Hormones and All that Good Stuff in Healthy Aging

Stomach weight is associated with making the arteries age. Your arteries supply blood through out your whole system and if these become blocked it can cause many problems for you. Obesity can lead to a heart attack, memory loss, the skin will wrinkle and strokes can occur too, which is all caused from the blocked arteries. Your diet plays an important role in helping to keep these arteries clear. You need to include a certain amount of goods fats in you diet if nothing else eating nuts for a snack.

Keeping the mind busy and enjoying activity helps the brain and it will help prevent depression, anxiety and stress. Everyone seems to get these three things as we age because we slow down and don't get out enough. It is very important to be with people and get that exercise to keep your mind from thinking and worrying so much.

Watch your diet keeping it in control and enjoy many activities. You'll feel and look better as you age. We can consider all these aspects, yet to find a clear vision of what healthy aging means to you, we have to consider hormones.

The glands produce several hormones, including the Human Growth Hormone. (HgH) Science shows the body produces enough but it doesn't release all of it as we age. The low levels of human growth hormone cause wrinkling of skin, reduction of energy and sexual performance. Gray hair is incurred from hormonal deficiencies. The hormone will also cause increases of body fats, and puts you at the risk of heart disease. You will lose muscle mass from deficient HgH, which can lead to shrinking of bodily organs.


Studies were conducted that shown results from 26 men. These men were between the ages 61 and early 80s. The studies shown that the supplement of Human Growth Hormone slowed the aging process 10-20 years total. After giving HgH, these men showed improvements, which enhanced muscle strength. The skin tone was enhanced as well as the memory. The overall of aging has not been stopped but important signs of maturity are improved.

Vitamin A is known to help the eyes but in recent studies, it was discovered that it is also helps release the human growth hormone. Just remember when buying supplements in a health food store the labels are not always accurate.

When taking any hormone replacement supplements make sure that you consult with your doctor, only he or she knows what is best for you. Since supplements, Vitamins, or replacement therapies may include side effects, you want your doctors advice first before administering these remedies.


Women rely on estrogen to maintain healthy bones. Women need these hormones to reduce the risks of shrinking in bone density. Women will often experience symptoms that form into osteoporosis when estrogen is deficient. Estrogen will often slow as a woman ages, and usually after menopause the woman's lipid levels drop.

This can cause high cholesterol also, since LDL increases. In addition, lipid levels when increased can lead to blocked arteries, or coronary blood vessel/artery disease. After a woman goes through menopause she, starts to age for the reason that the ovaries begin to slow the production of progesterone and estrogen. These major hormones control menstrual cycles, which stop at this point.

Men rely on testosterone to maintain their youth. This hormone controls a male's sex drive, facial hair growth and so on. We all have our hormones that perform many actions, yet in some instances we need replacement, especially as we grow old. Sometimes replacing the hormones will slow the aging process, thus promoting healthy aging.

Keeping Vigil over a Dying Loved One

Keeping vigil over a dying loved one is one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do in life. However, it is a rite of passage for both you and your loved one. If possible, communicate together what your loved one's wishes are regarding their last days. Give them as much control over the remainder of their lives as possible.

Chronic illness means that you have likely talked with your dying loved one about their last wishes. However, if the illness is sudden, you want to make sure that advances directives such as a living will are already in place. That way, when an accident or sudden illness occurs, both parties are prepared and know what should be expected.

In advance, you should have mapped out care for your dying loved one. Here are some of the things you should have talked about:

1. Hospice care - This type of care is usually for end of life care to make your loved one more comfortable. Some people call it "waiting to die" health care. A health facility or even your home can serve as hospice care.
2. Hospital care - Designate when and when not to resuscitate. In addition, in terms of serious illnesses, you might want to dictate when the respirator or feeding tubes be removed.
3. Nursing homes - These facilities always have care staff on duty. Your dying loved one may choose to have their care administered in this type of place to ease the burden of family members with their personal care.

Cost plays a factor in any scenario with a dying loved one. Decide how much you can afford to pay and determine what insurance will cover. Try and come up with a game plan before your dying loved becomes too incapacitated to make their decisions. All the decisions laid out in advance eases the burden of the caregiver and allow all parties to make peace with the impending death without worrying about if you are going against their wishes.

Dying is not on a specific timetable. Therefore, if you are the caregiver, do not feel that you must be by your loved one's side 24/7. This not only compromises your health but also is unrealistic. Ask a family member or friend to sit with your loved one periodically and take a break. Use the time to sleep, run errands and just decompress and come to terms with your own feelings. Your loved one would understand and not want you to jeopardize your own health.

Even when your loved one may be incoherent or comatose in the last days, do not stop talking to them. At some level, they can likely sense that you are there. Not only will you appreciate those last moments, but it is also a good time to make peace with their passing and prepare yourself for when it does actually happen. By being by your loved one's side, you are respecting and paying honor to the life they have led too.