Unit 4 Development Through Life Stages 
Unit 4 development through life stages
Hormones and the menopause
Many women go through a decrease in the hormone oestrogen following the menopause. Women are more at risk of osteoporosis than men. This is because bone strength is influenced by the reduction of oestrogen. Some people are more at risk than others of getting this disease because it can be influenced by genetic inheritance. The environment can make a difference this is because exercise strengthens muscles and bones and can prevent osteoporosis.
Cardiovascular system
The heart pumps blood around the body. With age many individuals may develop narrowing of the arteries and other blood vessels due to fats such as chloestrol being laid down in the walls of the blood vessels. The process of clogging up is called atherosclerosis. Athero indicates fatty deposits and sclerosis means the hardening of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis can result in higher blood pressure and high blood pressure puts the person at risk of stroke. This is where the blood supply to the brain is blocked (and heart attack)
Respiratory system
When blood is not being pumped around the body efficiently, an individual will become breathless. As you get older the strength of the chest muscles may reduce and the efficiency of the lungs may deteriorate. Chronic disease such as bronchitis may develop.
Emphysema is a disease where the air sacs in the lungs become damaged. This causes shortness of breath and can result in respiratory or heart failure. Emphysema can be induced by smoking, which causes the lungs to produce chemicals that damage the walls of the air sacs. This will result in a drop of the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Nervous system
Through age people may lose nerve cells that activate muscles. (Neurotransmitters) The chemicals released by the nerves in order to communicate and control muscles. May also function less with age.
Motor neurone disease is a disease that is most common among people age 50 to 70. This disease
Hormones and the menopause
Many women go through a decrease in the hormone oestrogen following the menopause. Women are more at risk of osteoporosis than men. This is because bone strength is influenced by the reduction of oestrogen. Some people are more at risk than others of getting this disease because it can be influenced by genetic inheritance. The environment can make a difference this is because exercise strengthens muscles and bones and can prevent osteoporosis.
Cardiovascular system
The heart pumps blood around the body. With age many individuals may develop narrowing of the arteries and other blood vessels due to fats such as chloestrol being laid down in the walls of the blood vessels. The process of clogging up is called atherosclerosis. Athero indicates fatty deposits and sclerosis means the hardening of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis can result in higher blood pressure and high blood pressure puts the person at risk of stroke. This is where the blood supply to the brain is blocked (and heart attack)
Respiratory system
When blood is not being pumped around the body efficiently, an individual will become breathless. As you get older the strength of the chest muscles may reduce and the efficiency of the lungs may deteriorate. Chronic disease such as bronchitis may develop.
Emphysema is a disease where the air sacs in the lungs become damaged. This causes shortness of breath and can result in respiratory or heart failure. Emphysema can be induced by smoking, which causes the lungs to produce chemicals that damage the walls of the air sacs. This will result in a drop of the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Nervous system
Through age people may lose nerve cells that activate muscles. (Neurotransmitters) The chemicals released by the nerves in order to communicate and control muscles. May also function less with age.
Motor neurone disease is a disease that is most common among people age 50 to 70. This disease