Aging is an inevitable phenomenon in every living organism. Along with the biological or physical changes in the body, other factors like the psychological and social changes make it difficult for an elderly individual to manage. Although the mortality rates have decreased, health related problems are a growing concern for the old. With obesity and dementia high on rise, nursing of elderly has become a challenge.
Aging is not a disease that can be cured, but it is a natural and irreversible process which has to be accepted gracefully. Aging is the accumulation of random damage to the building blocks of life (Olshansky, Carnes, 2002) known as the DNA which causes decrease in body’s self repair ability. This damage reduces the functionality of various cells, tissues and organs in the body, which in turn increases the susceptibility to diseases and causes the symptoms of aging.
Improved nutrition, hygiene and medical care have increased life expectancy yet it has not increased the life span of humans. Myths about the endless life renewal state, God sending the halakawa bird to give the longevity secret to humans. But the bird, out of hunger, bartered the secret to the snake for a meal. The secret was to shed the skin on the onset of aging. But this cannot be true as shedding the skin will not renew the cells and organs in our body! Thus aging remains an unsolved mystery.
Studies have shown that mortality rates can be manipulated by changes in lifestyle. Healthy nutrition, exercise, social and mental alertness will increase the life quality and help humans in aging with style. Caloric restrictions have been proved to slow down metabolic rate, manage glucose levels and counter attack the production of free radicals in the body. This helps preserving the bone mass, skin thickness, gray-cell functionality and immunity. Another approach to increase life span is hormone management. Manipulations in growth and sex hormones have shown to affect the longevity. The lesser the fertility, higher is the life span of that individual.
With all the research, we can just conclude upon that starving and leading a sex free life could add a few extra years to our life span. Yet most of us would prefer a lavish lifestyle instead of a self-punished survival. But with proper care one can surely increase their life span.
References
Olshansky, Carner, (2002), The Quest for Immortality, W. W. Norton & Company.
