What is "elderly flavor"?
Studies abroad have shown that "elderly odor" does exist, and Japan specifically uses "aging odor" to describe the special odor on the body of elderly people.
Because the human body begins to contain a high concentration of "nonanal" after the age of 40, this substance will increase secretion as the body ages. In addition, there is also a substance called "diacetyl" that is produced along with it, both of which can cause the elderly population to develop the so-called "elderly flavor". Generally speaking, there is a reason for the appearance of aging.
Appearing with "old age odor", paying attention is a signal of illness
Natural aging
As mentioned above, the human body experiences special odors during the aging process. Moreover, the elderly are in a state of gradual decline in various bodily functions due to their weak physique. So the elderly population, due to urinary system reasons, have varying degrees of urinary incontinence in women, and men are more prone to prostate hyperplasia, causing incomplete urination and urine stains on their pants. And these abnormal odors often form part of the "old age flavor".
Skin issues
As one ages, the body's sebum becomes thinner and drier, making the skin more susceptible to infection. In addition, the elderly's skin has decreased levels of antioxidants, hormonal changes, and a higher degree of oxidation of free fatty acids, resulting in the accumulation of a special odor called "nonanal".
Bad breath
Many elderly people prefer high fat, high sugar, and high oil foods in their diet. However, due to poor digestive function, food residues cannot be excreted in a timely manner, which can lead to bad breath. In addition, some elderly people often take medication, and if they don't have the habit of brushing their teeth in the morning and evening, the odor will be even stronger!
It should be noted that elderly people who suffer from various chronic diseases can also experience "old age odor", such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc. Patients may have a phlegm odor when coughing. Moreover, elderly people often apply ointments and oils to their bodies due to joint pain and other issues, which can also bring a strong odor.
In short, family members should pay more attention to the smell emanating from the elderly at home, and be vigilant that it is a warning of illness.
Be wary of four "old smells" and seek medical attention and examination in a timely manner
1. Rotten apple flavor: It is better for the elderly with this body odor to check their blood sugar, while the elderly with diabetes should pay more attention to their own improper blood sugar control. This old body odor generally occurs when the condition of diabetes gets worse. A large amount of fat in the patient's body is oxidized in the liver to produce ketone bodies and diffuses in the blood. So the breath exhaled by the patient will contain acetone, which smells like rotten apples.
2. Urinary odor: In addition to the unpleasant odor of urine in patients with urinary incontinence, it is also a signal of worsening condition in some patients with chronic nephritis or kidney disease. When this type of patient's condition progresses to chronic renal failure, they may exhale gases with urine or ammonia odor due to the inability of some toxic substances to be excreted from the body.
3. Rotten cabbage flavor: If someone has such a body odor, they should pay attention to warning of hypoglycemia, fainting, or convulsions. This is due to the lack of tyrosine converting enzyme in the body, which leads to a strange odor similar to "rotten cabbage" produced by tyrosine metabolism disorders.
4. Liver odor: Some people may not have a specific feeling of liver odor, which is a fishy odor with a sweet aroma. The appearance of this odor generally indicates serious damage to liver function, and the condition is critical, requiring timely medical attention.
Remove the "old flavor" and start by changing lifestyle habits
Due to the decline in skin function and slow metabolism, the elderly population should pay more attention to skin moisturizing, especially in winter when the weather is dry. The elderly population should drink more water, eat less salt, and use warm water to clean and reduce skin irritation in daily life. Apply some moisturizers to the body and massage appropriately to increase skin hydration and avoid itching and scratching caused by dry skin.
At the same time, it is important to pay attention to hygiene. Some elderly people, due to their weakened body resistance, are worried that they may catch a cold while bathing in winter, so they reduce their frequency of bathing. In fact, this can easily lead to the accumulation of dirt and grime in the body. It is recommended that elderly people take a shower every day if possible. Even on days when they do not take a shower, they should pay attention to the cleanliness of areas with concentrated sebaceous glands such as the neck, behind the ears, and armpits.
Regularly change and wash clothes, especially close fitting clothes that are prone to dead skin accumulation. It is best to change and wash them daily.
Elderly people have more oral problems and lower digestive ability. In daily diet, it is important to avoid consuming foods that have a strong odor, are difficult to chew, and are high in fat and animal protein to prevent damage to teeth and hinder digestion.
Because excessive consumption of red meat can exacerbate body fat oxidation, leading to greater odor; After meals, it is also important to rinse your mouth promptly and regularly check your oral health.
In addition to adjusting daily behavioral habits, timely treatment of chronic diseases is of utmost importance. If the body odor is caused by a disease, the primary disease should be treated first to fundamentally control it, in order to greatly improve the abnormal body odor caused by the disease.
The elderly population often has certain cardiovascular problems, so more attention should be paid to the examination of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular items during examination, such as color ultrasound of the heart and carotid artery ultrasound, which can help check for vascular lesions.
In addition, elderly people who are obese or already have hypertension should pay attention to blood glucose and lipid levels. In addition to fasting blood glucose levels, postprandial blood glucose levels should also be tested. If problems are found, timely preventive measures should be taken.
The elderly are accustomed to their own body odor and generally find it difficult to self detect. Therefore, family members should pay more attention to changes in the elderly's body. If there are obvious abnormal odors, they should seek medical attention in a timely manner. Especially in cases where the elderly have chronic diseases, they should be more vigilant and seek active treatment to alleviate the "old age odor".
