How Age Effects Individuals Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

How Age Effects Individuals Health - Essay Example Furthermore, it also is not a disease that all elderly people are vulnerable too. Health research studies have shown that older people who regularly engage in an exercise program at least three times a week are less likely to get this disorder than those who have never been interactive in exercise regimens (Consumer Affairs 2006). Also, certain addictions to consumer products such as "tobacco" or even "alcohol" have been shown to make a person age faster than their actual years. For example someone who is 45 years old and who has smoked since they were 13 can show signs of cognitive break down faster than a person who is 55 years of age (Cross Currents 2004). The point is that some addictions are very bad for your health and can bring on serious illnesses before you even get old. Smoking is just one of these addictions and it is known that by engaging in smoking cigarettes or even cigars, the rate of cognitive decline can be five times higher than for those who have never smoked (Cro ss Currents 2004). Some perceive smoking to be one of the main causes of age related illnesses before their time. Studies have found that smoking creates so many adversities for people and their health, defining that by middle age people can have many respiratory ailments that are so severe it makes them appear to be older than what they actually are (Edelson 2006). There is no doubt that the majority of people in society are aware that smoking kills but the problem here is that they believe that it takes longer than what it actually does. Many people think that they won't have any repercussions until they are in their latter fifties or mid-sixties but this simply is not true. Again this shows the idea that people view age as the key window to defining what health problems a person will have, it is totally wrong (Edelson 2006). Nevertheless, there is a good point to this adversity. By quitting smoking, at any time, a person has the ability of increasing their percentage of turning t heir health around. Their age will start to improve in an outwardly way as they continue to include more healthy habits into their lifestyle to replace smoking. The point that is being made is the fact that from a social perspective people have a good amount of control in how they age and how their health is affected. They have the power to prevent or slow the progression of a number of serious or fatal illnesses simply by changing their behavior patterns and also by focusing on what they eat and drink. There are many alternatives to prevent illnesses from occurring as well as many social factors present that encourage or promote diseases (Cross Currents 2004). So this is pointing out that just because you are at 67 years of age or older doesn't necessarily imply that you have to worry about getting the diseases that are labeled for the older generation. Young people aren't invulnerable to them either. There are things that people can do to prevent ever having to worry about illnesses such as dementia, heart disease, osteoporosis, and many other so called "age related" illnesses. In order to validate the point about dementia, one specific st udy that was carried out by a group of