PED 206 - Personal Health and Wellness

Chapter 19/20 Notes

ALL OF US GROW OLD!

Everything has been tried to postpone the inevitability of death:

• Fountain of youth
• Frozen bodies
• Magic spells
• Youth drugs

People associate aging with sickness, disability, and loneliness, but because of healthy habits earlier in life, people can and have remained vigorous and productive until it's very end.

Aging does not begin on the 65th birthday, and there is no precise age at which a person becomes old. Some people are old at 25, and others are young at 75.

Your attitude toward life and your attention to your health influences the satisfaction that you will receive from life, especially when new physical, mental, and social challenges occur in later years. If you are taking care of yourself while you are young, you are the one who is in control over the physical and mental aspects of aging.

Aging- normal changes in body functions that occur after maturity until death.

The maximum life span is 110-115 years-your lifespan can either be healthy or a disabling time.

Life expectancy- average length of time that members of a population can expect to live.

Right now in the U.S. males 73, females 79

Women have less heart disease. More males smoke have more injuries and alcoholism.

Life expectancy increases has made the United States population much older, and many problems have come up because of that:

People over 65 are 13% of population

a supplement to personal savings and pensions financed through taxes on business and workers.

Medical care-remains the largest expense for older adults. On average they visit a physician 10-12 times a year, hospitalized more frequently and require twice as much prescription medication.

Medicare- a health insurance program for the elderly and the disabled. Social security pays for some of it and the rest is covered by people who make payments to the program on their choice. It pays about 30% of the cost of medical care.

Medicaid-a state and federal funded program that provides medical insurance to low income people of any age (a single person has to pay about 9000 dollars per year for health insurance, a family pays about 13,000).

You the taxpayer will be funding many people when you begin working full time.

People’s pensions are eroded by inflation.

Ageism- age related prejudice against older people because they may not be able to work effectively, are sickly, and less mentally competent.

• Care giving for those who can no longer care for themselves

  Studies show that in every 3 of 4 cases, a grown daughter assumes a care giving role for elderly relatives. Costs of nursing homes range from 1500-5500 dollars per month.
  

• Older adults driving
• Elderly abuse

Gerontology- science that studies the causes and mechanisms of aging.

Biological aging- normal progressive irreversible changes that begin at birth and continue until death.

It includes all the normal, progressive, irreversible changes to one’s body that begins at birth and ends at death.

Many of the characteristics associated with aging have nothing at all to do with aging. Instead they are the result of neglect and abuse of our bodies and minds. Even with the healthiest behavior, aging will inevitably occurs.

The physiological changes in organ systems are caused by a combination of gradual aging and impairment from disease. Studies of healthy people indicated that functioning remains essentially constant until after age 70.

Poor health drains finances, emotions, and energy.

Psychological/social aging- involve abrupt changes in circumstances and emotion (relocating, losing a spouse, retiring).

The empty nest syndrome-children become young adults and leave home.

Retirement will bring changes in the relationship between married partners: there will definitely be a period of adjustment.

Many white males over the age of 65 commit suicide: mainly because they have great power and status in our society: retirement and aging is much more of a loss for them. They also tend to have weaker social ties than women: retirement leads to social isolation, which leads to depression.

People should develop interests and hobbies they enjoy, so they can continue to live an active and rewarding life in their later years.

Some people don't adjust or have to adjust while others will have big time adjustments to make (health problems, financial woes)

To age successfully- people have to establish good health habits in their early years (teens, 20's).

By 30's usually people settle into a particular life style.

By their 40’s they will need to know how much money they need to support the lifestyle they have chosen. By their 50’s they need to evaluate health insurance plans and think about retirement housing. Financial planning for retirement is especially critical for women (no pension plans, lower paying jobs, work part time while being a mom: women also live 7 years longer than men).

Many of the characteristics associated with aging are due to the result of neglect and abuse of our bodies and minds. It is why problems occur later in life.

Life expectancy measures:

• challenge your mind
• develop physical fitness
• (exercise protects against loss of fluid intelligence, the ability to find solutions to a new problem)
• eat wisely (high in nutrient density and fiber: especially calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12)
• maintain a healthy weight
• control drinking and medications
• don't smoke (live 12 years less)
• recognize and reduce stress
• go for regular med exams

Aging theories:

a. intrinsic-(primary) the biological and genetic mechanism specific to humans-biological cycle.

b. extrinsic-(secondary) the person's emotional, physical, and community environment.

1. stress
2. inactivity
3. lack of exercise
4. diet
5. smoking
6. alcohol consumption
7. environmental pollutants
8. DNA damage in cells- the longer we are exposed to radiation and chemicals, the more probable that essential body cells will die.
9. Error catastrophe theory- enzymes in cells that repair damage to DNA are deteriorated with age, which leads to widespread cell death, making us more likely to get cancer and other diseases.
10. Free radicals- reactive molecules in cells which lowers our immune system and damage energy producing mitochondria in cells.
11. Cells contain aging genes that specify the exact number of times a cell can duplicate itself.
12. A theory involving the immune system suggests the body begins to make errors in protein synthesis, producing proteins that the immune system cannot recognize.
13. Collagen becomes stiffer and chemically immobilized with age because of the by products of metabolism (food breakdown). Collagen gives connective tissue structural support.

Dementia- loss of cognitive functions: some of the over 50 known causes of dementia are treatable: malnutrition, medication misuse, depression.

REPEATEDLY TELLING STORIES ABOUT THE PAST DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE DEMENTIA.

a. Korsakoff's syndrome- death of brain cells from chronic alcohol abuse.

b. Parkinson's disease- a neuromotor disease caused by brain injury.

c. Multi infarct disease- tiny multiple strokes in blood vessals in the brain that gradually cause loss of cognitive functions (some are hereditary)

d. Alzheimer's disease- possibly caused by 1) bungled tangled nerve fibers in certain brain areas and 2) amyloid protein in certain brain areas. This disease is characterized by memory loss, reduced ability to use language, losses in perception and problem solving ability and reduced mobility.

Also:

Adults after age 50 decrease in height an inch or two due to compressed spinal cord from a decrease in bone strength, and a decrease in fluid with the spinal vertebra.

Loss of bone material is responsible for osteoporosis. 80% of all cases - women get it. I'ts due to menopause (lack of estrogen production). Estrogen replacement therapy can reduce the risk of osteoporosis but there are many health risks involved.

Age related effects on the cardiovascular system

a. chronic arteriosclerosis- a buildup of plaque on the artery walls, which reduces blood flow and results in

b. hypertension- exertion of increased pressure on the artery walls (It's called the silent killer).

c. ischemic heart disease- reduction of oxygen to the heart due to lack of blood flow. The heart is starved of oxygen and causes muscle to deteriorate.

d. Heart attack- a complete blockage of blood flow. No oxygen gets in and the heart muscle dies.

e. Angina- heart pain

f. Cerebrovascular accident- a stroke (lack of blood to the brain).

The number 1 killer of adults over 65 is heart disease.

Respiratory system- with age the rib cage becomes inflexible and cant expand and contract when inhaling and exhaling. Also the lungs turn a gray color due to carbon buildup.

Stages of dying

Kubler-Ross believed that people go back and forth during the course of the illness and different stages may occur simultaneously.

1. Denial (no way)- a state of shock

2. Anger (why me?)

3. Bargaining- making a deal with god.

4. Depression- (no hope)

5. Acceptance

Rid yourself of the fear of death

a. volunteer in a clinic where people have non curable diseases. Many of these people will share their thoughts about dying.

b. talk to people who have had near death experiences.

c. write down your feelings in a journal about situations you come across related to death and dying.

d. humor therapy

Chapter 20 main topics

Religion plays a major role in shaping our attitudes and behaviors toward death. It offers solace to the extent that suggests there is some meaning in dying.

1. When is someone legally dead? Pg. 544

Cellular death- heart and breathing stop. At the level of the cell, metabolic processes breakdown.

Brain death- no response to external stimuli.

2. What happens when we die? Pg. 544

Mature understanding of death: recognizing death is universal and irreversible.

Some people say we are reborn, others say we have a better life, while some say we come back as someone else. (noncorporeal continuity)

3. planning for death? Pg. 549

• choosing where to die- at home, or in the hospital or a hospice (a program to care and support terminally ill patients). A hospice involves a large team oriented approach to care (many different specialists and areas).

  Palliative care: focuses on controlling pain and relieving suffering by caring for many needs of the patient.
  

• power of attorney- the legal authority to act in another person's name.

A will is a legal instrument expressing a person intentions and wishes for their property after death (estate). When a person dies intestate (without leaving a will): property is distributed according to rules set up by the state.

Health care proxy: appointing a person to make decisions about medical treatment if you become unable to do so.

All states authorize some type of written advance directive to honor the decisions of people unable to speak for themselves but who have previously recorded their wishes in a legal document

4. Assisted suicide and active euthanasia pg. 552

• Active euthanasia involves a deliberate act to end someone’s life because they want to end the suffering from an incurable and painful disease. It is unlawful in the U.S. , but Dr. Kevorkian was hired by several people over the years to perform this act (usually injection) until he was convicted of second degree murder in 1999. He may have ended a lot of pain, but it is against the law.
• Passive euthanasia: withholding the treatment that could sustain life.
  

5. Donating organs

6. Experiencing grief- a person's response to the event of loss

A funeral usually costs around 5,000 dollars with about 2000 being the cost of a casket.

3 phases of grief

• a. shock - disbelief and denial. Attending to funeral proceedings is therapeutic because it helps reality set in.
• b. pain of separation- deep with physical symptoms (weight loss)
• c. active- period of resolution

4 tasks of grief

1. accepting reality

2. work through pain without alcohol and drugs

3. adjust to a change of environment

4. moving on, relocating the deceased (most difficult- some say we may be dishonoring a family member)