Are you closing in on your 70s and wondering what to expect? I’m only 59, but my oldest brother is 10 years older, so he could well be doing so. And being the kind younger brother that I am, I’ve done a little bit of research on the matter.
Now, of course, we all age differently and the spectrum of experiences for those making the journey through their 70s will be wide and varied. However, according to online health news and information site WebMD, there are a number of changes most 70-somethings will undergo.
Here’s the first of a two-part look at some of the events you’ll likely face through that decade.
Diving head first into your 70s
Your brain, the driver of all things you do, is not immune to age-related change. Putting aside specific conditions such as dementia, parts of your brain are likely to shrink during your eighth decade.
This normal part of ageing can contribute to slow signalling between areas. In turn this may lead to a bit of a struggle to remember names, or sometimes a particular word. Multitasking may become a little bit harder, too. While these things may sound like symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other dementia, they are generally much less severe.
Before we move down slightly to look at changes to expect in your eyes and ears, there are a couple of other brain-related developments many people in their 70s can expect to go through. These changes involve sleep and sexuality.
Given that sex is probably going to come before sleep, let’s tackle that first. More people than ever before are living healthy lives well into their 70s. It’s unsurprising, then, that 70-somethings are more sexually active than those of past generations.
However, many men and women will experience problems common to this age group. For men, the most likely issue is erectile dysfunction; for women, vaginal dryness. Body images is another common problem for both men and women.
The good news is that an open discussion between partners, and seeking a doctor’s advice for any medical issues affecting sex, can go a long way to resolving most issues.
The other bed activity
As for sleep, there are several changes those in their 70s may encounter. By the time you’ve passed the 70 mark, you spend less time the deep sleep phase. This may result in you waking more often during the night. For some, getting back to sleep becomes a real problem. Evidence indicates women in particular can struggle with insomnia.
Your bedtime and wake-up time may also change in your 70s. However, regardless of any changes in sleep patterns, seven to eight hours sleep each night remains important.
Again, talk to your GP about any troubles you have with sleep.
Seeing and hearing your way through the 70s
Your 70s is ‘prime time’ for changes to your eyes and ears. Unfortunately, those changes aren’t good. Eye muscles weaken, making pupils slower to react, which means slower adjustment time switching between the indoors and bright sunlight.
Other potential vision issues include fine details becoming hard to pick out, and your lenses getting thicker and yellower. This makes it harder to see in dim lighting and reduces the vibrancy of colours.
For your hearing, your 70s can be a time of great change. In your early 70s, there’s a one in three chance you’ll have hearing loss. Once you’ve passed 75, that likelihood rises to one in two.
Common problems include high-pitched sounds being hard to make out, background noise interfering more with your conversations.
In both areas – sight and hearing – science and technology have made great strides in recent decades. As a result, many of these issues can be mitigated if not resolved completely. As always, having a conversation with your doctor is a good first step.
Below the shoulders
Yes, what about your heart, your skin, your muscles, your bones and your joints? And then there’s your urinary tract, your digestive system, your immune system and even your metabolism. How do these all change once you reach your 70s? We’ll have a look at how medical science currently answers those questions next week.
Are you about to enter your 70s? Are you already there? What changes have you noticed? Let us know via the comments section below.
Also read: Alzheimer’s drugs: are they really game changers?
Disclaimer: This article contains general information about health issues and is not advice. For health advice, consult your medical practitioner.
I am a female age 76. The only thing I have noticed is aches and pains that I didn’t have in my 50’s and early 60’s. I take no prescribed medication, exercise as we live on 5 acres, keep in contact with loved ones and friends and generally enjoy life. We grow a lot of our veges and fruit that are totally organically grown. This keeps us healthy to. Husband is 86 and very healthy for his age and still has a full driving licence.