Aging Quiz

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Aging Quiz
What Do You Really Know About Aging? Find out how much you know about the aging process. How fast is the over-85 segment of the U.S. population increasing compared with the population in general? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is The U.S. population rose 13 percent between 1990 and 2000, the Census Bureau says, but the over-85 population rose 38 percent, to 4.2 million. Another way to look at this is that in 2000, an estimated 2 percent of the population was age 85 and older. By 2050, the percentage in this age group is projected to increase to almost 5 percent of the U.S. population. A. Half as fast B. Nearly twice as fast C. Nearly three times as fast D. About the same Which of these is a normal result of aging in the cardiovascular system? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Blood vessels also lose some elasticity, says geriatrician Thomas A. Cavalieri, D.O., professor and chairman of medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine, in Stratford, N.J. A. A mild increase in blood pressure B. The heart muscle becomes less elastic C. Loss of pace-making cells to regulate heartbeat D. All of the above Aging affects mobility. Which of these qualities do muscles tend to lose over the years? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is It's important to keep exercising throughout your life to help preserve these functions. Exercise should cover all four of these areas: endurance (to help your breathing and heart rate), strength (to build muscles), balance (to help prevent falls), and flexibility (to keep your body limber). A. Strength B. Reflex action C. Flexibility D. All of the above Which is a health benefit of lifelong exercise? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is "Routine weight-bearing exercise can also help decrease the rate at which bone is lost through aging," says Dr. Cavalieri. Ask your doctor before beginning any new exercise program. A. Avoiding high blood pressure B. Preventing depression C. Preventing constipation D. All of the above Which of these dietary changes is recommended for older people? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Don't forget to drink plenty of liquids throughout the day, says the National Institute on Aging (NIA). In addition to water, other good choices are juice, milk, and soup. A. Eating more fat B. Eating smaller meals more frequently C. Eating a high-fiber diet D. B and C Which of these can be the most harmful to your health as you age? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is People with close friends survive heart attacks longer than those who are isolated, says Dr. Cavalieri. "Social isolation is associated with depression and poor health outcomes." A. Loneliness B. Short-term memory loss C. Low blood pressure D. Loss of teeth Which of these vaccines is advised for people 65 and older? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is One shot usually offers years of protection against a serious health threat that rises with age. A. Measles B. Pneumonia C. Polio D. Chickenpox Which is true about older smokers trying to kick the habit? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is No matter what your age, as soon as you stop smoking, your heart and circulatory system begin to improve, the NIA says. Your risk for heart attack and stroke begins to drop. Although quitting smoking can't reverse permanent damage to the lungs, it may help slow additional damage. A. There's no benefit from quitting smoking if you're over 75 years of age B. Older smokers are more likely to be able to quit C. One year after quitting, a senior's cancer risk is similar to that of a lifetime nonsmoker D. None of the above How do bones change as you age? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Bone mass reaches maximum density between ages 25 and 35, then begins to decrease, as the bones lose calcium and protein. As women enter menopause, they can lose up to 3 percent of their bone mass each year, the NIA says. This usually continues for at least a decade, with up to half the skeletal density lost. Both men and women have an age-related decrease in bone of approximately 1 percent a year after age 50. "Exercise, calcium and vitamin D intake, along with some medications, have been shown to increase bone mineral density," says Dr. Cavalieri. A. They become weaker B. They become lighter C. The marrow dies D. A and B Your score was:


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