older people’s health issues
Changes in the Body With Aging
Digestive System
(See also Effects of Aging on the Digestive System .) Overall, the digestive system is less affected by aging than most other parts of the body. The muscles of the esophagus contract less forcefully, but movement of food through the esophagus is not affected. Food is emptied from the stomach slightly more slowly, and the stomach cannot hold as much food because it is less elastic. But in most people, these changes are too slight to be noticed. , an enzyme the body needs to digest milk. As a result, older people are more likely to develop intolerance of dairy products ( Lactose Intolerance ). People with lactose intolerance may feel bloated or have gas or In the large intestine, materials move through a little more slowly. In some people, this slowing contributes to Constipation in Adults . The liver tends to become smaller because the number of cells decreases. Less blood flows through it, and liver enzymes that help the body process drugs and other substances work less efficiently. As a result, the liver may be slightly less able to help remove drugs and other substances from the body. And the effects of drugs—intended and unintended—last longer. 