I need two peer reviewed, one about this
Daniel Jesus Gallardo
St. Thomas University
NUR-417-AP1.24/SU2
Prof. Yedelis Diaz
July 3, 2024
Pathological Conditions in Older Adults
Increased expectancy of life and the phenomenon of aging can increase the burden of contracting diseases. This affects the overall health of the elderly, their sexuality in particular. Besides, different pathological conditions can impact an elderly person’s sexual response. The condition can be categorized into cardiovascular, hormonal imbalance, chronic respiratory disease, and psychological and physical factors.
Cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and atherosclerosis can be associated with increased sexual dysfunction. The hardening and narrowing of the arteries reduce blood flow in the genialities. Blood flow is often crucial for erection and arousal in men. Among women with cardiovascular disease, it causes vaginal dryness, decreased libido and decreased organism. Moreover, high blood pressure damages blood vessels and reduces blood flow thus affecting sexual function among the elderly. When attending to the elderly person it is important to ask about the type of medicines they use since some drugs like beta blockers are known to cause loss of libido, and erectile dysfunction. Therefore, administering angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium blockers would have a positive impact since it is not associated with erectile dysfunction. In addition, to reduce stress on the heart, sexual activity has to happen in a familiar and comfortable environment with a lifetime partner.
Secondly, hormonal changes influence the sexual activity of the elderly. In women, menopause leads to the drop of estrogen which can cause vaginal dryness leading to discomfort during intercourse. In men, andropause drops testosterone levels which leads to reduced libido and decreased sexual performance. Lastly, psychological factors such as depression and anxiety can lead to decreased sexual interest and Anorgasmia (Eid, et al.,2019) in clarity depression affects sex because of the connection between the brain where the desires start from, and the sex organs. When depressed the brain releases some chemicals that hinder sexual desire.
Reduced appetite and inability to swallow food places the elderly at great risk of malnutrition. This weakens the immune system thus reducing the ability of the body to fight diseases. Stress also suppresses the immune system making the body more sensitive to infections. Additionally, depression weakens the immune system since it reduces the production of lymphocytes that fight for the immune system thereby hindering the body’s ability to combat pathogens. On the contrary, complementary and alternative medications affect the immune system Some supplements and probiotics intake can boost the immune system however, they have to be taken with extra care since too much consumption of them can toxify the immune system when the supplements are taken with other drugs.
In conclusion, the sexual response in older adults can be affected by various pathological conditions such as cardiovascular, and hormonal changes, psychological factors, and medications. Moreover, the use of drugs and complementary and alternative medications, stress and depression, malnutrition, and psychological factors impact the functionality of the immune system of the elderly (Barrea et al.,2021) Therefore, it is important to maintain a balanced diet, be cautious when using some medications, and manage stress can help to achieve an overall healthy and functional immune system in older adults.
Reference
Barrea, L., Muscogiuri, G., Frias-Toral, E., Laudisio, D., Pugliese, G., Castellucci, B., … & Colao, A. (2021). Nutrition and immune system: from the Mediterranean diet to dietary supplementary through the microbiota. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 61(18), 3066-3090.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1792826 Links to an external site.
Eid, R. S., Gobinath, A. R., & Galea, L. A. (2019). Sex differences in depression: Insights from clinical and preclinical studies. Progress in neurobiology, 176, 86-102.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.01.006
and another about this
Melesia Nicole Eastwood Satchell
St Thomas University
NUR 417-AP1
Professor Yedelis Diaz
July 01, 2024
Pathological Conditions in Older Adults
As people advance in age, their immunity becomes compromised, and fighting diseases becomes harder. The pathological conditions that affect the sexual responses of older adults are either physical, psychological, or both. Jackson et al. (2020) state that in the United States, cardiovascular diseases have a prevalence of 77-80% among adults between the age of 65-80 and 85% among adults above the age of 80. These cardiovascular diseases reduce the blood flow to the genital areas, thus making it difficult for men to achieve or maintain an erection. In women, these cardiovascular diseases can reduce their arousal and inhibit them from regularly engaging in sexual activity. Older adults with cardiovascular diseases sometimes experience anxiety due to fear of experiencing a stroke during sexual activity. Another pathological condition is diabetes, which can cause severe damage to nerves, thus leading to erectile dysfunction in men and reduced sexual sensation in women (Jackson et al., 2020). As women grow older, hormonal changes can cause a decrease in estrogen hormone, which can lead to vaginal dryness and thinning in vaginal tissues. For men, decreased testosterone levels can cause reduced libido and changes in sexual moods. Older adults often suffer from arthritis, which causes chronic pain in joints and can make sexual activity very painful and uncomfortable. Jackson et al. (2020) explain that psychological conditions such as depression and dementia can change sexual behavior or reduce a person’s interest in sex.
Various factors affect the immune systems of older adults, such as complementary and alternative medicines, conventional drugs, nutritional status, and psychological well-being (Shao et al., 2021). Older adults are often at risk of nutrient deficiency, such as essential vitamins and minerals. These deficiencies are a result of changes in diet and medication interactions. One of the common issues in older adults is protein-energy malnutrition, which causes muscle wasting and weakened immunity (Shao et al., 2021). Poor nutrition can also lead to chronic inflammation, weakening the immune system.
On the other hand, psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to the production of stress hormones and lead to reduced immune response. Stress and depression can also lead to poor health behaviors, such as non-adherence to proper diet and inadequate sleep, thus negatively impacting the immune system (Shao et al., 2021). Certain drugs that treat cancers and other autoimmune diseases can suppress the immune system while controlling disease progression. Certain medications also interfere with absorbing certain minerals and nutrients, which are essential for immune function.
In conclusion, the immune system and sexual responses in older adults are influenced by pathological conditions, nutrition status, and physiological well-being. Properly balanced diets, regular physical activity, mental health care, and careful medication management are vital to support these systems. These measures can help reduce the incidence of infections and improve their quality of life.
References
Jackson, S. E., Yang, L., Koyanagi, A., Stubbs, B., Veronese, N., & Smith, L. (2020). Declines in sexual activity and function predict incident health problems in older adults: prospective findings from the English longitudinal study of aging. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49, 929–940. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-1443-4 Links to an external site.
Shao, T., Verma, H. K., Pande, B., Costanzo, V., Ye, W., Cai, Y., & Bhaskar, L. V. K. S. (2021). Physical activity and nutritional influence on immune function: an important strategy to improve immunity and health status. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 751374.
