What no one tells us about ageing

We don’t like it. 

We try to hide it. 

We don’t want to talk about it. 

This SMBT blog addresses the elephant in the room and tells you what no one else will tell you about getting old i.e. ageing. Stick with us as we discuss what ageing is, what accelerates it and the common myths that you often hear about getting old. 

What is ageing

Ageing is a slow but inevitable process of progressive deterioration of our body upto the point that we cannot carry on any longer. WHO explains that ageing results from, ‘...the impact of the accumulation of a wide variety of molecular and cellular damage over time.’ While ageing might manifest differently in different people, there is no way a person can avoid it.  

As the age of a person increases, their ability to fight illnesses and health ailments take a hit. Hence problems like diabetes, osteoarthritis, hearing loss, joint pain, dementia etc. are health issues often associated with old age. Not every old person will suffer from these health issues but if they do, usually the culprit is their age. 

What accelerates ageing

There are certain factors that have an impact on how fast we age. By ageing quickly, we do not mean that the years roll by faster but that the ailments associated by ageing start appearing earlier, also called as premature ageing. 

 

Processed food and food with a high sugar content can be blamed for wrinkles and sagging of your skin, making you look much older than your actual age. Drinking alcohol can cause dehydration and speed up the ageing process as excess alcohol can cause damage to your liver and other organs. Food that has been deep fried, especially trans fats can increase inflammation in the body and LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol. This increases the risk of heart related ailments.      

Pollution causes wrinkles and premature ageing. The effects of toxic fumes on skin are being seen in both western cities, such as London and New York, as well as in more visibly polluted Asian cities and in some cases may be the primary cause of ageing. The pollution is also being linked to worsening skin conditions such as eczema and hives.

The scientific discoveries are now driving the world’s biggest cosmetics companies to search for solutions, including medicine-like compounds that directly block the biological damage. But doctors warn that some common skin care routines, such as scrubs, make the damage from air pollution even worse.

What are the myths around ageing 

Not everything that is passed on as medical wisdom on ageing, through mobile forwards or through social circles, is factually correct. For instance, a lot of people believe that slowing down of your mind is inevitable or that joint problems are a part and parcel of life in old age. How many of these myths are actually true? 

According to a research, just expecting such physical deterioration increases the likelihood that such deterioration will definitely happen. Even commonly accepted ideas like loss of all teeth is actually a misconception and cannot be said as a generalisation. Osteoporosis for example, is a condition where bones gradually become weaker. The myth that this problem only affects women is another such misconception.