C1 Physical Effects of Aging

Question 1

What is cardiovascular disease?

Answer 1

• narrowing of the blood vessels due to fatty deposits and build up (atherosclerosis)
• atherosclerosis can result in hypertension and heart attacks
• blood vessels lose elasticity causing the heart to work harder
• fatty deposits can break away and block the artery which can cause an angina or heart attack

Question 2

What are the health factors that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Answer 2

• genetic inheritance
• diabetes
• obesity
• diabetes
• high blood cholesterol

Question 3

What are the lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Answer 3

• smoking
• alcohol
• diet high in salt
• diet high in saturated fats
• lack of exercise

Question 4

What are the negative effects of cardiovascular disease?

Answer 4

• loss of independence
• anxiety about health
• depression
• anger
• frustration

Question 5

What are the positive effects of cardiovascular disease?

Answer 5

• closer relationships with family members and friends
• choosing to improve lifestyle

Question 6

What is degeneration of the nervous tissue?

Answer 6

Death of the nervous cells

Question 7

What does the degeneration of the nervous tissue cause intellectually?

Answer 7

• short term memory and the ability to learn new information declines
• reaction time and performance of tasks may become slower
• new skills may be learned as some areas of the brain may produce new nerve cells

Question 8

What does the degeneration of the nervous tissue cause physically?

Answer 8

• blood flow to the brain decreases causing brain cell loss to be quicker
• impulses may become slower
• the self repairing process in cells occurs slower making the individual more susceptible to injury

Question 9

What can speed up the degeneration of the nervous tissue and decline in brain function?

Answer 9

• having high bp
• diabetes
• high cholesterol

Question 10

What is osteoarthritis?

Answer 10

• a degenerative disease as a result of wear and tear of the joints
• causes joints to become painful and stiff

Question 11

What physical changes take place due to osteoarthritis?

Answer 11

• thinning and roughening of joint cartilage
• bones rub together causing pain and swelling

Question 12

What is the effect of osteoarthritis?

Answer 12

• mobility and movement become limited as movement of joints becomes difficult

Question 13

What is reduced absorption of nutrients?

Answer 13

• the body not being able to take in enough nutrients due to ageing

Question 14

What can reduced absorption of nutrients cause?

Answer 14

• malnutrition

Question 15

What causes reduced absorption of nutrients?

Answer 15

• reduced production of gastric hydrochloric acid preventing the break down of proteins, data and carbs
• the deterioration of the function of digestive organs

Question 16

What is the effect of a deficiency in vitamin D?

Answer 16

• increased risk of osteoporosis
• increased risk of cancer
• increased risk of diabetes
• reduced ability to absorb calcium

Question 17

What is the effect of a deficiency in calcium?

Answer 17

• bone loss
• increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures

Question 18

What is the effect of a deficiency in vitamin B12?

Answer 18

• slows the creation of red blood cells
• reduces nerve function

Question 19

What is the effect of a deficiency in magnesium?

Answer 19

• impacts immune system
• impacts function of the heart

Question 20

What is the effect of a deficiency in omega 3?

Answer 20

• increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis and macular degeneration

Question 21

What is the effect of a deficiency in potassium?

Answer 21

• weakens bones
• reduced cell and kidney function

Question 22

What is the effect of a deficiency in vitamin C?

Answer 22

• slows healing and development of healthy tissue

Question 23

What is the effect of a deficiency in iron?

Answer 23

Increases risk of anemia

Question 24

What is degeneration of the sense organs?

Answer 24

When senses such as taste, sight, touch and hearing decline due to age

Question 25

What happens to taste with age?

Answer 25

- the number of taste buds decrease reducing enjoyment of food and may lead to poor diet - production of saliva decreases affecting the taste of food

Question 26

What happens to touch with age?

Answer 26

- a decrease in the number of receptors means reduced sensitivity to temperature (burns/hypothermia) - increased sensitivity to touch can cause bruising

Question 27

What happens to sight with age?

Answer 27

- vision becomes less sharp - cataracts may develop clouding vision - eye muscles become weaker reducing the field of vision

Question 28

What happens to hearing with age?

Answer 28

- distinguishing between sounds is more difficult -tinnitus (persistent noise) due to wax build up or ear damage - hair cells in ears die

Question 29

What is dementia?

Answer 29

- a brain disorder that affects a persons ability to carry out daily tasks and activities

Question 30

What are effects of dementia?

Answer 30

- language problems - short memory affected - communicating is more difficult - reasoning is affected - personality changes - unable to recognise family - can’t control bodily functions - death

Question 31

What are risk factors of dementia?

Answer 31

- stroke limiting blood to the brain causing brain cells to die - lifestyle factors (smoking diet exercise) - ageing

Question 32

What is the most common type of dementia?

Answer 32

- Alzheimer’s - proteins called plaques build up in the brain affecting the transmission of signals

Question 33

What are some common age related illnesses?

Answer 33

- cardiovascular disease - hypertension - cancer - type 2 diabetes - dementia - osteoarthritis - osteoporosis

Question 34

What are the effects of illnesses common in ageing physically?

Answer 34

- immune system weakens - reduced stamina - reduced mobility - pain and discomfort - affects vision and senses which could lead to accidents

Question 35

What are the effects of illnesses common in ageing intellectually?

Answer 35

- short term memory loss - affects decision making - slows the ability to respond and react to information - causes difficult in verbal communication

Question 36

What are the effects of illnesses common in ageing emotionally?

Answer 36

- causes emotional distress - dependence of others for care - feeling of lack of control - bring families close together - low self esteem

Question 37

What are the effects of illnesses common in ageing socially?

Answer 37

- reduces opportunity to socialise with friends - impacts senses making socialising difficult - affects ability to communicate in groups

Question 38

How can lifestyle choices improve the impact of illnesses?

Answer 38

- healthy diet provides nutrients and reduces stress - exercise maintains muscle strength and keeps heart healthy - no smoking or drugs