Tell me about...
Anti-Aging
What are some of
the typical health problems of aging people?
With science finding ways to increase human
longevity, ever-greater numbers of older people will be trying
to cope with age-related complaints and enjoy not just a longer
life, but a healthier one.
As we age, our bodies naturally change and
become more prone to certain health problems. From middle
age on, most of us may experience unpleasant alterations in
our skin, eyesight and hearing, teeth and digestion, which
we associate with old age. Loss of hair, memory and sex drive
are expected, and feared, signs of aging.
Worse, older people are far more likely than
younger individuals to develop such serious disorders as arthritis,
osteoporosis, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis),
high blood pressure, hernias, thyroid and kidney problems,
diabetes, Parkinson's disease and various forms of cancer.
Why should I be
concerned about aging?
Everyone should be concerned about how the
aging process affects them and their loved ones, including
their older friends and relatives and even their children
– whose longevity and wellness when they are older may
depend to a great degree on how their health is protected
while they are young.
Your vulnerability to the various ailments
associated with aging is a product of the interplay between
your individual characteristics (your physical condition,
genetic heritage, age, gender, marital status and sexual preferences,
even your occupation) and the environment in which your body
functions. That environment includes your diet and lifestyle,
what stresses your body is exposed to – including smoking,
excessive alcohol consumption, drug usage, overexposure to
sunlight and pollution, insufficient exercise, emotional stress
and untreated health problems.
That's why it is so important to take preventive
measures to arrest or even reverse the most devitalizing aspects
of aging. Anti-Aging is really about taking steps to protect
the quality of your life by not allowing the aging process
to take the life out of you – slowly or, worse, suddenly.
And chiropractic can help you protect yourself and the people
you care about.
What can chiropractic
do?
Chiropractic philosophy and practice are
ideally suited to helping older people live longer and healthier
lives. Because chiropractors are committed to health maintenance,
preventing disease, and promoting lifelong wellness, they
can give members of the aging population the health care they
need for continued longevity and an enhanced quality of life.
You probably know of men and women in their
seventies or older who look, feel and act years, even decades,
younger than they are. That's how we all want to be: as active
and vital as we've been in our thirties and forties. Research
has shown that chiropractic treatment and guidance in nutrition
and lifestyles helps reduce your vulnerability to the damaging
and debilitating aspects of growing older.
Chiropractic enables you to remain active, permits your joints,
muscles, and nerves to function appropriately, free of pain
that could prevent you from remaining active, feeling fully
alive and more youthful, even as your age increases.
Other Resources :
The
More You Know About Anti-Aging
More
Articles on Anti-Aging
References
• Lavsky-Shulan M, Wallace RB, Kohout
FJ, et al. Prevalence and functional correlates of low back
pain in the elderly: The Iowa 65+ rural health study. Journal
of American Geriatrics Society, 1985; vol. 33, pp23-8.
• Ammendolia C. Rehabilitation of the older patient:
A Case Report. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association,
1998; vol.42, no. 1, pp42-5.
• Perle SM, Mutell DB, Romanelli R. Age-related changes
in skeletal muscle strength and modifications through exercise:
A literature review. Journal of Sports Chiropractic & Rehabilitation,
Sept. 1997; vol. 11, no. 3, pp97-103.
• AGS Panel on Chronic Pain in Older Persons. The management
of chronic pain in older persons. Journal of American Geriatric
Society, 1998; vol. 46, pp635-51
• Mazzeo RS, Cavanaugh P, et al. Exercise and physical
activity for older adults. Medicine & Science in Sports
& Exercise, June 1998; vol 30, no. 6, pp992-8.
• Herbert JR, Hurley TG, Oldenski BC, et al. Nutritional
and socioeconomic factors in relation to prostate cancer mortality:
A cross-sectional study. Journal of the National Cancer
Institute, Nov. 4, 1998; vol. 90, no. 21, pp1637-47.
• Tjäderhane L, Lamas M. A high-sucrose diet decreases
the mechanical strength of bones in growing rats. The Journal
of Nutrition, Oct. 10, 1998; vol. 128, no. 10, pp1807-10.
• Aecherio A, Rimm EB, Hernan MA, et al. Intake of potassium,
magnesium, calcium and fiber and risk of stroke among U.S.
men. Circulation, 1998; vol. 98, pp1198-1204.
• Saag KG, Cerhan JR, et al. Cigarette smokers and rheumatoid
arthritis severity. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases,
1997; vol. 56, pp463-69.
|
