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As we age, the physical function of the elderly gradually declines, and how to maintain health becomes a crucial topic.
The old saying "old age drains residual essence, people live poorly" vividly expresses the process of the elderly gradually running out of energy, reminding people to pay more attention to maintenance in their later years.
So, what does this mean? Next, we will analyze and explain the scientific truth behind it through case studies.
Later life
Mr. Wang has just turned 60 this year and has just retired. He worked diligently for decades all his life, working as a technician in a factory in his youth, and later gradually promoted to the manager of the workshop.
Despite the hard work, he always completes every task with due diligence.
Years of work have allowed him to accumulate a lot of experience and provide a stable source of life for his family. With retirement approaching, he finally ended his busy career and entered the stage where he should have enjoyed life.
After his retirement, Mr. Wang's pace of life suddenly became much more leisurely. Like many retirees, Mr. Wang's life is uneventful, but not boring.
However, as time went on, Mr. Wang began to feel that his physical condition seemed to gradually deteriorate.
Although he lived a leisurely life and did not have any special stress, he always felt that he could not sleep well at night, and sometimes he could not sleep after waking up at three or four o'clock in the morning.
One evening, Mr. Wang and a few old friends were playing chess in a small park in the community. The chess game was fierce, a few old friends got together, and there were some passers-by who were walking around and stopped from time to time to watch the excitement.
Just after a game of chess, Mr. Wang suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, although it was not particularly strong, he felt that something was wrong.
Seeing this, his friends persuaded him to go to the hospital quickly, but Mr. Wang smiled and waved his hand: "It's okay, I'm old, I'm a little dizzy." ”
He didn't take this dizziness to heart, and still maintained his daily routine.
A few weeks later, Mr. Wang's physical condition deteriorated further. In addition to not getting enough sleep at night and lacking energy during the day, he also felt some discomfort in his stomach.
One day, his wife suddenly noticed that Mr. Wang's face was a little pale and he looked listless, so he persuaded him to go to the hospital for examination.
Mr. Wang reluctantly agreed. He came to the hospital for some basic tests, and the doctor recommended that he do a gastroscopy and some blood tests to rule out serious problems with the stomach.
The results of the test came back quickly, and the doctor told Mr. Wang that his liver function was abnormal and that he had mild inflammation in his stomach.
After asking Mr. Wang about his lifestyle habits, the doctor pointed out that the problem may be related to his long-term irregular work and rest and lack of appropriate exercise.
The doctor also reminded him that although the current problem is not too serious, if he does not change his lifestyle in time, he is likely to face a more serious health crisis in the future.
The doctor's suggestion caught Mr. Wang off guard, and although he was puzzled, he still accepted it.
With the change of lifestyle, Mr. Wang's health gradually improved, and although he could not completely solve all his problems, his body was significantly stronger than before.
Mr. Wang's story reminds us that the natural decline of the body is inevitable in old age, but by actively adjusting our lifestyle, we can still improve our health and delay the aging process. However, how can we better enjoy our old age?
In fact, the answer to this question is explained by the old saying "old people are exhausted and exhausted".
The old man is exhausted
From the perspective of modern medicine, the ancient adage of "old age and residual sperm will lead to the end of life" can be understood as the physiological functions and energy of the human body gradually decline with age, and if not maintained, it may accelerate the aging of the body and eventually affect the life expectancy.
This view reminds the elderly to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent and delay further deterioration of bodily functions.
In medicine, maintaining good health requires not only attention to diet and exercise, but also emotional management, sleep quality, life rhythm and other aspects.
This article will combine modern medicine to explore in depth how the elderly can avoid five bad habits through health management to help them better live their old age.
1. The impact of staying up late on the body of the elderly
The impact of staying up late on the body cannot be ignored, especially for the elderly, staying up late for a long time can cause serious disruption to the biological clock and endocrine system.
The body's circadian rhythm is regulated by the hypothalamus's circadian clock, which manages a variety of physiological functions such as body temperature, hormone secretion, sleep cycle, and metabolism.
Staying up late can interfere with this natural rhythm, causing hormonal imbalances in the body, especially the secretion of melatonin and cortisol to be affected.
Melatonin, the main hormone that regulates sleep, is secreted in increased amounts during the night, usually at night, to help the body enter a resting state.
For older people, melatonin secretion is inherently lower than in younger people, and staying up late can further reduce its secretion, leading to difficulty falling asleep, decreased sleep quality, and frequent nocturnal awakenings.
Long-term sleep deprivation is closely related to problems such as memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and mood disorders. Studies have shown that sleep disturbances also increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
In addition, staying up late for a long time may also lead to a decrease in immune function. Nighttime is a critical time for the immune system to repair itself, and if you don't get enough sleep, the repair and functioning of the immune system will be affected, increasing the risk of infection and disease in older adults.
A variety of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, are strongly associated with chronic sleep deprivation.
2. The risk of sedentary and metabolic syndrome
Sedentary lifestyles are a common problem in the lives of many older adults today, and this behavior is directly linked to the development of several chronic diseases.
Sitting for long periods of time leads to prolonged inactivity of the muscles, slowing down blood circulation and gradual deterioration of muscle function, which not only affects physical strength, but also increases the risk of a range of health problems.
First, sitting for long periods of time can cause your metabolism to slow down, which affects your body's ability to process glucose and fat.
Sitting for long periods of time can reduce insulin sensitivity, leading to higher blood sugar levels, which in turn increases the risk of diabetes. Abnormalities in blood sugar and insulin levels can also affect fat metabolism, leading to elevated blood lipid levels and increasing the likelihood of arteriosclerosis, which can lead to cardiovascular disease.
Second, sedentary lifestyles also increase the risk of blood clotting, especially venous thrombosis in the lower extremities.
Slow blood flow can lead to the formation of blood clots in the legs, and after the blood clots fall off, they can travel with the blood to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening emergency.
For older adults, maintaining a moderate amount of daily activity, especially regular leg exercises, is important to prevent venous thrombosis and promote blood circulation.
3. The impact of negative emotions on the immune system
The relationship between emotions and health has been well documented in modern medicine.
Long-term exposure to negative emotions such as anxiety, depression or emotional depression in older adults can not only cause damage to mental health, but also have a knock-on effect on the immune system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system.
Negative emotions are associated with chronic inflammatory states, and long-term emotional repression can increase the inflammatory response in the body, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and autoimmune diseases.
When the body is in a long-term stress or negative emotional state, the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol increases.
In the short term, cortisol helps the body cope with stress, but long-term high cortisol levels can suppress the immune system, reduce the number and activity of white blood cells, and weaken the body's resistance to infection and disease.
This makes older people more susceptible to infections, chronic diseases, or exacerbated pre-existing conditions.
In addition, negative emotions are also associated with dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. Studies have shown that the elderly who have been in anxiety and depression for a long time have increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system and weakened function of the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased heart burden, and increased risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction.
4. The harm of eating too greasy or single
As people age, their digestive function gradually weakens, especially their ability to process fatty foods.
Greasy foods contain a lot of saturated fat and cholesterol, and excessive intake will cause hyperlipidemia and increase the risk of atherosclerosis, which will lead to coronary heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
The long-term intake of high-fat and high-calorie foods by the elderly will reduce the body's ability to decompose and absorb these fats, which can easily lead to the accumulation of fat in the body and the formation of obesity, thereby increasing the probability of diabetes and hypertension.
In addition, if the elderly have a single diet, it is easy to lead to insufficient nutrient intake, especially lack of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Lack of dietary fiber can slow down bowel movements and increase the risk of constipation.
Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can weaken the immune system, affect bone health, and increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Eating a proper diet is essential for older adults, and the diet should be as varied as possible, ensuring adequate intake of protein, vegetables and fruits, and healthy fats and fats rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Reducing your intake of foods high in salt, sugar, and fat can help maintain cardiovascular health and maintain proper weight and blood lipid levels.
5. The impact of overwork on the elderly
The recovery ability of the body of the elderly is significantly weakened, and excessive physical or mental work can bring great stress to the body, and the recovery time is also longer.
Overwork not only puts a strain on the cardiovascular system, but can also lead to a range of other health problems.
When the body is in a state of excessive fatigue, the sympathetic nervous system becomes overactive, resulting in an increase in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate.
The elasticity of blood vessels decreases in the elderly, and long-term high-intensity work or activity can exacerbate the process of arteriosclerosis, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Overwork can also lead to a decline in immune function, making the body more susceptible to viruses and bacteria, and exacerbating pre-existing chronic diseases.
Mental overexertion can likewise affect the functioning of the nervous system. Being in a highly stressful state of mind for a long time can lead to insomnia, headaches, memory loss, and other problems.
For seniors, it's crucial to maintain the right amount of work and play and do what they can. Avoiding overexertion can help keep your body in balance and reduce the risk of sudden health problems.
summary
The ancient adage that "old age drains the remnants of essence, and people live poorly" emphasizes the natural law that the energy and functions of the elderly gradually decline as they age.
Through the explanations of modern medicine, it is possible to understand more clearly how the elderly should avoid accelerating this process.
Staying up late, sitting for long periods of time, depressed emotions, poor diet, and overwork are important factors that accelerate aging, which not only trigger a variety of chronic diseases, but also greatly reduce the quality of life.
Through a healthy lifestyle, a reasonable diet, moderate exercise, and maintaining a good emotional state, the elderly can effectively delay the aging process and maintain the balance and health of the body and mind.
Information sources:
"The ancients said: Old people are exhausted; Eat less and strengthen the fire, and bring disaster upon yourself! The Advice of the Ancestors" was issued by Wenxian County, Longnan
"Is it true that the old saying "old diarrhea is remnant, and people are exhausted and live out"? Listen to what the doctor has to say about the beginning of health