dry out the mouth. You may also be more susceptible to infections and tooth decay if you have a dry mouth.
Try Doing: To get rid of food and plaque between your teeth, brush twice a day and floss once. It is the best strategy to guard against tooth loss and gum disease. Visit your dentist for regular examinations and cleanings as well.
Bones Start to Become Brittle
Bone deterioration starts in your 40s and 50s. They grow more fragile and less thick, hence your chance of fracture rises. You may even notice that you appear shorter. In fact, starting in your 40s, you might become 1 to 2 inches shorter when your spine’s disks shrink.
Try Doing: Get enough calcium and vitamin D in your daily meals. Food like almonds, dairy, vegetables such as kale and broccoli are good sources to incorporate into your diet.