According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s population projections, the number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060, and the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population will rise from 16 percent to 23 percent. The numbers of healthy people over 65 stand around 48%. As much as I would like to, I’m not getting any younger, and I’d prefer to consider myself among those seniors without many health changes.
However, as the years progress, I notice little changes in my body that tend to add up to bigger health changes over time. From annoying physical changes like the drying out of skin or subtle hearing difficulties to more serious concerns that could be life-threatening, people over 60 need to pay attention to what’s happening with our bodies.
Read on to look at some common health changes that may hit us as we age and what we can do to stop or at least minimize their effects.
Health Changes Your 60’s May Bring
Health changes in our 60’s may be serious or simply annoying. Let’s begin with a few of the irritating issues.
Irritating Physical Changes
You know those ugly little brown spots that pop up anywhere and seem to enlarge overnight? They say those become more prevalent in our 60’s. My dermatologist says I can thank my past years of basking in the Tennessee and Florida sunshine for those.
Wrinkles supposedly become more noticeable. While men in their sixties can still look distinguished and relatively handsome with their “weathered” look, we women can look forward to an increase in those dreaded wrinkles, dry skin and spending a small fortune on moisturizers.
From those so-called normal aging changes to more serious ones, it pays for us seniors to keep a close eye on our bodies and seek professional opinions, solutions or treatment as soon as possible.
The Appearance of Alligator Skin
Dry skin was one of the first things I noticed as I entered my 60’s. I spent my life rather proud of my skin, first as a teenager with no zits, and later with skin that tanned nicely in the summer and stayed clear. Once dry skin set in, you can believe that I noticed and was not happy!
Aging causes skin to thin, become less elastic, drier and wrinkled. Years of sunlight only add to the misery. This happens to men in their 60’s as well, but for some reason, those wrinkles give men a rugged appearance instead of an aged look.
Why Skin Ages
As we age, our skin becomes thinner and drier and tightens. Sun exposure just makes it worse. While the healthy among us just lament and deal with the blotches and redness and dry skin, some have to worry about more serious issues.
My husband began visiting dermatologists in his 60’s, and they often treated him for pre-cancerous lesions caused by his lifetime of neglect and sun. He learned the hard way how important it is to take care of our skin.
The sun is a huge enemy of our skin, along with being a very important source of Vitamin D. Vitamin D also helps the body use such minerals as calcium and phosphorus.
What You Can Do About It:
Be careful how you bathe. Very hot water dries out skin. Avoid those long, hot showers! Use mild soaps and warm water, and be liberal with the use of lotions and dry skin creams on older skin.
Always wear sunblock when you go outdoors, and see a dermatologist after age 60 to look for any moles or growths that might create a health concern.
Smoking contributes to skin damage, adding to wrinkling.
Irritating Changes to Our Senses of Taste and Smell
Even in our 50’s, we may notice that our senses of taste and smell have changed. As we age, the taste buds on our tongues decrease in sensitivity. Foods we used to love don’t please us as much as they once did.
The loss of our sense of smell may not be as noticeable at first. Our ability to smell diminishes because the lining of the nose becomes drier and thinner and nerve endings in the nose deteriorate.
Other factors may contribute to the loss of taste or smell. They include:
- Nasal and sinus problems, such as allergies, sinusitis or nasal polyps
- Viral infections, including the common cold and the flu
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Certain medications, including beta blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Dental problems
- Cigarette smoking
- Head or facial injury
- Diseases that affect the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
What You Can Do:
If you find yourself losing senses of taste and/or smell, discuss it with your physician. Losing the ability to smell or taste food could lead to malnutrition or even depression. Some causes may be temporary; i.e., when I had Covid-19, I lost most of my sense of taste for several weeks.
Some medications can affect senses of taste or smell. Your doctor can best advise you about that. A visit to an Ear, Nose & Throat physician might be recommended.
Health Changes to Our Body’s Engine
Certain organs and systems within our bodies keep us going. When they slow down or cease to function as we age, other parts of our bodies may also stop functioning properly.
That Tricky Digestive System
The 60’s may bring on digestive issues and changes. Because the stomach is less elastic with age, it can’t hold the same amount of food as when we were younger. Food empties from the stomach at a slower rate. For many of us, the changes aren’t remarkable and nothing serious occurs.
But for some, the digestive tract changes causes problems. Some may find a decrease in the digestive system’s ability to produce lactase. Without this enzyme, a person may develop lactose intolerance, an inability to tolerate dairy products.
Constipation may become a problem as we age, since the stomach and intestines don’t move food through as quickly.
What You Can Do About It:
The Cleveland Clinic suggests 5 steps you can take to improve your digestive system. The first is to maintain a healthy diet by adding fiber to your meals and avoiding white foods, like potatoes and rice. Drink lots of water throughout the day.
Avoid foods that trigger indigestion and cause heartburn. For some, that means to avoid all dairy products. For others, it might mean no alcohol or carbonated drinks. Your triggers should appear obvious through trial and error.
Another suggestion is to stay as active as possible to keep your digestive system working properly.
Should indigestion and/or heartburn become a frequent guest in your body, discuss that with your physician. Ignoring those symptoms for too long could bring on more serious issues like Barrett’s Esophagus or worse. Again, trial and error may bring out the reason for your symptoms and if not, your doctor can advise the next step.
Creaky Joints and Brittle Bones
Your 60’s commonly brings on a touch or more of arthritis. This type of arthritis associated with aging may be related to prior injuries in your youth or not. Aging and not moving enough add up to creaky joints. The amount of lubrication in your joints decreases and cartilage thins. Many women and some men must get those annual bone scans to check for possible osteoporosis as we age.
During menopause, more women than men deal with bone loss but by the 60’s and 70’s, the degree of bone loss is about the same in men and women. Osteoporosis causes bones to become brittle and break easily. Even minor falls or simple stress like bending over can cause a bone to break.
What You Can Do About It:
Pay attention to your diet and include plenty of calcium to strengthen your bones. If your diet is low in calcium, that could mean diminished bone density and an increased risk of fractures.
Increase your physical activity to avoid osteoporosis. Tobacco use and alcohol contribute to weak bones. Certain medications can damage your bones, so be sure to discuss this with your physician.
Up to age 70, your body needs 600 iu’s per day of Vitamin D. Look for good sources of Vitamin D in your diet. Oily fish like salmon, trout, and tuna provide good sources of that vitamin. If good health practices aren’t enough to keep your bones sound, medication is available to do so.
Your Teeth Are About More than Your Smile
A healthy mouth goes a long way toward creating a healthy body. While 3/4 of people over 65 retain at least some of their teeth, older people still suffer high rates of gum disease, dental decay, oral cancer, mouth infections and tooth loss.
A lifetime of wear and tear creates erosion of the enamel. Cracks and breaks in the teeth may occur. The chances of needing a root canal increase after 65. The rate of tooth decay in people over 65 is greater than in school children.
What You Can Do About It:
Visit your dentist as often as suggested and get regular cleanings. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily. Don’t use your front teeth to bite down on ice! My Mother used to munch on ice when she watched tv at night to avoid snacking. She eventually cracked a front tooth, requiring a crown.
Protect Your Eyes from Health Changes
In our 60’s, our eyes may show changes. The lens of the eye stiffens and makes focusing on close objects difficult. Pupils react slowly to changes in light. A decrease in nerve cells affects depth perception. Merk says that a change in vision is often the first undeniable sign of aging.
Changes to the eyes may include thinning of the conjunctiva or a “bluish hue caused by an increased transparency of the sclera.” Along with such changes, we find ourselves looking wearing bifocals or progressive lenses in order to see properly. Tear production may decrease, resulting in dry eyes. Diseases of the retina may occur.
Here’s What You Can Do About It:
The NIH says that people after age 60 should get a dilated eye exam every year or two. Those with diabetes or high blood pressure should do so annually.
When you are outside in the sun, always wear sunglasses with UV protection. If you spend a lot of time at the computer, as I do, take frequent breaks and look away from the computer to prevent eye strain.
Include carrots, fish and antioxidants in your diet as all benefit your vision.
Weight Loss Becomes Difficult in Your 60’s
Obesity is linked to many chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. You may find that losing weight is more difficult in your 60’s. Muscle loss naturally occurs with age. We may gain a few pounds that turns to fat, rather than muscle. Extra weight puts pressure on the body that it does not need when so many changes are taking place. With a slower metabolism, pituitary glands slowing down production of growth hormones, and most likely less exercise, weight creeps up.
What You Can Do About It:
Know that to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. Sounds simple, but we all know it isn’t. Instead of trying to follow a fad diet, plan your meals in advance. Select a lean protein, a green vegetable, and a healthy fruit for each meal. Count carbs instead of calories. It’s easier!
Consider what you drink as just as important as the solid food. Whatever weight loss plan you choose, include your doctor in your decision.
Limit empty calories like sugars and food with little to no nutritional value.
Blood Pressure Is on the Rise
Web MD, says that over the years, fatty deposits build up in artery walls, kind of like a clogged drain. In addition to that, large arteries stiffen with age. Think arteriosclerosis!
The extra force caused by this makes blood pressure go up. You may not show or feel any symptoms, but the numbers could be dangerously high. Such hypertension can lead to strokes, blindness and other serious damage. According to this site, women are more prone to high blood pressure after 60.
I had just celebrated my 60th birthday when I developed the headache from hell one day at work. Clearly, this wasn’t a normal headache. I called my doctor and was seen immediately with high blood pressure – brought on by major stress at work – as the cause. My blood pressure had always read on the low side, so this sudden increase shocked me. Medication administered by my physician brought the numbers down and a regular prescription followed.
Don’t ignore any symptoms of high blood pressure, because it could cause several serious or even fatal diseases.
Here’s What You Can Do about It:
Lose weight if needed! Select a heart-healthy diet heavy on green vegetables and fruits. Try to eat more chicken and fish, rather than red meats in your meals.
Exercise is crucial to lowering blood pressure. If walking doesn’t work for you, try swimming. I have access to a workout center where I live with all kinds of exercise equipment. I prefer the stationary bike and try to increase my minutes, speed and resistance each week. Whatever form of exercise you choose will help those blood pressure numbers after awhile.
If you smoke, quit! I know it’s difficult but your health depends on it, especially if your BP is rising.
Back Pain Becomes More Likely the Older You Get
Many things can contribute to back pain – from excess weight, lack of exercise, smoking, or disease. The most common reasons for back pain in older people are degenerative changes in discs and joints, spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis.
What You Can Do About It:
The Cleveland Clinic offers suggestions to ease back pain. Become more physically active. Consider physical therapy to help gain strength and flexibility. Apply heat and/or cold packs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can help. Your doctor can advise on dosage.
Actions to Take for a Better Senior Life
Your 60’s Don’t Necessarily Mean You Are Old
*Take care of your skin.
*Discuss any loss of taste or smell with your physician.
*Maintain a healthy diet to improve your digestive system.
*Include calcium in your diet to strengthen your bones.
*Get regular dental checkups and practice daily dental hygiene.
*Get an annual eye exam and protect your eyes in the sun.
*Burn more calories than you consume.
*Lose weight and exercise to lower your blood pressure.
*Quit smoking.
*Discuss any health changes with your physician.
Aging doesn’t happen all at once, and the changes above don’t necessarily become a problem for everyone. The phrase, “You are only as old as you feel,” holds new meaning when you are the subject. Take the best care of yourself possible, so your golden years will truly feel golden.
