Way of Avoiding Aging and How It Impacts Death and Dying
Perhaps, the most feared stage in the life of a human being is the aging process for it means that death is approaching. This explains why many a person becomes a victim of propaganda that claims to slow down the aging process. Before discussing the ethics behind anti-aging processes, it is emphatically crucial that the aging process be defined. First, aging refers to a state of continuous decay and growth, both processes beginning from birth and progressing throughout the entire life of a person (Martinez, 2003). Simply put, aging entails a systematic process characterized by psychological and biological processes coupled with other social norms and cultural assumptions.
While the aging process is part of the lifelong process in human beings, many people are yet to accept aging and come to terms with it. A proof of this claim can be evidenced from the plethora of ways promoting human enhancement and life extension science. The later refers to the processes reversing or slowing down the aging process using things such as experimental gerontology, use of anti-aging medicine, and biomedical gerontology. The former refers to the adoption of intervention mechanisms geared towards the improvement of state of the human organism beyond its normal functioning capacities. People fail to understand that identity is not a structure but rather our self is the continuous process. Martinez (2003) argues that an individual’s health is also not a state but a process designed to have consequences at some stage in life. For this reason, this paper outlines the various ways in which humankind and society in general, try to avoid the aging process. Besides, it also outlines the influences of such mechanisms on public opinion and as well, the relationships with death and decay.
Ways in which the society avoids the aging process
Human Enhancement
The effects of globalization and advancement in technology have led many people to adopt the notion that technology can be used to alter some parameters of normal human condition, particularly the enhancement of human capabilities. Human enhancement entails the use of therapies to cure specific human anomalies and the same giving some improvement to the normal functioning of particular organs in the human body (Sabelli, and Sugerman, 2003). Examples of human enhancement directly related to the aging process include plastic surgery, cosmetic dental procedures, and preventive medication. Appearance enhancement additives such as grooming and makeups also fall under human enhancement.
Dietary Supplements
This strategy is mainly focused on age-reduction from the nutritional perspective using dietary supplements to extend an individuals’ lifespan. Some element of scientific study is needed in this instance to evaluate the impacts of certain products/supplements on lifespan improvement Rattan, 2011). For instance, proponents of the free-radical aging model argue that consuming antioxidant supplements containing lipoic acid, vitamin C & E, and Q10 can extend the life of a human being (Rattan, 2011). On the contrary, critics argue that increased consumption of Vitamins E contributes hugely to increasing cases of mortality. Equally, certain test experiments undertaken on mice and rats as experimental tools have revealed that supplements containing zinc and selenium did exert a positive impact in extending their lifespans (Holliday, and Rattan, 2010). This strategy is yet to be adopted on human beings because no test has been carried out.
Stress Management
As a matter fact, stress tends to speed up the aging process of a human being. It has been evident that youthful looking celebrities such the American Model and actress Andy MacDowell have managed to stay younger by being able to manage stress. Stress brings about anomalies in natural body balance, which results in the damaging of its functions of secreting hormones, cell repairing and the production of collagen. In the recent past research has also revealed that when a person experiences stress most of times this tend to serve as a catalyst to the aging of his/her brain. Stress can be reduced by practicing relaxation. This can be done by listening to music or watching a good movie. It has also been proved that being orderly and organized helps in reducing stress. For example, a person should practice a culture of writing down pertinent details in note pads instead of remembering them.
Exercising
Studies have proved that exercise enables a person to be strong and stay fit. By losing fats and being, able to stay in shape has a significant contribution in slowing the aging rate. With a person exercising regularly, his/her skin will remain firm, elastic thus an opportune outward appearance. Another important thing with exercise is that it is essential for circulation and chemical release, which does a terrific deal in helping the body to cope with stress (Sabelli, and Sugerman, 2003). In addition, exercising results in sweating and it has been proven scientifically that this helps the body cast off bacteria underlying in the skin pores. In this case, it is necessary to carry a towel when exercising to wipe them out.
Avoiding Direct Sun Light
This is a natural, simpler and a less costly way of slowing down the aging process. It is a fact that one of the biggest contributors for quick aging is the direct sun exposure. Direct sunlight will always cause the discoloration of the skin. Therefore, this calls for reduced exposure to sunlight to reduce its effects. The best and the easiest ways to reduce the exposure are by using the sun cream and precautionary action. The use Sun creams will always give protection from the unsafe rays from the sun. If a person’s job entails being outside most of times then he/she should try to be in the shade.
The Impact of Anti-aging mechanisms on the public discussion about death and dying
For a long time, death has brought about different feelings in the minds of humankind, most of such feelings revolving around fear. Various beliefs and attitudes about death and dying by every human being are dictated by the society (Vincent, 2006). These beliefs depending on the societies, ethnic and religious groups determine the feelings, behaviors, responses, and ritual practices towards death (Vincent, 2006). Death is the most difficult subject to talk about in every society yet it is something inevitable. History shows that there have been efforts by humankind to evade death by slowing the aging process and even controlling it, as seen from the various ways discussed above (Sabelli, and Sugerman, 2003).
With the growing number of Anti-ageing mechanisms and the lack of acceptance of the aging process, the changing attitudes or negative perceptions among people in society towards dying and death will continue increasing. In a contemporary world, postponement of death has been desired by most since it has been viewed that dying is a failure. This makes anything relating to anti-aging to appear worthwhile. Anti-ageing has led to something called optimization, which means that somebody looking good and functional for his/her age. In these modern days, a belief has been instilled on people that science will help bring about immortality.
Prolonged life extension mechanisms have not been accepted well in the society judging from the political and ethical perspectives (Rose, 2007). For one, anti-aging mechanisms defy the laws of nature given that it fails to adhere to the laws of procreation. Similarly, prolonged life extension mechanisms lead to extended lifespans that eventually leads to increased population in society. With the already worrying population increases, it is crucial that individuals accept aging as a normal process in the human living process (Rose, 2007). Considering aging as a disorder or failure in life is anything but lack of acceptance.
Admittedly, death and aging are inevitable processes within the human life, and for this reason, people should be thankful for the gift of live. Human enhancement and life extension sciences provide short but dangerous mechanisms to human beings. Therefore, several mechanisms can be done in society to enable individuals accept aging as a normal human process. First, accepting the growth and development process forms the first stage in appreciating old age. As mentioned earlier, growing old is inevitable and growing up is a continuous process. Second, death instills fear because not everyone is willing to die. However, accepting death as a natural process can make individuals appreciate the lives they lived.
Dissociating death and aging can play a major role in enabling individuals to accept old age instead of associating old age with death. Third, human extension mechanisms introduce foreign objects to the human body and many of these objects do not decompose when an individual dies (Holliday, and Rattan, 2010). While it may fail to make sense to a dead person, educating the living on aspects regarding to death and decay can provide a great deal of avoiding anti-aging mechanisms. Finally yet important, it is true that aging is associated with a myriad of challenges and diseases but this is not a direct ticket to death. Eating well and frequent exercises can greatly reduce the impacts of the aging process. In the light considerations, it can be concluded that reasons to extending the aging process are many but it is of paramount importance to consider and obey the laws of living (age is a natural phenomenon).
References
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Martinez, M. (2003), “The process of knowing: a biocognitive epistemology”, Journal of
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Rose, N. (2007). Politics of life itself: biomedicine, power and subjectivity in the
Twenty-first century, Princeton University Press, Oxford
Sabelli, H and A. Sugerman, (2003),"Life-long creation in the prevention of premature
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Vincent, J. A. (2006). “Ageing contested: Anti-ageing science and the cultural
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