Difference between revisions of "Physical Problems of Old Age"

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As you age, you may develop chronic health problems that can be difficult to manage. These include high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory conditions such as bronchial asthma and gout, arthritis and depression.<br /><br />It’s normal to have some forgetfulness as you age, but if your memory problems become severe, see your doctor.<br /><br />1. Loss of mobility<br /><br />Whether it’s due to injury or simply the natural aging process, loss of mobility has profound physical, emotional and social consequences. It’s an under-recognized health problem that can often be prevented with better medical care.<br /><br />In older people, the nerves conduct signals more slowly, and the cartilage that lines joints thinning makes them less flexible. In some cases, this can cause arthritis, a condition that causes the surfaces of joints to rub together and damage bone tissue.<br /><br />The biggest risk for seniors is falls, which can lead to broken bones and a debilitating fear of falling again in the future. Injuries such as fractured hips can require use of a cane, walker or wheelchair permanently. Getting enough exercise helps keep muscles strong, balance and coordination stable, and can help prevent falls.<br /><br />2. Joint pain<br /><br />People often experience joint pain and swelling in their old age. These symptoms can interfere with their day-to-day activities and lead to fatigue. It is important to get these problems diagnosed and treated. A geriatrician (here's how to find one) or a doctor with expertise in aging can help.<br /><br />The most common cause of stiff and painful joints is arthritis. This can occur in middle age or older, when cartilage, which cushions joints, wears down. Common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.<br /><br />A regular exercise program can help ease joint pain and stiffness. So can reducing your weight and taking anti-inflammatory medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Dietary supplements can also help, such as glucosamine. A good night's sleep may also help reduce pain and stiffness.<br /><br />3. Dementia<br /><br />A person can develop dementia when their brain cells die. This is caused by many conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease (unusual round clusters of protein) and vascular dementia (damage to blood vessels in the brain).<br /><br />A gradual loss of thinking skills is the main symptom. This includes difficulty making decisions, getting lost or confused and forgetting recent events. It can also lead to problems with speech and writing and changes in mood or behaviour.<br /><br />Some medicines can help delay the onset of dementia. Talk to your doctor about this. Keeping active, eating healthily and not smoking can also decrease your risk of dementia. However, there's no cure for most types of dementia. The symptoms can get worse over time, leading to choking and pneumonia if food or liquid enters the lungs.<br /><br />4. Heart disease<br /><br />A person's heart and blood vessels become stiffer with age. This can lead to conditions like high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. These problems can cause heart failure, aneurysms and other issues that can be very serious.<br /><br />Symptoms of heart disease often get worse with age, including shortness of breath, a lack of energy, nausea and bloating. [https://personalmedicalalarm.com/ Personal medical alarms] It's important to tell a doctor about these symptoms and how they have changed over time.<br /><br />It's also important to take steps to lower your risk of heart disease. This includes eating a healthy diet, controlling your weight, avoiding smoking and following your doctor's recommendations for treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. This can help prevent a heart attack or stroke. This is especially important if you have a family history of these conditions.<br /><br />5. Stroke<br /><br />A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off either by a bleed or a clot. Strokes in elderly people can cause serious, lasting health problems. If you notice your loved one acting strangely or having a hard time thinking clearly, it may be a sign of a stroke. If they have a sudden numbness on one side of their body or experience pain or tingling sensations, you can check their symptoms using the F.A.S.T test:<br /><br />Ask them to smile and look if one side of their face moves differently than the other. Test their arm strength by having them raise both arms above their head and see if one drifts downward, which could indicate weakness in the arm. You can also test their speech and listen for slurred words.
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As people age, many of them experience physical problems that can interfere with their quality of life. These include hearing loss, loss of mobility and the risk of falls.<br /><br />Getting regular health screenings can help catch these issues before they become serious and affect your quality of life. Addressing these issues is important for healthy aging.<br /><br />1. Osteoporosis<br /><br />Generally, people lose bone mass faster than they build it as they age. This is due to a combination of factors including genetics, lifestyle and the environment they live in as children and even as fetuses.<br /><br />The inside of healthy bone looks like a sponge, and it's wrapped in a hard outer shell of dense bone. With osteoporosis, the holes in this "sponge" get bigger and the bones become weaker. This puts older adults at risk of fractures, especially of the hip and spine. These are often debilitating.<br /><br />2. Arthritis<br /><br />Arthritis is inflammation of the joints, which are where 2 or more bones meet. It can be caused by a reduction in the normal amount of cartilage tissue that protects your joints or because of an infection or injury.<br /><br />It also can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks its own tissues. Other types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout.<br /><br />There are no cures for most types of arthritis, but treatment can help reduce pain and stiffness. Your doctor may recommend physiotherapy and medication.<br /><br />3. Diabetes<br /><br />Many older people find it hard to follow a diet that can help control blood sugar levels. They may not have a good understanding of the dietary recommendations for diabetes and they may also have other conditions that need a special diet, such as heart disease or stomach (digestive) problems. Too much sugar in the blood can damage the tiny blood vessels that supply nerve-endings, particularly in the legs and feet (diabetic neuropathy). This can cause tingling, burning or pain in these areas.<br /><br />4. Glaucoma<br /><br />Glaucoma causes vision loss by damaging the optic nerve. It occurs when fluid pressure in the eye rises and presses hard on the optic nerve, which carries signals from the retina to the brain so we can see.<br /><br />Patchy blind spots develop in peripheral (side) vision and get worse over time. It is important for your loved one to get regular eye exams.<br /><br />Treatment includes medication, either pills or eye drops, that lowers pressure by making the eyes make less fluid or by allowing more fluid to drain out of the eye.<br /><br />5. Osteoporosis-related fractures<br /><br />Over 54 million people age 50 and older have low bone density, a condition called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis leads to broken bones, mainly in the hip, spine and wrist. These fractures often cause a hunched back posture called stooped spine syndrome.<br /><br />Until age 25, bone formation (synthesis) usually outpaces bone breakdown (resorption). After that, bone loss accelerates, especially in postmenopausal women.<br /><br />Most fractures occur without any symptoms. They typically develop after a fall or during routine activities. Fractures are most common in the spine, where they can lead to significant pain and disability.<br /><br />6. Diabetes-related fractures<br /><br />Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a harmful effect on bone health and is associated with lower BMD, accelerated skeletal ageing and increased risk of fracture. This may be due to hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress, which results in advanced glycation end products and inhibits osteoblasts and stimulates osteoclasts.<br /><br />Diabetes is also associated with lower lean body mass and medications such as thiazolidinediones that increase fracture risk.<br /><br />Frailty is a dynamic aging state that predicts adverse health outcomes and has a strong interaction with diabetes. Exploring the trajectories of frailty in diabetes could help further quantify this effect modification and improve fracture risk assessment in patients with diabetes.<br /><br />7. Osteoporosis-related infections<br /><br />Symptoms of osteoporosis are subtle, and some people never experience them. However, if a vertebra collapses (fractures) in the spine, it can cause pain and deformity.<br /><br />Treatment for osteoporosis involves managing risk factors, ensuring adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, and taking medications such as bisphosphonates. Exercise, weight-bearing activities, and surgery to increase bone density also help.<br /><br />These problems routinely fall through the cracks of usual medical care, but correct evaluation and treatment can enable healthier aging. Talk with a geriatrician or make sure your regular doctor thinks like one.<br /><br />8. Arthritis-related infections<br /><br />Infectious arthritis is caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungus. It often occurs in the knee, but can affect other joints. Bacterial infections spread through the bloodstream into the joint, which causes inflammation and pain. The condition is diagnosed by drawing a sample of the joint fluid (called synovial fluid) and testing it for white cells and other markers of infection.<br /><br /> [https://personalmedicalalarm.com/ Personal medical alarms] Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, and the type of antibiotic will depend on which bacteria is causing the infection. Viral infections usually go away on their own, and fungus infections are treated with antifungal medications.<br /><br />9. Osteoporosis-related fractures<br /><br />Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken and break. This is most common in the hip and spine (vertebrae). This leads to a stooped or hunched posture. It can also cause back pain.<br /><br />Most osteoporotic fractures go unnoticed until they cause symptoms such as back pain or a crooked spine (kyphosis). Doctors can diagnose these by taking X-rays. They can also use CT scans for better imaging of the bone and to assess height loss, fragment retropulsion or canal compromise. Treatment can help reduce the risk of these fractures.<br /><br />10. Osteoporosis-related infections<br /><br />Symptoms of osteoporosis are often overlooked. They include back pain, especially in the spine (vertebral compression fractures), that starts suddenly or develops over time and gets worse when people stand or walk.<br /><br />Osteoporosis is when the quality, quantity and strength of your bones decrease, making them more likely to break (fracture). Ageing, low calcium intake, gastrointestinal disorders, some medicines, excessive alcohol use and cigarette smoking can cause osteoporosis. Treatment includes ensuring adequate intake of calcium, weight-bearing exercise and drugs such as bisphosphonates. Early diagnosis means that treatments can be more effective.

Revision as of 13:06, 4 October 2023

As people age, many of them experience physical problems that can interfere with their quality of life. These include hearing loss, loss of mobility and the risk of falls.

Getting regular health screenings can help catch these issues before they become serious and affect your quality of life. Addressing these issues is important for healthy aging.

1. Osteoporosis

Generally, people lose bone mass faster than they build it as they age. This is due to a combination of factors including genetics, lifestyle and the environment they live in as children and even as fetuses.

The inside of healthy bone looks like a sponge, and it's wrapped in a hard outer shell of dense bone. With osteoporosis, the holes in this "sponge" get bigger and the bones become weaker. This puts older adults at risk of fractures, especially of the hip and spine. These are often debilitating.

2. Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints, which are where 2 or more bones meet. It can be caused by a reduction in the normal amount of cartilage tissue that protects your joints or because of an infection or injury.

It also can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks its own tissues. Other types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout.

There are no cures for most types of arthritis, but treatment can help reduce pain and stiffness. Your doctor may recommend physiotherapy and medication.

3. Diabetes

Many older people find it hard to follow a diet that can help control blood sugar levels. They may not have a good understanding of the dietary recommendations for diabetes and they may also have other conditions that need a special diet, such as heart disease or stomach (digestive) problems. Too much sugar in the blood can damage the tiny blood vessels that supply nerve-endings, particularly in the legs and feet (diabetic neuropathy). This can cause tingling, burning or pain in these areas.

4. Glaucoma

Glaucoma causes vision loss by damaging the optic nerve. It occurs when fluid pressure in the eye rises and presses hard on the optic nerve, which carries signals from the retina to the brain so we can see.

Patchy blind spots develop in peripheral (side) vision and get worse over time. It is important for your loved one to get regular eye exams.

Treatment includes medication, either pills or eye drops, that lowers pressure by making the eyes make less fluid or by allowing more fluid to drain out of the eye.

5. Osteoporosis-related fractures

Over 54 million people age 50 and older have low bone density, a condition called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis leads to broken bones, mainly in the hip, spine and wrist. These fractures often cause a hunched back posture called stooped spine syndrome.

Until age 25, bone formation (synthesis) usually outpaces bone breakdown (resorption). After that, bone loss accelerates, especially in postmenopausal women.

Most fractures occur without any symptoms. They typically develop after a fall or during routine activities. Fractures are most common in the spine, where they can lead to significant pain and disability.

6. Diabetes-related fractures

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a harmful effect on bone health and is associated with lower BMD, accelerated skeletal ageing and increased risk of fracture. This may be due to hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress, which results in advanced glycation end products and inhibits osteoblasts and stimulates osteoclasts.

Diabetes is also associated with lower lean body mass and medications such as thiazolidinediones that increase fracture risk.

Frailty is a dynamic aging state that predicts adverse health outcomes and has a strong interaction with diabetes. Exploring the trajectories of frailty in diabetes could help further quantify this effect modification and improve fracture risk assessment in patients with diabetes.

7. Osteoporosis-related infections

Symptoms of osteoporosis are subtle, and some people never experience them. However, if a vertebra collapses (fractures) in the spine, it can cause pain and deformity.

Treatment for osteoporosis involves managing risk factors, ensuring adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, and taking medications such as bisphosphonates. Exercise, weight-bearing activities, and surgery to increase bone density also help.

These problems routinely fall through the cracks of usual medical care, but correct evaluation and treatment can enable healthier aging. Talk with a geriatrician or make sure your regular doctor thinks like one.

8. Arthritis-related infections

Infectious arthritis is caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungus. It often occurs in the knee, but can affect other joints. Bacterial infections spread through the bloodstream into the joint, which causes inflammation and pain. The condition is diagnosed by drawing a sample of the joint fluid (called synovial fluid) and testing it for white cells and other markers of infection.

Personal medical alarms Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, and the type of antibiotic will depend on which bacteria is causing the infection. Viral infections usually go away on their own, and fungus infections are treated with antifungal medications.

9. Osteoporosis-related fractures

Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken and break. This is most common in the hip and spine (vertebrae). This leads to a stooped or hunched posture. It can also cause back pain.

Most osteoporotic fractures go unnoticed until they cause symptoms such as back pain or a crooked spine (kyphosis). Doctors can diagnose these by taking X-rays. They can also use CT scans for better imaging of the bone and to assess height loss, fragment retropulsion or canal compromise. Treatment can help reduce the risk of these fractures.

10. Osteoporosis-related infections

Symptoms of osteoporosis are often overlooked. They include back pain, especially in the spine (vertebral compression fractures), that starts suddenly or develops over time and gets worse when people stand or walk.

Osteoporosis is when the quality, quantity and strength of your bones decrease, making them more likely to break (fracture). Ageing, low calcium intake, gastrointestinal disorders, some medicines, excessive alcohol use and cigarette smoking can cause osteoporosis. Treatment includes ensuring adequate intake of calcium, weight-bearing exercise and drugs such as bisphosphonates. Early diagnosis means that treatments can be more effective.

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