Biological Symptoms of Aging in Women Regarding Physical Activity and Lifestyle

Abstract

Purpose. Menopause in many women is related to worse health conditions, increased diseases incidence and body mass. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether the differentiation of the involutional changes related to the climacteric period depends on women's physical activity and selected aspects of lifestyle. The following aging indices were analyzed: age of menopause, value of blood parameters, disease incidence, BMI. Basic procedures. The research, conducted in the health care units, was based on the survey approved by the Bioethical Com mittee at the Jagiellonian University. The data of 896 women above the age of 40 were used in the research. Basic statistics were calculated and tests of significance of differences and correlation were applied. Main findings. There is no significant relationship between the level of physical activity, the type of work performed and the age of menopause. However, women performing whitecollar work and practicing sports enter menopause last. In smokers the age of menopause lowered. Women using vegetarian diets and women with high BMI values go through menopause later. High BMI values and nicotine addiction are significantly related to the increased level of blood sugar, diabetes incidence and high blood pressure. The cholesterol level is significantly related to the age of the subjects. The percentage of increased cholesterol level is smaller in women practicing sports who have also significantly lower BMI values than those who do not go in for any sports. Conclusions. The analysis of health and aging indices confirms the highest correlation between BMI and the external factors. Moreover, regarding the specificity of hormo nal changes during climacterium, overweight and obese women go through menopause later.

Evaluation of somatic and functional parameters of cardiovascular and respiratory systems in rural women in Poland

“…It can therefore be assumed that older rural women are put more at risk of obesity. With regard to the urban population, the average BMI of rural women is higher (Gacek 2011;Ignasiak et al 2011;Nowak and Ignasiak 2008;Stachoń et al 2010).…”

“…In some studies it has been reported that rural women are heavier than their peers in urban areas. Perhaps that characteristic is associated with a specific diet and lifestyle of rural women (Gacek 2011;Stachoń et al 2010;Zając-Gawlak and Polechoński 2007). In our study there were no significant difBrought to you by | EP Ipswich Authenticated | 140.234.255.9 Download Date | 2/26/14 5:06 PM ferences in body weight in the studied age groups.…”

“…Body weight is a parameter which is less genetically controlled, and depends largely on the lifestyle and nutrition, and thus it is a more changeable parameter (Stachoń et al 2010;Zając-Gawlak and Groffik 2010). In some studies it has been reported that rural women are heavier than their peers in urban areas.…”

The relationship between physical fitness and quality of life in adults and the elderly

“…Similarly, the literature on the subject is also scant in regards to what can be considered as valuable research on the relationships between physical fitness and various aspects of an individual's living environment, which has been suggested to be a very important aspect in this regard [4]. Those studies that were identified focused on the relationship between physical activity and health and quality of life [2,[5][6][7][8][9]. Others discussed the relationships between quality of life and economic status, age, education, martial status, sex, and other factors unrelated to what can be understood as the sphere of physical culture [10][11][12].…”

Feeling of the selected climacteric symptoms depending on the climacteric phase and type of menopause

“…W okresie przekwitania, niezależ-nie od klimakterium, nasilają się procesy inwolucyjne [16], pojawiają się inne zaburzenia endokrynologiczne (niezwiązane z czynnością gonad), a także często stres związany ze zmianą sytuacji rodzinnej i społeczno-ekonomicznej [6]. Czynniki te wspólnie wpływają na rodzaj i nasilenie odczuwania dolegliwości menopauzalnych.…”