| Why do we age? Currently, there are seven theories | | | | get to your cells. When this happens, our entire body |
| on the aging process. Actually, we do not have a good | | | | ages more quickly. Cardiovascular disease is the |
| scientific explanation for aging. We just know that our | | | | leading killer of adult Americans that claim 40% of us |
| bodies were designed to grow old. There are seven | | | | and seriously effecting more than half of us.Genetic |
| major theories about why we age. All of them have | | | | controls in your cells protect your cells from becoming |
| some credibility.The first is that our genes program | | | | cancerous. When these cellular controls slip you have |
| ourselves to divide a certain number of times and | | | | total body wide systems that help control any |
| once this division has reached the maximum number | | | | pre-cancerous cells that develop. This is your immune |
| our bodies will begin to fail. This is the Telomar Theory. | | | | system. Many types of arthritis are good examples of |
| These are genetic elements that are controlling the | | | | a break down in the immune system.How you react to |
| number of allowable cell divisions.The second is the | | | | environment biologically, psychologically, and socially all |
| general degradation of the neuroendocrine system. | | | | have to do with how young you stay. Living and |
| The neurological and hormonal systems that regulate | | | | working in a hazardous environment obviously has a |
| the body finally wear out and make us susceptible to a | | | | negative effect upon your health. While maintaining |
| host of diseases.The third is that our body builds up so | | | | increased mental activity, becoming a life long learner, |
| many toxins and other waste products that our | | | | and maintaining close personal relationships with a few |
| systems begin to shut down. This toxic waste build up | | | | people and having several other good friends that are |
| can even affect the structure of our genes.The fourth | | | | not so close but where you can laugh, have fun and |
| is the wear and tear theory that living itself causes our | | | | enjoy life. Developing some passionate life producing |
| joints and body parts to wear out.The fifth theory is | | | | interests keeps one young.Why Do We Age? | Men |
| the free radical damage of aging. The body builds up | | | | and WomenMen reach their peak of performance |
| free radical oxidants that damage our organs and our | | | | curve in their late twenties and women in their mid |
| DNA causing us to age quickly.The sixth theory is the | | | | thirties. Our bodies are fully matured, we are strongest |
| glucose toxicity theory, which also has to do with | | | | and at our most mentally acute then. Somewhere |
| waste build up, and the poor utilization and control of | | | | between 28 and 36 years of age most people reach |
| glucose within our physiological system.The seventh | | | | a turning point, a transition from growing into an aging |
| theory of aging derives from the law of entropy that | | | | process. Most people experience significant |
| means that in the universal there is continual | | | | backaches between the age of 28 and 36 in my |
| movement from order to disorder and that in our | | | | practice. When they reach that turning point and their |
| bodies this movement is marked by aging.Why Do We | | | | ability to compensate, musculoskeletal and |
| Age? | What Gets OldSo what part of our body | | | | physiologically it starts to turn. This can be quite |
| ages? Aging happens in particulars, our arteries get | | | | momentous event for men and women, for the first |
| clogged, our joints flare up with arthritis, our parts start | | | | time in their life that they are really suffering.Statistically, |
| to slow down and wear out, and we do not heal as | | | | our physiological function and cognitive ability |
| quickly as we used to.Scientists have found that we all | | | | performance declines as we age. Each biological |
| have certain genes in our make up that we are born | | | | function decreases 3% to 6% per decade after age |
| with and today we cannot change, yet, but how we | | | | 35. But the good news is certain functions such as |
| age is primarily up to us. Our environment, our | | | | mental acuity and IQ have some people show almost |
| tendencies, our activities, and our interactions are what | | | | no decline or even improve as they progress from 35 |
| matters. As a matter of fact, our inherited genetics | | | | to 75 years old.You may wish to take the online |
| account for less than 30% of all aging effects and the | | | | questionnaire at to determine what your real age is |
| importance of genetic inheritance matters less and | | | | according to their approach. The resulting age you will |
| less as we age. By the age of 80, behavioral choices | | | | get there is based on epidemiological research.Dr. |
| account almost entirely for your overall health and | | | | Feely is an Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon, board |
| longevity.Some people are biologically predisposed to | | | | certified in Family Practice, Osteopathic Manipulative |
| early onset of arterial aging. They have inherited a | | | | Medicine, Acupuncture, Disability Evaluation, |
| tendency toward high blood pressure, high cholesterol, | | | | Independent Medical Evaluation, Quality Assurance and |
| and weight gaining. While other people are culturally | | | | Utilization Review. He has a special interest in the use |
| predisposed to the disease because they are far | | | | of Osteopathic manipulation and acupuncture for |
| more likely to develop bad eating habits, high in | | | | migraine headeaches, back pain and myofascial pain |
| saturated fat, that will accelerate the aging process | | | | disorders. His site, offers information to help you pass |
| within the artery. Many say you are as old as your | | | | your NCCAOM or California Traditional Chinese |
| arteries. When your arteries become clogged, they | | | | Oriental Medicine acupuncture board exams (tcm |
| diminish the amount of oxygen and nutrients that can | | | | tests). |