Health conditions tend to arise naturally with ageing. Some of the most common issues faced by people in older ages are hearing loss, cataracts, dental issues, osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, blood pressure, dementia and most of all depression. Aging in itself is characterized by emergence of complex health conditions that may appear at the same time.
There are certain health states that are only characterized by older age. They may not discretely fall in disease categories but still occur with aging. Such health states are known as Geriatric syndromes. They are often caused by underlying factors and are rather predictors of aging or death rather than predicting any specific diseases.
Common Health Problems in the Elderly
Some of the most common health problems faced by the elderly include:
Decline in cognitive abilities:
Memory loss is a very common aging problem. However memory loss due to aging should not be confused with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease should be addressed early on in order to slow down its progression.
Oral Health issues:
Losing teeth with age is not uncommon. There are many procedures available nowadays to counter dental issues whether they are due to ageing or some other problems. Tooth loss is no longer irreversible as nowadays dental implants can do the job. For more information and proper assessment you can contact the skilled team at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center to determine if implants can work for you.
Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis and Balance issues:
One of the most common issues faced by the elderly are the balance issues. The cases of falls that lead to injuries are most common in the elderly. Moreover, considering that the bones and joints are especially weaker during old age due to health issues like Osteoarthritis or Osteoporosis, the elderly are more likely to fracture or break bones from falls. A proper diet and exercising regularly can help protect your bones and joints.
Diabetes, heart diseases and cancers:
Heart diseases are the leading cause of death in elderly. With age, conditions like blood pressure, high cholesterol, and blood sugar may arise. The sooner you know that you are susceptible to the risk of diabetes, the earlier you can start managing your blood sugar. For cancers and even heart related issues it is vital to pay attention to any worrying symptoms.
Knowing your inner health early on can help with early treatments of heart or brain diseases as well as cancers. For imaging services like MRI, CT, XRAY or screenings visit MH Imaging Services
Respiratory diseases, influenza or pneumonia:
Elderly are more susceptible to respiratory diseases like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The only way to deal with them is medications. Moreover due to their weak immune systems, they are also more vulnerable to infections like influenza and pneumonia.
Vision or Hearing loss:
Age related vision or hearing loss needs to be regularly screened as it can be due to some secondary problems as well that can be treated if caught early on. Eye issues like muscular degeneration or cataracts are very common in elderly and may require proper treatment.
Factors aiding Healthy Ageing
The process of ageing in itself is not uniform and may differ from person to person. These differences may further be reinforced by factors such as physical and social environment, sex, ethnicity, genetics and so on. The environments that people are born and raised in have a long term effect on how they age.
Mental health also plays an important role in ageing. A person with more mental health issues or stress related issues is likely to age faster compared to others. Ensuring a good mental state cannot only improve your daily routine but can also impact your ageing process.
Lastly, supportive environments can also ease the process of ageing. As people grow older, their needs for availability of safety, transports and company may increase. They may need extra care and help and setting up elderly friendly environments is one way to ensure their comfort. However if you don’t have time or training to care for the elderly at your home you can definitely consider getting help from professionals like Mars Care.
Conclusion
Physical and Social environment has a deep influence on ageing. There are certain behaviors that one can adapt throughout life in order to ensure a healthy ageing process. For example, refraining from drugs, having a balanced diet, exercising and doing other activities that can improve your physical and mental health. Healthy behaviors can ensure healthy ageing. Behaviors also impact the older age itself, proper diet and muscle maintenance can prevent dependency and also preserve cognitive functions.
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