Chapter 11: Middle Adulthood (Physical Changes)

Chapter 11: Middle Adulthood (Physical Changes)

Objectives

• analyze physical changes that occur in middle-aged adults

Physical Qualities and Changes

• "Middle adulthood" typically refers to the time period from ages 40-65 years

• Reproductive capacity declines or is lost (climacteric)

• Men see a decrease in testosterone

• Women experience a decrease in estrogen and progesterone

Multiple Select

What do you think happens when testosterone production is low?

• muscle mass decreases

• weight gain occurs

• facial features become more feminine

• bones become more brittle

• mood is less stable

Changes Specific to Women

• First stage of reduced fertility (perimenopause)

• Final stage ends in absence of menstruation for 1 year or more (menopause)

Multiple Choice

True or False? Estrogen protects women from heart disease until they reach menopause, when their risk increases.

• true

• false

Changes in Both Men and Women

• First observed sensory change- diminished hearing

• Loss of visual acuity is more noticeable

• The lens in the eyes loses its elasticity (presbyopia)

Changes in Both Men and Women

• loss of muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia)

• fat tissue increases

• bones become brittle and less dense (osteoporosis)

• muscle and joint stiffness increases

Multiple Choice

Why is osteoporosis (or the loss of bone density) a problem?

• bones break much more easily

• you'll lose weight

• you'll lose muscle mass

Changes in Both Men and Women

• physical activity can slow or reverse negative changes

• good nutrition and physical activity are important

• average person will gain 10 to 20 pounds

Open Ended

Many people accept physical decline as a natural part of aging. How do you think this view affects physical activity rates?

Sleep

• need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night

• signs of lack of sleep: loss of concentration, less productive, trouble with problem solving

• too little sleep increases Alzheimer's protein in the brain

• too much sleep may also increase risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G3UIrqiFLw

Exams and Checkups

• wellness exams (frequency depends on health)

• eye exams (about every 2-5 years depending on vision problems)

• dental visits every 6 months

• mammograms for women (yearly at 45)

• prostate exams for men (routinely at 50)

Chronic Illnesses

• chronic illness begins to overtake accidents as leading cause of death

• chronic diseases start slowly and last for years, if not a lifetime

Diabetes

• Type 2 diabetes

• related to lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, diet, and weight gain/ obesity

• may have a genetic link as well

Poll

Do you have a family member with Type 2 Diabetes?

• yes

• no

Open Ended

How might developing diabetes later in life affect a person's quality of life? What type of challenges might he or she face? What kind of changes might this disease require?

Treatment of Diabetes

• change in diet and eating patterns

• daily medication

• insulin shots

• testing blood sugar multiple times a day

Cancer

• an abnormal growth and division of cells

• leading cause of death in this age group

• growth or tumor may be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant)

• most are caused by a combo of lifestyle and genetic factors

Cancer Treatments

• chemotherapy

• radiation

• surgical removal

Poll

Do you have a family member who has or has had cancer?

• yes

• no

Open Ended

If you know that you have a family history of specific types of cancer, what can you do to reduce your risk of developing that disease?

Cardiovascular Disease

• abnormal function of the heart or blood vessels

• 2nd leading cause of death in the US

• caused by clogging of the arteries (atherosclerosis)

Poll

Do you have a family member with cardiovascular disease (or heart disease)? This includes high blood pressure, heart attack, high cholesterol, etc.

• yes

• no

Open Ended

What challenges do you think a person with cardiovascular disease might face because of his or her illness?

Cardiovascular Disease Treatment

• medication

• change in diet

• increase physical activity

• surgery

Open Ended

Men have higher mortality rates overall. Why do you think that is? (For example, why are men more likely to die from cancer?)