Analysis of the Process of Aging - Essay Example

Aging basically means a number of changes in a person’s life time over a period of time. These changes can contribute to the age- related turn down in performance, output and health as well. Usually these changes do happen in all of the body’s tissues, cells and organs that affects the functioning of all body systems (Morgan & Kunkel, 2001). Body cells, with aging become larger and are less able to split and multiply (Panno, 2004). At this time, there is an increase in pigments and lipids causing lose in their functioning abilities or even function unusually. As a result cause the various organs to work harder than their normal ability that makes them ware out or fail to function totally (Holliday, 2007). The process of aging is viewed to include both the psychological, social and physical changes in the human body. They are often caused by the life events such as socioeconomic backgrounds, illness and genetic traits (Emerson, 1977). At a given level in life, physiological state of a particular age determines whether a person continues to live or dies. The most appropriate indicators of loss of physiological function with age include the mortality rate, age-specific rate of continued existence and its compliment as well as reproductive decline or menopause (Holliday, 2007). Aging process can be best seen as an aspect of an adjustment that is due to the decline in the forces of natural selection as one move from childhood to adulthood. In an event that these factors stop, aging eventually ceases, and adaptation stabilizes even though at a low level compared to the normal rate (Holliday, 2007). Some adaptation factors may still survive up to the old age; very few might hasten their speed whereas others can come to a halt (Panno, 2004). Therefore it is not right to say that all the physiological wear and tear are as a result of aging an must continue throughout a person’s life. An understanding on how the aging process and age-specific mortality respond to ecological variation requires a theory of how natural selection has acted upon human life over the course of human development (Morgan & Kunkel, 2001). That is the reason why various schools of thought have come up with two different theories of aging. The theories have been able to explain why the ability of life of an individual of the age of 65 years and above has a key role in his/her adaptation as well as other characteristics that are equally vital for evolution, such as; damage based and programmed theories. Programmed theory simply states that aging follows a biological time table that could be the one that controls growth from childhood to adulthood, while on the other hand; damage theory emphasizes on the ecological factors that lead to collective damage at different levels in life and are the cause of aging (Morgan & Kunkel, 2001). Other scholars also argue that aging occurs as a result of interaction among lifelong factors such as; diet, heredity, exercise and leisure, culture, past illness among others. Aging theorists are more concerned with what causes the process, when exactly does it begins, what are the symptom of aging as well as how it can be delayed (Gorman & Kandl, 2006). Evolutionary theory is mainly concerned with why aging occurs in human beings. They tend to put in plain words in various term how aging occurs in structures and function within the body (Morgan & Kunkel, 2001). The physiological theories have the view that the process of aging is mainly due to the inherent timing mechanisms and signals that occur by chance or through accidents. In their effort to clarify the concept aging, they stand by the view that it is as a result of mutation to the DNA that can cause wrong enzyme, protein formation. Potentially harmful substances do accumulate in the body over the years. The most recognized substance that to accumulate in the body cells is Lipofuscin which is a mixture of chemical waste products from normal cellular activities (Morgan & Kunkel, 2001). It becomes concentrated in the body cells and causes a darker pigment in them. Higher concentration of glucose in the cells has also been drawn in the age changes in its bid to bind molecules causing them to glue together hence less function as may be expected. Aging accumulation of injuries and damages to parts of body organs are explained to be as a result of diseases, radiation, accidents and other known aging factors according to the wear and tear theory. All these theories are aimed at explaining what aging really is, but for a successful result of aging, both the theories interact with each other in a more complex way by testing and understanding the existing and new aging theories to enhance lifespan of human beings (Emerson, 1977). Naturally aging begins in the moment one is born. But the effects are only seen when a person starts to hit the middle age. As the years add up to an individual’s age, they bring various changes that are related to the decline in forces of natural selection. A person may experience a significant difference in height and weight; this will be automatically as a result of reduced physical activity due to weakness of bones and muscles. Aging will lead to a distorted mental ability and make learning more difficult, they become forgetful as their brain process in formation slower than usual (Emerson, 1977). This is a result of a number of nerve cells in the brain decreases affecting memory co-ordination and brain function. There is an enhanced balance between the friendly and harmful microorganisms in the gut of a healthy person, but in older years the relationship between them deteriorate causing digestion problem or gut disease. Other related problems like frequent flow of digestive juices from the liver, stomach, pancreas and the small intestine slows down during aging. The bones, joints and muscles tend to shrink in size and destiny with age, which weakens them and make them more at risk of fracture, one might become less coordinated or have a problem in balancing (Emerson, 1977). Age of an individual is measured chronologically. But it is necessary to note that chronological ages do not correlate perfectly with functional age, and that is why people differ in their mental and physical capabilities. For the proper determination of aging in an individual, the concepts of time and change are related to explain age, aged and aging in a more orderly way. It can be used to give the understanding between the two different periods of an individual life span that is; chronological time and intrinsic time that outlines the meaning given to the persons past, present as well as future life. Through this it is possible to determine why some individuals are aging faster compared to others, which population age faster or at a slower rate and what reasons are behind that; is it because of different medical programs, or the environmental factors and technical advances of that given group of people.? Basically it is at this point when the correct measures like educating the individuals on the best actions to take to curb the aging problem. What type of food and activities that every individual should get involved in doing, to help them avoid using the anti-aging products when they can take precaution in good time (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013). Generally at around the age of 65 and above, human beings experience loss of bladder control. The most affected are the women whose bladder even contracts suddenly even when it’s not full; this is mostly witnessed in those who have undergone the menopause period, those with reduced estrogen levels in the urethra making them thinner and weak hence less support. And as a result they do have frequent trips to the washrooms (Morgan & Kunkel, 2001). At this time the victim might experience cardiovascular challenge too. The heart rate all of a sudden becomes slightly slower and the heart could be bigger than the normal size, causing the blood vessels and the arteries to be stiffer. This makes the heart to begin to wear and tear as it works harder to pump blood to them, the person may therefore suffer from high blood pressure and other related problems (Moody, 2006). Aging is inevitable and no one can prevent it from occurring. But to a larger extent we can age optimally through engaging in a number of facts in our everyday life. A successful aging person is one with good mental health at his/her late ages in life, with a self- rated life fulfillment in terms of socioeconomic backgrounds, feels socially accepted with good social contacts and no physical disability (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013). To maintain this, have a healthy lifestyle by continuously participating in physical activities regularly to combat muscle loss, weight gain and bone destiny decline and to reduce heart diseases. Consequently the right choice of what you eat helps to create the body’s strength. Take foods with less fat, salt and sugar and have more of green in your diet for the best body protection (Panno, 2004). Dangerous vices such as smoking and alcohol drinking also have greater negative impacts on a person’s life as aging is concerned, they cause dry and rough skin as a result of poor flow as well as low level of oxygen in blood, they have toxins that can also cause lung diseases hence cost a life of a person (Sokolovsky, 2009). They also lead to the reduction of minerals and vitamins required by the various different body organs to perform more efficiently (Moody, 2006). At this point in time the elderly era also supposed to adopt coping skills to help reduce the aging process. Religion and spirituality should be embraced during the aging period. Spiritual nourishment is very vital to the aging as it gives them a new hope in life and makes them look younger with much anticipation for brighter future in life (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013). They need social support and love from the people around them; this enables them to have their own self-control hence coping with stressful life events when they arise (Gorman & Kandl, 2006). In order to enhance quality of life as people grow old, active aging translates to the well-being of an individual by enabling them realize their potential for social and physical health. Through getting actively involved in various activities in life, the old can also contribute to the economic upgrading of their society and also feel part and parcel as well (Moody, 2006). Ageism and other negative stereotypes of aging should be avoided at all cost and people be sensitized. Through education, the society should be able to meet the needs, expectations, and dreams of older adults (Moody, 2006). The aged need services and products that should be customized their wants in a conducive environment to ensure that they have multiple functional abilities. It is also their rights to be protected as outlined by the various constitutions (Panno, 2004). REFERRENCES Emerson, G. M. (1977). Aging. Stroudsburg, Pa: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross. Gorman, A., & Kandl, F. (2006). Aging artfully: 12 profiles : visual & performing women artists aged 85-105. Berkeley, CA: Pal Pub. Holliday, R. (2007). Aging: The paradox of life : why we age. Dordrecht: Springer. Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2013). Human development: A life-span view. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Moody, H. R. (2006). Aging: Concepts and controversies. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Pine Forge. Morgan, L. A., & Kunkel, S. (2001). Aging: The social context. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Pine Forge Press. Panno, J. (2004). Aging: Theories and Potential Therapies. New York: Infobase Pub. Sokolovsky, J. (2009). The cultural context of aging: Worldwide perspectives. Westport, Conn: Praeger. Read More