Patient Care

Health and Wellness for the Elderly – Managing Old Age Health Problems

Aging is a universal phenomenon that affects all living things alike. In humans, with aging, people tend to develop a wide range of health issues as the body begins deteriorating over time. It's essential to identify the obstacles that people experience as they age and to understand the preventive actions once can take to put themselves on a road to healthy aging. 

What are the common health conditions that affect the Elderly?

There are common health problems that affect the elderly depending on the various risk factors that might be prevalent. Here are a few of the major old age problems and solutions.

Cardiovascular diseases

Although death rates have decreased in the last 20 years, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality among elderly people. The hardening of blood capillaries and arteries is the most frequent shift in the cardiovascular system, requiring your heart to work harder to pump blood through them. As a result of the increasing workload, the heart muscles shift. In old age, the heart rate will stay roughly the same at rest, but it will not increase as much during activities as it used to. Due to this, blood pressure rises, leading to hypertension, stroke, heart failure, and many other cardiovascular problems.

Symptoms of heart diseases

• Shortness of breath 
• Nausea and fatigue 
• Pain or discomfort in the arms, left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back 
• Pressure or pain in the chest 
• Light-headedness or dizziness 
• Cold sweats

Six Tips for Keeping Your Heart Healthy

• Have 7-8 hours of sleep - Make sure you get adequate rest. The mending and regeneration of the heart and blood vessels are greatly aided by good sleep. It is advised to aim for a total of seven to nine hours of sleep every night. 
• Regular physical activity - Physical activity should be a part of everyday routine. Try going walking, swimming, or engaging in other activities that you like. Moderate physical activity regularly can help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of heart disease. 
• Breathing exercise - The doctors recommend doing breathing exercises and mediate which helps to reduce the risk of heart problems. 
• Balanced diet – Maintaining a balanced diet is important. Choose fruits, vegetables, healthy grains, high-fiber meals, and lean protein sources like fish. It is good to limit high-saturated fats and high-salt foods. 
• No smoking and drinking - Smoking causes artery hardening and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. 
• Reduce Stress - Worry less because the heart can be harmed by stress. Reduce stress by meditating, exercising, or seeing a therapist.

Bones, joints, and muscle-related problems

Bones decline in size and density as they age, weakening them and making them more prone to fracture. Muscles lose strength, endurance, and flexibility over time, which can compromise your coordination, balance, and stability. As the age increases, the severe hip, back, ankle, knee pain rate increases. Arthritis and Osteoporosis are the two most common chronic problems found in old age people. In Osteoporosis the bones become weak and fragile that can easily break while doing everyday things. Arthritis develops when the fluid and cartilage in a joint deteriorates, causing bones to rub against one another and cause discomfort.

Symptoms of bone-related problems

• Sound in the bones while moving hands and knees 
• Pain in bones all over the body 
• Tingling and weakness in an extremity 
• Bone deformities

How to prevent joint-related problems?

• Calcium Intake- One needs to make sure that one is getting enough calcium. Adults should consume at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium each day. According to the National Academy of Science, the daily dose for women 51 and older and males 71 and older increases to 1,200 mg. Calcium may be found in dairy products like eggs, broccoli, kale, salmon, and tofu. Consult a doctor for supplements if one is not getting enough calcium from a dairy source. 
• Physical activity – It should be a part of your everyday routine. Walking, running, tennis, climbing stairs, and weight training are examples of weight-bearing workouts that can help you grow strong bones and reduce bone loss. 
• Avoid alcohol consumption - It is always good to reduce less alcohol intake, and the best is to stop as it makes your health worse and you tend to have weak bones.

Metabolic Diseases

When some organs, such as your liver or pancreas, become sick or stop working properly, you might have a metabolic illness. One of the most common metabolic disorder diseases is Diabetes. In the United States, over 34 million people have Diabetes, and one of every five of them is even unaware of it. Diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose, commonly known as low blood sugar, is abnormally elevated. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, aids glucose absorption into cells for use as energy. The body either does not generate enough insulin or none at all. Glucose stays in the body for a long time after that. Diabetes is also associated with peripheral arterial disease and peripheral neuropathy, contributing to diabetic foot ulcers and amputations.

Symptoms of metabolic diseases

The majority of metabolic syndrome-related illnesses have no prominent indications or symptoms. A high waist circumference is one apparent sign. If the blood sugar is too high, one may have diabetes symptoms, including increased thirst, urination, exhaustion, and impaired vision.

How to prevent metabolic diseases?

• Maintaining a healthy weight is very important in the disease as a person with a high waist most likely to have this problem. So reducing the weight and eating healthy help. 
• Limiting sugar and fats is needed because the one disease which could lead to this is Diabetes.

Bladder Problems and Urinary Tract Infections

As you become older, your bladder may become less elastic, requiring you to pee more frequently. The bladder and pelvic floor muscles may weaken, making it harder to empty your bladder or causing you to lose bladder control. An enlarged or inflamed prostate in men can also make it difficult to empty the bladder and cause incontinence. It is something where the slight loss of urine is done while sneezing, laughing, etc. Approximately 13 million Americans are incontinent, and 85 percent of them are women. Obesity, diabetes-related nerve damage, certain medicines, and caffeine or alcohol usage are all variables that lead to incontinence.

Symptoms of urinary tract problems

• Urine that appears cloudy or dark. 
• Bloody urine. 
• Strong or foul-smelling urine. 
• Frequent or urgent need to urinate. 
• Pain or burning during urination. 
• Feelings of pressure in the lower abdomen. 
• Low-grade fever. 
• Night sweats, shaking, or chills.

How to prevent and promote bladder and urinary tract health?

• Go to the bathroom daily- Go to the bathroom regularly. Consider going to the bathroom on a regular basis, such as every hour. Gradually increase the length of time between bathroom trips. 
• Healthy weight - Maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI). Reduce your weight if you're overweight. 
• Avoid Irritants - Irritants to the bladder should be avoided. Incontinence can be exacerbated by caffeine, acidic meals, alcohol, and carbonated beverages. 
• Avoid scented soaps - Avoid fragrant soaps, deodorants, and shower gels as it increases infections. 
• DO not shave there - It is advised by doctors not to shave there. Instead of that, use trimmers to shave the public area to prevent urinary fungal infections. 
• Avoid Constipation – Constipation should be avoided at all costs. Constipation can increase incontinence, so eat extra fiber and take other measures to prevent it.

Loss of Memory and Cognitive Skills

As you get older, your brain experiences change that may have a slight impact on your memory and cognitive abilities. Older people, for example, may forget familiar names or words, or multitasking may be more difficult for them. Little Memory loss is normal as you age, but forgetting things with time may lead to serious disorders. One of them is Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms of memory loss are

• Increased memory loss and confusion 
• Inability to learn new things 
• Difficulty in reading, writing, and working with numbers 
• Difficulty organizing thoughts and thinking logically 
• Shortened attention span 
• Problems coping with new situations

Five Tips for Great Cognitive Health

• Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, and consuming fresh vegetables and fruits are the important factors for a healthy brain, but these points are a must. 
• Mentally active - Keeping the mind occupied. It might help one to maintain memory and reasoning abilities. Reading, playing word games, picking up a new hobby, enrolling in lessons, or learning to play an instrument are all the perfect options to stay active. 
• Nuts Intake - Have a handful of nuts like soaked almonds, hazelnuts, raisins, etc., to sharpen the mind. 
• Become Social - Social engagement can help prevent sadness and stress, both of which can lead to memory loss. Volunteering at a local school or NGO, spending time with family and friends, or attending social events are all possibilities. 
• Treat Cardiovascular disease - Cardiovascular disease should be treated. Follow the doctor's instructions for managing cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, leading to cognitive deterioration.

Ear and Vision Conditions

One may find it harder to focus on items that are near up as you become older. You may become more sensitive to glare and have difficulty adjusting to varying light levels. Aging can also impair your eye's lens, resulting in hazy vision like cataracts. It's also possible that your hearing will deteriorate. In a busy setting, one could have trouble hearing high frequencies or following a discussion.

Symptoms of the eye and ear issues

• Dark spots in vision. 
• Loss of side (peripheral) vision. 
• Darkening of vision. 
• Ear pain, especially when lying down. 
• Tugging or pulling at an ear. 
• Trouble sleeping

How to maintain eye and ear health?

• Make frequent checks a priority- Always recommend the doctor regarding glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and other corrective aids,
• Things to remember- Take the necessary safeguards. When outside, wear sunglasses, a wide hat, and earplugs when near loud noises or near any noisy machine.

Mobility Disability

According to US Census research, 73% of Americans over 85 seem to have some difficulty walking. Social isolation, falls, and despair is all linked to mobility disabilities—one-third of adults with disabilities over the age of 85 live alone. Mobility problems in the elderly happen due to common old age problems like Diabetes, Arthritis, etc.

Symptoms of mobility problems in elderly

• Sudden inability to walk in elderly 
• Unsteadiness while walking, 
• Difficulty getting in and out of a chair, 
• Falls

How to maintain mobility in old age?

• Calcium Intake: one needs to make sure that one are getting enough calcium. Adults should consume at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium each day. According to the National Academy of Science, the daily dose for women 51 and older and males 71 and older is increased to 1,200 mg. Calcium may be found in dairy products like eggs, cottage cheese m milk, broccoli, kale, salmon, and tofu. Consult a doctor for supplements if one is not getting enough calcium from a dairy source. 
• Strength training exercise: Strength training should be incorporated: a growing body of data suggests that strength training improves and maintains core strength. Another way to keep mobile is to increase your muscular mass. Work with a local fitness center trainer to learn how to utilize resistance bands or see your doctor about a program. 
• Conduct a home safety inspection: Falls are the main cause of disability in the elderly. The majority of falls that older individuals have occurred at home. You may discover and correct any dangers by examining your or a senior loved one's house.

There are many treatments available for these health problems, so there is no need to hesitate to consult the doctor for help if one is having any of these symptoms. At HPFY, you can choose from our wide range of best health supplies for the elderly at amazing prices and discounts.

 

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