by Susan Kliebenstein

Created on: January 25, 2008

Getting old is the fate of every individual who is fortunate enough to live through the minefields and excesses of youth and middle age! Once we accept the fact that we are not going to remain young forever, the process of aging is well on it's way. There are many things that we could do when we are young to slow the aging process, but we are usually a little behind the curve in our response, so we find ourselves, somewhere in middle age trying to catch up.

Good diet, good exercise, avoidance of addictive habits like smoking, alcohol abuse, drug dependence and excessive use of caffeine products are all good starts in staving off aging. Beyond that, our preventative measures should include adequate medical care to treat infections, control blood pressure, monitor blood chemistry, and be vigilant against cancer.

Aging is a natural process experienced by all organisms, but it is clear that adequate maintenance of the internal environment and avoidance of toxins in the external environment can be effective in prolonging life. Unfortunately, we live in an environment that becomes more toxic with each passing year. Pollutants in air, water, and food seem to be unavoidable, though we must remain vigilant in efforts to remove contamination wherever possible.

To some extent we must adapt to the process of aging. As joints begin to show signs of wear, we are wise to decrease our bone-jarring high impact exercises in favor of more joint friendly sports like swimming, Tai Chi, bicycling, and elliptical trainers. Diets now must focus on lower calorie, high fiber, low-fat choices. If medications become necessary to control blood-pressure, glucose or lipids we must recognize that these life-prolonging drugs also have side effects. Special attention must be given to adequate hydration, nutrition and rest.

Elderly health maintenance requires attention to details. Infections which may have been of little concern in youth must now be attended to promptly since immune response is not as robust as it once was. Care of the skin becomes more important as the tissues tend be drier and more fragile as aging advances. Skin tears more easily, opening the way for infection, and healing occurs more slowly due to compromises in circulatory health.

Flu and pneumonia vaccines become more important, as a serious illness, even a urinary tract infection, can lead to a domino effect in an aging individual. Dehydration from nausea, vomiting or diarrhea can seriously affect the internal chemistry leading

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