| Aging is neither a disease nor an illness. To be old does not
mean to be sick or senile. As we age, we change and sometimes that
change is a slow decline in life function.
Too many times, the elderly themselves and their loved ones feel
that aches and pains, as well as more serious medical problems,
are part of being old. If an elderly person has a health problem,
appropriate medical attention should be given, as with any other
age group. When an elderly person is sick, more serious future problems
can be avoided with prompt medical care.
Most so-called age-related bodily changes are affected by lifestyle
factors, such as poor diet, smoking and environmental factors, such
as pollution and chemical exposure. No two individuals age the same
way and not all elderly individuals experience similar health problems.
Considerable research has shown that older adults vary tremendously
in their health status and the problems they suffer. Above all,
it is important to keep in mind that the elderly can do something
about their health in later life. For example, a small change in
lifestyle, such as exercising more or quitting smoking, may lead
to a significant change in health status.
The physical and mental changes discussed here may make old age
seem like a time of disease and mental decay, but the intention
is to inform about the special problems which occur with aging,
not because of it. By identifying these problems, and treating them
aggressively, one can help restore the elderly person to as functional,
satisfying and healthy a life as possible. If more people were able
to recognize and distinguish between diseases that may accompany
old age and those changes that are related to the normal aging process,
then perhaps they would be less negative about the aging process.
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