The document describes several physiological changes that occur with aging. Key changes include a decline in organ function such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Muscle and bone mass is also lost. Other changes involve thinning skin, graying hair, declining vision and hearing. Maintaining regular exercise, a healthy diet, and preventative healthcare can help optimize health and well-being in older age.

2.  A number of physiological changes occur as we grow
older.
 Some of the common changes are the result of diseases.
211/15/2018

3.  The height falls after the age of 50.
 Nose and ears continue to grow in length.
 Male and female shapes become more similar with
aging.
311/15/2018

4.  Male weight tend to increase till late 50 and then
decline.
 Female weight tend to increase till 60 and then
decline.
 Total body water male: young 60% to elderly 54%.
 Total body water female: young 52% to elderly 46%.
411/15/2018

5.  Heart disease is the leading cause
of death in elderly.
 The size of heart increases in old
age.
 Despite slight increase in heart
size, the amount of blood the
chamber can hold actually
decreases because the heart wall
thickening.
 The maximum heart rate
decreases.
511/15/2018

6.  The cardiac output decreases.
 The aorta and other arteries becomes thicker and stiffer
which may bring a moderate increase in systolic blood
pressure with aging. In some individuals, this may
result in hypertension.
 The valves between the chambers of heart thicken and
become stiffer due to the deposition of calcium and
collagen.
 Blood flow to the kidneys may decrease by 50 percent
and to the brain by 15 to 20 percent.
611/15/2018

7.  The baroreceptors which
monitor and adjust the blood
pressure when we change
position become less sensitive
with aging.
 This can cause orthostatic
hypotension.
711/15/2018

8.  Regular exercise and activities
 Eat low fat diet, low salt diet
 Participate in stress reduction activities
 Check blood pressure regularly
811/15/2018

9.  Lungs become more rigid and
stiffer.
 Muscles of the chest wall
becomes weak.
 Pulmonary function decreases.
The alveoli within the lungs
enlarge and becomes thinner,
increasing the amount of
anatomic dead space.
 The number of cilia decline in
number as age grows.
911/15/2018

10.  Vital capacity declines.
 Reduction in respiratory fluid.
 cough efficiency decreases.
1011/15/2018

11.  Reduced GI secretions.
 Reduced GI motility.
 Fall of teeth is an obvious
sign of aging.
 Delayed gastric emptying.
1111/15/2018

12.  Liver:
 Reduced blood flow
 Altered clearance of some
drugs
 Decreased weight of liver
 Reduced regenerative
capacity of liver
 Liver metabolizes less
efficiently
1211/15/2018

13.  Intestines:
 As we grow old, the
small intestines absorb
less calcium and vitamin
D.
 Therefore, we need
more calcium to prevent
bone mineral loss and
osteoporosis in later life.
1311/15/2018

14.  Some enzymes, such as lactase which aids the
digestion of lactose (a sugar found in diary products)
decline with age.
 Reduced peristalsis of the colon can increase risk for
constipation.
1411/15/2018

15.  The sensitivity of the taste buds decrease altering
pleasure in eating.
 They may also lose the ability to differentiate sour,
salty and bitter tastes.
 There is decreased salivation, so there is difficulty in
swallowing food.
 Reduced gastrointestinal motility results in delayed
emptying of stomach contents and early satisfaction(
feeling of fullness).
1511/15/2018

16.  Use mouthwash, brush and receive regular dental care.
 Sit up and avoid heavy activity after eating.
 Limit antacids and laxatives.
 Eat small, frequent meals.
 Maintain bowel habit.
1611/15/2018

17.  One of the most common
physical changes that
people associate with
aging is
 wrinkling
 Pigment alteration
 Thinning of the skin
1711/15/2018

18.  The most common changes in the skin include:
 Thinning of the area between the dermis and epidermis
(due to decrease in epidermal proliferation)
 Elastic fibres are reduced in number.
 Collagen become stiffer.
 Subcutaneous fat diminishes.
 The decrease in number of capillaries in
the skin results in diminished blood supply.
1811/15/2018

19.  The skin becomes less able to retain fluids and is more
easily dry and cracked.
 As a result, both the thickness and elasticity of skin
decrease.
 Therefore, sunscreens and moisturizing creams play an
important part in protecting aging skin.
1911/15/2018

20.  Hair becomes gray because of
gradual decrease in
production of melanin, the
pigment cells in the hair
bulbs.
 The graying of hair is also
influenced by heredity and
hormones.
2011/15/2018

21.  There are also fewer hair follicles on the
scalp and the growth rate of hair decreases
in the scalp, armpits, and pubic areas.
However, hair growth actually accelerates
and thickens in places like nostrils, ear and
eyebrows, especially in men.
 Older women often have an increase in
facial hair as their estrogen levels decrease.
2111/15/2018

22.  Avoid solar exposure(clothing, sunscreen, stay indoors).
 Dress appropriately for temperature.
 Maintain a safe indoor temperature.
 Lubricate skin.
2211/15/2018 LATIKA NEUPANE, BSc NURSING 08

23.  After 40 renal function
decreases.
 By 90, we lose 50% of
function.
 Filtration and reabsorption is
decreased
 Size and number of nephrons
decreases.
2311/15/2018

24.  Bladder muscles weaken.
 Kidney mass decreases by 25-30 percent and the
number of glomeruli decrease by 30 to 40 percent.
 These changes reduce the ability to filter and
concentrate urine and to clear drugs.
 Bladder capacity decreases and there is an increase in
residual urine and frequency.
2411/15/2018

25.  With aging, there is a reduced hormonal response
(vasopressin) and an impaired ability to conserve salt
which may increase risk for dehydration.
 These changes increase the chances of urinary
infections, incontinence, and urinary obstruction.
2511/15/2018

26.  In males, Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia (BPH) is
more common.
 In females, perineal
muscles relax, there is urge
incontinence and stress
urinary incontinence.
2611/15/2018

27.  Seek referral to urology specialist.
 Have ready access to toilet.
 Wear easily manipulated clothing.
 Drink adequate fluids.
 Avoid bladder irritants (caffeinated beverages, alcohol)
 Pelvic floor exercises.
2711/15/2018

28. Male:
 Reduced testosterone level
 Size of the testis and penis decreases
 Decrease in sperm production
 Seminal fluid decreases and becomes
more viscous
 Erection dysfunction may occur
2811/15/2018

29. Female:
 estrogen and progesterone levels
declines
 Ovulation ceases
 Introitus constricts and loses elasticity
 Vagina atrophies and becomes dry.
 Uterus shrinks.
 Breasts become pendulous and lose
elasticity.
2911/15/2018

30.  Females may require estrogen replacement
therapy.
 To use a lubricant with intercourse.
3011/15/2018

31.  By the time of age 80, most
of loose an average height
of about 2 inches.
3111/15/2018

32.  The primary factors
contributing to this
reduction in height include
 compression of vertebrae
 changes in posture,
 and increased curvature of
the hips and knees.
3211/15/2018

33.  Weight increases until about age 60 and then declines
 This pattern of weight change is more likely the result of
reductions in activity and changes in eating rather than
aging itself.
 Bone mineral content diminished.
3311/15/2018

34.  As age increases, muscles generally decrease
in strength, endurance, size and weight.
 Typically, 23 percent of muscle mass is
decreased, by age 80, both the number and size
of muscle fibers decrease.
 Body fat mass can double, lean muscle mass is
lost
3411/15/2018

35.  Exercise regularly.
 Eat a high calcium diet, limit phosphorus intake.
 Take calcium and vitamin D supplements.
 Encourage use of assistive devices if indicated
 Modify environment to reduce fall risk
 Encourage activity- take walks etc
3511/15/2018

36.  Neurons of central and
peripheral nervous system
degenerate
 Loss of brain mass
 Synthesis and metabolism
of the major
neurotransmitters are
reduced
3611/15/2018

37.  Nerve transmission slows so, older people take
longer to respond and react.
 Hypothalamus becomes less effective in
regulating body temperature.
 Deep sleep decreases.
 After 50yrs one loses 1% of neurons each year.
3711/15/2018

38.  Allow longer time to respond to stimulus and move
more deliberately.
 Encourage slow rising from a resting position.
3811/15/2018

39. Vision:
 Visual impairment is the
most common sensory
problem of older people.
 Not all older people
have impaired vision.
 Loss of ability to see
items that are close up
begins in the 40’s
3911/15/2018

40.  Size of pupil grows smaller with age:
focusing becomes less accurate
 Lens of eye yellows making it more
difficult to see red and green colors
 Sensitivity to glare increases
 Night and depth vision decreases
 Eyelids become baggy and wrinkled
 Conjunctiva becomes thin and yellow
4011/15/2018

41.  Lens enlarges
 Lens becomes less
transparent
 Can actually become
clouded
 Results in cataracts.
4111/15/2018

42.  Quantity of tears
decreases.
 About 95% of
individuals age 65 and
older report needing
glasses to improve their
vision.
4211/15/2018

43.  Wear eyeglasses, use sunglasses outdoors.
 Avoid abrupt changes from dark to light.
 Use large print books.
 Use magnifier for reading.
 Avoid night driving.
 Use contrasting colors for color coding.
 Avoid glare of shiny surfaces and direct
sunlight.
4311/15/2018

44.  Hearing loss is very
common with aging.
 Auditory changes begin
to be noticed at about 40
years of age.
4411/15/2018

45.  Membranes in the middle ear, including the
eardrum, become less flexible with age.
 In addition, the small bones in the middle ear, the
ossicles, become stiffer.
 Both these factors somewhat decrease hearing
sensitivity but are not thought to cause significant
impairment.
4511/15/2018

46.  The vestibular apparatus begins to
degenerate with age.
 Equilibrium becomes compromised and
older individuals may complain of dizziness
and lose their balance.
4611/15/2018

47.  Recommend a hearing
examination.
 Reduce background noises.
 Encourage to face person and
use non verbal cues.
 Speak with a low pitched
voice.
 Use of hearing aids.
4711/15/2018

48.  The number of functioning
smell receptors decreases.
 After the age of 50 the
sense of smell decreases
rapidly.
 By age 80, the sense of
smell is reduced by about
half.
4811/15/2018

49.  Taste also diminishes with
age
 Some atrophy of the
tongue occurs with age
and this may diminish
sensitivity to taste.
4911/15/2018

50.  Decline in immune
function
 Fatty marrow replaced
red bone marrow
5011/15/2018

51.  As we grow older, our bodies are less able
to produce antibodies which are important
in fighting infections.
 As a result older adults are at greater risk
for infections and the mortality rate from
infection is much higher than in the young.
5111/15/2018

52.  Estrogen levels decrease in women.
 Other hormonal decreases include
testosterone, aldosterone, cortisol,
progesterone.
5211/15/2018

53. 11/15/2018 LATIKA NEUPANE, BSc NURSING 08 53

54. 54
Thank
You!!!
11/15/2018