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HEALTH CONCERN: AGING AND HEALTH

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GIS SCIENCE JOURNAL ISSN NO : 1869-9391

HEALTH CONCERN: AGING AND HEALTH

DR. ARCHANA KUMARI ANAND *
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF HOME SCIENCE
A.N.D.N.N.M.M. (C.S.J.M.U.) KANPUR

DR. JAYA BHARTI **

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
A.N.D.N.N.M.M. (C.S.J.M.U.) KANPUR

ABSTRACT

India is undergoing unprecedented demographic changes. Increasing longevity and falling

fertility have resulted in a dramatic increase in the population of adults aged 60 and up, in
both absolute and relative terms. This change presents wide-ranging and complex health,
social, and economic challenges, both current and future. According to Population Census
2011 there are nearly 104 million elderly persons (aged 60 years or above) in India; 53
million females and 51 million males. A report released by the United Nations Population
Fund and HelpAge India suggests that the number of elderly persons is expected to grow to
173 million by 2026. Population ageing is an inevitable and irreversible demographic
reality that is associated with welcome improvements in health and medcal care. With
longevity and declining fertility rates, the population of older persons (60 years and above)
is globally growing faster than the general population. When populations age rapidly,
governments are often caught unprepared to face and mitigate the consequences; this has
implications for the socio-economic and health status of the elderly. Outward signs of the
passing years such as deepening wrinkles, pronounced laugh lines, grey hair, or we pick up
our reading glasses more frequently. But with age, we can also experience some health
concerns that might not be as visible as Depression, Cognitive decline, Heart disease etc.

KEYWORDS: Aging, Health, Health Problems.

Aging is a gradual, continuous process of natural change that begins in early adulthood.
During early middle age, many bodily functions begin to gradually decline. People do not
become old or elderly at any specific age. Traditionally, age 65 has been designated as the
beginning of old age. But the reason was based in history, not biology. Many years ago, age
65 was chosen as the age for retirement in Germany, the first nation to establish a
retirement program, and it continues to be the retirement age for most people in developed
societies, although this tradition is changing.
“India is ageing much faster than previously thought and is expected to have nearly
20% population of the world’s 60 years and above by 2050 with the largest number of
older adults in the world,” said Prasun Chatterjee, Department of Geriatrics, All
India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
 Chronologic age: Chronologic age is based solely on the passage of time. It is a
person’s age in years. Chronologic age has limited significance in terms of health.
Nonetheless, the likelihood of developing a health problem increases as people age,
and it is health problems, rather than normal aging, that are the primary cause of

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GIS SCIENCE JOURNAL ISSN NO : 1869-9391

functional loss during old age. Because chronologic age helps predict many health
problems, it has some legal and financial uses.
 Biologic age: Biologic age refers to changes in the body that commonly occur as
people age. Because these changes affect some people sooner than others, some
people are biologically old at 65, and others not until a decade or more later.
However, most noticeable differences in apparent age among people of similar
chronologic age are caused by lifestyle, habit, and subtle effects of disease rather than
by differences in actual aging.
 Psychological age: Psychological age is based on how people act and feel. For
example, an 80-year-old who works, plans, looks forward to future events, and
participates in many activities is considered psychologically young.
Most people do not need the expertise of a geriatrician (a doctor who specializes in the care
of older people) until they are 70, 75, or even 80 years old.
Healthy aging refers to postponement of or reduction in the undesired effects of aging.
The goals of healthy aging are maintaining physical and mental health, avoiding disorders,
and remaining active and independent. For most people, maintaining general good health
requires more effort as they age. Developing certain healthy habits can help, such as
 Following a nutritious diet
 Exercising regularly
 Staying mentally active
The sooner a person develops these habits, the better. However, it is never too late to begin.
In this way, people can have some control over what happens to them as they age.

 Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years
will nearly double from 12% to 22%.
 By 2020, the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children
younger than 5 years.
 In 2050, 80% of older people will be living in low- and middle-income countries.
 The pace of population ageing is much faster than in the past.
 All countries face major challenges to ensure that their health and social systems
are ready to make the most of this demographic shift.
Outward signs of the passing years such as deepening wrinkles, pronounced laugh lines, grey
hair, or we pick up our reading glasses more frequently. But with age, we can also
experience some health concerns that might not be as visible. Some of the most common
health problems in the elderly include:

1. Arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost half
of all adults 65 years or older suffer from arthritis. As the nation’s number one cause of
disability, arthritis can be a source of acute pain and impact quality of life. Because arthritis
can discourage your family member from physical activity, it is important that you work with
your their doctor to manage their condition and control any discomfort.
2. Cognitive decline. While some memory loss is common as you age, developing Alzheimer’s
disease is not. It’s important to recognize the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s, as early
intervention and treatment can be key in slowing the progression of the disease.
3. Balance issues. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults, and maintaining
your balance and mobility is key in fall prevention.
4. Oral health problems. Not all seniors lose their teeth, but issues like gingivitis that leads to
periodontitis, a bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones supporting the teeth, can be

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common in older adults. Proper oral care and seeing the dentist for a cleaning every six
months can help ensure your teeth and gums are as healthy as possible.

Arthritis

Heart disease

Osteoarthritis

Cognitive decline

Respiratory diseases

HEALTH AND AGING

Alzheimer’s disease

5. Heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults over the age of 65.
Conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol need to be managed properly
and taking good care of your heart are vital to avoid developing heart disease in your later
years. As the most common type of heart disease in seniors, atherosclerosis is the buildup of
fatty deposits and plaque in the walls of the arteries. Depending on where the accumulation
is located in the body, this blockage can disrupt the flow of blood and oxygen or lead to a
heart attack or stroke. But heart disease is not a normal part of the aging process, maintaining
a healthy lifestyle is the best prevention.
6. Osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that around
54 million adults over age 50 have low bone mass or osteoporosis, and almost all adults over
age 80 have some form of osteoarthritis. Exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet can
help protect your bones and joints. The International Osteoporosis Organization estimates a
bone is fractured worldwide every three seconds. Women are at higher risk due to the loss of
estrogen as they age. In the five to seven years following menopause, women can lose up to
20% of their bone density. There are steps that you can take to prevent and monitor bone loss
and bone density.
7. Respiratory diseases. Conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) can worsen the older you become. However, there are variety of medications
available that allow you to breathe easier.
8. It’s estimated that 25 percent of adults age 65 and older have type 2 diabetes. The sooner you
know you are at risk or have diabetes, the sooner you can begin managing your blood sugar
and making lifestyle changes that can better control it.
9. Influenza or pneumonia. Infections like the flu or pneumonia aren’t specifically senior
illnesses, however, seniors are more vulnerable to them and due to weakened immune
systems, may be less likely to successfully recover from them.
10. Alzheimer’s disease. is forgetting recently learned information, repeatedly asking for the
same information, relying on memory aides as a crutch, asking a family member to assist
with tasks that they normally were able to handle, and confusion about time and place. If you
are concerned that your parent or spouse is showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease, speak with
your Health Services Director or make an appointment to meet with their physician.
11. Vision or hearing loss. Maintaining regular screenings for your vision and hearing is vital as
you age. Age-related eye issues like macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma affect

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millions of older adults, and 43 percent of people who experience hearing loss are 65 or
older.
12. Pneumonia is a common and potentially serious illness for the frail. For adults over the age
of 65, the annual incidence of pneumonia is four times greater than younger age groups, with
a higher rate of hospitalization. Pneumonia is an acute infection of the lungs and can be
caused by a variety of microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria or virus.
13. Depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, older adults with
depression often show less obvious symptoms and are less likely to confide their feelings of
sadness or despair. Also, they are at greater risk of depression if they have a physical illness
and medical condition that can make symptoms worse.
14. The risk for some types of cancer also increases as you age. For example, women become
more at risk for cervical or endometrial cancers, while men have a higher risk for prostate
cancer. While preventing cancer altogether may not be possible, screenings to detect certain
cancers in the early stages can help effectively treat them.
15. Obesity is an important senior health risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer — all
chronic conditions that impact quality of life. As the numbers on the scale increase, so does
the risk for disease. Of the adults between 65 and 74, 36.2 percent of men and 40.7 percent of
women are obese — meaning that their body mass index is greater than or equal to 30 —
according to the CDC.
Common conditions in older age include hearing loss, cataracts and refractive errors,
back and neck pain and osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes,
depression, and dementia. Furthermore, as people age, they are more likely to experience
several conditions at the same time. Older age is also characterized by the emergence of
several complex health states that tend to occur only later in life and that do not fall into
discrete disease categories. These are commonly called geriatric syndromes. They are often
the consequence of multiple underlying factors and include frailty, urinary incontinence, falls,
delirium and pressure ulcers. Geriatric syndromes appear to be better predictors of death than
the presence or number of specific diseases. Yet outside of countries that have developed
geriatric medicine as a speciality, they are often overlooked in traditionally structured health
services and in epidemiological research.

CONCLUSION:
Ageing is characterised by a progressive degeneration of the tissues that has a negative
impact on the structure and function of vital organs. Loss of physiological integrity, resulting
in a progressive decline of homeostasis and reduced capacity to respond to environmental
stimuli with age, contributes to an incremental risk of disease and death. The age
demographic of the world’s population is changing. According to the World Health
Organization, “Between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over the age
of 60 years will double from around 11% to 22%. The absolute number of people aged over
60 years is expected to increase from 605 million to 2 billion over the same period”. The
number of changes in the body that occur with age is remarkably long and include changes in
appearance, such as wrinkled skin, gradual reduction in height and weight loss due to loss of
muscle and bone mass, decline in sexual activity (and menopause in women), and decline in
the function of most organs such as renal, pulmonary, cardiac and cerebral. Immune and
endocrine functions are also affected. There is increasing evidence that many chronic
inflammatory diseases represent an acceleration of the ageing process. Chronic pulmonary
diseases represents an important component of the increasingly prevalent multiple chronic
debilitating diseases, which are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in the
elderly.

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