Updated August 27, 2021
what questions should I and my family be asking?
Do I notice changes in my body with age that are bothering me?
Am I unclear if these changes are normal or not?
Do any of these changes cause me any pain or grief?
Do any of these changes affect my function and daily tasks?
Could I improve my health overall?
Are my long-term (chronic) diseases controlled?
Was there a change in my health that has occurred very quickly?
Have I recently discussed my overall health with my doctor?
What actions can i take for this agenda?
Keep in touch with your family doctor
If you do not have a family doctor it is highly recommended you find one
Refer to our other agendas for more details on the issues below
Keep a diary of your health and track if you are noticing any changes
If you are unsure if a change in your body is normal or not, ask your doctor and family to help look into it
What is normal aging?
Normal aging is the expected body and mind changes as we age
These changes are not from a disease or illness
Normal aging should not cause much burden and usually does not need treatment
However, these changes can increase the risk of certain diseases. Some of us may have some but not other changes as our bodies are all different
Normal aging can decrease how our body responds to stress. This can make one less robust and more frail
Refer to the “vigor” agenda for more details
This agenda section will focus on normally expected changes to the body as we age. Also included what are not normal age changes
Ask your doctor if concerned about these changes
What is normal aging for brain and nerve changes?
As we age, our brain reduces the speed at which it can learn and absorb new information
We do not usually lose things such as concrete facts and knowledge we have gained over time
How long we can pay attention to one specific thing should not change as you age. But your ability to pay attention to multiple things at the same time may be reduced
Normally, we should be able to do everything we used to be able to do for planning and organizing tasks
If we aren’t able to do this, it isn’t normal
It is normal to not be able to find words as quickly or sometimes forget how to say something as easily
It is also normal for our nervous system to slow down a bit and for us to not respond as quickly
What is NOT normal for brain and nerve changes?
If you find yourself unable to plan tasks, organize yourself, or control things that you used to this may not be normal
For example, if you find you cannot regulate your emotions anymore, or that you are making rash decisions that you cannot help
If you are unable to start or complete daily tasks that you used to such as doing your finances or taking your medications
If you are unable to keep or remember things in your mind while you are using that information especially during a conversation
If you are no longer able to organize yourself or keep track of your tasks such as missing appointments
Not being able to understand other people’s speech or not being able to communicate with others anymore is not normal
What are normal aging changes for the heart and blood pressure?
As we age our risk of heart disease and heart conditions increases
Our risk for high blood pressure also increases
Our heart is also less responsive to exercise compared to when we are young. Your maximum heart rate (the highest rate it can go do such as with exercise) will also decrease
A good formula for your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age, so as you age the normal number to expect becomes lower
What are NOT normal changes for the heart and blood pressure?
It is not normal to feel your heart is racing very fast and become more aware of it. These are called "palpitations"
It is not normal to have very high or very low blood pressure
It is not normal to have chest pain with a burning or crushing feeling
It is not normal to have chest pain with exercise or moving around
It is not normal to feel lightheaded or dizzy when you stand from sitting
It is not normal to have blue colored toes or leg swelling
It is not normal to feel like you cannot lie flat without pillows and get breathing problems
It is not normal to wake up from your sleep with shortness of breath
What are normal aging changes for the Lungs and breathing?
Our lungs can become more '“stiff” as we age
The air sacs can become weaker and collapse
Also, coughing becomes less harsh because the system of clearance is slower. Your breathing rate should not change much
What are NOT normal changes for the lung and breathing?
Having constant shortness of breath
Being short of breath with activities that did not cause breathing issues before such as walking, stair climbing, or mild activities
It is not normal to have a long-term (chronic) cough and feel you can never catch your breath
Having trouble breathing when you lie down
Snoring can be normal but if it is making your breathing worse and feel more tired in the day, it is not normal
What are normal changes for the kidney, bladder, and urination?
As we age urination can become a challenge
The bladder has valves that keep the urine in when we want and allow it to come out when we want
The control of these valves decreases as we age
Our bladders can become less sensitive in telling us when they are full
They can also lose their capacity to store as much urine as they used to
Our kidneys may slow down or lose function
It becomes harder to clear toxins as they used to
Slower kidneys are something doctors keep in mind when giving medications
Our kidneys slowing down can also mean that it is harder for body salts like sodium and potassium to stay balanced in our system
What are not normal changes for the kidney, bladder, and urination?
Having burning pain when you pee
Having to pee multiple times quickly after each other may mean you are retaining urine inside your bladder and not getting it all out
As we age, we are at higher risk of urine leakage meaning we are less able to control our urine but this is not normal
It is not normal to have blood in your urine
It is not normal to have dark or brown urine
For women, it is not normal to feel that something is falling out of your body when you urinate
What are normal changes for the stomach system?
Having heartburn (from stomach acid) becomes more common as we age
The valve at the bottom of our food pipe (esophagus) that keeps the food and acid in our stomach becomes weaker and does not close well
As we age, things that usually do not cause problems to change to give us more inflammation and irritation in our stomach
For example, medications from the class called "NSAIDs" such as Ibuprofen can cause more stomach bleeds. This class of medication is usually not recommended for older adults
Our stomachs are also more sensitive to alcohol, smoking, and spicy foods
Our intestines can slow down as well. This is part of the reason older people can struggle with constipation
Our smelling and tasting sensations can become dull
What are not normal changes for the stomach system?
It is not normal to have swallowing problems
It is not normal if you are choking and coughing when you eat or drink
Some heartburn can be normal, but if it is constant, with most meals, or keeping you up at night you should see a doctor
Having constipation that lasts for more than 3 days is not normal and you should seek help for this
Having blood in the stool is not normal
Having stomach pain is not normal
What are normal changes for bones and joints?
As we age our bones become thinner
This is especially true for women after menopause
Our risk for bones breaking (fractures) increases as we age and if we do have a fracture it does not heal easily
The joint space between our bones can also decrease causing mechanical wear-and-tear
This can cause pain and a disease called “osteoarthritis”
However, osteoarthritis can cause a lot of pain and discomfort which should be treated by your doctor
What are not normal changes for bones and joints?
Having broken bones often or easily is not normal
Falling from standing height or less causing a broken bone is not normal
Although it is normal to have some stiff joints, it is not normal to have red-hot or swollen joints (inflamed joints)
An inflamed joint can be from gout, an infected joint, or another problem
It is not normal to have pain in your bones and joints that keeps you from moving around
The pain should be better controlled to at least do the things you want to do throughout your day
What are normal changes for muscles and mobility?
As we age it becomes harder to build and maintain our muscles
Having weaker muscles can cause us to have problems with moving around and balance
A big muscle group that loses strength as we age are our core muscles in our belly (abdominal muscles)
These are the muscles we use to get up and go from a chair
We also see a loss of muscles in the legs and arms from people who don’t use them as much
If these changes are causing pain, mobility problems, or too much weight loss, then it is not normal
What are not normal changes for muscles and mobility?
Having a sudden drop in how you can move around is not normal
Suddenly starting to fall a lot is also not normal
Having more than three falls a year needs to be assessed
Losing a large amount of weight quickly is not normal
Losing muscle bulk and not being able to do and lift things you were recently able to do is not normal
If you notice weakness on one side of your body, arm, face or leg this is not normal
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