Health And Aging Research Paper

Health

Often we take our health, or the absence of illness, disease, or injury for granted until we become sick. It is then that we recognize the worth of being without ailments. It is then that we appreciate feeling strong, robust and healthy. Being healthy and, being physically and mentally sound, is associated with one's satisfaction with life. Developmental health psychologists - specialists who study the interaction of age, behavior, and health and gerontologists - specialists in the science of aging -- are piecing together the details of diet, exercise, personality and behavior that make it practical to shoot for 80, or even 120. People approaching middle age can expect a bonus of several years of extra living
Treatments may also interact.
- In contrast to younger age groups, the elderly are likely to suffer from physical health problems that are multiple, chronic, and treatable but not curable. Acute illness may be superimposed on these conditions.

Although there are factors that affect our health and the aging process that are not in our control , In a World Health article , K. Warner Schaie(1989), research director of the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern
California, cites three reasons for optimism about future old age: The control of childhood disease, better education, and the fitness revolution.(p.2) The control of childhood disease often eliminates problems that occur later in life as a result of these diseases. Instead of going away, the minor assaults suffered by the body from disease, abuse and neglect can have "sleeper" effects. For example Chicken pox in a child can lead much later in life to the itching diseases known as shingles. Vaccines and other medicine have eliminated many of the childhood diseases. Schaie predicts that people who will become old 30 or 40 years from now will not have childhood diseases. Most people who are now old have had them
Finally, the fitness revolution has changed our habits with respect to diet and exercise and self-care. An article in Generations, Joyce Carrol
Oates (1993) states, " per capita consumption of tobacco has dropped twenty-six percent over the past 15 years, and the drop is accelerating, promising a decrease in lung cancer. " Life-style changes and improved treatment of hypertension have already produced a dramatic national decrease in strokes.(p.13) In addition being aware of and accepting aging is an important process in aging. It is important to recognize that life not only has a beginning and a middle but also an end. It is important to recognize the live cycle and all that goes with it. The adult life cycle is divided into three main parts: Young adults, middle-aged, and older adults. There are characteristics of each division of adulthood. First, we will look at young adults. They are in generally good health. Respiratory aliments are their primary health problems (cold, headache, and tiredness). Allergies are their most common chronic illness. Fatal diseases are rare. The leading causes of deaths are for males, accidents and for females cancer. Aids is also a threat for this age