Older age brings many health issues, both physical and mental ones. However, if we take good care of ourselves we can get proper treatment and maintain our health even in old age. These are some of the most common elderly health issues to look out for.
1. Cognitive decline
As we age we start to experience memory loss. It’s common for old age. However, it’s not common to suffer from serious memory loss issues and develop Alzheimer’s. If the early warnings are recognised in time, early treatment and intervention are possible. They can help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. So, while cognitive decline can be common with older age, memory loss issues can lead to fatal diseases that need to be recognised and treated before it is too late.
2. Balance issues
One of the most common causes of injuries that older people experience is falling. As we get older, it becomes more and more challenging to maintain balance. This causes people to trip and slip as they walk and that can lead to serious injuries, scars and bone fractures. In order to prevent these kinds of injuries, we need to work on mobility in old age.
3. Oral health problems
Not everyone loses their teeth when they reach old age, but many tend to suffer from issues such as gingivitis which can eventually lead to periodontitis. This bacterial infection affects the bones that support your teeth as well as your gums. It is usually common with older people. Luckily, there is a way to prevent this. By visiting your dentist regularly, you will ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy and well-maintained even as you get older.
4. Heart disease
Research shows that heart diseases are the number one cause of death for people over the age of 65. For that reason, as we get older we need to maintain conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure under control. It is absolutely crucial for us to take care of our hearts and make sure we are leading healthy lives in order to avoid developing heart diseases in our old age.
5. Osteoarthritis or osteoporosis
Old age tends to cause a lot of common movement disorders as well. As a matter of fact, approximately 54 million older adults over the age of 50 tend to have low bone mass or osteoporosis, while all adults over the age of 80 develop a certain form of osteoarthritis. Since this issue is so common, incorporating healthy eating habits and exercising regularly may be the most important changes you should introduce in your life if you want to avoid developing o=movement disorders in old age. This is the best way you can protect your joints and bones.
6. Respiratory diseases
Respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma tend to only get even worse as we get older. Luckily, there are effective ways we can help ourselves breathe easier such as using adequate medications.
7. Diabetes
About 25% of adults around the age of 65 or older from type 2 diabetes. The sooner you realise you have a higher risk of having diabetes or already having it, the bigger your chances are of managing it more easily. Once you recognise the symptoms of diabetes in yourself, you can start introducing crucial lifestyle changes and managing your blood sugar.
8. Influenza or pneumonia
Even though infections such as pneumonia and flu aren’t exclusively senior types of illnesses, older people do tend to be more vulnerable to these infections. This usually happens with older adults who have weaker immune systems and it’s harder for them to recover from these infections. Getting regular check-ups with your doctor and making sure you maintain your immune system on a good level is crucial if you want to avoid developing these infections.
9. Vision or hearing loss
We also need to pay close attention to our hearing and vision. This implies that we need to get regular screenings to avoid developing some common health issues such as macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.
10. Cancer
Lastly, as we get older, our risk of developing certain types of cancer drastically increases. While preventing cancer may not be that much of a possibility, getting regular check-ups to detect cancer in its early stage can quite literally save our lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our bodies get more fragile as we get older. However, if we lead healthy lives and visit our doctors regularly, we can either prevent or start treating our health issues in time.
