How a woman’s body changes as she ages

OLDER things usually have sentimental value, but when it comes to women, that’s not quite the case.

In your 20s you’re hot stuff, when you’re over 30 you’re complimented on your youthful looks, in your 40s you may hear comments like ‘The older the berry the finer the wine’, but as soon as you cross the 50 threshold, people will start to say you’re over the hill and should act your age, though they may also say that age is just a number.

According to Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer, professor of public health and ageing and director of the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, the good news is that you can slow down how your body changes as you age. But there are a few things to consider.

“Women go through menopause and this has a definite period of time. It happens somewhere around age 50, and in rare cases earlier. So the period stops. With the withdrawal of oestrogen you’re getting definite changes such as the vaginal dryness, vaginal tightness, but remember skin is skin and you have dryness everywhere. So dryness will happen with the arms and legs and you may get age spots. There are sometimes changes in the bone density — osteoporosis. Note that women who have a hysterectomy will go through menopause whenever they have the procedure done,” she said.

She added: “As you get older, the two or three pounds you put on at Christmas go to the abdomen and won’t come off. As you get older the body does slow down, so what you could eat when you were 20 and 30 you can’t eat when you are 40 and 50, because then the body is not as active; so coupled with less activity, the body is slowing down so you have to reduce your calorie intake.”

She also noted that the changes have a lot to do with lifestyle practices.

“Some of our 60 and 70-year-olds, you can’t tell they’re old. You have people at 50, 55 who look old and behave old. It can be a state of mind.”

Below she explains a few factors women need to consider:

1. Exposure to sunlight

“We love the sun, but our skin doesn’t. The less damage the sun does to the skin the better your face will look as you age,” Professor Eldemire-Shearer said.

2. Social involvement

She said getting older also has a social side to it. “So what you find is that at 40 your children are beginning to leave home, you are feeling mid-life, so there are changes. You no longer have children to take to school and even if you have them later, by the time you get to menopause there are changes, and women often experience the empty nest syndrome,” she said.

“Also associated is the point of view of caring. So by the time you get to 40 you also have parents that are getting older and you have children going to university who you are worrying about, so you’re trying to balance that.” She added that social involvement such as church groups and voluntary groups help.

3. Increased physical activity

Professor Eldemire-Shearer said increased physical activity is paramount. “Exercise is associated with well-being; if you do your exercise, you feel better. If you have osteoporosis and arthritis and you do your exercises, of course you are freeing up the joints. It might be painful at first, but it helps,” she said.

4. Environment

“You can’t slow down genetics; ageing is a result of your genetic process, but a very important part of ageing is your environment. For example, women who smoke have a lot more lines on their faces,” she said.

5. Regular check-ups

Professor Eldemire-Shearer said if you’re doing check-ups, going to the doctor and having conversations, you will pick up things early.

She said that as you get older it’s important to get the flu shot because your chest gets a bit weaker so colds might linger. She also said to take medications as prescribed and refrain from stopping midway just because you feel better.

6. Diet

She said diet is important. Knowing that you can’t indulge in too many fried foods will help to combat the extra abdominal fat.

7. Embracing age

“Accept it, because the alternative is death. Accept and embrace it, then take stock,” Professor Eldemire-Shearer said. “Assess if you walk up a flight of stairs without being short of breath. Arthritis may prevent bending while gardening, so use a stool. Have your eyesight checked and figure out whether you need glasses, a magnifying glass or a large-print Bible. It comes down to what’s important to you.”