Cardiovascular changes

Inactivity causes the heart to lose strength. Less strength means it’s less efficient in pumping oxygen around the body. Regular aerobic activity will help maintain heart health. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, & high cholesterol can all lead to a furring up (narrowing) of the arteries which can lead to an increased risk of Heart Disease, Stroke or Heart Attack. Around a third of all adults in the UK have High Blood Pressure. (NHS..uk)

 Muscular change

As we age we lose muscle mass/strength which is know as Sarcopenia. Women are more prone to this as they have less muscle mass to begin with. This loss of muscle in our large muscle groups can cause our reaction time to slow and can therefore increase incidents of loss of balance or falling over. Performing everyday tasks such as housework or gardening  and exercise can help build  muscle strength and keep flexibility. Exercise has been shown to reduce falls by 21%

 Skeletal changes

Joint stiffness happens as we age due to the glossy surface at the end of a bone, becoming rough and also the fluid that helps the joint move becomes more viscous. This “wear and tear ” can lead to Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects appoximately 8.5 million people in the UK, this is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoporosis (thinning bone)is due to our production of minerals in our body slowing down. Lifestyle  factors such as poor diet, eating disorders, and low oestrogen (menopause) can all contribute to this disorder. People with Osteoporosis are much more prone to fractures. Postural changes will happen, such a stopped posture, resulting in reduced mobility around the shoulder and neck region, and also Low Back Pain. Exercise to help Osteoarthritis would include rhythmical or gentle repetitive exercises that warms up the joints to get the fluid moving, and for Osteoporosis exercise that loads the bones, such as resistance training, or workouts with light impact.

 Respiratory system changes

The average lung capacity as an adult it 6 litres of air, this starts to decline from around 35 yrs old. When we exhale the lungs are not totally emptied of air, around 20 percent is retained, but as we age,  this exchange as we breathe decreases and this can equate to a third of lung capacity being lost over time. Due to  the lessening of elasticity in the lung tissue which reduces the size of the airways, the diaphram becomes weaker and postural changes occur (stooped), this in turn affects the ribs, so they cannot expand as much to take breath. Lifestyle factors, such as pollution, smoking and inactivity can speed up this process. Respiratory conditions include Asthma, which can be helped with inhalers and COPD for which there is no cure. But exercising in the correct way can help both of these conditions

 Nervous System changes

This neurological system controls things such as cognitive function (memory), motor responses (movement). as well as vision, hearing, taste and smell (special senses). A decline in motor responses can lead to balance issues and an increased risk of falls, as the muscles cannot react quickly enough. As  vision and hearing decline, this can lead to a  a change in the perception of the world around you, and affect mood and self confidence. Losing your sense of taste or smell can lead to loss of interest in food, and eating. Cognitive function/memory gently declines upto the age of 60, at which point can rapidly progress, so it’s really important to keep your brain active.