FLORENCE -- The aging process takes a toll on the body, and knowing that helps individuals adjust to the new normal, doctors said.

Dr. Saquib Anjum, a geriatric and palliative care physician, said helping aging patients know what are typical changes to the body can help ease fear when the patient notices those changes.

"I see a lot of anxiety patients go through because of aging," Anjum said. "Aging is broadly predictable."

As life expectancy increases, it's important that the growing number of senior adults understand these body changes, Anjum said.

He said when patients notice changes he describes as typical of someone growing older, the first request is often a medication to reverse the change. However, Anjum said the best thing to do is to identify lifestyle changes to adjust to them.

Typical body changes related to aging include decreased heart rate from thickening of heart walls and slight enlargement of the heart muscle; an increase in blood pressure; a more noticeable decrease in blood pressure from standing or changing position; a less effective immune system; and loss of muscle mass.

Those changes, Anjum said, can manifest themselves like symptoms of a disease, but are typically just related to the normal aging process. A healthy diet and regular exercise are the best ways to stave off such changes, and to control the effects of them when they do occur.

"A lot of older patients are on multiple medications and will go through multiple rounds of medications trying to find one that works," Anjum said. "These are just things that happen as you age."

Anjum noted that as people reach geriatric status, kidney function can decrease. He said that's especially important for patients who are cycling through medications trying to find one that "fixes" their symptoms.

"When kidneys don't functions as well, drugs stay in your system longer," he said. "That increases the risk of side effects."

Dr. Robert Webb said there are several "syndromes" that occur in older patients that people need to be aware of as they age.

Disruption of the sleep cycle is a frequent complaint from senior patients, Webb said. He said older patients often have a harder time falling asleep; wake more often during the night; and experience restlessness during sleep more often.

He said 50 percent of seniors use some sort of prescription medication for sleep, and 30 percent have a chronic problem with sleep.

He recommends lifestyle changes, such as eating large meals earlier, taking medications that can disrupt sleep earlier in the day, and taking melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep.

"Melatonin is very helpful for seniors," he said. "It helps reset your sleep/wake cycle."

Falling is another common risk for seniors that can be managed to a degree, Webb said. He said certain types of medications, such as antidepressants, benzodiazapines and anti-inflammatory drugs, can increase falls for older patients.

He recommended increased strength exercises, and physical and occupational therapy for better balance and mobility. He said correcting environmental factors can reduce the risk of falls.

"You don't want throw rugs," he said. "What happens when you have throw rugs? That increases the risk of catching your foot on the rug and falling."

It is often medications, Webb said, and the side effects of those medications that cause complaints from older patients.

"All senior symptoms are drug side effects until proven otherwise," Webb said.

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Doctors talk aging: What's normal, how to manage it - Times Daily

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