Aging is a beautiful part of the human experience because the collective years of our youth add up to an abundance of wisdom and experience that should now make our lives easier. Yet with all that wisdom we still believe that aging inevitably comes with chronic pain, lack of energy, foggy memory, and a multitude of health conditions.
The truth is that aches and pains do often become part of our daily lives; urinary and bowel issues leave us not wanting to be too far from a washroom; and a game of hide-and-seek with our grandchildren can leave us utterly exhausted.
We may indeed begin to need pill counters and reminders to take prescriptions that treat a variety of issues from blood pressure to constipation, and simple tasks like remembering where you put your keys can become a chore when your memory seems sluggish and worn out. But are these so-called signs of aging a must? Or is there another way?
Debunking the Age-related Health Myths
At the Marsden Centre, we believe that chronic pain, memory loss, and other assumed age-related conditions should not be considered ‘normal’ and can be prevented. Let’s bust a few age-related myths and look at some of the tried and true ways we can support our bodies and help prevent some of the conditions we associate with aging.
Chronic Pain
It is a common belief that conditions such as chronic pain are simply a normal part of aging, and we often hear sayings such as, “Aches and pains let you know you are still alive.” Although pain is something we all experience from time to time throughout our lives, that does not mean it will increase or continue as we get older.
Fact: Pain Declines with Age
Numerous studies have failed to find a direct relationship between pain and age and in fact, epidemiological studies suggest that the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain generally declines with advancing age. Population-based studies have found a lower prevalence of low back, neck, and face pain among older adults compared with their younger counterparts, and evidence has also found lower rates of headache and abdominal pain.
Pain is Not a Symptom of Aging
Therefore, pain is not an age-related symptom, it is a human symptom. No matter the cause of your pain, there are natural modalities available to help prevent chronic pain and allow you to live a pain-free life.
Memory Loss
Everyone has forgotten minor events or done odd things throughout their lives such as leaving the remote in the refrigerator, but as we age, we assume our forgetfulness is just a factor of getting ‘old’.
Cognitive Decline is a Diagnosis
There are conditions such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s that do affect the memory in drastic ways, however, a foggy memory, minor forgetfulness, and sluggish recall are not necessarily a normal condition of aging that you must accept.
Brain Fog is Often Preventable
Hormone imbalances and irregular hormone release can affect our memory at any age and is where terms such as ‘pregnancy brain’ come from. As your body ages, you may be experiencing hormonal changes that are subsequently affecting your memory and thankfully there are exceptional therapies available to get you back on track.
Energy Loss
We assume we are supposed to slow down as we age due to our body being ‘tired’ from years of work, schooling, partying, family rearing, and more. However, aging does not mean you have to experience less vigor, vibrancy, or lower energy levels no matter what you have been told in the past.
Age Does Not Make You Tired
Age does not make you tired, and it is not normal to feel completely drained day after day. If you are experiencing a lack of energy or fatigue even after a good night’s sleep, it is time to look beyond age and discover natural ways to boost your energy such as exercise and diet.
How to Support Aging Gracefully
When experiencing pain, energy loss, memory fog, etc., know that these symptoms are not a ‘normal’ part of aging and there are integrative and holistic wellness therapies available to get back to feeling youthful and energetic.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture was first recorded in medical text Huang Di Nei Jing, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine (translated in 1949) and to this day is used around the world to treat a variety of conditions including chronic pain.
Effective for Pain Relief
A study published in The Journal of Pain concluded that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain, that the effects of acupuncture persist over time, and that the benefits of acupuncture cannot be explained away solely by the placebo effect.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Many so-called age-related symptoms such as energy loss, digestive issues, insomnia, hair loss, libido, weight gain, and fatigue can be associated with a hormonal imbalance. Natural body hormones produced by our glands such as testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen regulate an enormous range of body functions. When the glands over or under produce hormones, we may begin to experience some of the symptoms listed above.
Hormone Level Testing
By completing a review of your hormone levels, current health, and medical history you may uncover a hormonal imbalance that may be at the root of your symptoms, rather than your age.
BHRT
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) uses bioidentical hormones (natural hormones derived from plants that mimic the molecular structure of human hormines) to address symptoms related to hormonal imbalance. Through testing and ongoing evaluations, BHRT can help to regulate your hormone levels and relieve many of the symptoms you thought were a ‘normal’ part of aging.
Diet & Nutrition
What we put into our bodies, fuels our bodies, and affects everything from brain function to digestion. A diet lacking in vitamins and nutrients can lead to deficiencies that have you feeling sluggish, affect the quality of your hair and skin, bring on gut issues, and in general have you feeling unwell. This can cause you to think you feel this way simply because you are aging when in fact, by simply testing and addressing any nutrient deficiencies you can often relieve many of the symptoms associated with poor nutrition.
Targeted Nutrient Therapy
Taking a multivitamin may seem like a great start, however, not all supplements are created equal, and not all individuals have the same needs. Working with a Doctor that specializes in naturopathic medicine in Vaughan and uses lab testing allows you to uncover your specific deficiencies so that your practitioner can prescribe supplements at clinical doses based on your individual needs.
At the Marsden Centre, we also have an IV vitamin lounge available for targeted nutrient therapy that goes beyond simply switching to a healthier diet (although we will help you achieve that goal too!)
Do You Want to Age Gracefully?
Aging can be a wonderful experience if you understand how to support your body and prevent symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, memory loss, and more, that do not have to be a normal part of aging. Get started on your path to a more youthful self by contacting us today to learn more about how our many providers, on-site lab assessment, and tailored approach can come together to create an individualized anti-aging plan for you.
Health is not a one size fits all journey. Your health plan should be as individual as you are. That is why we are dedicated to making recommendations based on your unique needs. This may include vitamin and herbal supplements, IV therapy and acupuncture, and support for how to realistically integrate these strategies with your current health issues and with any medications you are currently taking.
Go beyond the so-called ‘normal’ effects of aging and discover your vibrant energetic life today!
References
Picavet HS, Schouten JS. Musculoskeletal pain in the Netherlands: prevalences, consequences and risk groups, the DMC(3)-study. Pain. 2003;102:167-178
National Center for Health Statistics. Special feature: pain. In: Health, United States, 2006 with Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans. Hyattsville, Md: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2006:68-87. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ nchs/data/hus/hus06.pdf. Accessed October 16, 2012.
Gallagher RM, Verma S, Mossey J. Chronic pain. Sources of late-life pain and risk factors for disability. Geriatrics. 2000;55:40-44, 47.
NIA Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center; https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
MedLine Plus: Aging changes in hormone production; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004000.htm
NIA Fatigue in Older Adults; https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/fatigue-older-adults
The Journal of Pain; VOLUME 19, ISSUE 5, P455-474, MAY 01, 2018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005