Physical Development in Middle Adulthood Paper

Physical Development in Middle Adulthood Paper
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During the middle adulthood stage, many things are changing in a person’s life whether they are male or female. Naturally, a person’s physical appearance changes, whether it be weight gain, grey hairs, and the ever dreaded wrinkles. While the physical characteristics can be changes that one can accept, health changes, intellectual changes, and physical changes may be a little bit more difficult for one to deal with. Let’s start with health changes, as age is going up it also brings on the onset of many health issues. This could be heart problems, routine medical checkups for cancer such as prostate for men and breast cancer for women, and other health issues that can seriously hinder ones’ health such as diabetes. Physical functions may be hindered with age as well, such as the ability to work out for long periods of time, or being able to carry a lot of weight as once for a period of time. Also, in relation to a person’s dwindling strength, the older you get the less quick your reflexes and reactions are to various situations, such falling, or driving. Another over all problem occurring with age is a person’s intellectual health. A person who was so quick to catch on to different skills may take them a little longer to learn. Forgetfulness is also a troubling matter, which is usually tracked carefully so early signs of dementia Alzheimer’s can be monitored.
Sexuality for both men and women starts even before birth. For example, males can have erections while still in the uterus and can be born with an erection. Through adolescence, children, both male and female, will go through curiosity phases. This is not only with themselves but the differences in others as well. Puberty happens and most youth experience an interest in the opposite, or even the same, sex. Strong emotional bonds are made through sexual encounters. Through the young to adolescence years, sexuality with males and females is almost text book. However, once you get into adult sexuality, adult sexual behaviors will vary through multiple variables. Women go through menopause which effects their sexuality. With men, testosterone production lowers, in turn, sometimes making erections harder to come by or slower to happen. Although the desire for sexual relationships never truly leaves males or females, the human body and the way it ages can play a bigger role in the act of sex more so then the act of wanting does.
What is menopause? The natural cessation of menstruation that usually occurs between the ages of 45 a 55; also: the period during which such cessation occurs- called also the climacteric. This is the time in a woman’s life when her menstrual cycle will stop flowing from her body each month. (Merriam Webster) when coming into menopause you will have many different symptoms such as: irregular periods, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes, weight gain, thinning of the hair along with dry skin, and also loss of breast fullness. Male climacteric we considered to be the male menopause. Men through the ages of 35 and 60 and is considered a midlife crisis. During the male climacteric they have high risks such as: divorce, for extramarital affairs, for career changes, for accidents, and even for suicide attempts. They have many different symptoms male climacteric has which are nervousness, decrease in sexual activity, depression, decreased memory and concentration, decreased sexual interests, fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritability, loss of interest or self-confidence, indecisiveness, numbness and tingling, fear of impending danger, and/or excitability. (Understanding human behavior and the social environment chapter 10). After researching about female menopause and the male climacteric they have a lot of similarities than I thought. Both are menopause in the male and female body.
Stress can create an overwhelming sense of depression and despair, thus leading to weight gain, inactivity, and many other health problems, this can also cause one to eat improperly which in turn creates more stress and more problems. Gender is a hard role to cast as far as healthy living women tend to gain more weight in order to ready their bodies for the birthing process, whereas men tend to gain more muscle. Women tend to give up on healthy living due to the fact that they see it as pointless- however more and more we are becoming more health conscious as time progresses. As far as culture, “…tobacco is sacred among Native people and was not traditionally abused or used in a recreational context.” (Weaver & Jackson,2010). Tobacco has been deemed unhealthy- yet in some cultures such as the Native American culture- tobacco is a traditional marker. Foods high in fat have become a way of everyday life for most Americans, and in some cultures like Native American culture, “…food has spiritual and social value.” (Weaver & Jackson, 2010).
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References
Weaver, H. N., & Jackson, K. F. (2010). Healthy living in two worlds: Testing a wellness curriculum for urban native youth. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 27(3), 231-244. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10560-010-0197-6