How Aging Affects Digestion

As you age, your digestive muscles move slower. Your body makes less acid. Other things can hamper the digestion system, too. These include:

• Increased use of medicines
• Getting less exercise
• Changes in eating habits
• Dental problems
• Loss of muscle tone and elasticity. This could be a factor in hiatal hernias and diverticulosis, which are more common in persons as they get older.