Physical Development in Middle Adulthood

Physical Development in Middle Adulthood

Rebecca Romero

Anjelica McCartney

BSHS 325

June 27, 2016

Jim Seibold

Physical Development in Middle Adulthood

        Middle adulthood can bring one several physical and psychological changes in both men and women. The changes men and women experience vary from person to person and the severity of the changes depends on one’s emotional, physical and mental state at the time the “change” occurs.  Health problems in middle adulthood like diabetes, hypertension and arthritis can occur, which may lead to other health problems.

Common Health Problems

        During middle adulthood several common health problems may occur. Hypertension is a big health concern for adults. High blood pressure, also called "hypertension," is a serious medical condition. It happens when the force of the blood pumping through your arteries is too strong.  Hypertension can strain the heart, damage blood vessels, and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney problems, and death.  Maintaining a healthy weight and diet can decrease the chances of high blood pressure.  Stress is a trigger for hypertension and should be avoided at all cost.   Diabetes is a group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood, or high blood glucose and is a metabolic disease in which the body’s inability to produce any or enough insulin causes elevated levels of glucose in the blood. The most common types of diabetes are Type 2, Type 1, Prediabetes and Gestational Diabetes.  Proper diet and exercise can keep diabetes under control and it can also keep you from getting diabetes. Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age.  Symptoms of Arthritis include pain, swelling, reduced range of motion and stiffness.  This can happen as early as 21 years of age. Maintaining a healthy weight and diet can help alleviate the pain from Arthritis.  Back pain is typical in younger adults from age 30-60. They are likely to experience back pain from a lower back muscle strain or from within the disc space itself, like a disc is out of place or may become a herniated disc.  As middle adulthood approaches, it’s important to be cautious of our movements, how we bend, lift, and handle objects that require the use of our back muscles.

Changes in Sexuality

        Menopause is the natural decline in reproductive hormones when women reach their 40’s or 50’s.  The physical effects of menopause are skipped or irregular cycles, the decrease of Estrogen, and the cessation of ovulation. When estrogen beings to decrease this can cause hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, bone loss, vaginal dryness and fatigue. Women can become depressed, anxious and begin to have low self-esteem.  Male Climacteric “male menopause” usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.  However, not all males will experience menopause. Symptoms of male menopause are low libido, thinning hair, inability to retain an erection, depression and anxiety.  A man may experience a mid-life crisis between the ages of 35 and 60 which may cause him to suddenly change careers, buy a sports car, have an affair, analyze their life more closely causing depression or anxiety.