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A medical condition is something that is abnormal to the day to day functioning of our bodies. Aging on the other hand is a natural process that begins the day we are conceived. There are many ailments that take advantage of our weakened systems as we age and our bodies become worn, but these ailments do not define aging. To treat getting older as something that needs treatment is to live in denial of what we are as human beings. We are weak, transient creatures. Our lives are a series of events preparing us for death. Aging should be done with dignity and truth. We will all go gray as we get older. We will all lose our skin elasticity and get wrinkles eventually. We will all die.

Geriatric medicine is a new subdivision of the medical field, a specialty in treating the ailments of the aging population. There are certain medical conditions that are often seen in the elderly - hypertension, heart disease, Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes, senility, and arthritis to name a few. But not everyone will get these as they age and some patients with these conditions will be much younger. Aging in and of itself is not a medical condition nor is there a definitive time on a person's life to have a medical condition.

Any medical treatment received as we age should be geared towards the particular ailments we have. The idea of treating aging itself as a condition is belittling to those who made it so far through life. The elderly can and have run marathons, participate in iron man competitions, and take care of the next generation. They are not sick simply because they are older. Physical weakness can be overcome, but a mentality of being in the last throes of life can be a self fulfilling prophecy and diminish the quality of life.

Learn more about this author, Alicia M Prater PhD.
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