getting on in years

that, my dear, is a nice way of saying “getting old”. yes, all of us grows old as the days passes by. it’s natural… but there are some people who seems to be adverse to the word ‘old’. some of us prefer to use “we matured” instead of “we grow old”. good enough… but we don’t ask people “how matured are you?”, do we? we ask “how old are you?”. there. the word ‘old’ is there. perhaps then it is better to ask “what is your age?” ?

ok so we all grow old. what then is the sign of aging? will you look like this as you age?

for men:

for women:

so do you spot any of those signs on you? gee, the pictures here says that’s how you will look when you are over 40. over 40 is consider old? hey i’m over 40 and i still feel young! hehe. no, i don’t have grey hair, crow’s feet or varicose vein… er… but do have some extra pounds. oops! i am getting old! 🙂

several weeks back the star came up with an article on the signs of aging. it’s quite a humorous article. i’ll reproduce here the article (since it was too long ago, no link to be found) and add in my comments. see if you can identify with any of these. be honest ya!

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1) You get spots on your face again

Only this time, they’re not teenage pimples but large freckles on the face and arms known as liver spots.

These flat brown-black spots are unrelated to liver function, though – the increased pigmentation may be brought on by ageing, exposure to the sun or other forms of ultraviolet light, or other unknown causes.

Liver spots are common after age 40. They occur on the backs of the hands, on the forearms, shoulders, face and forehead. They are harmless and painless, but perhaps one more thing you didn’t want to see in the mirror.

No treatment is needed in most cases, though the cosmetic appearance of the skin may be improved by skin bleaching lotions or creams.

nah, i don’t see any liver spots on myself. oh wait a minute… what’s that small brown spot on my face? freckles? but liver spot is define as ‘large freckles’ and this is not large… so it isn’t liver spot? ok ok perhaps i shouldn’t be swimming in the river of nile (which means, for the uninitiated, in denial) – i do have A liver spot.

2) You sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there

If you are not wearing dentures yet and want to avoid them as long as possible, take care of your teeth now. Flossing may be as important as brushing, say dentists.

Many people with good teeth have to get dentures because they have bad gums.

Also, like your glasses, your dentures won’t last forever – you’ll need new ones as your jawbone and gums change.

NO!! honestly, truly no! no i don’t have dentures! really! scout’s honour! i do take good care of my teeth… but er… i don’t floss. oh dear me! shopping for a denture will be on my next agenda soon? better start shopping for floss first!

3) Your knees announce your arrival

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a joint disease where there is progressive degeneration of the cartilage lining the bones.

The surface layer of the cartilage gradually wears away, and the bones grind against one another like sandpaper, causing pain, swelling, loss of motion – and a mini symphony of creaks every time you move.

Over time, bone spurs may grow on the joints. Bits of bone and cartilage may also come off and float inside the joint space, causing more pain and damage.

A total knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which the injured or damaged parts of the knee joint are replaced with artificial parts.

nope, thank god, osteoarthritis seems to stay far away from me.

4) You always know exactly where the toilets are

Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder and/or bowel control – a common problem among elderly individuals.

As many as 15% to 35% of those over 60 have it, with women twice as likely as men to get it – these are the folks mentally mapping out every loo in a 100-metre radius.

About 80% of sufferers can be cured or helped by treatment options such as behavioural therapy, medication or medical devices.

i don’t need adult diapers yet, thank you.

5) Reading looks like tai chi

Presbyopia is the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus properly on nearby objects.

For most, the telltale sign is needing to hold reading material at arm’s length – in that arms-stretched, neck-craned pose which looks like a tai chi move (let’s call it “Stork Needs Glasses”).

A natural part of ageing that usually affects those 40 and over, it can be diagnosed with a basic eye exam, and corrected with non-prescription reading glasses, prescription eye glasses or contact lenses. Surgery may also be an option.

*hands up* my eye is aging. 🙁

6) There’s more of you to love

As a person ages, some bits go south but others go east and west. The weight and waistline may expand because of changes to body fat and metabolism.

These can be brought on by many factors, including higher levels of lipids (fats such as cholesterol) and changes to the way the body processes glucose or sugar.

A growing waistline is one indicator of the risk of heart disease, so don’t forget to watch that as well as your diet and exercise, and to go for regular medical checks.

🙁 🙁 (you know what that mean!)

7 The children are telling you to turn the volume down

Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is a progressive loss of the ability to hear high frequencies such as those in speech.

It is unknown whether a specific cause such as noise trauma leads to it, but there appears to be a genetic predisposition.

The disorder occurs in about 25% of those aged 65 to 75, and 70% to 80% of those over age 75.

Tests can determine the extent of loss – however, there is no known cure when it is age-related. Treatment is focused on functional improvement, such as with hearing aids, which amplify sounds.

not yet… not yet… not yet…

8) You look for your glasses for half an hour, then find them on your head

Experts agree that some degree of memory loss is a natural part of the ageing process.

Half to two-thirds of those aged 50 and older notice this change. If you are one of them, you may be glad to know small lapses are not usually a sign of a serious disease such as Alzheimer’s, but result from normal age-related changes in the brain.

Although the degree of age-related memory loss varies from person to person, it is, for the most part, minor.

If you don’t want to go down without a fight, however, some experts recommend memory-boosting exercises, foods and lifestyle changes, though there is no guarantee these will work.

already here…. already here… i very forgetful lah. don’t blame me. blame aging.

9) Plucking out all the grey hair would mean going bald

Hair typically turns grey as a result of ageing. The pigment in the hair shaft comes from special cells at the root.

These cells are genetically programmed to make a certain amount of pigment, or melanin, at specific ages.

Over time, they make less and less pigment until the hair has very little. White hair has no pigment, and grey hair has some, but not as much as black, brown or red hair.

The silver lining? Not all hairs respond in the same way or at the same time, so the greying process is usually gradual. But you can’t stop it: some start greying in their 30s, others in their 60s. Your genes probably call the shots.

yippy! i can’t find a single strang of grey hair on me! 🙂

10) You’re reading whole novels in the toilet

And it isn’t because you’ve mastered “Stork Needs Glasses” and know where all the loos are.

Constipation – which is defined as the difficult, incomplete or infrequent passing of dry, hardened faeces – is another unwelcome sign of your advancing years. But it doesn’t happen just because of ageing – lifestyle habits such as not drinking enough fluids, ignoring the call of nature, not exercising enough or not eating enough fibre are often to blame, too. – The Straits Times Singapore/ Asia News Network

this doesn’t happens to me… now.

as regards to no. 9 about hair, it talks about grey hair (which i repeat, i don’t have!) but what about dropping hair? is dropping hair a sign of aging?

would you just look at the amount of hair i lost everyday when i comb my hair in the morning after i woke up??? picture on the left shows the sink in my bathroom where i comb my hair every morning. oh, and what about the alternate days when i wash my hair? i lost just as much hair too!!
good lord! i am getting old… er… getting on in years.