SPECIFIC CHANGES WITH AGING: DIGESTION
Unlike vision and hearing, many organs are involved in digestion: the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, liver, small intestine, and colon perform the remarkable task of breaking food into the nutrients our bodies need. Though digestive complaints are common among older people, only very minor changes normally occur in this exceedingly complex system as we grow old.
By age sixty, there is about a 25 percent reduction in the amount of saliva we produce. This loss, combined with the dental problems that occur more frequently as we age, may make it more difficult to chew foods thoroughly. It also may alter taste sensitivity slightly. Primarily because of a declining sense of smell, but also because of changes in the mouth, elderly people sometimes complain that foods either taste bland or have a disagreeable aftertaste. In the stomach, less gastric juice is secreted. While this loss may affect the body's absorption of certain nutrients, it is unlikely to cause discomfort in digesting food. Changes in most of the other physiological processes involved in digestion are surprisingly hard to find. For instance, in spite of the widespread idea that constipation is almost universal in later life, waste material does not take longer to pass through the large intestine in older people.
So, digestive problems are not an inevitable consequence of growing old. When they occur, they either are signs of illness or are caused by changes in what we do. Poor eating habits, increased use of medications, lack of exercise, or emotional stress can interfere with digestion at any age. In later life they may wreak worse digestive havoc because they add to the small age losses that normally take place.
For instance, when we are tense we normally secrete less saliva and gastric juices. When we are anxious and older we are more likely to have problems with a dry mouth and churning stomach because the inhibiting effect of fear compounds that of age.
To ensure that your digestive system functions well, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and limit emotional stress. To maintain a tip-top digestive system, National Institute on Aging experts recommend drinking alcohol sparingly and avoiding large amounts of caffeine. And if you are prone to minor stomach upsets, eat slowly and try to relax for about thirty minutes after each meal.
*14/159/5*
GENERAL HEALTH
- The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
- Read the product information leaflet provided with the product before using it.
Information that this website contains are general information only and are not intended as a replacement for advise and recommendations made by your medical practitioner. We do not make any warranty or represent the accuracy of information supplied herein. We reserve the right to omit portions, correct errors or withdraw an entire page on this website as we see fit without prior notice.
Information about a certain drug, its uses, recommended dosages and side effects do not serve as a substitute to a prescription or information relayed to you by a licensed medical practitioner. These materials are just a general overview about the product. Likewise, we do not endorse use of any drug found on this site.
Use of this site is at your sole risk. We disclaim responsibility for reliance you place upon the information that we posted on this site. Always seek medical advice from a professional healthcare and discuss thoroughly your intention of using any of the medicine that is offered in this website.
|
