As people age, time takes its toll on the body. Nobody can escape the aging process (and it’s nothing to be afraid of), but some people age faster or more than others. Still, no matter one’s health, genetics, and lifestyle, most people will notice some changes to the body as the years pass by and they enter their more senior years.
Out of all the age-related changes to look out for, the following are among the notable ones that can affect everyone – even if they’re in perfect health (age gets everyone, sadly!).
Eyesight Problems
As a person ages, the eyes go under several changes. In particular, these include:
- Stiffened lens (causing focusing on near objects to be more difficult)
- Denser lens (which makes seeing in low or dim light much harder)
- Yellowing of the lens (this can change color perception)
- Slowed pupil reaction to light
- Reduction in eye fluid production (leading to eyes feeling dry)
The changes to the eyes’ lens can then lead to loss of near vision, which typically becomes first noticeable in a person’s 40s. Known as presbyopia, the condition stemming from a stiffer lens makes it challenging to focus on close objects – but reading glasses from sites like Just-glasses.co.uk is a common and very simple solution. Those who struggle to focus on near objects often benefit from magnifying reading glasses, while those requiring glasses to see more distant objects might find themselves requiring single-vision lenses designed for distance or even bifocals.
Hearing Loss
The vast majority of changes to one’s hearing usually lend themselves to noise exposure over a lifetime rather than aging. Loud noise exposure over prolonged periods can damage the ear – but there are some changes that do take place as people age, even if they’ve not been subjected to loud noise over their lifetime.
With age comes a reduced ability to hear high-pitched sounds. Known as presbycusis, this is typically an age-related form of hearing loss and becomes more prominent the older a person becomes. Perhaps the most challenging part of the condition comes down to communication; the most frustrating effect is the difficulties in understanding words in speech.
That said, when someone notices they are having trouble with hearing, it’s essential to see a doctor. Sometimes, hearing loss can be due to ear wax impaction – a condition that is very easily treated.
Increased Aches and Pains
Most people will experience aches and pains in their bodies as they grow older – it’s quite normal. Typically, older adults suffer from unpleasant (but very normal) aches and pains in their muscles and joints, which it’s often the result of age-associated muscle mass and bone density loss.
Common pains due to age can include:
- Stiffness or pain in the neck
- Lower back pain
- Wrist pain and/or swelling
- Elbow pains
- Knee pain
- Pelvic pain
- Heartburn
- Headaches
Although unpleasant, many aches and pains aren’t serious and can be managed at home. However, anyone experiencing these problems should still visit their doctor – not just to receive support for pain management and reduction but also to rule out anything that could be more serious. After all, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the outcome and the slower the progression of any conditions – age-related or not.
