As you get older, the things that change about you may not be obvious at first. You may notice that you need a brighter light to read a restaurant menu. You may take longer to recover at the end of a busy day and notice your knees complaining after climbing a lot of stairs. You may even notice changes in your sleep habits.
When do changes like these indicate something beyond just getting older?
Many signs of aging are normal, but these normal signs of aging can sometimes mimic potential health issues that require medical attention. The normal signs of aging are unique to each individual and are influenced by genetics, past health, current health, habits, and the environment.
Healthy aging is possible at any age, but the goal is not to freeze aging. The goal is to understand what is happening and protect your health and well-being.
What Are Some Common Changes That Occur As You Age?
The Need for Help With Close-Up Vision
Age-related changes to the eyes can make it difficult to focus on close-up objects. Adjusting to changes in light can take longer, and reading small print can be difficult. These changes, along with needing reading glasses, can happen during middle age.
Changes to the eyes are not the only changes that happen during aging. Cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye diseases can also occur. Regular eye examinations are important.
What You’re Capable Of And How You Recover Can Change
It can be surprising how difficult it is to do things that you used to find easy, like carrying heavy shopping bags. Muscles can lose mass, and your strength can decrease, especially if you’ve become less active.
Joint stiffness and aches can also increase. While these can be age-related, a sudden increase in pain and swelling in your joints can indicate that you have an injury or arthritis.
You May Find You Need More Hours Of Sleep
Getting to sleep, staying asleep, and waking up feeling rested can all be more difficult as you get older. It is normal to need less sleep as you get older, but if you’re less than 60 years of age and find you need more hours of sleep to be rested and functional, it might indicate a medical problem.
Often, someone’s quality of sleep may decrease along with the amount of sleep they get. This can be caused by aging, but other medical conditions can also be to blame.
You May Notice Other Changes
Your skin and hair may change, and your hearing may become less sharp as you get older. It is sometimes easy to adapt to and ignore other changes. However, you don’t have to simply accept things the way they are.
Your Memory Feels A Little Slower
Do you ever find yourself forgetting names or misplacing your keys? It could be part of the normal aging process. However, just because you experience slower recall every once in a while doesn’t mean you’re developing dementia.
According to the National Institute on Aging, if you’ve encountered serious memory problems, there could be other reasons for them as well, such as certain medical conditions, certain medications, sleep disorders, and even depression.
There are some things that people attribute to the normal process of aging but that aren’t normal at all. For example, if you’re having trouble accomplishing everyday tasks or are getting lost in familiar places, you should probably see a doctor.
What Kind Of Changes Should You Never Ignore?
There are a lot of changes that people think are just a normal part of the aging process, but they actually require medical attention.
Some of these may include loss of appetite and/or unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue and/or exhaustion, recurring falls, worsening joint pain, and changes in your memory. Sometimes, the things we may attribute to growing old are actually symptoms of a more serious condition.
To figure out what’s really going on with you, your doctor will likely ask when your symptoms started and how rapidly they occurred. They may also do a physical examination and review your medications. Additionally, they may do hearing and/or vision tests, a memory assessment, blood tests, and/or other tests, depending on your symptoms.
Seek immediate medical care if you experience new weakness on one side of your body, sudden confusion, sudden vision loss, new breathing difficulties, chest pain, or any other new medical concerns. These symptoms should not be ignored or explained as “normal” for your age.
What Can You Do To Stay Healthy As You Age?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a comprehensive source of information on healthy living habits for a lifetime.
Aging well means including regular physical activities, such as walking, strength exercises, and balance exercises, in your daily routine. Other activities that build muscle, maintain bone density, and improve balance and flexibility should be added based on your healthcare provider’s recommendations. Depending on your overall health status, you may want to speak with your healthcare professional before starting a strenuous exercise program.
Continue to eat a wide range of healthy foods and stay hydrated. Consult your healthcare provider about healthy food choices if you have a health condition or are taking a medication that may cause changes in your body’s requirements.
Try to go to sleep at the same time every night, stay connected with friends and family, and keep up with hobbies that bring joy and meaning to your life.
Meanwhile, keep up with your annual routine checkups and recommended screenings. Talk with your health professional about any unexpected changes you may have experienced, such as falls, excessive sleepiness, or dizziness, and ask how your medicines may be contributing to them.
Although there are some things you cannot control as you age, you can control other things with good daily habits and appropriate medical care.
The goal is not to conceal the signs of aging. It is to keep folks as active and independent as possible by recognizing when their bodies need a little extra help.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. At What Age Do People Usually Start Noticing Age-Related Changes?
It varies. Some folks notice changes in their close-up vision in their 40s. Others might not notice changes in strength and/or hearing until later. Many factors, such as one’s health, genetics, and lifestyle, can affect when changes are noticed.
2. Is Forgetfulness Always A Sign Of Dementia?
No. Forgetting a name or misplacing something can happen at any age. Memory issues become concerning when they happen repeatedly and interfere with everyday activities. In such cases, a doctor should be consulted.
3. Why Do Older Adults Sometimes Feel Tired More Often?
Fatigue can result from poor sleep, medication side effects, anemia, thyroid problems, depression, chronic illness, and inadequate nutrition. Fatigue can also result from a combination of these things. However, if you feel tired most of the time and there are no clear explanations for it, it may be a sign of something more serious. This is something you should have checked out by your doctor.
4. Should Joint Pain Be Considered A Normal Part Of Getting Older?
No. It is more common for joints to have problems as you get older, but pain and stiffness can be signs of arthritis or other conditions that can be treated. You should see your doctor if you have these problems.
5. Can People Improve Their Health After Turning 60?
Absolutely! It is never too late to start eating healthier foods, being more active, getting enough sleep, and maintaining healthy social, emotional, and spiritual connections. Routine checkups and the right management of chronic health conditions can also improve quality of life and promote healthy aging. You should experience positive changes to your health as a result of these actions.
