Losing belly, losing hair, moving worse and other things that happen to us as we age and how we can slow down its progress

Turning years is a blessing, but growing old, let's be frank, is not easy.

Because as much as, on the outside, we try to 'combat' the traces of wrinkles or 'cover' gray hair,

.

Suddenly, almost without realizing it, 'little things' that used to work perfectly begin to loosen up.

The good news is that the way and the intensity with which these 'changes' are triggered depend, to a large extent, on our

, our way of eating, moving, resting and managing stress.

But let's go by parts (never better said) and analyze, step by step, what are the main 'disadvantages' that we will have to face to try to deal with them as best as possible.

WEIGHT

"From the age of 30, there is a loss of natural muscle mass called sarcopenia. Moreover, it is estimated that, in each decade,

. What many people ignore is that, having less muscle mass,

. Therefore, if we continue to eat and burn the same, the weight will go up", explains Lina Robles, nutritionist at Sanitas La Zarzuela University Hospital.

At a certain age, we tend to repeat the old refrain "when I was younger, I ate the same as now or even less and I didn't gain weight and now everything seems to make me fat."

Why?

Robles attributes it, among other things, to "a decrease in physical activity, both in duration and intensity."

Although they call it 'beer gut', the main culprit for the

is

.

"It's a hormone that decreases considerably with age, causing a slowdown in metabolism that causes us to burn less energy and burn less fat."

What do we do to try to avoid it?

"Given that in the end it is a balance between what is entered (calorie consumption) and what is spent, it is important to increase physical activity, avoid a sedentary lifestyle and reduce the consumption of hypercaloric foods," advises David Curto, Medical Director, Quality and Innovation Sanitas Mayores.

SKIN

"'Doctor, I don't understand! I have suddenly had a lot of spots on my body! And I don't sunbathe! I only walk along the seashore for two or three hours,' many patients tell me in the consultation ", says Cristina Villegas, head of Dermatology at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital.

It is nothing strange.

The accumulation of sun on our skin takes its toll on us sooner or later.

"I remember, specifically, a woman who came to tell me that her face had been filled with spots after a face operation and I had to explain to her that what she had on her cheeks were

on her cheeks that she could not see before due to her eye problem.

They are not the only alterations that begin to appear on our skin over the years: "The so-called

are very common , those red spots like pinheads that we all have, but that, in some people, due to genetics They are very numerous."

It is also common that, as a result of photoaging or simply genetics, "keratoses or

appear that can be eliminated in the consultation with cryotherapy, electrocoagulation or laser".

HAIR

Another common 'regret' is the consultation, both in men and women, is "the

or, sometimes, its loss," says Dr. Villegas.

The good news is that there are more and more treatments to improve our hair condition.

"In the case of density reduction or hair loss, and always in a personalized way, we have drugs with long-proven efficacy, such as topical minoxidil, topical finasteride (also for oral use), microinjections of doubtasteride, infiltrations of platelet-rich plasma, etc. Also,

, lines of shampoo and hair lotions suitable for each type of problem, even contemplating the possibility of performing hair micro-transplants".

NAILS

Why, as we get older, do the nails present a

like a corrugated iron roof, say dermatologists?

Is it due to a lack of iron or some other vitamin?

Are they mushrooms?

Dr. Cristina Villegas clarifies it for us: "This is a completely normal process and one that we can improve aesthetically with specific nail lacquers."

EYES

"The passing of the years manifests itself throughout our body and the eyes are, unfortunately, not immune to the natural aging process," says Alfredo Morales, a refractive surgeon at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital.

This is the story of what is going to happen to us and that begins with

: "Between the ages of

we begin to notice problems using the mobile, reading, sewing or other similar tasks. Instinctively, we try to compensate for this process , moving objects away until the arm gives out The cause is increased

, which limits its ability to change focus at different distances The simplest solution is to use near or progressive glasses, if you already have used for distance. In recent years, surgical techniques have also been developed that make it possible to correct presbyopia".

And we fear that,

, the issue gets worse.

"The symptoms of

are very varied, the most frequent being burning, itching and the sensation of having grit in the eyes. Tears are also common, as a response to the lack of ocular lubrication due to poor tear quality. It is a very common process, more so in women, associated with hormonal changes. Artificial tears are the most common treatment, although more complex studies and therapies may be required."

The appearance of

in the field of vision of one of our eyes, sometimes accompanied by flashes, is due "to changes in the vitreous gel. Mostly it courses without complications and does not require treatment, although it is It is advisable to go to a consultation to rule out a possible retinal detachment", explains this doctor.

Throughout this decade, it is also very common to "noticing changes in the upper eyelids (excess skin, drooping eyelid,...) and lower (bags) that generate aesthetic and/or functional alterations. After an ophthalmological evaluation complete, the oculoplastic specialist will be able to offer the most appropriate solution for each patient".

Arrived

, we need more light to see because we lose definition in vision.

"The appearance of cataracts or opacity of the lens can cause these symptoms, together with a

They are treated surgically, with an outpatient procedure and, in almost all cases, with local anesthesia. In addition, in the same procedure, the patient's refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism) can be corrected along with presbyopia."

And, from there, "our vision is distorted, we do not distinguish faces well and we have difficulty reading. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may be responsible for this symptomatology. It can present itself in its wet form, with more abrupt and pronounced loss of vision, or dry, with slower development of the disease.

This specialist recommends that we make "a visit to the ophthalmologist once a year since, if there is any of the symptoms described, we will be able to diagnose the cause and treat it appropriately; if there are no symptoms, we will be able to verify that there is correct visual health despite the years".

BONES

You know, after a certain age, if nothing hurts when you get out of bed, it's because... And much of the blame for these pains lies with a pathology that Felipe Berrocal, director of the Centers, tells us about. of Advanced Rehabilitation of Sanitas: "

has to do with the wear of the cartilage that protects the union between two bones and is directly related to age. Over the years, osteoarticular pain appears that, although it can appear in any joint , they usually appear on

. It is a natural consequence of getting older that can be aggravated if we have previous injuries or if, for example, we are overweight. Everything influences ".

The good news (here too) is that we can successfully treat it and regain the sense of normalcy we had before.

"The first thing is

associated symptoms according to the needs of each individual, because what always works best is to individualize the treatment. Obviously, treating a sedentary person is not the same as treating someone who is passionate about hiking or skiing; and someone whose sports practice is reduced to walking is not the same as someone who does sports at a very high level.

Today, he continues, "we have many options to treat osteoarthritis and eliminate that pain and discomfort, such as the high-power laser, which allows us an anti-inflammatory, anti-oedema, analgesic or biostimulant effect."

David Curto, Medical Director, Quality and Innovation Sanitas Mayores, draws our attention to another important issue: osteoporosis.

"The bones lose calcium content and weaken, which means that, together with sarcopenia, the

increases , especially if falls occur. As it is very difficult to rebuild the bone, we must try to limit or slow down this reduction in of bone mass".

As it is a disorder, Carlos de la Fuente, head of Geriatrics at Hospital Sanitas Virgen del Mar, warns us, "osteoporosis is initially asymptomatic, so it is very important to be very aware of small fractures or vertebral crushing, manifested as of backaches, stooping of the spine, and decreases in body height.

De la Fuente also emphasizes the importance of avoiding fractures by preventing falls, as far as possible: "Actually, falls are also a symptom that the response capacity of the person who suffers them is being affected. To avoid both, falls and osteoporosis, nothing better than

if there is a deficiency of it.

MUSCLES

Its role as a great guarantor of bone health, postural hygiene and 'metabolic oven' is diminished by the advance of sarcopenia.

"

and, therefore, find it difficult to carry out their functions. This translates into a loss of strength, a

or an

", points out Dr. Curto.

What do we do to avoid it?

Once again, the key lies in our lifestyle: "It is essential to perform

and increase

to prevent this deficit."

MOUTH

Manuela Escorial, a dentist in the Department of Innovation and Clinical Quality at Sanitas Dental, emphasizes the importance of "banishing myths about the inevitable loss of teeth when one gets older. It is essential, however, to establish

throughout life that allow us to maintain our teeth and gums in a healthy state".

Tooth loss and periodontal disease, he warns, "are directly related to general health problems such as

and also with poorer control of systemic diseases, such as diabetes."

Elderly people, he advises, "should receive adequate information on

, understand the importance of going to the oral health team to receive periodontal maintenance care and establish techniques of hygiene adapted to their physical capacity".

The use of oral irrigators, interproximal brushes and adapted brushing techniques will allow "good control of bacterial plaque and reduce the appearance of caries".

What are the most prevalent oral diseases in the elderly?

"The mark of the passage of time is evident on the

that presents natural wear as a result of chewing. It becomes more opaque, which causes the tooth in general to look duller, duller and darker. original dentin, is replaced by repair dentin and is responsible for a more yellow appearance. The increased mineralization of dentin, in turn, leads to greater fragility."

The

cause "the appearance of the tissue of the root of the tooth that can be affected by caries on a frequent basis, in the absence of correct care or the application of periodic preventive measures".

The gums, for their part, offer "a pale pink appearance as a result of a decrease in blood supply."

There are also "changes in the connective tissue that cause

, leaving the tooth root uncovered."

To this should be added the fact that "the decrease in manual or psychomotor dexterity can cause a worse control of bacterial plaque, leading to the appearance of periodontal problems and with it an increase in tooth loss".

Finally, "

is affected in its composition (it becomes more watery) and in the decrease of its defensive components, which are essential in neutralizing the pH, in the mechanical sweep of bacterial plaque and in protection against caries. root".

For this reason, it is essential to promote "an intake of non-sugar-containing liquids in the elderly and, if necessary, use products that encourage their production."

CIRCULATION

Sometimes, there may be "a circulatory problem that justifies or aggravates the difficulty in walking, but it is usually the exception," says Juan Fontcuberta, head of the Angiology and Vascular Surgery service at the Sanitas La Zarzuela and La Moraleja university hospitals.

However, what is more common is "the

, such as vision, balance, motor coordination, the musculoskeletal system, the central nervous system and peripheral, or psychic aspects of the elderly such as lack of motivation or will to walk".

If you stop walking and exercising, he warns, "several consequences will immediately appear that affect the circulatory system:

; it gains weight; the legs swell and weigh; the skin tightens and atrophies and may even appear ulcers due to its fragility".

Walking daily

is the best preventive tool for circulatory problems.

"Walking is probably our last physical exercise as human beings. We must be aware of putting it into practice daily, since it is an essential activity to preserve our bodily and mental capacities."

SEX

With the onset of

, women suffer a series of alterations, both physical and emotional, that lead to changes in their health, including the sexual sphere.

"The deficit of sex hormones, mainly

, produces aging at the skin and tissue level, which can cause a loss of self-esteem due to the change in body image.

In addition, this aging is more pronounced in the vulva and vagina (the so-called genitourinary syndrome of menopause), which causes dryness and even pain with sexual intercourse.

Finally, the appearance of chronic diseases and their different treatments can alter and worsen all these symptoms.

All this produces a loss of desire in women after menopause that prevents them from enjoying their sexuality at this stage of life ", details Mairena Coronado, from the Gynecology Service of the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital.

There is no doubt that good sexual health, from the age of 50, "has a very positive impact on a better physical and emotional state."

Despite this, "out of fear or shame, it is a silenced issue."

For all these reasons, Coronado insists on the importance of "good communication with the couple that helps to normalize the changes that are taking place".

In addition, women should know that

that can improve their health: "On the one hand, sexual and couples therapy can help improve intimacy in the relationship. On the other, the use of lubricants and moisturizers mitigate vaginal dryness In the most serious cases or those involving a significant loss of desire, the use of

whether systemic or local (always prescribed by a specialist), can improve the quality of life in postmenopausal women."

And what about men?

Ignacio Moncada, head of Urology at the Sanitas La Zarzuela University Hospital, tells us about it.

"From the age of 30, we all develop a

Usually, it is something typical of our aging process and does not cause symptoms, but in 20% of men over 60 years of age and up to 40% of those over 70 years of age, this lack of sexual hormones produces their symptoms".

As with menopause in women,

is part of the natural aging process and consists of a decrease in a man's sexual capacity, along with other physiological and cognitive functions.

"The cause of andropause is the progressive decline in testosterone levels and, therefore, we speak of Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome. We could say that it is the equivalent of menopause, although it does not occur as quickly or Of course, all men go through this process gradually, although not all experience it with the same symptoms or intensity and for some, it can even go completely unnoticed.

What are those most common symptoms?

" Decreased sexual desire and erection problems; emotional and mood changes:

etc.; tiredness and lack of energy; memory problems and decreased intellectual activity; loss of muscle mass and force, etc.

Being caused by a deficiency of testosterone, the treatment of andropause consists "in supplying this hormone to maintain adequate and stable levels. Testosterone can be administered intramuscularly, but also through gels and patches. Of course, it should always be done under medical supervision, since testosterone can alter lipid levels, causing hypercholesterolemia, and increase the size of the prostate. Hence,

is essential to tackle any inconvenience".

Dr. Moncada lists the signs that a man

should visit a urologist: "If you have noticed a decrease in sexual desire or the quality of erections; if you feel depressed or with changes in your sudden unexplained mood swings; if you feel less strong and energetic; if you have noticed a loss in height; if you think your cognitive ability is declining, both in activities of daily living and at work; if you have experienced changes in their sleep pattern, since low testosterone levels can sometimes cause insomnia or, conversely, drowsiness," he concludes.

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