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Poor lifestyle choices and the natural ageing process make elderly people more susceptible to many health conditions. Fortunately, some of them can be prevented or their progression slowed by making smart choices and visiting your doctor regularly.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> [https://personalmedicalalarms.com.au/how-it-works/ alarms for the elderly] A common condition among the elderly is Alzheimer’s disease. This causes memory loss and a decline in mental and behavioural skills.<br /><br />1. Cancer<br /><br />Cancer is a disease that causes cells to grow out of control by ignoring the signals that normally stop them from growing or stopping them altogether. Some cancers are inherited, while others are caused by exposure to carcinogens or genetic mutations that occur over time.<br /><br /> [https://personalmedicalalarms.com.au/ alert button elderly] As people age, their chances of getting a bacterial infection like pneumonia rise due to changes in the lung capacity and lowered resistance to illness. The elderly are especially susceptible to infections caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and Clostridium difficile, which are commonly prescribed antibiotic treatments. Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are common among seniors as well. They are more likely to experience a UTI if they have catheters or diabetes. Behavioral changes including confusion and dementia, or urinary incontinence are often warning signs.<br /><br />2. Chronic Kidney Disease<br /><br />Many of the diseases and illnesses that develop in older age are chronic, meaning they persist over time. They can be a result of long-term health conditions or from the aging process itself, and they may occur in combination with each other.<br /><br />Kidney disease is one such condition, and it usually doesn't cause any symptoms until the disease reaches an advanced stage. In that case, symptoms include blood in the urine, swollen ankles and feet due to fluid retention, and fatigue.<br /><br />Another common disease in the elderly is high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. This disease damages blood vessels and increases the risk of serious (and potentially fatal) conditions like heart disease.<br /><br />3. Chronic Bronchitis<br /><br />Bronchitis occurs when the lining of your lungs (called the bronchial tubes) becomes irritated and inflamed, leading to mucus buildup that makes it difficult to breathe. Symptoms include a cough that produces mucus and chest tightness. People who have chronic bronchitis experience the same symptoms over and over again, unlike acute bronchitis, which fades within a few weeks. It can also lead to emphysema, which is when the airways of your lungs become permanently damaged.<br /><br />You can prevent chronic bronchitis by not smoking and staying away from lung irritants such as secondhand smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes and dusts. You can also improve your breathing by practicing a simple technique called pursed-lip breathing. [https://personalmedicalalarms.com.au/gps-locator/ fall monitor for elderly] Getting your yearly flu shot and pneumonia vaccine may help as well.<br /><br />4. Diabetes<br /><br />Diabetes can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening problems in elderly people. It is the seventh leading cause of death among those 65 and older. It is also a major reason for hospitalizations in this age group.<br /><br />Blood glucose levels normally rise after meals and then return to pre-meal levels, but in people with diabetes the blood sugar level remains high. This can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, eye problems and nerve pain.<br /><br />Some conditions like pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis and hemochromatosis can lead to damage to the pancreas, causing Type 3c diabetes. Certain medications can also lead to a condition called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Sudden changes in an elderly person’s behavior, dementia confusion and urinary tract infections are common warning signs of diabetes.<br /><br />5. Osteoporosis<br /><br />Age is the primary risk factor for osteoporosis, but you can improve your bone health and slow or prevent new bone loss with healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking. Certain inherited diseases increase your risk, including complex regional pain syndrome, scoliosis, chronic lower respiratory disease (chronic bronchitis or emphysema), and Parkinson's disease.<br /><br />Osteoporosis causes two million broken bones and $19 billion in costs each year. It is a silent disease and often people do not know they have it until they suffer a fracture or break. When looked at under a microscope, healthy bone has small spaces that resemble honeycomb, but osteoporosis causes the holes and spaces in the bones to get larger, making the bones weaker and thinner. The most common areas for osteoporotic breaks are in the hip, wrists, and spine.<br /><br />
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A person’s age and family history play a role in the conditions they might develop, but many of these problems can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle.<br /><br />Dementia is an aging-related condition that leads to loss of memory and brain function. It can also cause a change in thinking and behavior.<br /><br />1. Cancer<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Cancer is the result of uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. It can take decades for mutations to accumulate and lead to cancer. Older adults are more susceptible to the disease due to lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet, excessive sun exposure and unsafe sex.<br /><br />Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer among elderly adults and can cause chest pain, breathing difficulty, coughing up blood and chronic pneumonia. Bone cancers such as osteosarcoma and sarcoma are the second most common. Other cancers include leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma which are cancers of the blood forming tissues.<br /><br />Cancer death rates in the oldest old peaked around 1990 and declined until 2008, mainly because of declining rates for lung and prostate cancers (Fig. 1). Rates have since leveled off.<br /><br />2. Chronic Kidney Disease<br /><br />In addition to heart disease, chronic kidney disease is one of the biggest health problems for people above 60. It occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood. If left untreated it can cause many symptoms including fatigue, swollen ankles, confusion and an increase in risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. It may also cause erectile dysfunction in men. [https://pastelink.net/eswgz2gp medical button] Having a low BMI, eating a healthy diet, controlling diabetes and reducing the use of medication can help prevent it.<br /><br />In the early stages, CKD doesn’t cause any symptoms, so it can go undetected for a long time. It's often only spotted when your doctor orders a urine test for another reason. Having diabetes and high blood pressure increases your chance of getting the condition.<br /><br />3. Pneumonia<br /><br />Pneumonia is an infection that causes the air sacs in one or both lungs to fill with pus and fluid. It is caused by bacteria, viruses and sometimes fungi. Infections are more common in people who are hospitalized, elderly and have weakened immune systems.<br /><br />Symptoms of pneumonia include fever, cough, difficulty breathing and chills. In addition, some older adults have less obvious symptoms, such as confusion or a lower-than-normal body temperature.<br /><br />Other complications of pneumonia can include a buildup of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) and an infected lung abscess. Pleural effusion can develop if the pneumonia isn't treated and can lead to breathing problems or even death. The doctor may need to drain the fluid through a tube or do surgery. They also might order a pleural fluid culture, in which a needle is inserted into the thin membrane that lines the lungs and chest cavity to remove a sample for testing.<br /><br />4. Heart Disease<br /><br />Heart disease is the most common cause of death for people age 65 and older. It is caused by the buildup of fatty deposits, called plaque, in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. When this buildup narrows the arteries, the heart can't get enough oxygen and nutrients, which causes pain or discomfort. If the artery becomes completely blocked by a blood clot, it causes a heart attack.<br /><br />People may not be aware that they have heart disease until they have a heart attack or experience other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, Dr. Forman says. This is because the brain interprets pain signals differently as you age, and sometimes heart pain can be mistaken for pain in your arm or neck. However, some signs of heart disease can be seen with a regular doctor visit.<br /><br />5. Arthritis<br /><br />Arthritis is a long-term (chronic) disease that causes pain and swelling in joints. The two most common types of arthritis in elderly adults are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.<br /><br />Joints are places where bones meet and move. They're cushioned and supported by a lining called articular cartilage, and some have a lubricating membrane called synovial fluid. Other types of arthritis include gout, lupus and fibromyalgia.<br /><br />Nearly 60 million adults have arthritis in the United States. It's a major cause of disability in seniors. Despite popular belief, it's not a normal part of aging. It's also more common in people with certain conditions like heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Arthritis is also more likely in women than men. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis.<br /><br />

Aktuelle Version vom 19. Juni 2024, 15:16 Uhr

A person’s age and family history play a role in the conditions they might develop, but many of these problems can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle.

Dementia is an aging-related condition that leads to loss of memory and brain function. It can also cause a change in thinking and behavior.

1. Cancer





Cancer is the result of uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. It can take decades for mutations to accumulate and lead to cancer. Older adults are more susceptible to the disease due to lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet, excessive sun exposure and unsafe sex.

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer among elderly adults and can cause chest pain, breathing difficulty, coughing up blood and chronic pneumonia. Bone cancers such as osteosarcoma and sarcoma are the second most common. Other cancers include leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma which are cancers of the blood forming tissues.

Cancer death rates in the oldest old peaked around 1990 and declined until 2008, mainly because of declining rates for lung and prostate cancers (Fig. 1). Rates have since leveled off.

2. Chronic Kidney Disease

In addition to heart disease, chronic kidney disease is one of the biggest health problems for people above 60. It occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood. If left untreated it can cause many symptoms including fatigue, swollen ankles, confusion and an increase in risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. It may also cause erectile dysfunction in men. medical button Having a low BMI, eating a healthy diet, controlling diabetes and reducing the use of medication can help prevent it.

In the early stages, CKD doesn’t cause any symptoms, so it can go undetected for a long time. It's often only spotted when your doctor orders a urine test for another reason. Having diabetes and high blood pressure increases your chance of getting the condition.

3. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection that causes the air sacs in one or both lungs to fill with pus and fluid. It is caused by bacteria, viruses and sometimes fungi. Infections are more common in people who are hospitalized, elderly and have weakened immune systems.

Symptoms of pneumonia include fever, cough, difficulty breathing and chills. In addition, some older adults have less obvious symptoms, such as confusion or a lower-than-normal body temperature.

Other complications of pneumonia can include a buildup of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) and an infected lung abscess. Pleural effusion can develop if the pneumonia isn't treated and can lead to breathing problems or even death. The doctor may need to drain the fluid through a tube or do surgery. They also might order a pleural fluid culture, in which a needle is inserted into the thin membrane that lines the lungs and chest cavity to remove a sample for testing.

4. Heart Disease

Heart disease is the most common cause of death for people age 65 and older. It is caused by the buildup of fatty deposits, called plaque, in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. When this buildup narrows the arteries, the heart can't get enough oxygen and nutrients, which causes pain or discomfort. If the artery becomes completely blocked by a blood clot, it causes a heart attack.

People may not be aware that they have heart disease until they have a heart attack or experience other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, Dr. Forman says. This is because the brain interprets pain signals differently as you age, and sometimes heart pain can be mistaken for pain in your arm or neck. However, some signs of heart disease can be seen with a regular doctor visit.

5. Arthritis

Arthritis is a long-term (chronic) disease that causes pain and swelling in joints. The two most common types of arthritis in elderly adults are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Joints are places where bones meet and move. They're cushioned and supported by a lining called articular cartilage, and some have a lubricating membrane called synovial fluid. Other types of arthritis include gout, lupus and fibromyalgia.

Nearly 60 million adults have arthritis in the United States. It's a major cause of disability in seniors. Despite popular belief, it's not a normal part of aging. It's also more common in people with certain conditions like heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Arthritis is also more likely in women than men. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis.

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