If you're fit & well, & not taking prescribed medicines, you may not need to consult a doctor regularly. However, it is essential to take care of your body. Some simple steps will help to keep you healthy & help particular parts, such as eyes & teeth, to remain in good condition for as long as possible.
#bad eyes
/Eyes
There are some normal ageing changes in vision. The lens of the eye loses its elasticity. This results in small print becoming blurred when held at normal reading distance, but can be brought into focus at arm's length. This is a normal change. Some people assume that any change in their vision is due to ageing, but this is not !i! necessarily !n! the case. The following symptoms are abnormal:
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double vision
black spots, or areas of darkness
pain in eye
seeing colors/lights around edge of objects
redness of eye
sudden loss of ability to see clearly
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If any of these symptoms occur you should consult your doctor or {optician}. It's still important to have your eyes tested about every 2yrs, even if you don't notice anything going wrong. However, don't wait that long if you're finding difficulty reading, threading a needle, reading bus numbers, or if you notice any other change in vision.
Complete loss of vision is uncommon, though some people develop 1 of 3 common eye diseases as they grow older. They are:
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{cataract}
{glaucoma}
{macular degeneration}
#eye
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CATARACT: Clouding of eye's lens. The person becomes unable to see clearly, even with glasses. Usually a new pair of glasses is required & it's often helpful to improve lighting at home. For some people who have severe clouding, an operation may be necessary to replace the cloudy lens with an artificial lens. Otherwise a special pair of glasses with thick lenses will be needed.
GLAUCOMA: A disease in which the pressure of fluid inside the eyeball increases to such a degree that it changes the nerve fibers which detect light. It does not always cause obvious symptoms in early stages. Many people don't notice the loss of vision until it is quite far advanced. If it is diagnosed early enough, perhaps in a routine eye test, it can be treated successfully.
MACULAR DEGENERATION: A disease in which the most central part of the {retina} begins to fail. The loss seriously impairs vision & may cause total blindness.
#ear
/Hearing
There is often a loss of ability to hear high pitched sounds, such as a ringing telephone, because of the ageing process in the inner ear. This is a matter for concern if you're unable to hear a telephone in a quiet house, or if you're unable to hear conversation when there is only a low level of background noise.
The 1st step is to consult your doctor. A common cause of hearing loss is wax in the ear, which can be removed by your doctor using a syringe (the process is not as painful as it sounds). If the cause for loss of hearing is not found, you may be referred to a specialist. The specialist will advise you & might prescribe a hearing aid.
Hearing aids do not restore normal, perfect hearing. They amplify the loudness of sounds, but may also amplify some sounds more than others & produce slight distortion. A few deaf people suffer from an unpleasant condition called {tinnitus}, which causes a ringing sound in the ears.
#senior dentures
/animated 3 f/s
/Teeth
People with all or some of their natural teeth should see their dentist at least once a year. {Dentures} should be checked every 3yrs. After natural teeth are lost, gums shrink rapidly at 1st & more slowly later. The shape of the mouth always changes to some extent & dentures need to be adjusted regularly to prevent sore {gums} & damage to the gums from the edges of ill-fitting dentures.
Any soreness or lumps on gums need to be examined by a dentist. Most of these problems are simple & easily cured, but if neglected they can become serious. {Dentures} should always be kept as clean as possible using special cleaning agents. Stains & deposits which cannot be removed this way can usually be handled by your dentist who will arrange for the dentures to be cleaned & repolished.
#old skin
/Skin
There are many changes in skin caused by normal ageing process. 3 changes are particularly noticeable:
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fat & elastic tissue underneath skin becomes thinner & less elastic; if a fold of skin is pinched on the back of the hand, the skin will return to normal slowly
cells which divide & produce new skin no longer produce normal cells as quickly; this allows abnormal cells to multiply giving rise to, for example, small brown spots like freckles, this is further encouraged by sunlight
skin glands become less productive & skin becomes drier
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By the time most people reach 60, their skin has been damaged to some extent. For example, by sunlight, cold winds, & with hands, detergents. It's important to protect skin from further unnecessary damage. Therefore, use a good barrier cream in strong sunlight, keep soap powders, dish washing liquids & detergents from contact with hands.
Avoid getting hands dirty with soil & oil. Also, use some form of simple oil or moisturizer to overcome dryness of skin. Certain types of skin disease are more common as people grow older (e.g. {dermatitis} & {eczema} & certain types of skin {ulcer} occur more frequently). Skin disease can be treated effectively & so early medical advice is recommended.
#old hair
/Hair
It's normal for hair to 'go grey' - increasing numbers of hairs become white because of loss of {pigment}. This is a normal ageing change & there's nothing that medicine can do to prevent this process, although hairdressers have many treatments. Hairs often fall out as a result of the death of cells of the hair root. In men, this can lead to baldness, but in women the process rarely goes that far.
#old feet
/Feet
By the age of 50/60, your feet have taken a pounding. The 1st step is to prevent further damage. Shoes should be broad & long enough. Avoid tights, stockings or socks that compress toes. Keep the skin in good order; wash & dry feet carefully every day. Be careful not to rub the skin too hard; pat dry & make sure they're thoroughly dry, especially between toes. Keep toe-nails short.
Strong leg {muscles} help support the arch of the foot & prevent aching feet, !i! so being fitter means you're less likely to suffer!! !n! If both feet, or any part of the foot, becomes inflamed, swollen or painful, or if skin color becomes white, dusky red or purple, seek medical advice; blood circulation to the foot may be affected.
