Health for Elderly Women pot

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Health for Elderly Women

Dr Arvind Dubey

Elderly women are as those who have crossed a given life span, 65 years in developed countries

and 60 years in developing countries like India.

Aging theory

No one really knows how and why people change as they get older. Some theories claim that aging

is caused by accumulated lifelong influences and/or injuries from ultraviolet light, wear and tear on

the body, by-products of metabolism, and so on. Other theories view aging as a predetermined,

genetically-controlled process.

Body changes with age

Changes in body shape

Fat tissue may increase toward the centre of the body, including around the abdominal organs. The

loss of muscle mass in the legs and changes in body shape can affect her balance, leading to falls.

A woman may appear shorter as she ages. This height loss is related to aging changes in the bones,

muscles, and joints. Women typically lose about 1 cm (0.4 inches) every 10 years after age 40.

Height loss is even greater after 70 years old. In total, she may lose 1 to 3 inches in height in rest of

her life. Women usually gain weight until age 65, and then begin to lose weight. Physical activity, a

proper diet, and treating osteoporosis can help reduce these changes.

Hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss or presbycusis is mainly caused by changes in the inner ear. However,

your genes and loud noises (such as from rock concerts or music headphones) may play a large role.

Initially there is difficulty in hearing high-frequency sounds, such as someone talking. As hearing

gets worse, it may become difficult to hear sounds at lower pitches. Hearing aids Telephone

amplifiers and other assistive devices may be helpful. A cochlear implant (Surgery) may be

recommended for certain women with very severe hearing loss. The implant makes sounds seem

louder, but does not restore normal hearing.

Changes in the bones, muscles and joints

The bones lose calcium and other minerals especially in women after menopause. The trunk

becomes shorter as the gel-like cushions or intervertebral disks, between each spine bone

(vertebrae) gradually lose fluid and become thinner along with gradual loss of mineral content of

vertebrae itself, making each vertebra thinner. As a result, the spinal column becomes curved and

compressed (packed together). The foot arches become less pronounced, contributing to a slight

loss of height. The arms and legs look longer when compared with the shortened trunk. Bones

become more brittle and may break more easily. The joints become stiffer and less flexible. Almost

all elderly women are affected by joint changes, ranging from minor stiffness to severe arthritis.

After 40 the muscle fibbers shrink and replaced slowly with a tough fibrous tissue.Muscle changes

often begin in the 40s in women. Lipofuscin (an age-related pigment) and fat are deposited in

muscle tissue. This is most noticeable in the hands, which may appear thin and bony. Muscles may

become rigid with age and may lose tone, even with regular exercise. Loss of muscle mass reduces

strength which contributes to fatigue, weakness, and reduced activity tolerance. Exercise is one of

the best ways to slow or prevent problems with the muscles, joints, and bones.