“Physical Changes During Adulthood”

Donavin Butler

College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University

PSY 358: Adult Developing and Aging

Dr. Gontarz

June 29th, 2024

As the body goes through the life cycle, there are many physical changes that happen to

the body. From birth to two years of age most babies learn to walk, run, and hop. By teenage

years, the body goes through puberty and growth spurts. For older adults, aging breaks down the

body leading to physical changes in the mind, body, and cognitive ability. Cardiovascular

changes that happen with aging begin in your 40s, with accumulating fat deposits around the

lining of the heart (Cavanaugh, 2024). The continuous sheet of fat built around the heart can lead

to stiffening of the arteries and atherosclerosis. Severe cases of atherosclerosis lead to other

cardiovascular issues like angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular accidents.

Surviving a cardiac event as the ones previously mentioned have drastic effects on physical

ability and mental health. Using the biopsychosocial model, the goal of this paper is to explain

biological, psychological, and social influences that exacerbate natural physical changes in

aging.

When someone is in their late 40’s or early 50’s the accumulated fat deposits around the

heart lead to the formation of a continuous sheet of fat. This tissue change requires the remaining

muscle to work harder to contract the heart (Cavanaugh, 2024). Although this tissue change is

inevitable, there are many things that can exacerbate the effects of this cardiovascular change.

Biologically, there are predispositions related to genes that lead to the development of

cardiovascular issues. A genetic variation passed down by parents changes the likelihood of

having a cardiovascular disease (Hajar, 2020). One study found that “CVD increased 75% with

paternal and about 60% with a maternal history of premature CVD” (Hajar, 2020). Furthermore,

the family history of CVD leads to a “44% increased risk of CVD mortality” (Hajar, 2020).
Given this, someone who has a family history of cardiovascular disease may have medical issues

related to the tissue change that happens between the late 40s and early 50s. The fat deposits

make muscles around the heart work harder, but something like cardiovascular disease will make

it work even harder. The harder that muscles must work to contract the heart, the more energy

gets expended. There is only so much energy expenditure that the body can provide. All of these

variables mean that biological influences related to cardiovascular health may exacerbate natural

changes in our cardiovascular structure.

Social influences also exacerbate physical changes with age. Socially residing in a

neighborhood that lacks access to healthcare, transportation, proper food, and safe housing may

negatively impact your cardiovascular health. “Upstream social factors that should be considered

when examining psychosocial determinants of cardiovascular health include adverse childhood

experiences which have negative impacts on cardiovascular health by disrupting normal

developmental processes and increasing physical and behavioral vulnerability to disease”

(Powell-Wiley et al., 2022). In other words, social influences can lead to cardiovascular

problems that may exacerbate natural changes with aging. For example, those with an adverse

childhood are twice more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. A communities shared

attitude towards health may influence their likelihood of heart disease. Experts found that those

in a socioeconomic disadvantage are also more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (Powell-

Wiley et al., 2022). This can be explained through lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, stress, and

mental health problems. An unhealthy diet leads to excess fat deposits around the heart,

increasing your likelihood for obesity, hypertension, and other forms of cardiovascular diseases.

If you become diagnosed with atherosclerosis, the blood flow to arteries will be restricted and

eventually the arteries will be covered in plaque.

come with aging. Mental health conditions have direct links to weakened immune systems, a

shorter life expectancy, and cardiovascular challenges. “People with severe mental illness have

an average mortality rate that is 3 times higher than the general population, corresponding to a

10-25 year shortened life expectancy” (De Hert et al., 2018). Research shows that mental illness

and cardiovascular problems may cause one another. Someone suffering from a mental illness

may not have healthy coping mechanisms. Drinking, substance abuse, smoking, and an

unhealthy diet not only exacerbate their symptoms, but are well known risk factors for

cardiovascular disease. Patients with heart problems report higher levels of depression and

anxiety after their diagnosis.

Although cardiovascular related illness is the leading cause of death across the United

States, there are interventions that can be made to navigate these physical changes. Endothelial

function is responsible for regulating blood flow, pumping blood, keeping toxins out of tissue,

and maintains blood fluidity (Feletou, 2011). This is important because consuming high amounts

of meat especially red meats lead to endothelial dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease.

Meaning that one way to navigate changes in our heart is through a healthy diet. Several studies

throughout the world have shown the role that diet plays in the prevention of cardiovascular

disease (Defago et al., 2014). Staying away from western diets and prioritizing a plant-based diet

naturally lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Treatment interventions like smoking cessation can help prevent heart problems.

Smoking cessation leads to a reduction in hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and heart failure.

Smoking cessation also reduces the risk for people who have a mental illness (Okorare, 2023).

As previously mentioned, mental health and cardiovascular problems are caused by one another.
Completing a treatment program focused on smoking, limits the likelihood of cardiovascular

troubles, and various cancers. Lastly, exercise has endless benefits on hearth health. Adults who

are active are less likely to have depression, declines in cognitive functions, heart disease,

diabetes, and cancer (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2022). Moderate exercise gives

your heart more strength while allowing more blood flow throughout the body. This results in

more oxygen being delivered to the body aiding the natural process of toxin and waste removal

(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2022). Maintaining an active lifestyle throughout life

has endless benefits.

Death is inevitable, but an underlying disease related to the heart is preventable. The

biopsychosocial model helps us understand the biological, social, and psychological influences

related to health. Through the model, one can conclude that outside of genetic mutations social

and psychological influences are the strong implications of lifestyle. Psychosocial influences

dictate our decisions, attitude towards health, and ultimately the type of lifestyle we live.
References Page:

Cavanaugh, J. C. (2024). Adult development and aging (9th ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN-13:
9780357796276.

De Hert, M., Detraux, J., & Vancampfort, D. (2018). The intriguing relationship between

coronary heart disease and mental disorders. Dialogues in clinical

neuroscience, 20(1), 31–40. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.1/mdehert

Defagó, M. D., Elorriaga, N., Irazola, V. E., & Rubinstein, A. L. (2014). Influence of food

patterns on endothelial biomarkers: a systematic review. Journal of clinical hypertension

(Greenwich, Conn.), 16(12), 907–913. https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.12431

De Hert, M., Detraux, J., & Vancampfort, D. (2018). The intriguing relationship between

coronary heart disease and mental disorders. Dialogues in clinical

neuroscience, 20(1), 31–40. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.1/mdehert

Hajar R. (2020). Genetics in Cardiovascular Disease. Heart views : the official journal of the

Gulf Heart Association, 21(1), 55–56.

https://doi.org/10.4103/HEARTVIEWS.HEARTVIEWS_140_19

Physical activity and your heart. (2022, March 24). National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart/physical-activity/benefits

Hajar R. (2020). Genetics in Cardiovascular Disease. Heart views : the official journal of

the Gulf Heart Association, 21(1), 55–56.

https://doi.org/10.4103/HEARTVIEWS.HEARTVIEWS_140_19

Powell-Wiley, T. M., Baumer, Y., Baah, F. O., Baez, A. S., Farmer, N., Mahlobo, C. T., Pita, M.

A., Potharaju, K. A., Tamura, K., & Wallen, G. R. (2022). Social determinants of
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https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.121.319811