How Does Your Body Change When You Age?

Aging is a natural process that is absolutely benign when we are not affected by any diseases. The process of aging psychologically is the gradual but a continuous erosion of the organ systems within the body that have the capacity to repair themselves. There have been many cases have been noted when the erosion makes itself evident only when people are stressed. Otherwise, they continue with their normal activities well into their old age.

It is clear that none of us is immortal. As such, the goal that everyone has is to keep the body in working order until things begin falling apart when the end approaches. In this article, we are going to discuss the changes that can be expected from an aging body. Some of the changes will change your perception of your own self and even of how others begin to perceive you. Nonetheless, the perceptions would have little impact on the quality of your life. You will feel some discomfort and inconvenience, which can be managed easily. However, some of the changes often create some substantial impacts on your life.

 What changes are we talking about?

[su_quote class=”cust-pagination”]“I want to grow old without facelifts… I want to have the courage to be loyal to the face I’ve made. Sometimes I think it would be easier to avoid old age, to die young, but then you’d never complete your life, would you? You’d never wholly know you.” — Marilyn Monroe [/su_quote]

Change in Height

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Loss of height is a common occurrence as we age. The rate at which you lose height varies with your age.  By the age of 80, most people begin to see a loss of 2 inches. Some of the loss is attributed to the torso because of changes in posture. Changes in the growth of the vertebrae, the bending of the spine in the forward direction along with the legs and the feet also contribute to the loss. This is a normal occurrence and will not cause a great deal of discomfort or inconvenience to you.

Changes in the Skin

The skin begins to wrinkle. This is one of the physical alterations that is not only associated with aging but is also one that is highly visible. You may be surprised to understand that the outer layer of the skin only displays small changes as we age because the first changes occur at a deeper level. The basic chemical building block of the skin and connective tissue collagen begins to decrease with age. Changes in its structure also become evident.

It is the decrease of collagen that causes loss of elasticity and the production of wrinkles. Other changes also take place under the skin because of exposure to sunlight and lack of proper care. The impact left behind on the skin by aging can be concerning for a person who has been flaunting its appearance. He or she may suddenly begin to feel different and may decide to withdraw from social life.

Changes in the Hair

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Changes in our hair have a prominent role to play in our perception about how we age. However, it has a limited impact on the quality of your lives. We initially the notice graying of the hair even at relatively young ages. Although it does not indicate aging, graying of the hair under the armpits has been mentioned as one of the sure signs of aging.

Age-associated changes in hair growth and the quantity of hair on various parts of the body are also indicators of advancing age. The growth of hair on the scalp, armpits and the pubic areas begins to decline. Elderly men can observe increased growth of hair on their eyebrows, nostrils, and ears. On the other hand, women can sometimes notice an increased growth of facial hair possibly due to hormonal changes.

[su_quote class=”cust-pagination”]“When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this but we all have to do it.”
― Mark Twain[/su_quote]

These are just a few changes which men and women can expect as their body begins to age. The changes will not cause major impacts on the quality of life, but they will make it evident that the process of aging has taken hold of the body.