People nowadays live longer than ever before. However, with old age come certain health issues that seriously impact one’s quality of life. No matter if you’re coming to an old age or you have an elderly person in your family, it’s important to understand which health issues are most common and how they need to be dealt with. That’s why we compiled a list of the 5 common health issues for elderly people.
Arthritis
According to recent reports, arthritis is the number one condition impacting people aged 65 and over. The biggest problem with arthritis is that it can lead to pain and reduced quality of life in elderly people. Moreover, arthritis can discourage old people from being active, which can cause some other health issues. People suffering from arthritis should work with their doctor to create an activity plan that’ll help them stay active even when suffering from arthritis. Also, medication is an important part of reducing pain caused by arthritis.
Respiratory diseases
Another common health issue for elderly people are respiratory diseases. 10% of men and 13% of women aged 65 or above suffer from asthma, while many other elderly people suffer from other respiratory diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Having a respiratory condition can make a person more likely to suffer from a more serious condition such as pneumonia and similar infections, which is why people with respiratory diseases need to take the correct medication and use oxygen as instructed by their doctor.
Dementia
Dementia is a disorder that affects one’s ability to remember, think and reason. Most people who suffer from dementia are aged 65 or above, while 1 in 6 people aged 80 or above are diagnosed with this disease. Dementia doesn’t only affect mind functions but it can also impair speech and decrease mood. Caring for a person suffering from dementia can be tough, especially when if you work or suffer from a condition yourself. That’s why it’s often a good idea to have experts in dementia home care help you.
Cancer
Cancer accounts for an estimated 9.6 million deaths worldwide in 2018. Moreover, cancer is the leading cause of death among people aged 65 and above. Luckily, many types of cancer are treatable, especially when diagnosed early. That’s why elderly people should get mammography screening and take skin tests more often than younger people. And even though it’s tough to prevent cancer, it’s a good idea for seniors who have cancer to start living a healthier lifestyle. This includes maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol.
Poor bladder control
As a consequence of aging, many elderly people start suffering from urinary incontinence. This happens because their bladder muscles don’t contract as strongly as they are supposed to which often leads to bladder control problems. Urinary control problems are often caused by urge and stress. Fortunately, there are medical treatments for poor bladder control and people suffering from it need to see their doctor. More natural treatments include exercising regularly and reaching healthy weight. People with diabetes and high blood pressure are more at risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
As people get old, their overall health starts suffering. Even though preventing many of common health issues among elderly people isn’t as easy as many would have you believe, it’s often instructed for older people to live a healthy lifestyle as much as possible.
