There is a popular saying that 50 is the new 30. While it is not immediately clear what this means, the message is unmistakable. Today’s healthy 50-year-old has a lifetime ahead, much like the healthy 30-year-old did in the past. Many celebrate this reality, because reaching 50 comes with life experience, greater self-assurance, more wisdom and sharper clarity about who one is and what will make one happy and fulfilled. With longer lifespans, we now have time to make drastic life changes and turnarounds if we want to pursue our bliss.
But herein lies the catch. With all these positives come the realities of physical and physiological ageing. Even as our spirits soar at the runway ahead, we will face challenges to our health and the workings of our bodies.
Our best bet is to make ourselves aware of what to expect, and take positive action to strengthen, protect and prepare ourselves as much as we can. It is not the stories of illness and disability that should fill our vision, but those of older individuals leading full and happy lives, living their ideal life with and without physical challenges.
Age-related changes
Many things are happening in our bodies to different degrees as we age. While they do not necessarily indicate disease, they can be upsetting. Awareness of these inevitable changes can help us choose to make the right decisions and choices for a lifestyle that can reduce their impact on our lives. These are some of the changes to expect:
Skin becomes thinner, drier, more fragile and less flexible. This means easy bruising, with wrinkles, age spots and skin tags more noticeable.
Bones, joints and muscles: Bones shrink and become less dense, muscles weaken, joints suffer from wear and tear.
Mobility and balance are affected by age and related changes, raising the chances of bruises and fractures
Body shape can change to become shorter, with possible spine curvature. Metabolic change and muscle loss mean fat is redistributed.
Face contours can change because of bone and fat volume loss, leading to sagging, droopy faces.
Teeth and gums are affected when teeth become more weak and brittle, salivary glands produce less saliva and gums recede from the teeth. These result in tooth loss or decay, gum disease, dry mouth and bad breath.
