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Age changes. Age-related changes in a person - Knowledge Hypermarket

The sparkle in the eyes has disappeared, vision has deteriorated, muscles have weakened, performance has decreased - this is the onset biological old age in in general terms. So manifest metabolic disorders, deterioration of metabolism at the cellular level. Modern scientific ideas indicate that it is metabolic disorders that are of priority in the process of aging of the body. Fortunately, changes occur gradually and even give in to a certain control, since they are highly dependent on the external environment.

Interestingly, not every "age" sign can be used to determine biological age. So, with significant fading of the skin, the appearance of wrinkles, gray hair, the heart and brain can work quite properly. And vice versa, with a “healthy” appearance, a person may have diseases of organs important for life. This situation, by the way, sometimes pushes people to inappropriate behavior (for example, they continue to abuse alcohol or tobacco, go to the bath - in a word, they behave like healthy people and are absolutely not interested in the state of their own health), which often leads to so-called premature death.

For accurate determination of biological age use a number of information, - says Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation State Institute management and social technologies BSU, candidate of medical sciences Vladimir Milkamanovich. - This, for example, anthropometric data(standing height, chest circumference, shoulder diameter, body weight, skinfold thickness, etc.), functional indicators of the state of organs and systems ( pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, vital capacity, maximum breath holding on inhalation and exhalation, muscle strength of the hands, chest x-ray, visual acuity, simple memory test, electrocardiogram, pulsatile wave propagation velocity, rheoencephalography, determination of vibration sensitivity, psychomotor tempo test), laboratory tests (general blood count, urine, biochemical blood tests - cholesterol, lecithin, blood sugar, etc.). In practical activities, biological age is not difficult to determine by indicators such as systolic blood pressure, vital capacity, vision, hearing, ability to switch attention, number of healthy teeth and some others. Aging is a large number of external changes in the body, internal organs and body systems.

However, in the topic of aging, today comes to the fore biopsychosocial factor. We are unable to stop the natural process of biological aging. And yet, aging can be done in different ways. He who is tired of life has become a victim emotional burnout who is sure that life does not promise him anything new, poses a much greater threat to his health than the one who, even being sick, does not succumb to illness, but adapts to new conditions, fights. For a long life and beautiful aging, we don’t even need material security, but receiving positive emotions related to what we have. It is not necessary to see old age in gloomy colors, it is better to be adequately aware of the changes that occur over time in the body.

Height reduction with aging, it is primarily associated with a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs and an increase in stoop. After 60 years, growth decreases by an average of 0.5-1 cm per five years.

In old age redistribution of fat occurs due to a decrease in subcutaneous fat deposition and an increase in internal. From the cheeks, fat masses move to the lower part of the face. Fat is also deposited in the chest and abdomen. Age-related changes can occur early enough mammary glands(chest sags), which is observed in 18-25 years in 20 percent, and in 35-40 - in 50. The amount of muscle tissue after 50 begins to actively decline. A decrease in muscle tone begins in both sexes after 35. By the age of 70-80, power indicators are reduced by about half.

Age changes skin start around age 40. By the age of 60, the closed layers of the skin are noticeably thinner. The skin becomes dry, wrinkled. Due to metabolic disorders in some areas, age spots are formed.

Since the age of 30, the amount of hair decreases, they turn gray as the cells of the hair follicles lose their ability to form pigment. Although hair growth is reduced, it is not uncommon for older women to develop facial hair.

In the bone skeleton of an old organism percent inorganic substances in the bones increases. Therefore, the bones in old age become more fragile, with fractures it is difficult to grow together. An almost constant sign of aging after the age of 50 is bone thinning - osteoporosis. It is based on a complex complex of predominantly atrophic changes. For an aging person, osteochondrosis of the spine, or destructive changes in the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs, is also typical, which occurs in 85-98 percent of cases at older ages. Spondylosis- the formation of inert growths on the vertebrae - occurs literally after 45 years and, perhaps, is a kind of response to the development of osteochondrosis.

People over 60 usually suffer from load joints- hip, knee, ankle. The articular surfaces seem to wear out, wear out, the ligaments become less elastic, which not only makes it difficult to move, but also causes pain. The amount of joint fluid also changes.

It is often possible to observe changes in the organs of vision. Clouding of the lens develops - a cataract sharply reduces or completely disrupts the vision of one or both eyes. Cataract is often paired with increased intraocular pressure - glaucoma. Both of these diseases require surgical treatment.

Aging hearing organ usually begins after 40-50 years and manifests itself hearing loss which progresses over time. There is noise in the ears, the person begins to hear speech worse on the phone. Most people after 60 years of age have a weakening of taste, first of all, for sweets. Functions smell may decrease from age 45 and decrease progressively after age 60.

Aging nervous system- the leading factor in the aging of the whole organism. The central nervous system is associated with adaptation, adaptation, contributing to an increase in life expectancy. During life, neurons - nerve cells - accumulate the necessary vital information, but after 50-60 years their number decreases. The level of neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, etc.) also decreases, which increases a person's tendency to depression in response to psychosocial stress. Signs of aging of the nervous system affect mental and physical performance, memory, emotions, behavioral reactions.

Aging gonads associated with reproductive failure. The most striking manifestations of aging of the reproductive system are observed in women who already at the age of 40 experience a decrease in the mass of the ovaries. With the onset of menopause, the secretion of female sex hormones - estrogen - is significantly reduced. In the future, their main source becomes the adrenal cortex. Men also have their own male menopause"- weakening of muscle strength, increase in body weight. The decrease in potency covers the period from 55 to 65 years, and in women - from 50 to 60. In men 50-55 years old, there is an increase in the prostate. Much depends on the state of health and lifestyle, especially at a young age.

From this article you will learn:

How does the human body change with age?

How does aging affect internal organs elderly person

What are the features of the organs of perception in the elderly

How to improve the condition of the body of an elderly person

In the body of an elderly person, age-related changes occur in all organs, tissues and systems. They are called aging. Their speed and time of onset depend on many factors: heredity, climate, lifestyle, nutrition, motor and psychological activity. With a mobile, active lifestyle, the performance of an elderly person can remain at a very high level for quite a long time. Until old age.

The body of an elderly person: a general characteristic

In the life of every person, mature and old age are natural stages of his development. The biological processes of maturation and then aging occur continuously. They affect all organs, tissues and systems human body.

For women, the period from 55 to 75 years is referred to as old age, and from 60 to 75 years for men. Then follows the elder or, as it is also called, senile. It lasts from 75 to 90 years. People over 90 are considered long-lived.

The final stage life path every man becomes his old age. It has both positive and negative sides.

Wisdom, knowledge, rich life experience accumulated over long years- all this refers to the virtues of old age, to its positive aspects. On the other hand, physical weakness increases with age. The body of an elderly person is weakened due to various chronic diseases. A person gradually loses the ability to independently serve himself. As a result, he becomes dependent on other people.

Aging is an involutionary process that occurs in various organs and tissues of the body of an elderly person as a result of the harmful effects of various factors.

All people age differently, at different “rates”. Some always remain optimistic and cheerful, no matter what. Keep on leading active image life, do not close, do not “put an end to” themselves, communicate a lot, are interested in everything that happens around. Others become decrepit old men, having barely crossed the sixty-year mark, they completely lose interest in life.

The rate of aging depends on the heredity of a person, on the program for the development of his body, “laid down” at the genetic level. It is also influenced by various unfavorable factors. These include an unhealthy lifestyle, malnutrition, poor climate and ecology, prolonged psycho-emotional stress, bad habits etc.

With aging, the body of an elderly person undergoes morphological and physiological changes. This process affects all organs and systems, as well as his psyche.

External changes in the body of the elderly: skin and hair

Skin and subcutaneous tissue

In older people, the work of the sweat glands worsens, the amount of subcutaneous fat decreases. Therefore, the skin loses elasticity, becomes dry, wrinkled and flabby. On the hands and feet in the area of the bony prominences, it becomes very thin and often cracks. It is very easy to injure and even small wounds and abrasions do not heal well on it. Sometimes heavy bedding made of coarse fabrics can injure the skin and lead to pressure sores.

Due to age-related changes in the body of older people, proper heat transfer is disrupted. Their skin does not retain heat well. Because of this, they are always cold, they are constantly chilly and need warm clothes and a bed. They may have diaper rash in the area of \u200b\u200bthe axillary and inguinal folds, on the palms (if the hands are always clenched), in women - under the mammary glands. Possible development oncological diseases skin. Therefore, it is necessary to check its condition regularly.

Age-related hair changes

Throughout a person's life, his hair changes under the influence of genetic, hormonal and exogenous factors (chemical reagents, mechanical damage, etc.). In the hair follicles, dystrophic and atrophic processes occur. As a result, the hair becomes brittle, falls out, loses pigment and becomes discolored.

Quite often women in menopause hirsutism - increased growth of facial hair. In older people of both sexes, the hairline on the head, trunk, pubis and armpits thins.

Features of the body of the elderly: changes in internal organs

Musculoskeletal apparatus

With age, the amount of bone tissue in the body decreases. Articular cartilage and intervertebral discs become thinner, which leads to limited mobility, curvature of the spine and poor posture. These changes in the body of older people are often accompanied by pain in the spine, knee, shoulder and hip joints. Pain during movement can cause depression in an elderly person, a desire for isolation, a sharp decrease in motor activity and a constant desire to lie in bed.

Muscle mass also decreases with age. Because of this old man gets tired quickly. Decreased activity and performance. Fatigue makes it difficult to fully engage in ordinary activities, and very often older people are not able to finish the work they have begun.

Due to age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system, gait changes in older people. She becomes shuffling, slow and clumsy.

Respiratory system

The respiratory system of the elderly person also undergoes changes. The elasticity of the lung tissue, the mobility of the diaphragm and chest are reduced. Therefore, the lungs of the elderly are not fully filled with inhaled air. There is shortness of breath. The patency of the bronchi deteriorates and their cleansing function is disturbed. All this contributes to inflammation of the lung tissue and the development of pneumonia.

The cough reflex in the elderly worsens. Due to sclerosis of the walls of the pulmonary alveoli, normal gas exchange is disrupted. The processes of penetration of atmospheric oxygen into the blood and the removal of carbon dioxide from it are difficult. As a result of a low oxygen content in the blood, hypoxia develops, causing drowsiness and fatigue in an elderly person.

The cardiovascular system

The work of the heart muscle deteriorates with age. As a result, during physical activity, the heart of an elderly person cannot cope and an insufficient amount of oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the body. This causes rapid fatigue and fatigue.

Flexibility decreases with age blood vessels. During physical exertion, and sometimes during a night's rest, blood pressure may increase, shortness of breath and heart rhythm disturbances may occur.

Blood pressure in the elderly is usually elevated. And it can rise or fall sharply with a strong fright or stress. This must be remembered and avoid situations that cause strong emotions.

Digestive system

In older people, the senses of smell and taste deteriorate. Less saliva and digestive juices are secreted. Therefore, they often have a poor appetite. In addition, nutrients in their body are poorly absorbed.

The chewing function and mechanical processing of the consumed food worsens. Most often this is due to poor condition of the teeth and gums. For this reason, older people may refuse to eat. The result of such a refusal will be a sharp weight loss.

Hernias and diverticula of the esophagus or intestines are quite common in older people. Promotion of food is difficult, especially if a person eats lying down. A gastroesophageal reflex may occur when food masses from the stomach "flow" back into the esophagus. In such cases, very often old people complain of heartburn and chest pain.

In old age, the risk of developing stomach ulcers increases many times over. His mucous membrane becomes very susceptible to drugs. Therefore, they should not be abused. Be especially careful when taking anti-inflammatory drugs for joint pain, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

With a sedentary lifestyle and malnutrition, constipation occurs. In the elderly, the tone and peristalsis of the intestines decrease, the muscles of the abdominal wall weaken. All these age-related changes lead to difficulty in the movement of feces. Quite often, the situation is aggravated by "comorbid" diseases, for example, hemorrhoids.

In old age, dystrophic changes occur in the pancreas. May develop diabetes. Eating a diet that limits sugary, fatty foods and alcohol will help prevent this disease.

The liver is a very important organ for a person. The main function of the liver to decompose and remove harmful toxic substances from the body slows down with age. The synthesis of albumins (water-soluble proteins) is also reduced. This leads to slow wound healing.

urinary system

The human urinary system also changes with age. They are associated with a decrease in the number of nephrons - structural renal units. With age, daily diuresis (urine volume) is halved. For example, the diuresis of an 80-90-year-old person is equal to half the diuresis young man. Medicines are poorly excreted from the body of an elderly person, so you should strictly monitor the dosage of the drugs taken. Elasticity and capacity Bladder decrease with age. As a result, the frequency of urge to urinate increases. Sometimes, with malfunctions of the sphincters (valves) of the bladder in the elderly, urinary incontinence and its spontaneous leakage occur when the bladder overflows.

Features of the body of older people: organs of perception

Vision

In old age, the refraction of the eye, that is, the ability to refract light rays, is impaired. Farsightedness develops, sometimes cataracts. All these changes lead to a decrease in visual acuity. Sometimes older people lose the ability to fix their gaze on individual objects and lose peripheral vision.

The eyes of older people do not “switch” well from insufficient lighting to too bright and vice versa. For example, when entering from the street into a poorly lit entrance of a house, he may not immediately see the steps under his feet. Therefore, you do not need to rush him, but give him time to adapt.

Hearing

Sometimes older people have hearing loss. In such cases, they can use hearing aids. It is necessary to constantly check the performance of the device. And periodically carefully clean his headphones from earwax. If this is not done, then an elderly person may have hearing loss.

Hearing loss in the elderly can also be caused by earwax. In such cases, a special medical examination is carried out. And if necessary, the auditory canal is washed with a warm solution of furacilin.

Taste

With age, the number of taste buds that perceive the taste of food decreases significantly. For example, by the age of 70, less than half of them remain. Taste perception can be adversely affected by dentures. But even in the presence of their teeth, people of respectable years still change their taste sensations. Older people begin to feel bad sour, bitter, sweet. Sometimes food seems completely tasteless and insipid to them. This leads to the fact that often older people, in order to enhance the taste, overly salt or sweeten food. Sometimes they can even completely refuse it and starve. And if the hunger strike continues for too long, they quickly lose weight.

Smell

The sense of smell is the ability of a person to sense and distinguish smells. Thanks to this sense, we can catch the aroma of fresh, freshly ground coffee or fried chicken. It helps us to feel bad, unpleasant or even "dangerous" smells (the smell of gas or burning, for example). With age, the sense of smell also deteriorates. This leads to a decrease in appetite, as the food seems completely tasteless and inedible. Often people of advanced age refuse such "unappetizing" food. Prolonged refusal to eat leads to a sharp decrease in body weight and weakening of the body. In addition, there is a risk of poisoning from spoiled, foul-smelling food or gas from the included burner in the kitchen. Without smelling smoke, an elderly person will not notice a fire, which can lead to a fire.

Tactile (tactile) sensitivity

A person's ability to perceive the slightest mechanical effects and skin irritations, to feel objects and touch, that is, tactile sensitivity, deteriorates with age. Therefore, older people can sometimes not hold any objects in their hands, drop them from their hands. And as a result, they can get burned or even cause a fire.

The loss of tactile sensation in the feet can lead to the fact that an elderly person, without feeling the surface, will not be able to stand on his feet and fall. To prevent this from happening, people in old age should not wear heavily trampled or worn shoes.

pain sensitivity

In older people, the reaction to exposure to high temperatures is very slow. They are not always able to correctly determine the temperature of objects. Therefore, sometimes there is a danger of getting burns by them. They can burn themselves by touching hot objects, open flames, or taking a bath. To prevent this from happening, the possibility of such "contacts" should be excluded. The temperature of the water in the bathroom should not be measured "on the elbow", but with a special water thermometer.

Changes in the brain activity of the elderly

Senile memory has its own characteristic properties. With age, the ability to memorize decreases, short-term memory worsens. Elderly people have difficulty remembering names, dates, phone numbers. Forgetting recently read or seen information. Cannot remember recent events or where they put things (such as glasses). Along with this, they “wake up” the memory of “past in summer” times and facts. It is believed that these memories help an elderly person to "rest" from the sad, sometimes even unpleasant reality. "Leave" for a while in that period of his life, when he was full of strength and energy, and everything was on his shoulder. In the past, where he was happy and confident in himself and his abilities.

With age, orientation in space worsens, older people do not remember the way, the location of houses and streets. Inside the premises, they forget where this or that room is located. If an elderly person finds himself in an unfamiliar place, then he always experiences severe stress.

It should be noted that some older people really cannot remember something, although they really want to and try. Others don't even try to remember. They believe that memory impairment at their age is inevitable and nothing can be done about it. This belief, unfortunately, is often "contributed" by some medical professionals.

Dream

Sleep is a natural physiological process. With age, its total duration does not change, but a person needs more time to fall asleep. Because the duration of superficial, shallow sleep increases. At the same time, the deep sleep phase is reduced. Random awakenings become more frequent, after which it is very difficult to fall asleep again. Therefore, older people often complain: “I didn’t sleep all night, I didn’t close my eyes.” bad dream can lead to chronic fatigue and apathy.

The causes of sleep disturbance in the elderly can be different. These include severe stress, improper daily routine, depression, prolonged bed rest and other factors.

Communication

With age, a person's mental activity decreases. Elderly people get tired very quickly. Their attention is often scattered. When talking with people, they are easily distracted, switch their attention to some other objects, sometimes forget what they are talking about. Therefore, it is difficult for their interlocutors to maintain a conversation with them.

If several people are involved in the conversation, then the elderly are hardly included in the conversation. They are “lost”, embarrassed, reluctant to answer questions. They try not to strain their intellectual abilities. Replace them various movements such as scratching the back of the head or shaking their head.

When older people get sick, they become very worried, panicky, and sometimes even depressed. They are afraid that they will not have enough money for treatment. They worry that they will become helpless, and therefore completely dependent on other people. Their fears are heightened if they end up in the hospital. A new, unusual and unfamiliar environment causes them stress. The result of prolonged stress in people of advanced age is often a deterioration in memory and other cognitive functions of the brain.

Due to severe shock and stress, it is difficult for older people to get used to the environment. It is not easy for them to remember the daily routine in a medical institution, the location of offices and rooms, and the prescriptions of doctors. Because of these difficulties, they often withdraw into themselves, avoid communication.

Older people are in great need of praise and moral support. They need to be encouraged more often to do the right thing and highlight their successes. At this age, people highly appreciate kindness and attentive attitude.

Old people are happy to play "children's" games: mosaics, puzzles, lotto, dominoes. They willingly draw, knit, carve, burn, etc. They communicate with animals, pick flowers and weave wreaths. They love to play with people of their age.

A boarding house can be a great place to socialize with peers. In a chain of boarding houses called "Autumn of Life" elderly people will find interesting interlocutors, will be able to spend time doing their favorite activities, they will receive attention and qualified care from the attendants. Here they will not feel lonely and forgotten by everyone. Special programs physical activity will improve their health and slow down the aging of the body.

How to raise the tone in the body of an elderly person and strengthen his general condition

To prevent diseases and improve health, the elderly are recommended hardening of the body. It can be sun and air baths, water procedures, etc. Sunbaths are taken in spring and summer, during the seasons of the highest activity of the sun. It is best to spend them outdoors in nature. Forest glades, verandas, terraces, etc. are ideal. Elderly people can take air baths indoors in winter and autumn.

Now a very popular technique is the gradual restoration and increase of the immunity of the elderly to negative influences. environment(such as heat or cold).

Basic principles of strengthening the body in old age:

Graduality;

Compliance with the physical and spiritual state of a person;

Dosage of loads, a complex effect on the body of the elderly.

To restore the health of an elderly person, sports and sports games are often used. But at the same time, competition between participants and the desire to achieve high results at any cost are completely excluded. The main indicators of the effectiveness of this technique are excellent health, mood, and the absence of colds.

Strengthening the body with air and water

Hardening of the body of an elderly person with air is recommended to be carried out in motion. In the event of a chill, you need to make several vigorous movements to warm up.

It is recommended that elderly people take sun and air baths in a light suit or partially naked. Air baths are very useful to combine with morning exercises and water procedures. After charging, you need to take a shower or wipe yourself with a damp towel. Then you should rest for one to one and a half hours.

In summer, bathing can be used to strengthen the body of an elderly person. Sea water is very useful for people over 40 years old. You should bathe once a day, in the morning, while the water has not yet warmed up. The duration of the first bathing is 4-5 minutes, then gradually brought to 15-20 minutes. In the absence of contraindications from the cardiovascular system.

Elderly people suffering from hypertension or sclerosis of the coronary vessels should be very careful to strengthen the body with sea baths. Because with a sharp cooling of the body, blood pressure can greatly increase. To avoid this, before diving into the water you need to sit on the shore for 10-15 minutes.

Strengthening the body with sunbathing

During sunbathing in the body of an elderly person, various physiological processes occur, leading to an improvement in the functioning of the muscular and nervous systems. The result is a feeling of vivacity and freshness.

But the sun can also have a negative effect on the body of an elderly person, therefore, when taking sunbathing, care must be taken: strictly monitor their duration, and avoid overheating.

Elderly people suffering from sclerosis should be especially careful when staying in the sun.

How to restore health with sunbathing in old age:

They can be taken throughout the day, but better in the morning;

For people over 40 years of age, it is most beneficial to sunbathe while lying down. In the morning, an hour and a half before the procedure, you need to have breakfast: taking a bath on an empty stomach is not recommended;

People over 40 who suffer from severe sclerosis of the coronary vessels should not swim in cool water after sunbathing in order to exclude the possibility of a sharp “jump” in blood pressure. The temperature should be between 22 and 25 °C;

After water treatment you need to dry yourself thoroughly with a towel and rest for half an hour in the shade. Before sunbathing, older people are not recommended to swim in the sea. It is necessary to strictly alternate such baths with bathing.

Strengthening the body with medicinal plants

To improve health in old age, there are many plants recommended by traditional medicine.

In Mongolia, tea made from the leaves and flowers of the Adams rhododendron is very popular. It is believed that it has a miraculous ability to strengthen and heal the body of an elderly person. It inspires strength, vivacity, increases efficiency and uplifts mood. Mongolian scientists have found that the plant has the same adaptogenic properties as ginseng. And so this wonderful plant can be widely used for enhanced, heavy physical and psychological stress.

In the Amur region, Nanai ginseng is called high gastrodia. This perennial has long been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is enough to take just a few tablespoons of a healing infusion from the tubers or stems of this amazing plant in order to heal and strengthen the body of an elderly person, restore his strength. Gastrodia helps to maintain the efficiency of the elderly at a high level, strengthens and rejuvenates their body.

Shiksha is very popular among the population of Gorny Altai. A decoction of her herbs is used for overwork. Shiksha helps to strengthen the body of an elderly person, stimulates the central nervous system, restores strength even with paralysis. At the same time, with overexcitation or hypertension, it has a calming effect, quickly normalizes blood pressure. According to many scientists, this plant can also be attributed to bioregulators, similar to ginseng.

One of the well-known substitutes for ginseng is mummy, which has become last years incredibly popular in Russia. Shilajit compensates for the deficiency of microelements, restores working capacity in case of fatigue, especially in old age. At large physical activity and nervous tension consumes a lot of potassium. This trace element is responsible for the timely delivery of carbohydrates. But with very strong strenuous loads, energy is consumed so quickly that potassium deficiency is inevitably formed. It is in such extreme cases that mummy helps the body quickly replenish carbohydrate reserves and restore the disturbed balance of substances in the body.

Are age-related changes in the skin on the face of women inevitable? It is not very pleasant to realize, but such metamorphoses happen sooner or later.

But when the first wrinkles appear, it largely depends on the woman herself.

In this article:

Why does skin age?

The skin reflects the processes that occur in the body, being one with it.

In this case, the following signs of aging of the skin of the face are noted:

color changes, ;
the number and depth of wrinkles increases;
the clarity of the oval is lost;
nasolabial folds deepen;
appear around the eyes;
capillary vessels dilate.

Scientists claim that The aging process of the face begins at the age of 25. Gradually, fibroblasts (as the cells of the dermis are called) reduce the production of collagen, which is responsible for strength and elasticity. According to data obtained in the course of studies, the concentration of this protein after 30 years is reduced by 1% annually.

Skin renewal as a human body is regulated by the nervous, endocrine and immune systems, under the influence of which cells divide. Over time, these processes are inhibited, which affects the condition of the epidermis. Subcutaneous fat cells atrophy, the skin becomes dry and scaly, loses its ability to retain moisture.

With age, the layer of functionally active cells decreases, while the stratum corneum thickens.

If at a young age the cell replacement period was 28 days, then over time it increases to 45–60 days.

Dead cells exfoliate more slowly, the dermis becomes thinner.

These are internal, or biological reasons why facial skin aging in women is inevitable.

The speed of this process is individual, and largely depends on genetics. Additional factors that determine these processes are lifestyle, diet, habitat.

Premature aging

A woman gradually gets used to the idea of age-related aging. But if this happens prematurely, then psychological discomfort appears and the usual course of life is disrupted.

Early aging not only reduces self-esteem, but can also affect the attitude of others towards such a person.

Folds of skin around the eyes, between the eyebrows give the face a gloom and viciousness. An experiment by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania showed that these emotions were considered by the experimental subjects even in “smiling” pictures of older people.

Why is there a false start? The fact is that they distinguish between biological and chronological (actual) age. Under adverse circumstances, there is a gap in these indicators.

The greatest enemy of the youth of the face is called the sun's rays, or ultraviolet.

One of the most important components of human skin is hyaluronic acid, which is involved in tissue renewal. When it is exposed to ultraviolet, inflammation occurs, the rate of decay of the substance increases, and synthesis stops. This causes oxidative stress, as a result of which the structure of cells, the genetic apparatus, is destroyed. This process is also called photoaging.

Causes of premature skin aging:

unfavorable environmental conditions, when polluted, insufficiently humid air, the wind contribute to blockage of pores, inflammation, metabolic disorders.
lack of moisture which changes the structure of the skin. Deficiency cannot be eliminated by drinking, since it is necessary cosmetics holding water molecules.
Bad habits- smoking, alcohol, drugs as a source of toxins. The resulting toxic compounds destroy cells, promote the formation of free radicals, and provoke nutritional deficiencies.
Lack of nutrients and vitamins- participants in metabolic, oxidative, reducing processes, immune reactions.
Stress and a busy life schedule, a tendency to workaholism.
Active facial expressions - the habit of wrinkling the nose, forehead, drawing eyebrows.
Wrong care causing loss of moisture, inflammation, with early use of age-related cosmetics - a violation of the functions of the skin.
Sleep less than 7 hours a day because of which the tissues do not have time to be updated.

Hormonal imbalance due to diseases of the genital area also leads to early aging.

A decrease in estrogen levels provokes the appearance of wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and does not inhibit the growth of adipose tissue. Creates potential ozone risks. Under its influence, the skin loses tocopherol or youth vitamin.

Types of facial skin aging and their characteristics

Despite the fact that everyone's face is aging, it proceeds in different ways. One of several aging scenarios is implemented. What it will be depends on the type of skin, as well as on the physique, face shape, health status.

Tired

This type of aging typical for owners of normal and combination skin, with an average degree of development of subcutaneous adipose tissue and muscles. They have a thin or normal build, a diamond-shaped or oval face.

Fatigue aging is accompanied by such phenomena:

dims;
muscle tone and turgor decrease;
pastosity develops and volume is lost;
the corners of the mouth and eyes drop;
a lacrimal sulcus appears and the nasolabial fold deepens.

Pastosity is called unexpressed puffiness or preedematous condition, which is accompanied by a decrease in elasticity, a feeling of testiness when pressed. In the morning the face is fresh, but by the end of the day it takes on a sad or sad expression.

The "tired" type of aging is considered favorable, it easily responds to procedures.

"Baked apple" (finely wrinkled)

This is how thin women age, with a weak development of the subcutaneous fat layer. As they age, they experience:

moisture deficiency;
wrinkles around the mouth, eyes, forehead;
drying out of the face according to the principle of a baked apple.

The advantage of this development is that due to the absence of a fatty layer on the face, there is no ptosis (sagging), therefore, the contour of the oval is preserved for a long time.

"Bulldog cheeks"

This type of aging is also called deformation. He occurs in dense people with full face those who have combination or oily skin, with a well-developed layer of subcutaneous fat. Often such women suffer from venous insufficiency, so they are characterized by facial redness and.

Signs of this type of aging:

"creeping" oval of the face;
flew (sagging of the skin in the area mandible and neck);
the formation of a second chin;
edema;
nasolabial folds;
"puppet wrinkles", which run from the corners of the mouth to the chin, giving the face a sadness or severity.

The lower third of the face suffers the most.

Combined

Aging according to this type combines all the phenomena described above. He characteristic of normal or slightly overweight, combined skin. On the "dry" areas, small wrinkles appear, and where fatty tissue is developed, pastosity appears.

The combined type is the most complex, but at the same time the most common.

Muscular

This is how the face of Asian women changes with age, in which the musculature of the muscles is well developed as opposed to the layer of fat. The face looks young for a long time, the oval remains clear, wrinkles do not bother over the years.

Age-related changes occur rapidly, within one to two years due to the weakening of muscle tissue. Creases are drawn, deep wrinkles appear, the upper eyelid hangs.

Old exhausted face

This is the final stage, which is marked all over the age of 75. At this stage, the symptoms listed above appear.

Is it possible to prolong youth?

The answer is you can. It is enough to follow simple rules from an early age:

Protect yourself from the sun - both with wide-brimmed hats and cosmetics with light filters, wear sunglasses.
Do not smoke or abuse alcohol, give up drugs.
Include fresh vegetables and fruits, seafood in your diet, reduce the amount of sugar, simple carbohydrates, and cholesterol.
To keep the weight normal, its fluctuations are also undesirable.
Sleep at least 7 hours.
Avoid stressful situations.
Accept vitamin complexes, but only after visiting a doctor who will determine the needs of the body.
Exercise moderately.
Do gymnastics and facial massages.

The cosmetologist will select the care, taking into account the types of facial skin aging and the problems that need to be addressed. So, with muscular aging, moisturizing and protection against pigmentation are enough, and with “bulldog cheeks”, contour plastic is sometimes resorted to.

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How to get old different types faces.

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In the process of aging, regular structural and functional changes develop in the body, which are found at all levels of organization - organismal, organ, tissue, cellular, subcellular, molecular.

Table 2.

Comparative characteristics of primary and secondary aging. Examples of primary age-related changes and manifestations of age-related diseases

System, organs	Clinical manifestations	Primary age-related changes	Secondary factors of aging (diseases and temporal factors)
	The appearance of wrinkles, itching, dryness, hair loss and graying.	Atrophy (ch. arr. subcutaneous adipose tissue), weakening of the function of sweat and sebaceous glands; reduction in hair growth, reduction in the content of hair pigment.	solar irradiation; chemical substances.
	Hearing loss: Decreased ability to distinguish sounds. Decreased sense of balance - dizziness.	Weakening of the function of the vestibular apparatus.	Trauma, toxic effects of drugs.
Nose and mouth	Deterioration in the perception of taste sensations, a decrease in the pleasure received from eating, dry mouth.	Deterioration of smell, a decrease in the number of taste buds, a decrease in the level of taste sensations, a decrease in salivation.	Medicines; zinc deficiency, periodontitis, decreased nutritional signals
Musculoskeletal system	Decreased height, tendency to fracture, ossification and inflammation of the joints	Decrease in the content of mineral substances in the bones, a decrease in the number of muscle fibers; increased ossification of the tendons of the connective tissue; reduction of articular cartilage, deterioration of bone formation.	Vitamin D deficiency, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol abuse, drugs; diet violation; smoking; injury
Respiratory system-	Decreased lung capacity, maximum respiratory capacity.	Weakening of the elasticity of the lung tissue, weakening of the respiratory muscles	Secondary chronic diseases lungs as a result of smoking and adverse environmental conditions; secondary weakening of the respiratory muscles as a result of insufficient work.
The immune system	Increased susceptibility to infections and malignant growth; impaired immune response, increased levels of autoantibodies	Reduced cellular immunity, reduced antibody production, increased levels of pathological immunoglobulins and autoimmune processes	Nutritional deficiency. Autoimmune diseases (thyrotoxicosis, thyroiditis, malignant anemia).

System Changes

Appearance, psyche, human behavior, all functions change. The skin becomes thinner, its elasticity decreases, wrinkles and age spots appear; hair turns gray, becomes sparse; eyes lose their luster, senile ectropion (ectropion of the eyelid) and ptosis appear. A person's height may decrease, kyphosis often develops, joint mobility is limited; muscle atrophy is observed, their strength decreases, performance decreases.

In the nervous system, the number of nerve cells decreases, the weight of the brain, its volume, the linear dimensions of the cortex and ganglia decrease, the gyrus becomes thinner, and the glial elements increase. Nissl's substance decreases, senile chromatolysis develops. "senile plaques" appear in the brain tissue (changes in neutrophils, amyloidosis of the brain). Along with atrophy and destruction of individual neurons, there is compensatory hypertrophy of other cells, their nuclei, mitochondria, etc. In peripheral nerves, there are foci of demyelination, fragmentation, and thinning of the pulp membrane. The speed of impulse conduction along the nerves decreases, the synthesis of mediators of nervous excitation is weakened, and reflex activity decreases. Changes in the psyche, shifts in behavioral and emotional reactions are also associated with age-related changes in the central nervous system; memory impairment; the pace of mental activity is weakened, mechanical memorization suffers while maintaining semantic; decreased creativity and ability to learn. At the same time, the total amount of knowledge, common sense, and vocabulary change little. Many secondary changes in the body are associated with primary changes in the central nervous system.

The endocrine system suffers significantly. The secretory function of the thyroid, pancreas, sex glands, adrenal cortex decreases, their hypothalamic ~ pituitary regulation is disturbed, as well as the relationship in the pituitary-adrenal system, which, apparently, is associated with a decrease in resistance to stress factors; atrophic and sclerotic changes in the endocrine glands develop. From the moment of puberty, the size and functional activity of the thymus gland steadily decrease, its structure changes, in particular, the number of lymphocytes decreases, especially in the cortex of the organ. All this significantly affects the function of the immune system. Along with this, adaptive reactions are also revealed - an increase in the sensitivity of a number of endocrine glands to the action of tropic hormones of the pituitary gland, as well as target tissues to the action of hormones, a decrease in the content of the bound form of a number of hormones while maintaining the amount of free, etc.

Changes in immune system characterized by the development of immune deficiency, which is manifested in a decrease in the reaction to foreign antigens. In addition, immune reactions against self antigens appear - autoimmunity, leading to damage by immune complexes of cells and tissues.

The limitation of the adaptive capacity of an aging organism is largely due to changes in the cardiovascular system. After 60 years, the weight of the heart decreases, its rhythm is disturbed, the minute and stroke volume of the heart, the cardiac index, and the duration of the phases of the cardiac cycle decrease. The ECG shows signs of myocardial hypoxia, conduction disturbances; the heart is less capable of hypertrophy; the total peripheral resistance increases, blood pressure rises, the number of functioning capillaries decreases, "baldness fields" (areas devoid of capillaries) are formed. Reflex reactions of the cardiovascular system are more inert, humoral - protracted; adrenergic and cholinergic nervous control weakens, changes in blood pressure become stagnant, which contributes to the development of arterial hypertension.

With age, the amount of lipids and lipid-like compounds, cholesterol in the blood is disturbed. The amount of lipids of low and very low density (atherogenic) is growing; the amount of high-density lipoproteins and cholesterol (antiatherogenic) decreases. The coefficient of atherogenicity increases. All these factors contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. The adaptive capabilities of the respiratory system also decrease, the rhythm of breathing becomes more frequent and disrupted, the vital capacity of the lungs, the reserves of inhalation and exhalation, ventilation decrease, the diffusion capacity of the lungs decreases, the Hering-Breuer reflex weakens; respiratory hypoxia develops.

Changes in the digestive system are manifested in a decrease in the secretion of all digestive juices, impaired motor activity, peristalsis is weakened, senile constipation occurs; the detoxification function of the liver, the evacuation-motor function of the gallbladder decreases.

Weakening of function is also observed in other systems. The excretory and excretory functions of the kidneys, renal plasma and blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, tubular reabsorption, and electrolytes decrease; the limits of adaptability of the excretory system are narrowed.

The regenerative capacity of the hematopoietic organs worsens; the function of analyzers decreases, muscle strength, osteoporosis, osteochondrosis develops.

Significant changes occur in all components of the connective tissue; the content of structural glycoproteins and proteoglycans decreases; sclerotic changes develop in all organs.

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The human body is an extremely strong and stable system. Why do some people live up to 80-90 years, while others die at 30-40? It is believed that the peak of maturity falls on 25-30 years. It is at this point in time that the body reaches the maximum of its physical abilities, and then the processes of natural decline follow. One can partly agree with this, but only partly.

When we say that problems come with age, we mean that we have less and less desire and energy to take care of our health. Think of retirees who can run a marathon and immediately think of 25-year-olds struggling to climb the stairs to the 5th floor. For most people, age-related changes initially affect the most " weak spots”, while what has not been used to the maximum may go unnoticed. For example, if you are not a professional musician, then the decrease in the discrimination of high sound tones will go unnoticed for you initially. Over time, of course, as you grow, you will notice changes, but this will not be the worst thing.

Affects all organs and tissues. The ability of the body to retain water decreases, which leads to deterioration of the skin, dry mouth, and a decrease in the amount of saliva. The strength decreases and the amount of adipose tissue increases. The quality of the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal system decreases.

The endocrine system undergoes major changes - women experience menopause, and men will decrease the amount of male hormones. This means that the quality of sexual life drops noticeably.

Changes affect the cardiovascular and nervous system. Vessels become fragile, the heart and brain are less supplied with oxygen and nutrients, the ability to maintain concentration decreases, reflexes slow down, memory deteriorates, etc.

Age-related changes do not bypass vision, smell and touch. Metabolism worsens, vitamins and minerals are absorbed worse. Bones become more fragile.

Is it so bad? On the one hand, there are quite a few really negative changes. On the other hand, each person has a real opportunity to fight age-related changes - for this you need to take care of your health.

There are different theories regarding the causes of aging:

It is assumed that there is a "biological clock", according to which cells can divide a certain number of times.
According to another theory, after each cell division, errors occur, which accumulate over the years and at a certain point become fatal. These errors are provoked, including viruses and bacteria.
It is also assumed that the “strength limit” of cells is genetically laid, reaching which they begin to collapse.
A popular theory is about free radicals, which are produced in cells as a result of chemical reactions, gradually accumulate and then kill the cells.

No scientist today can give a simple and clear answer about the causes of aging, so you should not think about it. Much more important is what each of us can do today in order to keep our body in good shape for as long as possible. Even if you are a fan of fatalism and believe that each person will live as long as it is written in his family, this does not negate the fact that it is you who can influence how he will live the years allotted to him. I repeat once again - you can run marathons at 60, or you can barely drag your feet at 30.

Many over the years take more and more drugs - they drink painkillers, diuretics, sedatives, hormonal, heart and many other drugs. In the fight against age-related changes, it is not complete without vitamins, minerals and various dietary supplements (biologically active additives). This is not always dictated by necessity. Drinking pills is easier than following the daily routine, proper nutrition, playing sports, and thanks to this, you can regain your former enthusiasm. Physical exercise helps to manage stress as it contribute to the production of hormones of pleasure. Following positive changes will affect all organs and systems, which will make you feel cheerful. And behind the vivacity of the body will come the cheerfulness of the spirit, and age-related changes will not be so terrible.