It’s a question that has long been portrayed in films, asked in self-help novels, and published in scientific journals: How do you stop the effects of aging and live a longer life?
Aging is an inevitable part of life, but one that has people running the other way in fear. Often linked to physical and mental decline, not to mention an increased risk of developing a chronic condition, every additional wrinkle, forgotten item, and misstep feels like a death sentence.
How do you differentiate the usual signs of aging wisdom from a symptom of a chronic condition?
Follow along as we help you identify age-related diseases, the signs of aging you shouldn’t ignore, and how a whole-body MRI scan can help give you a new lease on life.
What to Expect with… The Cardiovascular System
Your heart is the primary component of your health, and one of the main areas that sees change as you grow older. As you age, your blood vessels and arteries begin to harden, making your heart work harder to pump blood through your body. In turn, your heart muscles start to change to adjust to the added workload.
And this is where problems can start to arise.
According to the National Council on Aging, about 16% of older adults suffer from heart disease. This condition occurs when the heart cannot supply enough oxygen and blood to all of the body’s organs. Underlying conditions can contribute to heart disease, such as hypertension and high cholesterol, and can prove fatal if left untreated.
Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease
A diagnosis of coronary artery disease is often discovered after a traumatic event, such as a heart attack, angina, a stroke, or heart failure. If you notice the following symptoms, contact a healthcare professional immediately:
- Chest pain, tightness, pressure, or discomfort (angina)
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or back
- Pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs or arms
What to Expect with… Your Muscles and Joints
It’s natural as you age for your muscles and joints not to work exactly like they used to. With age, bones tend to shrink in size and density, resulting in a loss of strength and flexibility. Unfortunately, this natural progression can result in one of the most common age-related diseases: arthritis.
Affecting about 51% of older adults, arthritis is the inflammation of the joints, leading to increased pain and stiffness. Weakened bones and joints can also lead to “brittle bone disease” or osteoporosis – a condition that leads to thinning and weakening bones.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis
Symptoms of osteoarthritis develop slowly over time but can eventually lead to chronic pain if left untreated. Common symptoms may include:
- Pain
- Joint stiffness and tenderness
- Loss of flexibility
- Swelling
- Grating sensation
Symptoms of osteoporosis often don’t make themselves known until later stages, often indicated by the following signs and symptoms:
- Back pain
- Gradual loss of height
- A stooped posture
- Bones that break easily
What to Expect with… Your Memory
Just as your cardiovascular system changes, so does your brain. As you age, forgetting certain words or misplacing your keys once or twice is common – the issue lies when it is in conjunction with other memory issues or challenges.
Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in your memory, thinking, and reasoning skills, and is the most common cause of dementia.
One of the most common – and noticeable – signs of Alzheimer’s disease is forgetting recent information. For example, forgetting an important event or asking the same questions repeatedly could be an early sign of the brain condition.
Other signs of Alzheimer’s may include:
- Challenges in problem-solving
- Difficulty completing daily tasks
- Vision changes
- Difficulties following or joining conversations
- Misplacing items
- Poor judgement
- Personality changes
Can a Full Body MRI Make a Difference in Unhealthy Aging?
A whole-body scan is about more than just spotting abnormalities within your body – it’s about taking a step towards proactive care.
A full-body MRI scan can identify various conditions as we age, including:
- Early signs of cancer within various organs
- Bone and joint concerns
- Brain changes that could signal neurological conditions
- Muscle and tissue problems
Able to identify over 500 health conditions across the 13 organ systems, our Charleston MRI center is here to help you confront the inevitabilities of aging and reclaim your health journey along the way.
At MRI Wellness, we believe in taking your health and wellness back into your own hands. Schedule a Charleston imaging test near you today and take the first step towards proactive care!
