Altered Homeostasis Flashcards
What is altered homeostasis?
The process of change brought on by the normal ging process and the impact of illness and injury
What are the cardiac system changes with aging?
Decreased diastolic function Decreased CO Decreased response to symp nerve stimulation More reliance on atrial kick Decreased HR
What is the most predictable change with aging?
Decrease in maximal heart rate with exercise and stress
What is the effect of A-fib with aging?
Since we rely more on atrial kick, impairs CO
What are the lung changes as we age?
- Alteration of collagen and elastin (decreased elasticity)
- Collapse of small airways without change in total lung capacity
- Ventilation perfusion imbalance
What are the GI changes in old age?
Slowed colon transit time (not normal)
Slower EtOH metabolism
Why is constipation seen often in old age?
Slowed Colonic transit time
What are the CNS changes seen in aging
Decreased blood flow to the brain
Cerebral atrophy
What happens to the iris as we age?
Increased rigidity
What happens to the lens of the eye as we age? What is the consequence of this?
Accumulation of yellow substance–more glare
What happens to pupil size as we age?
Decreases
What happens to our perception of color are we age?
Alters
What happens to the lens of the eye as we age? What is the consequence of this?
Accumulation of yellow substance–more glare
Decreased elasticity
What happens to the size of the anterior chamber of the eye as we age?
Decreases in size
What happens to the cochlear nerves as we age? What is the clinical consequence of this?
Decreased number
Tinnitus
What happens out ability to hear different tones as we age?
Decreased–more loss of higher frequencies than lower
What happens to the skin as we age?
Decreased vascularity
Decreased melanocytes
What happens to the dermis as we age?
Lower density
Lower Vascularity
Lower melanocytes
What happens to the epidermis as we age?
Altered turnover time
What are the clinical consequences of skin aging?
Decreased sweating
Poor insulation
What happens to the arch of the foot as we age?
Decreased arch
As we age, GFR goes down, and our concentration capacity is decreased. What are the clinical consequences of this? (3)
Decreased drug clearance
Facilitation of incontinence
Dehydration
What happens to the level of norepi, vasopressin, insulin, ANP, and PTH as we age?
Goes up
What are the consequences of the endocrine changes as we age?
Altered sodium homeostasis
Decreased glucose tolerance
Impaired volume regulation
