Interactive Leonardo: The 50s

Did you know that eating a daily dose of fruits and vegetables can dramatically lower your risk of coronary artery disease? Read on for more...

During the 50s, various alterations take place physically and mentally while the body's major systems shift into lower gear. Our metabolic rate declines, making it easier for us to gain weight, which in turn affects all of our organs and body systems.

Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems
The respiratory system loses some power as lungs begin losing flexibility. Our aerobic capacity (the amount of air our lungs can hold) also begins to shrink.

The cardiovascular system becomes less efficient: some of us may find that our heart rate can't rise as rapidly during exercise.

Arteries become less flexible, and the one-way valves in our veins stop working as hard as they used to, which is why some of us begin developing varicose veins.

Digestion and Elimination
These processes slow along with metabolic rate. Some of the most common digestive-related illnesses that develop in the 50s include gastroesophageal reflux disease, where hydrochloric acid washes back from the stomach into the esophagus. This can led to esophagitis, or inflammation of the esophagus.

In addition, if the diaphragm weakens, a hiatus hernia may occur. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the thoracic cavity, which houses the lungs and heart, from the abdominal cavity, which contains the stomach, bowels, etc. There is a tiny opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus slides into the stomach, and when that opening widens, parts of the stomach can slide upwards, creating a hiatus hernia. You can have a hiatus hernia without knowing it, and it can be linked to reflux disease. A hiatus hernia diagnosis, however, does not automatically mean that you also have reflux.

Among adults, 30 percent have reflux symptoms frequently and 10 percent have daily reflux symptoms. The most common symptoms of reflux are heartburn (which is actually any burning sensation north of the navel to the back of the throat) and regurgitation of stomach contents into the mouth.

While our kidneys maintain a vital water balance in the body and excrete wastes in the form of urine, the kidneys shrink during the 50s and their waste-filtering powers also weaken slightly. Bladder function also changes in the 50s as the bladder has less capacity to store urine. In men, this is due to changes in prostate gland size and function. In women, this can be due to various factors, including multiple pregnancies. Next Page >

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