antiaginggroupbcn

THE AGING PROCESS AND ANTIAGING MEDICINE

Antiaging Medicine was born due to Demographic aging in the last century .Nowadays sociological and health  interest in oldness  began in the 40s in industrialized countries, at the same time as the first generations turned 80-90 years old . We underline the Fact that in 80s, “  The World Health organization” considered as important adding “ life to years” as “ years to life” . 

Antiaging Medicine is a new field in Medicine which popped out due to the need to know the biological processes in aging and  modify them in order to decress the pathologies  appearing when aging. The goal is to extend and improve life quality. 

WHAT IS AGING ?

It is the changes which our cells accumulate with the pass of time as a result of  not being able to keep structural and functional balance under stress conditions  ,so that increase disease and risk of death. 

WHY WE GET OLD ? 

In the last few  years , to answer to this question several theories developed . None of them  for itself  answered  the question, but all of them as a whole ,  give an answer  to the several factors that occur when aging . The most truthful theories nowadays are as follows:

1-“MASTER CLOCK” THEORY 

The changes leading to aging  are the following: DNA mutations , membrane permeability and mitocondrial function changes, Inmune system alterations, syntesis  and proteine degradation, fibroblastic mitotic activity programmed loss and hypofisis hypotalamus changes . 

2-FREE RADICALS THEORY 

Oxidative metabolism subproducts can react as cellular constitutives including proteins , DNA, lipids and generate lasting disfunctional molecules which will interfere in cellular function. 

3- GLICOSILATION THEORY 

Non enzimatic glicosilation  can create modified forms of protein  and maybe  other macromolecules which will accumulate and generate a disfunction as we get old. 

4- ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION THEORY 

UV rays damage DNA ( fibroblasts)

Restoration tax is different  in different species as it is higher in the eldest. 

5-PROGRAMMED AGING THEORY  

Based in genetics

6- INFLAMATORY THEORY

7- MITOCONDRIAL THEORY

 90% of free radicals  are made in the mitochondria , which is a small organ inside the cell . 

8-TELOMER THEORY 

Telomers are small portions of  chromosomes containing DNA  which do not contain genetic information. In each chromosomic division part of these telomers get lost,   which makes changes in the proteins in there and many others ,which explain  the individual irreversible  physiological aging process  but able to be improved . 

ANTIAGING MEDICINE 

People interested in an Antiaging Program do it because they care about their health .

Antiaging Medicine covers all fields related to aging and its posible causes  

1-INTRINSIC FACTORS: 

-Oxidative stress

-Nitric oxid stress

-Glicosilation

-Telomer and Telomerasa Disfunction

-Mitocondrial Disfunction

-Damage /  DNA Reparation

-Swelling

-Genetics

 2-HOMEOSTASIS ALTERATIONS ( system balance) 

-BASE ACID

-NEURO-ENDOCRIN NEXUS

-FAT ACIDS

-CALCIUM

-COAGULATION

-DIGESTIVE

-MINEROMETALIC

-INMUNOLOGIC 

3-RISK FACTORS 

     -CARDIOVASCULAR

     -METABOLIC

     -NEURODEGENERATIVE

     -TUMORAL

     -INFECTIOUS

ANTIAGING PROGRAM 

Antiaging programs are designed for men and women over 35 years old . The main  target is getting a global functional balance which makes the organism being able to confront  stress situations without consequences , delaying biological aging.

Biological aging comes from every organ aging and those do not get old at the same way and speed , so that is why antiaging programs have to be personalized . There is no such thing as an standard treatment . 

Antiaging programs have  4 basics  as follows:

-clinic history , which will include Personal Medical and family history, exercise, toxic and eating habits , medication  and way of life . 

-Physical exam 

-Complementary exams , including a blood test specially focused on antiaging. 

-Psychological exam  

Taking into account all the results , we will be able to make an antiaging program  which will look at : 

1-Food

2-Hormonal replacement therapy

3-Suplements

4-Medication

5-Physical exercise

6-Mental exercise and stress control

7-Bad habits change

8-Spiritual increasement

EATING HABITS ARE AN ANTIAGING THERAPY   

Antiaging therapy eating habits are based on  caloric restrictions , that means eating less .

This is the conclusion that many scienticians have arrived after years of research of the effects of a restrictive diet in rats and monkeys. “The scientific American” gives the Okinawa  example  in where 17% of adults and 36% of children  ate  less calories than the average in Japan . As a result , the experts found out a prevalence 40 times higher in  centenary people in Okinawa than other islands in Japan.

In the case of middle age people is specially recommended to limit the quantity of food . When we get old , we loose muscle mass , that makes calories burn less efficiently and the result is an accumulation of  fat and obesity . In sedentary people this worsens.  

Antiaging eating abits strategy needs specialized advice in nutrition because  certain foods have to be restricted , moreover, reduce  animal fats and increase  vegetables , fruits and soya products . Quality is as important as quantity of foods .

We have to eat colour saturated  vegetables such as: broccoli , pepper, beans , spinaches , tomatoes , potatoes and carrots. Dark green vegetables are generally  rich in substances which can help us to reduce risk of cancer . Take into account , berries which contains power antioxidants  helping our eyes and brain to keep young . Other studies  look at prunes as one of the  richest food in antioxidants.

 Lactic products are better fat free or skimmed . If you do not eat lactics , try to eat spinaches , nuts , vegetables, cauliflower , figs and parsley. Include in your  daily life garlic and onions because they have important antibiotic components and several types of cancer  inhibitors .

Eat fiber , cereals rich in bran , integral rice , beans, and lentels as well as fruits and fresh vegetables.

Drink no less than 8 glasses of water a day . Carbonated sodas or caffeine drinks are not water substitutes. 

Before starting any kind of diet you have to consult an specialist because all diets have to have a minimum quantity of nutrients.

HORMONE  REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Hormone loss with the pass of years is considered normal . One of the basics of Antiaging Medicine is trying to keep  optimum levels  ( which is what we have to keep to reach prevention goals), better than basing us in the normal levels which are those which we get statistically as a group of population.

We have to be very cautious  with Hormone replacement since many of the recommended treatments are still under research  and no totally authorized. 

EXERCISE BENEFITS  IN ANTIAGING 

One of the main aspects of our antiaging programs is prevention . Physical exercise is very important to be and to keep healthy and this has to be considered as part of our daily life.

Aging is a natural , dynamic and gradual process . Our body  suffers many  different changes such as respiratory , cardiovascular , metabolic , musclesKeletic  and so on. Reducing our quality of life . Exercise has an specific importance to those systems vital for involution. 

 Many professionals and scientific  institutions which established  a clear association between exercise and health , proving , today  exercise benefits to prevent and delay aging effects as well as to reduce certain type of  risk of deseases.

Daily and sedentary ways of life  are a problem to the biological principles to which men have been genetically ready. In 1990  ,  lack of exercise was in the “ top ten” risk factors for our health.  Sedentary life , considered less than 20 minutes of activity 3 times a week , estimated than reach around 50% risk factor. 

Nevertheless , apart from quantitative aspects , we can see the need of having a mid active life  to prevent and improve our quality of life so that, exercise is an important health factor. 

To make  exercise useful have to be prescribed individually , guided by specialists , made correctly and practised regularly . If exercise is made the right way, we always will  see  the benefits regardless age. 

Making a correct exercise program , will get the tool to develop and get the most of our potential , delay aging consequences and improve physically and mentally . That means , we´ll improve our quality  and life expectation. 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAM MATERIALIZE IN THE FOLLOWING EFFECTS:// What exercise can do for you ? 

-Delay cardiovascular involution ( preventing arteriosclerosis), respiratory and endocrine involution ( specially  in suprarenals , improving the adaptation and resistance to stress). 

-Softens articular activity and prevents osteoporosis and bone fractures. Increase calcium and potasium absortion .

- Increase enzymatic oxidative  activity and aerobic metabolism of glucose and fats.

-Fat mass loss

-Reduce plasmatic cholesterol  and triglicerids levels and improve cholesterol /HDL indexes in blood.

-Increasing aerobic and  anaerobic levels we Increase the tolerance to effort . 

-Increase sistolic volume

-Increase blood volume ( plasma and red globules)

-Improve muscular blood supply

-Increase maximum VO2  and improve respiratory system as a result of improving vital capacity , taking more advantage of lack of oxygen and increasing ventilation, diffusion and oxygen canalization. 

-Control and reduce quiescence blood pressure  and while exercising.

-Improves neurovegetative, balance  and psicophysical and psicointelectual activity.  

-        Improves your body

-        Stimulate optimism , vitality and will ( increasing the willing to give up smoking and other toxic abits)

-        Contributes to social integration

-        Improves quality and enjoying of life .

STRESS CONTROL IN ANTIAGING MEDICINE 

All of us are familiar to this Word ,but do we really know what stress is ? 

Stress is a  body reaction  to specific situations . Puts us in alert  and gives us the tools to respond correctly . This a positive stress.  Depending on the situation , that chronifies leading  us to anxiety and depression  . In these situations , we cannot keep optimum homeostasis levels  and our body fails . 

To be able to study stress , we would need an extensive clinic history , an exam ,  a good conversation with the client . Most of the patients suffering stress have non clear symptoms and they cannot explain exactly  what is happening to them .

In Our antiaging program we consider that is very important an expert psychological evaluation together with cortisol and dhea exams which help us to make a correct diagnosis  and treatment.