Normal or Not?
What you need to know about normal aging

The aging process

Knowing what physical and mental changes are normal as you grow older is very important. You need to know if the changes or symptoms you may experience are to be expected. They may signal a health problem that you should report to your doctor. An important phrase to remember is "what's common is not necessarily normal." Just because you are older, you should not expect aches and pains or to feel blue. Many people think aging means health problems, and they accept a decline in health. Often these problems are due to treatable diseases or to being out of shape rather than to being old. Before you blame that symptom on aging, review the normal aging changes below. And be sure to let your doctor know about new symptoms you experience.

Normal aging changes? Or not?

What are normal aging changes? Normal aging changes are universal - they are changes that everyone will experience to some degree as they grow older. Grey hair is a good example of a normal aging change. These normal changes do not cause disease or disability.

Senility. There is no such thing as senility from aging. There are changes in the brain that include some loss of brain cells and a decrease in the amount of oxygen delivered to the brain. But changes in memory that interfere with daily activities are caused by disease, not aging.

Need for Reading Glasses. Far-sightedness is normal as eye muscles weaken with age. The lens of the eye yellows, making it harder to distinguish shades of green and blue. The pupils may not let as much light into the eye, so people tend to need more light to see well as they get older.

Dry Skin. The number of sweat glands decreases with age, and this can lead to dry skin. The skin becomes less elastic with less supporting tissue causing wrinkles. Skin color tends to lighten, and hair gets thinner.

Bladder Trouble. The kidneys do not filter blood as well as we grow older, and the bladder may not hold as much. This causes many older people to have to get up during the night to use the bathroom. But loss of urine, discomfort, or other symptoms are not normal, and should be reported to your doctor.

Joint Pain. It is normal to have a loss of cartilage in the joints that have been used a lot over a lifetime, like the knees and hips. For some this leads to arthritis, but joint pain or stiffness are not normal and are likely signs of arthritis, not just aging.

Need for Less Sleep. Changes in sleep are common with age, but some people find they need less sleep than when they were younger, others notice no changes. Deep sleep decreases with age, so older adults tend to wake up more during the night.

Hearing Loss. Some loss of high pitched sound is normal with aging. Severe hearing loss is common, but not normal and should be checked out.

Hardening of the Arteries. As you age, the arteries do become less flexible. This leads to more resistance to blood flow and some rise in blood pressure.

Getting Shorter. Many people lose one to two inches in height as they get older. More than two inches may signify osteoporosis, a disease where the bones become thin and the vertebrae in the back collapse.

Loss of Taste. There is a decrease in the number of taste buds, and less saliva is produced. Older adults may need more spices (not salt!) to make up for this change.

Unable to Learn. While older adults may take longer to learn new information, they retain what they learn as well as younger people.

Keeping healthy

Remember that a healthy lifestyle is the best way to a healthy and active life. Eat a balanced diet, and get plenty of regular exercise and sleep. Keep active and involved. Become a partner with your doctor in managing your health. Always check to find out if your symptoms are really normal aging.