C1 Physical Effects of Aging Flashcards
What is cardiovascular disease?
- narrowing of the blood vessels due to fatty deposits and build up (atherosclerosis)
- atherosclerosis can result in hypertension and heart attacks
- blood vessels lose elasticity causing the heart to work harder
- fatty deposits can break away and block the artery which can cause an angina or heart attack
What are the health factors that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
- genetic inheritance
- diabetes
- obesity
- diabetes
- high blood cholesterol
What are the lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
- smoking
- alcohol
- diet high in salt
- diet high in saturated fats
- lack of exercise
What are the negative effects of cardiovascular disease?
- loss of independence
- anxiety about health
- depression
- anger
- frustration
What are the positive effects of cardiovascular disease?
- closer relationships with family members and friends
- choosing to improve lifestyle
What is degeneration of the nervous tissue?
Death of the nervous cells
What does the degeneration of the nervous tissue cause intellectually?
- short term memory and the ability to learn new information declines
- reaction time and performance of tasks may become slower
- new skills may be learned as some areas of the brain may produce new nerve cells
What does the degeneration of the nervous tissue cause physically?
- blood flow to the brain decreases causing brain cell loss to be quicker
- impulses may become slower
- the self repairing process in cells occurs slower making the individual more susceptible to injury
What can speed up the degeneration of the nervous tissue and decline in brain function?
- having high bp
- diabetes
- high cholesterol
What is osteoarthritis?
- a degenerative disease as a result of wear and tear of the joints
- causes joints to become painful and stiff
What physical changes take place due to osteoarthritis?
- thinning and roughening of joint cartilage
- bones rub together causing pain and swelling
What is the effect of osteoarthritis?
- mobility and movement become limited as movement of joints becomes difficult
What is reduced absorption of nutrients?
- the body not being able to take in enough nutrients due to ageing
What can reduced absorption of nutrients cause?
- malnutrition
What causes reduced absorption of nutrients?
- reduced production of gastric hydrochloric acid preventing the break down of proteins, data and carbs
- the deterioration of the function of digestive organs
What is the effect of a deficiency in vitamin D?
- increased risk of osteoporosis
- increased risk of cancer
- increased risk of diabetes
- reduced ability to absorb calcium
What is the effect of a deficiency in calcium?
- bone loss
- increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures
What is the effect of a deficiency in vitamin B12?
- slows the creation of red blood cells
- reduces nerve function
What is the effect of a deficiency in magnesium?
- impacts immune system
- impacts function of the heart
What is the effect of a deficiency in omega 3?
- increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis and macular degeneration
What is the effect of a deficiency in potassium?
- weakens bones
- reduced cell and kidney function
What is the effect of a deficiency in vitamin C?
- slows healing and development of healthy tissue
What is the effect of a deficiency in iron?
Increases risk of anemia
What is degeneration of the sense organs?
When senses such as taste, sight, touch and hearing decline due to age
What happens to taste with age?
- the number of taste buds decrease reducing enjoyment of food and may lead to poor diet
- production of saliva decreases affecting the taste of food
What happens to touch with age?
- a decrease in the number of receptors means reduced sensitivity to temperature (burns/hypothermia)
- increased sensitivity to touch can cause bruising
What happens to sight with age?
- vision becomes less sharp
- cataracts may develop clouding vision
- eye muscles become weaker reducing the field of vision
What happens to hearing with age?
- distinguishing between sounds is more difficult
-tinnitus (persistent noise) due to wax build up or ear damage - hair cells in ears die
What is dementia?
- a brain disorder that affects a persons ability to carry out daily tasks and activities
What are effects of dementia?
- language problems
- short memory affected
- communicating is more difficult
- reasoning is affected
- personality changes
- unable to recognise family
- can’t control bodily functions
- death
What are risk factors of dementia?
- stroke limiting blood to the brain causing brain cells to die
- lifestyle factors (smoking diet exercise)
- ageing
What is the most common type of dementia?
- Alzheimer’s
- proteins called plaques build up in the brain affecting the transmission of signals
What are some common age related illnesses?
- cardiovascular disease
- hypertension
- cancer
- type 2 diabetes
- dementia
- osteoarthritis
- osteoporosis
What are the effects of illnesses common in ageing physically?
- immune system weakens
- reduced stamina
- reduced mobility
- pain and discomfort
- affects vision and senses which could lead to accidents
What are the effects of illnesses common in ageing intellectually?
- short term memory loss
- affects decision making
- slows the ability to respond and react to information
- causes difficult in verbal communication
What are the effects of illnesses common in ageing emotionally?
- causes emotional distress
- dependence of others for care
- feeling of lack of control
- bring families close together
- low self esteem
What are the effects of illnesses common in ageing socially?
- reduces opportunity to socialise with friends
- impacts senses making socialising difficult
- affects ability to communicate in groups
How can lifestyle choices improve the impact of illnesses?
- healthy diet provides nutrients and reduces stress
- exercise maintains muscle strength and keeps heart healthy
- no smoking or drugs
