I’ve heard it said that getting older is not for the faint of heart – in some ways that is true. The aging body requires more thought and more care. We need to be attuned to diet/nutrition, exercise, activity levels as well as aching knees or back. Things tend to creep up with little or no warning like hearing and vision declines, osteoporosis, diabetes, lower energy levels and “forgetfulness.”

While everyone ages differently, there are some common health conditions associated with getting older.

Hearing loss

One in three people in the US between the ages of 65 and 74 report some level of hearing loss (NIH). Nearly half of those over seventy-five have difficulty hearing. The decline may be due to physiological, genetic or environmental factors. Researchers continue to study the link between untreated hearing loss and dementia.

Visit an Audiologist to see if there is any loss and, if so, how best to treat it.

Vision loss

• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Glaucoma
• Dry eye

These are a few issues that may appear as our eyes age. Have yearly eye exams that include testing for these conditions – finding issues early may have a big impact on your vison.

Back and neck pain

  According to the Cleveland Clinic, the three most common conditions involving the neck/back are:

• Degenerative changes to disks and joints – these are caused by loss of moisture and resilience resulting in disks losing their effectiveness as “shock absorbers.”

• Spinal stenosis – the canal through which your spinal cord passes can narrow due to various reasons such as disk degeneration or the thickening of ligaments.

• Spondylolisthesis – the slipping either forward or backward on to vertebra below.

Consider seeing a doctor/specialist when the discomfort and soreness persist. You may learn ways to successfully manage your pain before it becomes serious or long-term.

Depression

As we age, losses can become more prevalent – some are obvious such as loss of loved ones like a spouse, sibling or friend; but other feelings of loss may be more difficult to identify – your career ending along with your sense of purpose; changes in your looks/body; mobility constraints; difficulty driving in the dark etc.

Feeling down on occasion is common, however, if it becomes consistent and you are struggling to find positive thoughts or things that make you happy, consult with your physician. They will be a good resource to you. 

 Staying healthy and active as we grow older is achievable – it just takes awareness and a bit of effort!